Particle Size of Smoke from Burning Wood and Plastics

Type	d(gm), µm*	d(32), µm** og	Combustion Conditions	Ref. No.
Douglas fir	0.5-0.9	0.75-0.8	2.0	pyrolysis	1,3
Douglas fir	0.43	0.47-0.52	2.4	flaming	1,3
polyvinylchloride	0.9-1.4	0.8-1.1	1.8	pyrolysis	3
polyvinylchloride	0.4	0.3-0.6	2.2	flaming	3
polyurethane (flexible)	0.8-1.8	0.8-1.0	1.8	pyrolysis	3
polyurethane (flexible)		0.5-0.7		flaming	3
polyurethane (rigid)	0.3-1.2	1.0	2.3	pyrolysis	3
polyurethane (rigid)	0.5	0.6	1.9	flaming	3
polystyrene		1.4		pyrolysis	1
polystyrene		1.3		flaming	1
polypropylene		1.6	1.9	pyrolysis	1
polypropylene		1.2	1.9	flaming	1
polymethylmethacrylate		0.6		pyrolysis	1
polymethylmethacrylate		1.2		flaming	1
cellulosic insulation	2-3		2.4	smoldering	6

*dgm is analogous to dgv but with mass replacing volume in Equation 4. Values of dgm less than about 0.5 µm are probably overestimates arising from the minimum size resolution of the impactor at about 0.4 µm.

**The quantity d32 is obtained by optical measurements:

Source: The SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 2nd Edition.
Phillip J. DiNenno, et al., editors, © 1995 SFPE. p. 2-221.

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