The role of combustible interior finish materials (CIFMS) in fire growth is often termed "flame spread" or "reaction to fire.".This phenomenon is inextricably tied to the heat release rate of the ignition source. Performance fire codes need to have a means of limiting the fire growth contribution of CIFMs and at the same time accounting for the expected role performed by contents. The concept of Critical Ignition Source Strength (CISS) is introduced as a possible performance criterion. Critical Ignition Source Strength links contents to CIFMs and focuses on the condition of flashover. The engineering level fire spread model of Quintiere is evaluated for its ability to predict CISS of a PVC foam wall lining. It is shown that improved opposed flow flame spread capabilities are needed, along with more directly applicable concurrent flow flame spread heat flux data. The lack of sufficiently detailed ignition source heat flux maps for common configurations is a current limitation. The importance of determining the "correct" finish material "properties" is demonstrated.
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