Human survivability in motor vehicle fires

Abstract

SUMMARYAutomobile fires are consistently among the largest causes of fire death in the United States (about 500 annually) and the U.S. motor vehicle industry and others have spent a significant amount of money in recent years studying this problem. The authors of this review have analyzed the auto industry reports, the scientific literature, and statistical data, and conclude that measures should be taken to improve survivability in automobile fires. The U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302 (FMVSS 302) was introduced almost 40 years ago to measure the flammability of interior materials, but improvements in the crashworthiness of automobiles and their fuel tanks and the increased use of combustible materials have changed the motor vehicle fire scenario significantly. In particular, the primary threat has changed from ignition of a small quantity of combustible interior materials by a lit cigarette, in 1960, to ignition of a large quantity of combustible interior and exterior materials by an impact-induced fire, at present. The authors therefore suggest that FMVSS 302 is no longer relevant to automobile fire safety and recommend improved standards based on objective criteria for fire safety performance (fireworthiness) at the system/vehicle level as is routinely done for crashworthiness.

Car Crash Fatalities Associated With Fire in Sweden

“…FMVSS 301 sets the standard for making fuel systems safe and FMWSS 302 addresses flammability and burn rate of vehicle interior materials. According to Digges et al (2008) and Digges and Stephenson (2009), these may be considered for revision and better adapted to modern construction and materials. Gasoline is not the only problem; many other motor fluids such as servo and brake fluid, motor oil (all with auto ignition temperature about 200 • C/400 • F), alcohol in windshield wiper fluid, etc., may be highly flammable during the extreme circumstances of a crash.…”

Thermal and flame retardant properties of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer/modified multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

“…Cone calorimeter test based on the oxygen consumption principle has been widely used to evaluate the flammability characteristics of materials. Although cone calorimeter test is a small‐scale test, the obtained results have been found to correlate well with those obtained from a large‐scale fire test and can be used to predict the combustion behavior of materials in a real fire 28–32. For instance, the heat release rate (HRR) is a very important parameter and can be used to express the intensity of a fire.…”

Improving the fire safety of road vehicles

“…35 These authors analyzed the auto industry reports, the scientific literature, and statistical data, and concluded that measures need to be taken to improve survivability in automobile fires. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302, which was introduced almost 40 years ago to regulate the flammability of interior materials, is now no longer adequate.…”