Flammability

Flammability is the ability of a substance to ignite and sustain combustion under specified conditions. It depends on factors such as composition, temperature, and physical form.

Fire triangle: A model of fire requiring fuel, an oxidizer, and heat. It summarizes the conditions that allow a flammable material to burn.
Limiting oxygen index: The minimum oxygen concentration that supports flaming combustion of a material under a specified test. It compares how readily solid materials sustain flames as oxygen availability changes.
Combustibility: The capacity of a material to burn, often distinguished from easier ignition in regulatory contexts. Codes may reserve this term for materials that burn less readily than those called flammable.
Fire spread: The expansion of fire across or through materials, spaces, or structures. Highly flammable contents can help a fire move rapidly beyond its point of origin.
Ignition temperature: The temperature at which a substance ignites under specified test conditions. Heating a material to this threshold can initiate its combustion.
UL 94: A safety standard classifying the flammability of plastic materials used in devices and appliances. Its ratings translate controlled vertical and horizontal burn tests into material classifications.
Flash point: The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapor to ignite briefly near its surface. Flash point is a test measurement, not a general synonym for sustained flammability.
Smoke inhalation: The breathing of harmful gases and particles produced by fire. Burning flammable materials can produce toxic smoke that causes injury or death.
Flammable range: The range of fuel concentrations in air within which a flame can propagate. A combustible vapor ignites only when its concentration lies between these limits.
NFPA 704: A hazard-identification system that uses a colored diamond to communicate material risks, including flammability. Its red field signals fire hazards for substances stored or handled at facilities.

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