Fire hazard of play equipment in children’s areas of public buildings

Introduction. The presence of a significant number of fire hazardous polymer play equipment and structures in children’s zones of public buildings determines the possibility for them to easily ignite and spread a fire. Regulatory requirements governing the fire safety of play equipment in public buildings are currently not formulated, which makes it difficult to assess their fire hazard level and choose effective ways to reduce it.

Aims and purposes. Investigation of the possibility of reducing the fire danger of children’s play zones to solve the problem of ensuring their fire safety by using modified fire-proof polymer materials or choosing fire extinguishing methods and means.

Analytical part. An analysis of the existing requirements of the regulatory and methodological framework for fire safety of play equipment of children’s play areas in public buildings was carried out, the results of a comparative experimental assessment of the properties of the fire load of various materials of game products were obtained. The influence of the use of flame retardants on the fire hazard indicators of polymer materials of play equipment was studied. 
The introduction of flame retardants reduces the flammability of polymer materials, however, the current sanitary and hygienic requirements for children’s play equipment limit their use. In addition, the presence of fire-retardant systems in polymer materials of products for children’s games does not reduce their smoke-forming ability and the amount of toxic gaseous combustion products, therefore, ensuring the required level of safety of people in children’s play and sports areas of public buildings by modifying the materials used cannot be achieved. 
The feasibility of using active fire safety methods for in children’s areas of public buildings using automatic fire extinguishing systems with finely dispersed water was considered.

Conclusions. To reduce fire hazard in children’s areas of public buildings, it is advisable to obtain objective information on the parameters of the combustible fire load of play equipment to calculate the dynamics of the development of fire hazards and assess the time of safe evacuation of people, as well as the choice of fire extinguishing means and methods.

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