Prudent practices for the design and installation of heat-producing devices near wood materials

The conditions required to cause ignition of solid wood materials under short-term heating are examined, and it is found that the appropriate ignition temperature applicable under these conditions is 250°C. It is then shown that ignition requirements are different if long-term heating is involved and that ignition can occur at exposure temperatures much lower than the ignition temperature pertinent to short-term heating. It is shown that hot surfaces of 77°C or higher, if located for a long duration next to a wood member are liable to lead to its ignition in a self-heating mode. Recommendation is made that prudent practices for design or installation must also involve a suitable safety factor.