This conference, organised jointly by QMC Wolfson Fire & Materials Centre (Queen Mary College) and the Fire Research Station, held at the Tara Hotel in London, UK, was well attended by a wide range of experts in the production and use of polymer foams. Other experts concerned with research, development, testing, specifying, approving and purchasing products incorporating polymer foams for use in the construction, engineering and furniture industries were also present and contributed to the several valuable discussions on specific topics. The conference was successful and achieved its aim of infonning delegates of the fire characteristics of these materials and how they can be assessed in the light of the latest knowledge and technology. The papers presented a wide-ranging review of the main important cellular polymers and their applications in different environments where fire hazards have been encountered. Delegates accepted that there was a continuing need for major growth in the use of cellular polymers and therefore intensified research into development of improved test procedures, fire retardants and smoke suppressants was required.

Australian building regulations control the fire properties of cellular plastics used in buildings by setting criteria based on three test methods - AS 1530 Part 1, known as 'The Combustibility Test'; AS 1530 Part 3, known as 'The Early Fire Hazard Test'; and AS 1530 Part 4, known as 'The Fire-Resistance Test'. However, the regulations allow cellular plastics of otherwise unsatisfactory fire performance to be used if they are sealed inside a sandwich panel which meets certain fire performance criteria. These criteria are related to performance in the AS 1530.3 test, and in a 10-minute furnace test modelled on AS 1530.4. This paper summarises the regulatory situation and discusses a series of tests in which a limited range of lightweight sandwich panels were subjected to a 10-minute furnace test. It was found that none of the lightweight sandwich panel systems assessed performed well in the furnace test. In addition, difficulties were experienced with the test procedure and interpretation of results.