Untersuchungen zur Charakterisierung von Brandrauch

The aim of this work is to clarify if there is a correlation between fuel and its organic combustion products. To acquire homogenous data sets for our investigations, we analysed only the measurements of the “Forschungsstelle für Brandschutztechnik” at the University of Karlsruhe. All compounds with a similar structure were grouped and structural indices were ascribed to them. This also made it possible to obtain information about the frequency of occurrence of a set of substances in fire smoke. The kind of analytical measurements used by this institute provided no or only little information about inorganic compounds, highly volatile substances like acrolein or vinyl chloride, and very poorly volatile substances (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). We found that benzene, methylbenzene, ethenylbenzene and ethylbenzene are always present in fire smoke. The formation of these typical compounds is described by a model. Aside from these compounds which are typically related to the smoke from fires, substances are always observed which are typical for a distinct fuel. Many compounds which are expected to be in the smoke are highly carcinogenic. Therefore, it is necessary for people with a high exposure to the smoke of fires, e.g. firemen, to protect themselves efficiently. In order to obtain more information about the risks to health of fire smoke, toxicological investigations will be necessary.