A new approach to testing the toxicity of substances and materials during fires

PURPOSE. The aim of the research was to investigate methods for assessing the hazard of combustion products of substances and materials during fires in terms of their toxicity and to formulate a new approach to testing. METHODS. The authors conducted an analytical review of experimental methods for studying the toxicity of substances and materials during fires. The database of a standard fire load was analyzed in terms of carbon monoxide evacuation route blocking. FINDINGS. The analysis of experimental methods for studying the toxicity of substances and materials, as well as the database of a standard fire load, showed that standard tests do not allow for a correct assessment of combustion products toxicity in view of ensuring safe evacuation of people at fires. A new criterion for determining the level of toxicity of combustion products has been proposed, and a new approach to toxicity testing has been justified. RESEARCH APPLICATION FIELD. The results can be used to rank the toxicity of combustion products of substances and materials during fires based on the criterion of ensuring safe evacuation of people. CONCLUSIONS. It has been determined that standard tests cannot correctly assess the toxicity of substances or materials as regards safe evacuation of people. None of the existing installations can determine the toxicological hazard criterion KТО. Therefore, for experimental research on the toxicity of combustion products of substances and materials based on the proposed criterion, tests can be conducted on complementary setups.