A methodology for obtaining and using toxic potency data for fire hazard analysis

A comprehensive methodology has been developed for obtaining and using smoke toxicity data for fire hazard analysis. This description of the methodology comprises (1) determination that the post-flashover fire is the proper focus of smoke inhalation deaths; criteria for a useful bench-scale toxic potency (LC50) measurement method; (2) a method which meets these criteria, especially validation against real-scale fires; (3) a computational procedure for correcting the results from the bench-scale test for the CO levels observed in real-scale post-flashover fires; (4) procedures for reducing the usage of animals and broadening the applicability of data by interpreting gas measurement data using the N-Gas Model; and (5) a procedure for identifying whether a product produces smoke within the ordinary range of toxic potency for post-flashover fires. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.