Fire Resistance of Foamed Concrete for Discontinuous Partition Filling.

Lightweight concrete exhibits many advantages over traditional concrete such as lower density and thermal conductivity and an easier, cheaper, less energy-consuming manufacturing process. In order to extend its applications, there is a need to study its behavior in fire situations. Due to that, the aim of this study was to assess the fire resistance of foam concrete, depending on its thickness and the foaming process applied. Fire resistance was assessed according to EN 1363-1. The results indicate the usefulness of foam concrete in terms of isolating fire temperatures for discontinuous partition filling that are consequently a real alternative to dedicated solutions in the field of passive fire protection. The density of foam concrete was shown to have a large effect on the ability to insulate fire temperatures with a standard material preparation process. It was also noted that changing the method to continuous foam feeding may result in the achievement of similar values while maintaining foam concrete low density.

Recent Developments of Nano Flame Retardants for Unsaturated Polyester Resin.

For many years, efforts have been made to reduce the flammability of unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs), which are often used in the rail, shipbuilding, and construction industries. Without modification, they often fail to meet fire safety standards. Despite a rich history of flame retardants (FRs) applied to UPRs, researchers seek new solutions that will provide lower flammability and smoke density, as well as attaining a lower environmental impact from the composites. The objective of the study is to highlight the most important recent research on promising nano FRs in order to promote their further development. Mechanisms of action of several groups of nano FRs, such as clay-based, carbon-based, transition metal compounds, layered double hydroxides, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, and others, including bio-based, have been studied. Particular emphasis has been laid on nano FRs applied to UPRs, and their influences on thermal stability, flammability, and mechanical properties. Moreover, the environmental impact and toxicity of nano FRs have been discussed. Results have proved that nano FRs applied at low loadings may significantly improve thermal stability, with a simultaneous increase or only a slight decrease in mechanical properties. However, attention on related environmental issues has highlighted the necessity of carefully selecting novel nano FRs.

Analysis of the Flammability and the Mechanical and Electrostatic Discharge Properties of Selected Personal Protective Equipment Used in Oxygen-Enriched Atmosphere in a State of Epidemic Emergency.

Numerous fires occurring in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the dangers of the existence of an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. At oxygen concentrations higher than 21%, fires spread faster and more vigorously; thus, the safety of healthcare workers and patients is significantly reduced. Personal protective equipment (PPE) made mainly from plastics is combustible and directly affects their safety. The aim of this study was to assess its fire safety in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. The thermodynamic properties, fire, and burning behavior of the selected PPE were studied, as well as its mechanical and electrostatic discharge properties. Cotton and disposable aprons were classified as combustible according to their LOI values of 17.17% and 17.39%, respectively. Conall Health A (23.37%) and B/C (23.51%) aprons and the Prion Guard suit (24.51%) were classified as self-extinguishing. The cone calorimeter test revealed that the cotton apron ignites the fastest (at 10 s), while for the polypropylene PPE, flaming combustion starts between 42 and 60 s. The highest peak heat release rates were observed for the disposable apron (62.70 kW/m2), Prion Guard suit (61.57 kW/m2), and the cotton apron (62.81 kW/m2). The mean CO yields were the lowest for these PPEs. Although the Conall Health A and B/C aprons exhibited lower pHRR values, their toxic CO yield values were the highest. The most durable fabrics of the highest maximum tensile strength were the cotton apron (592.1 N) and the Prion Guard suit (274.5 N), which also exhibited the lowest electrification capability. Both fabrics showed the best abrasion resistance of 40,000 and 38,000 cycles, respectively. The abrasion values of other fabrics were significantly lower. The research revealed that the usage of PPE made from polypropylene in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere may pose a fire risk.

Role of WRKY Transcription Factors in Regulation of Abiotic Stress Responses in Cotton.

Environmental factors are the major constraints in sustainable agriculture. WRKY proteins are a large family of transcription factors (TFs) that regulate various developmental processes and stress responses in plants, including cotton. On the basis of Gossypium raimondii genome sequencing, WRKY TFs have been identified in cotton and characterized for their functions in abiotic stress responses. WRKY members of cotton play a significant role in the regulation of abiotic stresses, i.e., drought, salt, and extreme temperatures. These TFs either activate or repress various signaling pathways such as abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species. WRKY-associated genes in cotton have been genetically engineered in Arabidopsis, Nicotiana, and Gossypium successfully, which subsequently enhanced tolerance in corresponding plants against abiotic stresses. Although a few review reports are available for WRKY TFs, there is no critical report available on the WRKY TFs of cotton. Hereby, the role of cotton WRKY TFs in environmental stress responses is studied to enhance the understanding of abiotic stress response and further improve in cotton plants.

Recent Advances in Bio-Based Additive Flame Retardants for Thermosetting Resins.

Thermosetting resins are used in many applications due to their great mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability. However, the flammability of thermosets needs to be improved to minimize fire risk and meet fire safety regulations. Some commercially available flame retardants have an adverse effect on people's health and the environment. Thus, the development of novel, more sustainable flame retardants obtained or derived from biomass has become an objective of contemporary research. The objective of this study is to summarize recent progress on bio-based flame retardants for thermosetting resins so as to promote their prompt development. Groups of biomass compounds with a potential for flame retardant industrial applications were introduced, and their thermal degradation was investigated. The authors focused mostly on the thermal degradation of composites containing bio-based flame retardants determined by thermogravimetric analysis, their tendency to sustain a flame determined by a limiting oxygen index, and fire behavior determined by a cone calorimeter test. The results showed that the mode of action is mostly based on the forming of the char layer. However, in many cases, there is still a necessity to input a high amount of additive to achieve significant flame retardancy effects, which may adversely impact mechanical properties.

Methodology for the Determination of a Process Safety Culture Index and Safety Culture Maturity Level in Industries.

A mature of safety culture is crucial to preventing and mitigating accidents, incidents, and unsafe behaviors in the process industry, so as to make it more sustainable and economically responsible. Measurement, investigation, and assessment of the safety culture using interviews, questionnaires, behavior observation, reviewing documentation, and its impact on the safety performances of an organization is complicated, challenging, and requires a commitment to all employees. The aim of this study was to propose a novel, unique semi-quantitative methodology for the determination of a total process safety culture index and parametric model of process safety culture maturity in an organization based on the Bradley model. The methodology includes a questionnaire concerning different process safety culture factors, calculation procedures, and a graphical tool. In addition, three quantitative survey indicators were proposed: indicators of direct communication, average communication time, and the applicability rate of the proposed changes by employees. A fully-developed total process safety culture index allows for identifying, hierarchizing, and benchmarking different factors of the safety culture among companies and sectors. Moreover, it will enable identifying the area of actions required to improve safety practices and elements applied to the organization analyzed. The proposed methodology was verified in a case study of one energy company with three locations in Poland and can be easily applied to different industrial fields, including logistics and warehousing, the food industry, the paper industry, security services, fire services, and environmental and other agencies.

Research on the Safety and Security Distance of Above-Ground Liquefied Gas Storage Tanks and Dispensers.

Many countries lack clear legal requirements on the distance between buildings and petrol station facilities. The regulations in force directly determine the petrol station facilities' required distance to buildings, and such distances are considered relevant for newly designed and reconstructed buildings. Public buildings must be located no closer than 60 m to the above-ground liquefied gas tanks and liquid gas dispensers. Still, based on engineering calculations and the applied technical measures, it is possible to determine a safe distance for buildings that are constructed, extended and reconstructed, to which superstructures are added or whose utilisation method changes. The paper presents the results of calculations devoted to determining a safe distance between public buildings and LPG filling station facilities, using selected analytical models. The analyses were carried out for the LPG gas system commonly used in petrol stations, consisting of two gas storage tanks of 4.85 m3 capacity each, and a dispenser. It is legitimate to eliminate the obligation to observe the 60 m distance between LPG filling stations and public buildings and the mandatory distance of 60 m between liquefied gas dispensers and public buildings is not justified in light of the implemented requirements to use various protections at self-service liquefied gas filling stands.

Modification of Glass/Polyester Laminates with Flame Retardants.

This paper presents a review of flame retardants used for glass/polyester laminates. It concerns flame retardants withdrawn from use such as compounds containing halogen atoms and flame retardants currently used in the industry, such as inorganic hydroxides, phosphorus and nitrogen-containing compounds, antimony, and boron compounds, as well as tin-zinc compounds. Attention is also drawn to the use of nanoclays and the production of nanocomposites, intumescent flame retardant systems, and mats, as well as polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes. The paper discusses the action mechanism of particular flame retardants and presents their advantages and disadvantages.

The Fire and Explosion Hazard of Coloured Powders Used during the Holi Festival.

During the world-famous Holi festival, people throw and smear each other with a colored powder (Holi color, Holi powder, Gulal powder). Until now, adverse health and environmental effects (skin and eye irritation, air pollution, and respiratory problems) have been described in the available literature. However, the literature lacks data on the flammable and explosive properties of these powders during mass events, despite the fact that burns, fires, and explosions during the Holi festival have taken place many times. The aim of the article is to present the fire and explosion parameters of three currently used Holi dust and cornflour dust types as reference dust. The minimum ignition temperature of the dust layer and dust cloud, the maximum explosion pressure and its maximum rate of growth over time, the lower explosion limit, the limit of oxygen concentration, and the minimum ignition energy were determined. Tests confirmed that the currently available Holi powders should be classified as flammable dusts and low-explosive dusts. The likelihood of a fire or explosion during mass incidents involving a Holi dust-air mixture is high.