Like many of you, I'm sure, I was amazed by the damage caused on I-85 by
"PVC pipe". And when I then heard that it was not PVC pipe but the orange
conduit used for fibre optic cables, I was only a little less baffled.
So, this afternoon I went to the shop and cut off a 2" piece of that stuff
from what I have left over after installing it as my macerator hose stowage
location.
Using a propane torch, I set fire to one end of the sample. The first
lighting didnt self-sustain, but the second one did. I had it hanging on a
steel hook until it melted itself free. It then landed on a piece of
concrete I'd positioned to catch the dripping plastic. From when I lit
that small piece of conduit until the smoldering pile of plastic lost all
flame was about 6 minutes.
I video taped the entire episode, but lost the file when I tried to
transfer it from my 'phone to Google Drive. Sorry 'bout that!
While I'm surprised it was possible for a mere match or cigarette lighter
to start the fire, I do believe that once started, an entire reel of that
stuff would go up pretty fast -- and there were apparently a LOT of reels
stored under the overpass.
Ken H.
"PVC pipe". And when I then heard that it was not PVC pipe but the orange
conduit used for fibre optic cables, I was only a little less baffled.
So, this afternoon I went to the shop and cut off a 2" piece of that stuff
from what I have left over after installing it as my macerator hose stowage
location.
Using a propane torch, I set fire to one end of the sample. The first
lighting didnt self-sustain, but the second one did. I had it hanging on a
steel hook until it melted itself free. It then landed on a piece of
concrete I'd positioned to catch the dripping plastic. From when I lit
that small piece of conduit until the smoldering pile of plastic lost all
flame was about 6 minutes.
I video taped the entire episode, but lost the file when I tried to
transfer it from my 'phone to Google Drive. Sorry 'bout that!
While I'm surprised it was possible for a mere match or cigarette lighter
to start the fire, I do believe that once started, an entire reel of that
stuff would go up pretty fast -- and there were apparently a LOT of reels
stored under the overpass.
Ken H.
