Stephen A. Paskaluk

Improving the accuracy of fire behavior prediction requires better understanding of live fuel, the dominant component of tree crowns, which dictates the consumption and energy release of the crown fire flame-front. Live fuel flammability is not well represented by existing evaluation methods. High-flammability live fuel, e.g., in conifers, may maintain or increase the energy release of the advancing crown fire flame-front, while low-flammability live fuel, e.g., in boreal deciduous stands, may reduce or eventually suppress flame-front energy release. To better characterize these fuel–flame-front interactions, we propose a method for quantifying flammability as the fuel’s net effect on (contribution to) the frontal flame energy release, in which the frontal flame is simulated using a methane diffusion flame. The fuel’s energy release contribution to the methane flame was measured using oxygen consumption calorimetry as the difference in energy release between the methane flame interacting with live fuel and the methane flame alone. In-flame testing resulted in fuel ignition and consumption comparable to those in wildfires. The energy release contribution of live fuel was significantly lower than its energy content measured using standard methods, suggesting better sensitivity of the proposed metric to water content- and oxygen deficiency-associated energy release reductions within the combustion zone.

Within the kitchen the potential for burn injuries arising from contact with hot surfaces, flames, hot liquid, and steam hazards is high. The chef’s uniform can potentially offer some protection against such burns by providing a protective barrier between the skin and the thermal hazard, although the extent to which can provide some protection is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine whether fabrics used in chefs’ uniforms were able to provide some protection against thermal hazards encountered in the kitchen. Fabrics from chefs’ jackets and aprons were selected. Flammability of single- and multiple-layered fabrics was measured. Effect of jacket type, apron and number of layers on hot surface, hot water, and steam exposure was also measured. Findings showed that all of the jacket and apron fabrics rapidly ignited when exposed to a flame. Thermal protection against hot surfaces increased as layers increased due to more insulation. Protection against steam and hot water improved with an impermeable apron in the system. For wet thermal hazards increasing the number of permeable layers can decrease the level of protection due to stored thermal energy. As the hands and arms are most at risk of burn injury increased insulation and water-impermeable barrier in the sleeves would improve thermal protection with minimal compromise to overall thermal comfort.

Kitchen workers sustain one of the highest rates of occupational burn injuries through exposure to the various thermal hazards present in institutional and restaurant kitchens. The jacket of the chefs’ uniform has the potential to act as a protective garment, although the extent of the protection afforded by this clothing has not been examined. This study evaluates a selection of current fabrics used in chefs’ uniform jackets to determine their effectiveness in providing protection against hot surface contact, hot liquids and low-pressure steam burns. Four jacket fabrics and two apron fabrics were tested as single layers and in layered combinations. Results showed that single-layered fabrics offered less protection against hot surface contact burns than double-layered fabrics, as an increase in fabric thickness improved thermal insulation of the system. Fabrics covered with a water-impermeable apron layer afforded the greatest protection against hot water and low-pressure steam, while fabrics covered with a permeable apron layer did not provide additional protection. It was found that the addition of the permeable apron fabric layer stored more thermal energy when exposed to hot water, potentially reducing the protection offered by the layered fabric systems.