The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues
A significant number of UK fire fatalities have been reported to involve textiles contaminated with emollients. In the following study, the flammability of a variety of fabrics containing 14 different emollients, including paraffin-free creams, was evaluated. This is the first time the impact of the...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Fire |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/4/133 |
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| author | Roísín McDermott Mya Richards Megan-Mae Wright George Shajan Joanne Morrissey Sarah Hall |
| author_facet | Roísín McDermott Mya Richards Megan-Mae Wright George Shajan Joanne Morrissey Sarah Hall |
| author_sort | Roísín McDermott |
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| description | A significant number of UK fire fatalities have been reported to involve textiles contaminated with emollients. In the following study, the flammability of a variety of fabrics containing 14 different emollients, including paraffin-free creams, was evaluated. This is the first time the impact of the presence of such a large range of emollients has been examined. Horizontal burn tests were conducted on emollient-contaminated fabrics. Significantly earlier ignition time were noted upon heating for all emollient-contaminated fabrics (<i>p <</i> 0.001) when compared to the behaviour of blank fabrics were noted using a vertical burn test. The mean time to ignition for 100% cotton fabric (151 ± 2 g/m<sup>2</sup>) was reduced from 71.5 to 14.4 s and for 52%/48% polyester/cotton fabric (103 ± 2 g/m<sup>2</sup>) from 328 to 12.9 s by the presence of emollients. Horizontal burn tests with a direct flame on 100% cotton fabric (114 ± 1 g/m<sup>2</sup>) displayed an accelerated mean flame speed from 0.0032 to 0.0048 ms<sup>−1</sup> and an increased maximum flame height of 56.6 to 175.4 mm for emollient-contaminated fabrics. These findings demonstrate the fire risk of fabrics contaminated with a dried emollient. Their potential to ignite quickly and to propagate a fire may strongly decrease the reaction time of an impacted individual. Therefore, it is important that this risk and appropriate safety advice be continually highlighted and communicated not only in the UK but worldwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-079964697caa446cbda2ac29589aa0ae |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-6255 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fire |
| spelling | doaj-art-079964697caa446cbda2ac29589aa0ae2025-08-20T02:28:20ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552025-03-018413310.3390/fire8040133The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient ResiduesRoísín McDermott0Mya Richards1Megan-Mae Wright2George Shajan3Joanne Morrissey4Sarah Hall5Leicester Institute of Pharmaceutical, Health and Social Care Innovations, Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UKLeicester Institute of Pharmaceutical, Health and Social Care Innovations, Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UKLeicester Institute of Pharmaceutical, Health and Social Care Innovations, Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UKLeicester Institute of Pharmaceutical, Health and Social Care Innovations, Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UKNPCC Forensic Capability Network, Dorset police headquarters, Winfrith Newburgh, Dorchester DT2 8DZ, UKLeicester Institute of Pharmaceutical, Health and Social Care Innovations, Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UKA significant number of UK fire fatalities have been reported to involve textiles contaminated with emollients. In the following study, the flammability of a variety of fabrics containing 14 different emollients, including paraffin-free creams, was evaluated. This is the first time the impact of the presence of such a large range of emollients has been examined. Horizontal burn tests were conducted on emollient-contaminated fabrics. Significantly earlier ignition time were noted upon heating for all emollient-contaminated fabrics (<i>p <</i> 0.001) when compared to the behaviour of blank fabrics were noted using a vertical burn test. The mean time to ignition for 100% cotton fabric (151 ± 2 g/m<sup>2</sup>) was reduced from 71.5 to 14.4 s and for 52%/48% polyester/cotton fabric (103 ± 2 g/m<sup>2</sup>) from 328 to 12.9 s by the presence of emollients. Horizontal burn tests with a direct flame on 100% cotton fabric (114 ± 1 g/m<sup>2</sup>) displayed an accelerated mean flame speed from 0.0032 to 0.0048 ms<sup>−1</sup> and an increased maximum flame height of 56.6 to 175.4 mm for emollient-contaminated fabrics. These findings demonstrate the fire risk of fabrics contaminated with a dried emollient. Their potential to ignite quickly and to propagate a fire may strongly decrease the reaction time of an impacted individual. Therefore, it is important that this risk and appropriate safety advice be continually highlighted and communicated not only in the UK but worldwide.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/4/133emollientsoil-based products horizontal and vertical flammability testingfire riskfire fatalities and serious incidents |
| spellingShingle | Roísín McDermott Mya Richards Megan-Mae Wright George Shajan Joanne Morrissey Sarah Hall The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues Fire emollients oil-based products horizontal and vertical flammability testing fire risk fire fatalities and serious incidents |
| title | The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues |
| title_full | The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues |
| title_fullStr | The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues |
| title_short | The Fire Behaviour of Fabrics Containing Dried Emollient Residues |
| title_sort | fire behaviour of fabrics containing dried emollient residues |
| topic | emollients oil-based products horizontal and vertical flammability testing fire risk fire fatalities and serious incidents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/4/133 |
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