Numerical Study on Air Egress Velocity of Ancillary Room Pressurization Systems in Apartment Fires

Abstract

In this study, numerical simulations were performed on the air egress velocity of pressurization systems in an ancillary room when a fire occurred in an apartment house. The relationship between the air supply flow rate of a damper and air egress velocity at a fire door is predicted to be linear. Additionally, a minimum flow rate of the damper, which meets national fire safety standards for air egress velocity, i.e., 0.7 m/s can be estimated. Air egress velocity at the fire door is analyzed according to the supply air direction and installation height of the damper. When the damper has an upward supply air direction and is installed at a high level, the egress velocity at the top section of the fire door is larger, whereas the soot concentration at the ancillary room is lower than when the supply direction of the damper is downward. Therefore, it is found that increasing the air egress velocity at the top section of the fire door helps to efficiently prevent the inflow of smoke.