Plastics Vs Wood: Burning Temperatures Compared

Plastics are harder to ignite than wood, but they burn much hotter. The heat of combustion for wood and paper generally ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 Btu/lb, while for plastics, it ranges from 12,000 to 20,000 Btu/lb. Plastics also burn several times faster than wood, with flames spreading at a rate of up to two feet per second, or ten times that of wood. Some plastics, such as vinyl, burn slowly in solid form but spread rapidly when in the form of a thin coating on wall coverings. Other plastics, like nylon, tend to self-extinguish when the flame is removed. The fire resistance of a particular plastic depends on its composition and the type of flame it's exposed to.

Plastics have a lower ignition point than the temperature of the average building fire

Plastics are harder to ignite than wood, but they burn much hotter. The heat of combustion for items such as wood and paper generally ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 Btu/lb, while the heat of combustion for plastics generally ranges from 12,000 to 20,000 Btu/lb. Plastics burn several times faster than ordinary combustibles.

The fire resistance of a particular plastic varies based on its composition and the type of flame that it’s subjected to. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is less flammable than most other plastics but will still ignite in the event of a fire. Other plastics like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) will melt at temperatures of 130–160°C and catch fire at temperatures of 400°C or less.

Some plastics may exhibit unusual burning characteristics compared to building materials made from natural polymers such as wood. Plastics as a group generally have higher ignition temperatures than wood and other cellulose building products. Plastics have been reported to have very high flame spread characteristics. Vinyl, when tested in a solid form in the laboratory, has been shown to burn slowly. However, when in the form of a thin coating on wall coverings, it spreads rapidly, contributing to flame spread. Nylon has a tendency to self-extinguish when a flame is removed.

Plastics burn at a higher temperature than wood

Plastics are harder to ignite than wood, but once they are burning, they burn much hotter. They also burn several times faster than wood. For example, flames from burning plastic spread at a rate of two feet per second, or ten times that of wood on the surface.

The fire resistance of a particular plastic varies based on its composition and the type of flame it is subjected to. Some plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are less flammable than others. However, even PVC will still ignite in the event of a fire. Other plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), will melt at temperatures of 130-160°C and catch fire at temperatures of 400°C or less.

The burning characteristics of plastics can also be unusual compared to building materials made from natural polymers such as wood. For example, vinyl has been shown to burn slowly in solid form, but when in the form of a thin coating on wall coverings, it spreads rapidly, contributing to flame spread. Nylon has a tendency to self-extinguish when a flame is removed.

Plastics burn faster than wood

Plastics have a higher ignition temperature than wood, but once they are ignited, they spread much more quickly. Flames from burning plastic have been reported to spread as high as two feet per second, or 10 times that of wood on the surface.

Most plastics are flammable and will burn when exposed to an open flame, releasing flammable gases that can fuel the fire. The fire resistance of a particular plastic varies based on its composition and the type of flame that it’s subjected to. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is less flammable than most other plastics but will still ignite in the event of a fire. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) will melt at temperatures of 130–160°C and catch fire at temperatures of 400°C or less.

Some plastics have unusual burning characteristics compared to building materials made from natural polymers such as wood. For example, vinyl burns slowly in solid form but spreads rapidly when in the form of a thin coating on wall coverings. Nylon has a tendency to self-extinguish when a flame is removed.

Plastics are harder to ignite than wood

The fire resistance of a particular plastic varies based on its composition and the type of flame that it's subjected to. Plastics that are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen burn slower than other plastics. Thermosetting plastics can produce burning smells like charred wood or formaldehyde. Those plastics that contain nitrogen and sulfur will produce very toxic gases when they burn. Plastics containing nitrogen burn with no smell, and those with sulfur produce a choking sulfur dioxide smell.

Plastics also have very high flame spread characteristics, as high as two feet per second, or 10 times that of wood on the surface. This is because plastics primarily made up of carbon and hydrogen – which includes most plastics used in construction – are known for burning very well. Common plastic building materials like PVC, PP and PE will melt under low-medium heat and form into a dangerous liquid. The melting plastic can then drip onto other combustible materials, causing the fire to spread in unpredictable ways.

Plastics can melt and drip onto other combustible materials, causing the fire to spread

Plastics are harder to ignite than wood, but they burn much hotter. The heat of combustion for wood and paper generally ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 Btu/lb, while for plastics, it ranges from 12,000 to 20,000 Btu/lb.

Plastics also burn several times faster than wood. Flames from burning plastic have been reported to spread as high as two feet per second, or 10 times that of wood on the surface.

Plastics have a lower ignition point than the temperature of the average building fire. This means that plastics will catch fire when exposed to high heat. If plastic doesn't catch fire, it will likely melt. Common plastic building materials like PVC, PP and PE will melt under low-medium heat and form into a dangerous liquid. The melting plastic can then drip onto other combustible materials, causing the fire to spread in unpredictable ways.

The fire resistance of a particular plastic varies based on its composition and the type of flame that it's subjected to. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is less flammable than most other plastics but will still ignite in the event of a fire. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) will melt at temperatures of 130–160°C and catch fire at temperatures of 400°C or less.

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