OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
May 10, 1989
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR |
| THRU: |
LEO CAREY
Director
Office of Field Programs |
| FROM: |
EDWARD J. BAIER
Director
Director of Technical Support |
| SUBJECT: |
Safety Hazard Information Bulletin on Fire Hazard of
Polyurethane and Other Organic Foam Insulation Aboard
Ships and in Construction |
The Seattle Regional Office has brought to our attention a Potential fire
hazard involving the use of Polyurethane and other organic foam insulation
found aboard ships and in building construction. Instances of fires
associated with this insulation, have been documented demonstrating the need
for better understanding of the fire hazard of this type of material.
Rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams will, when ignited, burn
rapidly and produce intense heat, dense smoke and gases which are irritating,
flammable and/or toxic. As with other organic materials the most significant
gas is usually carbon monoxide. Thermal decomposition products from
polyurethane foam, consist mainly of carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene,
oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen cyanide, acetaldehyde, acetone, propene, carbon
dioxide, alkenes and water vapor.
All organic cellular plastics, whether or not they contain fire retardants,
should be considered combustible and handled accordingly. Terms like
"fire-retardant", "flame-resistant", and "self-extinguishing", sometimes used
to describe the combustibility characteristics of foams are valid measures of
the performance of these materials under small fire exposure, and are not
intended to reflect hazards under exposure to large scale fire conditions.
In building construction, fire usually is of serious concern because there
may be storage of exposed foam, incomplete installation, other dangers of
improper application and disposal practices, poor housekeeping conditions,
and the potential for exposure to open flame from allied trades during
certain construction activities.
Polyurethane and other organic foam materials are finding increased use on
vessels because of their excellent insulating properties and light weight.
Since serious fires involving the use of these materials have occurred on
several ships, the United States Coast Guard has issued a Navigation and
Vessel Inspection Circular No. 8-80, addressing the fire hazards of
polyurethane and other organic foam materials.
Enclosed for your information are two bulletins which address the fire
hazards of polyurethane and other organic foams
(1) United States Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection
Circular No. 8-80.
(2) "Fire Safety Guidelines for Use of Rigid Polyurethane or
Polyisocyanurate Foam Insulation in Building Construction", Published by the
Urethane Division, the Society of the Plastics Industry.
One of, the major safety precautions to be taken around organic foams is to
prohibit sources of ignition such as open flames, cutting and welding
torches, high intensity heat sources and smoking. The safety recommendations
of the foam supplier must be observed in addition to the minimum requirements
set by OSHA for fire protection.
Please distribute this bulletin to all area offices, State Plan States and
Consultation Project Officers.
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