Abstract
SummaryAn experimental study of the influence of an exposed combustible ceiling on compartment fire dynamics has been performed. The fire dynamics in compartments with combustible cross‐laminated timber ceilings vs non‐combustible reinforced concrete ceilings in otherwise identical compartments with three different ventilation factors were investigated. The experimental results are compared against predictions from two theoretical models for compartment fire dynamics: (a) the parametric fire model given in EN 1991‐1‐2, and (b) a model developed at Technische Universität Braunschweig, which are the parametric fire models currently used in Germany. It is confirmed that the introduction of a combustible timber ceiling leads to higher temperatures within the enclosure, both under fuel‐controlled and ventilation‐controlled scenarios. It is also demonstrated that the theoretical models considered in this article require refinement in order to adequately represent all relevant scenarios when combustible ceilings are present. A refinement of the German model, by adding the fuel from the combustible ceiling to the occupancy fuel load, was shown to not adequately capture the response for the ventilation‐controlled fires.
Highlights
Bartlett, Alastair; University of Edinburgh School of Engineering, HEIDARI, MOHAMMAD; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de l'Industrie du Beton, ; Imperial College London, Robert, Fabienne; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de l'Industrie du
Since this calculation was performed without including the contribution from the burning ceiling, this is clearly an incorrect assessment of the available fuel, it indicates that more oxygen was available in this scenario than in those with lower opening factors. This additional available oxygen is considered to account for the more pronounced effect of the addition of a combustible ceiling. During this experiment there was no structural collapse of the cross laminated timber (CLT) slab
The approach of considering the additional fire load of timber by imposing an increased burning rate with the modified iBMB model led to reasonable predictions in terms of maximum temperatures and durations of the fully-developed phases
Summary
Alastair; University of Edinburgh School of Engineering, HEIDARI, MOHAMMAD; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de l'Industrie du Beton, ; Imperial College London, Robert, Fabienne; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de l'Industrie du. When comparing the data between the compartments with CLT or concrete ceilings, in the case of the largest opening factor of 0.144 m1/2 , the largest temperature difference measured 100 mm beneath the slab soffit was around 200oC.
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