TY - JOUR TI - Influence of fiberglass mesh on flammability of EPS used as insulation of buildings AU - Xu Qiang AU - Jin Cong AU - Griffin Gregory J AU - Hristov Jordan Y AU - Cvetinović Dejan B AU - Jiang Yong JN - Thermal Science PY - 2018 VL - 22 IS - 2 SP - 1025 EP - 1036 PT - Article AB - Different scale tests to explore the influence of fiberglass mesh on the fire behaviour of EPS (expanded polystyrene) have been conducted. Micro-scale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) to measure the heat release rate per unit mass, heat release capacity and the total heat release of EPS and as well as the fiberglass for milligram specimen mass has been used. Cone colorimeter bench scale burning tests with the EPS specimens and EPS-fiberglass compound specimens have been carried out. The heat release rate per unit area, ignition times, and the derived minimum igniting heat fluxes were determined. Comparative burning tests on the fire spread tendency of EPS and EPS-fiberglass compound specimens have been carried out. It was established that the fiberglass mesh stabilizes the EPS fire as a wick fire due to the adherence of the melting polystyrene adheres to the fiberglass mesh and this causes an upwards fire spread.