AbstractMuch has been learned about fire from laboratory studies on fire gases, but the idea of using a laboratory toxicity test to rank or rate materials with respect to fire safety has not proved to be a fruitful concept. ‘Toxicity’ standards or specifications are not an effective defense against the threat of toxic fumes in fire for reasons which are fundamental to the nature of fire itself. As a matter of public policy on materials standards, by far the best way of reducing the threat of toxic fumes and all other fire threats is by control and regulation of those materials properties or performance aspects which permit the elimination or moderation of fire. Some of the concepts discussed in this paper run counter to commonly held assumptions, and they are put forth for the purpose of stimulating open public discussion on alternative approaches to improved decision‐making in fire s