Abstract
Along with the thermal modernization process of old residential buildings, there has been a significant increase in the air tightness of apartments, which may contribute to the deterioration of the safety of users and rescue teams in a fire. The main goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the air tightness of an apartment on fire growth and temperature variability. In the work, an experimental method was applied. Two full-scale fire tests were carried out, one in a sealed apartment and the other in unsealed one. The temperature was measured by thirty-two thermocouples. Two thermal imaging and video cameras were also used to evaluate a temperature field as well as flame and smoke height. Based on the analysis, conclusions have been formulated. It is noteworthy that the highest temperatures and significant increase in pressure were obtained in a sealed apartment, but dangerous and critical conditions regarding firefighters’ safety were achieved faster and persisted much longer in an unsealed one.
Highlights
Due to increasing energy costs and requirements for thermal efficiency, many existing buildings in Poland are currently being improved with respect to the insulation properties of the enclosures as well as their air tightness
Comparing the values given in the table for a sealed room with the recommendations in force in various countries of our climate zone, which can be found, e.g., in [22], it can be stated that the measured air exchange (5.7 m3 /(h·m2 ))
On the basis of the analysis of results obtained during full-scale fires included in Chapter 5, the following final conclusions have been formulated: 1
Summary
Due to increasing energy costs and requirements for thermal efficiency, many existing buildings in Poland are currently being improved with respect to the insulation properties of the enclosures as well as their air tightness. This article is a continuation of the topics discussed in the work [1], where, based on experimental research, it was shown that the sealing apartment results in an increase in the concentration of toxic gases in comparison with an unsealed apartment. As it results from technical and construction regulations, the state of fire safety of a building is determined by the state of the environment in relation to people and by the state of the structure in relation to transferred loads [2]. The impact of fire on the building structure is usually of a secondary nature, and its dynamic course mainly affects the internal environment of the building and the environment, e.g., the evacuation capabilities of users and the safety of firefighters [3]
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