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Your Landscape Mulch Will GO UP IN SMOKE! Larry G. Steward The Ohio State University ATI Slide 2 Slide 3 BASIC FACTS ABOUT MULCH USE Mulches are commonly applied in the landscape for a variety of reasons: Mulches are commonly applied in the landscape for a variety of reasons: Aesthetic Appeal and Color Aesthetic Appeal and Color Organic Content Organic Content Nutrient Content Nutrient Content Moisture Modification Moisture Modification Temperature modification Temperature modification Reduction of Weeds Reduction of Weeds Dust and Soil Stain Abatement Dust and Soil Stain Abatement Slide 4 Original Research Premise Most Commercial and Public Facilities no longer allow smoking inside Most Commercial and Public Facilities no longer allow smoking inside Only permitted location for smoking is outside 25 feet from facility entrances Only permitted location for smoking is outside 25 feet from facility entrances These facilities still desire the beauty of landscaping including organic mulching These facilities still desire the beauty of landscaping including organic mulching Consequently, is any mulching material Fire Ignition Resistant? Consequently, is any mulching material Fire Ignition Resistant? Slide 5 Slide 6 Mulches Used 1 to 2 Pine Bark Nuggets Slide 7 Mulches Used 1 Pine Bark Nuggets Slide 8 Mulches Used Ground Hardwood including Bark Slide 9 Slide 10 Mulches Used Dyed Ground Scrap Wood Slide 11 Slide 12 Mulches Used Composted Yard Waste Slide 13 Mulches Used Pine Straw Slide 14 Mulches Used Oat Straw Slide 15 Mulches Used Cocoa Hulls Slide 16 Mulches Used Ground Cypress Slide 17 Mulches Used Dyed Ground Tires Slide 18 Mulches Used Brick Chips Slide 19 Mulches Used Turf Grass Slide 20 Three Ignition Tests Discarded burning cigarettes Discarded burning cigarettes Wooden matches Wooden matches Propane torch Propane torch Slide 21 Ignition Tests Discarded Burning Cigarettes Discarded Burning Cigarettes Two times- Immediately after applying mulch and one year later Two times- Immediately after applying mulch and one year later Three cigarettes to each mulch-each a different brand Three cigarettes to each mulch-each a different brand Preliminary Findings Preliminary Findings Ignition varies to type and brand Ignition varies to type and brand Ignition varies to period of time mulch has been place Ignition varies to period of time mulch has been place Slide 22 Ignition Tests Match Ignition Match Ignition One test with three wooden matches to each mulch sample One test with three wooden matches to each mulch sample Six months after mulch installed Six months after mulch installed Preliminary Findings Preliminary Findings Most all mulches will ignite with this form of ignition Most all mulches will ignite with this form of ignition Some may not continue to burn after match is extinquished Some may not continue to burn after match is extinquished Slide 23 Ignition Tests Propane Torch Propane Torch Fifteen seconds applied to each mulch sample then torch removed Fifteen seconds applied to each mulch sample then torch removed Test done one year after installation of mulch Test done one year after installation of mulch Preliminary Results Preliminary Results Surprisingly even some of the organic mulches would not ignite Surprisingly even some of the organic mulches would not ignite Slide 24 Ignition Results 1 Mulches and Cigarettes ( Fresh Mulch with No Old Mulch Under Mulch) Times Ignition Occurred Oat Straw 2/4 Pine Straw 1/4 Balance of mulches did not ignite Slide 25 Ignition Results 2 Mulches and Cigarettes after one year (Matches had same results) Times Ignition Occurred Ground Recycled Pallets 4/4 Composted Yard Waste 4/4 Shredded Pine Bark 3/4 Oat Straw 2/4 Shredded Cypress 2/4 1 Pine Bark Nuggets 1/4 Rest of Replications 0/4 Slide 26 Ignition smoldered and burned down into mulch Ignition smoldered and burned down into mulch Slide 27 Same Happened with Compost Same Happened with Compost Slide 28 Slide 29 Slide 30 Slide 31 Slide 32 Ignition Results 3 Mulch and Propane Torch LSD = 1.19 Ease of Ignition-Torch 7.00 Decorative Ground Rubber 7.00 Pine Straw 6.88 Slide 33 Ignition Results Additional Match ignition of Rubber Chipped Mulch occurred every time in later demonstrations along with the Dyed Shredded Hardwood Mulch Match ignition of Rubber Chipped Mulch occurred every time in later demonstrations along with the Dyed Shredded Hardwood Mulch Fire in Chipped Rubber Mulch Fire in Chipped Rubber Mulch Gives off toxic fumes, Gives off toxic fumes, Cannot be extinguished with water in fact water spreads the flames Cannot be extinguished with water in fact water spreads the flames Extinguished by beating out with a shovel Extinguished by beating out with a shovel Slide 34 Slide 35 Ignition Results 3 Continued MulchLSD=1.19 Ease Of Ignition Oat Straw 5.00 Shredded Hardwood 4.13 Shredded Cypress 4.00 Ground Recycled Pallets 3.75 2 Pine Bark Nuggets 3.25 1 Pine Bark Nuggets 3.13 Cocoa Shells 2.63 Composted Yard Waste 2.13 Slide 36 Ignition Results 3 This compared to the sod rating of 2.13 and the brick chips rating of 1.13 This compared to the sod rating of 2.13 and the brick chips rating of 1.13 1 was equal to no flame at the end of the 15 seconds and 7 had to be extinguished after 1 minute following exposure to flame 1 was equal to no flame at the end of the 15 seconds and 7 had to be extinguished after 1 minute following exposure to flame Slide 37 What Did We Prove? Water in mulch will slow ignition Water in mulch will slow ignition Age and decomposition of mulch will increase ignition probability Age and decomposition of mulch will increase ignition probability Temperature of igniter can affect ignition Temperature of igniter can affect ignition Exposure time to igniter even at lower temperatures will increase ignition Exposure time to igniter even at lower temperatures will increase ignition Certain organic mulches CAN be used near smoking locations Certain organic mulches CAN be used near smoking locations Slide 38 OUR IGNITION RESULTS OAT STRAWVERY HIGH PINE STRAWVERY HIGH GROUND RUBBER TIRES (DYED)VERY HIGH SHREDDED PINE BARK, CYPRESS, or HARDWOOD-- HIGH* GROUND DYED PALLETSVERY HIGH* YARD COMPOSTMEDIUM* PINE BARK CHUNKS-TWO SIZESLOW TURFVERY LOW COCOA HULLSVERY LOW BRICK CHIPSNONE Slide 39 RESULTS* THE THREE NOTED WERE FOUND TO SMOLDER AND BURN WITHOUT FLAME FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN AGED FOR A YEAR. THE THREE NOTED WERE FOUND TO SMOLDER AND BURN WITHOUT FLAME FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN AGED FOR A YEAR. THEREFORE, IF NEW MULCH WERE COVERED OVER OLD MULCH, IGNITION OF NEW MULCH COULD OCCUR WHEN IGNITION TEMPERATURE IS REACHED. NO MATTER HOW LONG TIME HAS PASSED. THEREFORE, IF NEW MULCH WERE COVERED OVER OLD MULCH, IGNITION OF NEW MULCH COULD OCCUR WHEN IGNITION TEMPERATURE IS REACHED. NO MATTER HOW LONG TIME HAS PASSED. This NOT by spontaneous combustion This NOT by spontaneous combustion Slide 40 Conclusion One In those locations where lit smoking materials are discarded, the following mulches should NOT be used: In those locations where lit smoking materials are discarded, the following mulches should NOT be used: Ground recycled pallets Ground recycled pallets Composted yard waste Composted yard waste Shredded pine bark Shredded pine bark Oat straw Oat straw Shredded cypress Shredded cypress Ground recycled tires Ground recycled tires Slide 41 FLAMMABILITY OF MULCH Recent research on four common Florida mulches on flammability was done by Dr. Wayne Zipperer, et al; U. S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Gainesville, Florida Recent research on four common Florida mulches on flammability was done by Dr. Wayne Zipperer, et al; U. S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Gainesville, Florida Highest Temperatures Results were on Pine Straw and Large Pine Bark, next was Small Pine Bark and Lowest Temperature registered on Cypress Mulch Highest Temperatures Results were on Pine Straw and Large Pine Bark, next was Small Pine Bark and Lowest Temperature registered on Cypress Mulch Slide 42 Conclusion Two Where there is a chance of a Firewise Landscape/Wildfire Interface, the following mulches should NOT be used: Where there is a chance of a Firewise Landscape/Wildfire Interface, the following mulches should NOT be used: Decorative ground rubber Decorative ground rubber Pine straw Pine straw Oat straw Oat straw Shredded hardwood bark Shredded hardwood bark Ground recycled pallets Ground recycled pallets Slide 43 Under Decks Slide 44 Slide 45 Around Possible Ladder Trees Slide 46 Mulch and Fire The Potential for Burning of the Mulch Needs to be a Landscaping Consideration: When Selecting Mulch for a Public or Private Landscape What the Environmental Conditions are for the AreaDry or Wet Relationship to surrounding wild areas that have potential for wildfire Structure material in close proximity to mulch Slide 47 Mulch and Fire It has not been demonstrated that Spontaneous Combustion starts Landscape Mulch Fires due to the little depth of mulch. It has not been demonstrated that Spontaneous Combustion starts Landscape Mulch Fires due to the little depth of mulch. Fires are initiated and ignited by outside sources in the landscape. Fires are initiated and ignited by outside sources in the landscape. Slide 48 Possible Spontaneous Combustion Location Slide 49 Landscape Mulch Depth Not enough depth to build up heat if applied properly for self ignition-Smoke is merely steam from moisture in mulch Slide 50 Relationship to the Wildfire Interface Remember the Four Firewise Plant Zones Remember the Four Firewise Plant Zones Zone 1Structure foundation to 5 feet Zone 1Structure foundation to 5 feet Zone 2---5 feet to 10 feet from structure Zone 2---5 feet to 10 feet from structure Zone 3---10 feet to 30 feet from structure Zone 3---10 feet to 30 feet from structure Zone 4---Beyond 30 feet from structure(or Zone 4---Beyond 30 feet from structure(or 100 feet if uphill from wildfire source) 100 feet if uphill from wildfire source) Slide 51 1 2 3 4 Slide 52 Helps for you in the future Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector Beta CD available from United States Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry-Contact Ms. Donna Murphy Beta CD available from United States Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry-Contact Ms. Donna Murphy 140 trees and shrubs with Firewise ratings, use and descriptions and more 140 trees and shrubs with Firewise ratings, use and descriptions and more On Line Website On Line Website Under development now in cooperation with both Northeastern Area and Southeastern Area-USDA for release in 2009 Under development now in cooperation with both Northeastern Area and Southeastern Area-USDA for release in 2009 500 plants commonly found and used in Eastern U. S. 500 plants commonly found and used in Eastern U. S. Slide 53 Slide 54 Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector provides information to urban foresters and fire prevention professionals about how a specific plant species might influence the movement of fire and the safety of structures in fire-prone areas. It replaces more generalized flammability lists with an easy-to-use,It replaces more generalized flammability lists with an easy-to-use, searchable database developed using a credible, science-based ranking process. This prototype program includes 150 commonly used trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, and grasses typically found in residential areas of the Eastern United States.This prototype program includes 150 commonly used trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, and grasses typically found in residential areas of the Eastern United States. This tool targets users who are familiar with plant material or fireThis tool targets users who are familiar with plant material or fire prevention principles, but not both, when making decisions related to managing or planting vegetation on fire-prone sites. Users can search the database by plant name or request plantUsers can search the database by plant name or request plant recommendations based on specific needs related to fire prevention zones, plant characteristics related to flammability, or cultural preferences. From the generated lists of recommendations, users can then select a plant, and the Plant Selector generates a factsheet that summarizes the plants fire prevention suitability, cultural requirements, urban and utility use, and form. Slide 55 Thank You