Characterization of polyvinyl chloride–based floor covering thermal decomposition parameters in a cone calorimeter

In an ISO 5660 Cone Calorimeter, heat fluxes were applied to a polyvinyl chloride–based floor covering to characterize their influence on the thermal decomposition parameters as well as on the concentrations of species emitted during the combustion process. Gas concentrations were quantified for identifying the fire behaviour and the decomposition chemistry. Thus, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen chloride and oxygen with concentrations and emission yields of high consistency were encountered at all heat fluxes considered. Moreover, nitrogen monoxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide and lightweight hydrocarbons were observed with low concentrations and emission yields. Other species can be considered as negligible due to their concentrations close to zero at all heat fluxes studied. Furthermore, using the oxygen consumption method, heat release rate, total heat release and effective heat of combustion were also calculated for each irradiance level and were compared with data found in the literature.