None of the many publications on the reaction of plastics to fire provides a comprehensive review of the fundamentals as well as of the relevant regulations and test methods. The Plastics Flammability Handbook, first published in 1983, has filled this gap.

The last decade saw a breakthrough in the internationalization of fire testing and classification, particularly in building, electrical engineering, and transportation. At the same time, the perception of how to assess the main parameters governing a fire and the role of combustible materials like plastics were redefined and led to new approaches, particularly in the fields of smoke development and toxicity of fire effluents. All these developments required a comprehensive revision of the handbook and are summarized in this 3rd updated and completely revised edition.