Which Test Misled The Experts?

[Fishface]

A commonly-used flammability test led the manufacturers of a certain kind of insulating foam to put a completely inaccurate flammability rating on the materials that contributed to the fiery deaths of 100 people at the Station nightclub in February of 2003. Which test was it?

A) The horizontal Bunsen burner test
B) The insulation breakthrough test
C) The Steiner tunnel test
D) The heat release test
E) The insulation burnthrough test

[Rita]

E

[Fishface]

BZZT! Keep trying!

[Kristin]

B

[Koren]

A

[Rita]

D

[Fishface]

Well, I feel like I'm handing you the answer on a plate here, but BBZT, BZZT, and BZZT!

[Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa]

I'm going to guess C

[Fishface]

And that wild, irresponsible, unfounded guess is a -- DING DING DING -- absolutely correct answer!

The Steiner tunnel test is based on the Cocoanut Grove fire, in which a hallway ceiling lined with silk caught fire when someone held a match up to it. Steiner started testing all kinds of horizontally-hung materials including the soundproofing at the Station. Now, when hung on a ceiling and lit up, the burning part of that material drops to the floor and the fire puts itself out quickly. Using this test led them to rate the lining "non-flammable."

But -- oops! -- if you hang the stuff vertically and hold a match to it, the dripping material simply sets the whole wall on fire before you can say Jake Robinson. This type of insulation is also called, in the foam industry, "solid gasoline" for that very reason.

[Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa]