Singularity and importance of determination of wood charring rate in fire investigation

Abstract

In this paper experimental studies on charring of wood are reviewed with the objective of providing guidance for interpretation of char patterns in fire investigations. The present paper presents the available data on charring rates and char depth, causation of deep patterns and other. The paper similarly examines research data (on the grounds of ASTM E 119 and ISO 834), where exposure is controlled via the standard time-temperature curve, and data obtained from cone calorimeter or other bench-scale tests where the test conditions are set by specifying a heat flux, normally invariant over time, imposed on the specimen.