Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

A laboratory study has been made of the fire hazard associated with the use of flammable preparations for the treatment of woodworm in buildings; where possible the conclusions have been extended to cover the treatment of timber stacks in the open. The hazards comprise, first, the fact that treated surfaces of woodwork may be ignited by a small source and, second, when this is no longer possible due to loss by evaporation, the residue of flammable liquid may still cause a fire to develop more rapidly in a room with treated woodwork than if the woodwork were not treated. Estimates have been made of the time after treatment for which the hazards due to some commonly used flammable liquids may be expected to persist in practice. Depending on the liquid, and subject to provisos concerning mainly the weight of treatment and ventilation conditions, the hazard will disappear within periods of up to one week for the solvents white spirit and kerosine and for ortho diohlorobenzene. The hazard due to a technical white oil is less than for the more volatile liquids, and may even be of little practical importance.