5/16/2017

1

Artificial Trees and Fire Performance

Presented by:

Dwayne SloanManager, Principal Engineers

Building Materials & SuppressionUL LLC

2017 NFPA Conference & Expo

2

Learning Objectives

• Frame the Fire Problem – Artificial Christmas Trees

• Review the fire-safety approach used to develop new testing methods

• Summarize UL research that led to requirements

• Provide and overview of UL 2358, Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-Lit Artificial Seasonal Use Trees and Other Seasonal Decorative Items

• Explain UL's new certification program

According to data from the National Christmas Tree Association – app. 13 million artificial trees were purchased in 2015

Represents app. 32 percent of the total number of Christmas trees purchased

Artificial trees accounted for $854 million in sales, app. 40 percent of the total retail market value of all Christmas trees sold in 2015 ($2.2 billion)

http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/News-Media/Industry-Statistics/Consumer-Survey

Accessed May 2017

Growing Use of Artificial Christmas Trees

5/16/2017

2

http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/News-Media/Industry-Statistics/Consumer-SurveyAccessed May 2017

Growing Use of Artificial Christmas Trees

•

CHRISTMAS TREE PURCHASE FIGURES SINCE 2008 (in mill ions)WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN

0

10

20

30

40

2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Percent of Artificial Christmas Trees

Christmas Tree Fire Statistics

NFPA Report of Home Fires Involving Christmas Trees 2010 - 2014:

• 210 fires per year• 6 deaths, 16 injuries per year• $16.2 million property damage

Jan 2015 – Annapolis: Christmas Tree Fire

• On average, one of every 34 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 142 total reported home fires.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/christmas-tree-ignited-fatal-annapolis-mansion-fire-article-1.2095123: Accessed May 2017

Christmas Tree Fire Statistics

NFPA Report of Home Fires Involving Christmas Trees 2010 - 2014:

• Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are much more likely to be deadly than most other fires.

• In one-quarter (26%) of the Christmas tree fires and 80% of the deaths, some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree.

• Data reporting system does not distinguish between natural or artificial

5/16/2017

3

Christmas Tree Safety Message

www.nfpa.org

CONSIDERATIONS:

• Many years of research has shown that trees (natural and artificial) can contribute significantly to a room fire – decreasing the time for occupants to escape.

• Artificial tree packaging and documentation often state that the trees are “flame retardant”, “flame resistant”, or made from “flame retardant / resistant” materials. However, when these assembled products are exposed to open flame sources, their contribution to fire growth can be comparable to a natural dried out tree.

• Previously, third party listing programs using only UL588 were limited to trees less than 30 inches in height – primarily due to the fire concern

Need For Test & Certification

Need For Test & Certification

5/16/2017

4

Need For Test & Certification

Need For Test & Certification

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

• Based on these and other considerations, Retailers and fire experts identified a need to evaluate (differentiate) the fire performance of artificial trees – over 30 inches

• In addition, recently there has been an overall focus on investigating the drastically changing housing environment towards synthetic materials –pre-lit trees is one aspect

Past – UL Outline of Investigation

Subject UL 411

Outline of Investigation for Artificial Christmas Trees

• UL ‘Classified’ certification program for fire growth

• Ignition Source - 1 lb of shredded newspaper distributed under the base of the tree

• Performance Criteria - Flames < 4’ above the height of the tree

12

5/16/2017

5

The Fire Protection Approach

13

Fire Safety Objective

NFPA 550 “Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree” used as an overall structure.• First line of mitigation - prevention, education, etc.

• Abnormal conditions resulting in open flames will occur

• Manage fire

— Controlling the combustion process

— Control fire by construction

Fire SafetyObjective

Prevent Ignition Manage FireImpact

Control Heat / Energy

Source

ControlSource / FuelIntersection

Control Fuel Manage ExposureManage Fire

ControlCombustion

SuppressControl Fire

byConstruction

Limit AreaExposed

SafeguardExposed

Electrical OpenFlame

15

UL Demonstration Test

5/16/2017

6

Heat Release & Flashover

• Average fire service response time in NA for house fires is 6-7 (2-15 min. in urban settings).

• A typical value for heat release (HRR) for flashover (full room involvement) is 1000 kW

• Well understood heat release value associated with well-watered trees in 100 kW (NFPA 1, IFC)

• Consistent with other thresholds for heat release, (telecommunications equipment, furnishings, etc)

17

UL Research

To better define the fire event several scenarios variations were considered:

Ignition Conditions:

• Tree as the first item ignited by a small open flame • Tree as the second item ignited by another fuel sources such as packages (various sizes)

Fuel:

• Tree not decorated• Tree fully decorated

Ventilation:

• Tree branches compressed• Tree branches dressed out (“fully fluffed”)

18

UL Research

• Task 1 – Select and Acquire Samples

• Task 2 –Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited

• Task 3 – Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the Second Item Ignited

• Task 4 – Influence of Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Tree Dressing & Ventilation on Fire Performance

5/16/2017

7

19

Task 1 – Acquire Samples

Task 1 – Select and Acquire Samples

• Available in the marketplace• Representative of similar tree heights and sizes• Representative of varying branch materials (PVC / PE)

20

Task 2 – Tree as First Item Ignited

Task 2 – Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited

Susceptibility of a tree to ignition from a smal l open flame

Skip to Task 3

Task 3 – Tree as Second Item Ignited

Scoping flammability tests were conducted, determine a relative flammability ranking of the four trees.

The results were then used in additional tests to determine the influence of variables.

NFPA 289 -Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages

5/16/2017

8

Task 3 - Three basic levels of performance

near 40 kW under 100 kW near 1000 kW

A B C

23

Task 2 – Tree as First Item Ignited

Back to Task 2 –Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited

Susceptibility of a tree to ignition from a smal l open flame

Sample C was used for these experiments:

• Needle Flame per EC TS 6244 “Accidentally Caused Candle Flame Ignition For Audio/Video, Communication and Information Technology Equipment”

• Tea Candle - 36.7 mm diameter tea candle with awick diameter of 1.8 mm

24

Task 2 – Tree as First Item Ignited

Task 2 – Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited

Susceptibility of a tree to ignition from a smal l open flame

• Multiple attempts to ignite the tree with the needle flame or candle resulted in momentary ignition (< 10 secs).

• In all trials there was no significant fire growth from the ignition sources and no measurable heat released by the calorimeter.

• The results showed that commercial trees selected in this investigation did not create a fire hazard as the first item ignited from a small open flame source.

5/16/2017

9

Task 3 – Tree as Second Item Ignited

DON’T OPEN TILL DECEMBER 25 !!

Determine the HRR of various items typically found under a Christmas tree:

• Tree skirt on carpeting • Package with a 100 % polyester robe• Plastic geometry in a cardboard box – dump truck• Doll in a package• 1 - lb of shredded news paper, Sub • Household electronic device w/ significant packaging – printer

Task 4 – Effects of Fuel & Ventilation

Tests were conducted to determine the increase in flammability due to: • the addition of decorations on the tree,• differences in ‘dressing or fluffing’ of the tree branches

Video Comparison

27

Remove this text box and insert the quad video here.

5/16/2017

10

NEW CERTIFICATION OFFERING

• On November 23, 2010 - UL announced a New Certification Program

• UL 2358 - Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-lit Artificial Seasonal Use Trees and Other Seasonal Decorative Items

• Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Trees from 30 inches to 12 feet in height

• Pre-Lit Artificial Wreaths larger than 48 inches in diameter

29

UL Subject 2358

OBJECTIVE - to limit the extent to which a pre-lit artificial Christmas

tree contributes to a flashover fire condition, and the potential for a

building structural fire.

SAMPLES – Based on “family” of products

PROCEDURE - An ignition source is placed below the bottom

branches of the sample in a worst case position of greatest material

concentration. Triplicate tests are conducted.

30

UL Subject 2358

HEAT RELEASE CALCULATIONS - The measurement of the peak

Heat Release Rate and Total Heat Released (ASTM E2067, Standard

Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Test.)

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:

• Peak HRR of each specimen cannot exceed 100 kW

• The total heat released measured during the test shall be 15 MJ or less

• Sample cannot lose its structural integrity as a result of the test

5/16/2017

11

Final R&D Task – Growth & Decay

15 minute test duration (NFPA 289) ineffective in differentiating tree performance

Propane fueled sand burner -growth & decay

20 kW max at 2.5 minutes

5 min total exposure

31

Second Edition of UL 2358

32

UL 588

33

UL 588 - Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products (O ctober 2015)

1.6 Christmas trees exceeding 30 in (762 mm) in height but not exceeding 12 ft (3.7 m) in height, as measured from the top of the tree to the bottom of the base of the tree and provided with simulated branches and needles, products in the shape of, or in resemblance to, a wreath exceeding 48 in (1219 mm) in outer diameter and provided with simulated branches and needles, or other similar seasonal-use decorative outfits shall additionally be investigated to the Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-Lit Artificial Seasonal Use Trees and Other Seasonal Decorative Items, UL 2358.

5/16/2017

12

34

UL Subject 2358… a little more context

These threshold and measured values are the result of both individual and collaborative research by UL, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

• Method is consistent with NFPA 289• Thresholds are consistent with NFPA 1 and International Fire Code

New Certification Offering

FOLLOW – UP

• Large Scale Flammability Tests – will be required on an annual basis

• Analytical Tests – on an annual basis (Infrared Analysis; Thermogravimetrical Analysis; Differential Scanning Calorimetry)

New Certification Offering

DGYTPre-lit Artificial Christmas

Trees and Wreaths

5/16/2017

13

“White Paper”

37

http://industries.ul.com/blog/reducing-the-fire-haz ard-of-pre-lit-artificial-christmas-trees

38

THANK YOU

Dwayne Sloan(919) 549-1676Dwayne.E.Sloan@ul.com

Happy Holidays - in June !

5/16/2017

14

CEUs: To receive CEUs for this session, scan yourbadge at the back of the room before leaving

Evaluation: Complete a session evaluation on the mobile app. (Search app store for ‘NFPA 2017 C&E.’)

Handouts: Handouts will be available via the mobile app and at nfpa.org/conference

Recordings: Audio recordings of all sessions will be available free of charge via NFPA Xchange.

2017 NFPA Conference & Expo