Optical measurement of smoke

The optical density of smoke liberated by burning seven samples of materials and six commercial plastic products was studied using different light sources in a modified NBS smoke chamber. Materials included plywood, PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), PF (phenolformaldehyde), PE (polythene), PC (polycarbonate), PP (polypropene) and POM (acetal). The plastic products were a polyvinylchloride pipe, an unplasticized polyvinylchloride pipe, a telephone casing, an insulator, an electrical fitting and floor tiles. Light sources used were a helium-neon laser, a mercury lamp, a sodium lamp and a tungsten filament lamp. The errors in optical measurement of smoke due to a forward-scattering effect and the frequency of light beam were investigated.Department of Building Services Engineerin