A place to ask questions and add to probative and informative discussions associated with the various aspects of the field of fire investigation. -- FORUM RULES---BE CIVIL AND NO NAME CALLING, NO BELITTLING, NO BERATING, NO DENIGRATING others. Postings in violation of these rules can be removed or editted to remove the offending remarks at the discretion of the moderators and/or site administrator.
Re: Ignition temperature of wood
Posted by:
Sir Gary (IP Logged)
Date: September 28, 2020 02:10AM
You talking about Babrauskas' ‘Pyrophoric Carbon’? - you will be burnt at the stake for heresy!
I ran into the same blank space trying to suss out chimney-/flue pipe fire here.
For a material so prevalent in the construction industry for many centuries now,
there seems remarkably little research done on timber's ignition properties.
Another local FI and I noticed a tendency amongst timber exposed to years of heat exposure
to ignite more readily/at moderate heat values, especially in moist conditions.
I wouldn't go as far as claiming auto-ignition due to ‘Pyrophoric Carbon’,
but suspect the drying out/pyrolysis over years of exposure makes it easier to ignite at lower T's;
a bit like grapeseed oil-soiled toweling sponcom-ing after tumbledrier-boosted heating.