Validation of Numerical Simulations of Compartment Fires with Forced or Natural Ventilation Using the Fire and Smoke Simulator (FSSIM), CFAST and FDS

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The Fire and Smoke Simulator (FSSIM) [1] Version 1.5 is a continuous time, physics-based simulation of the spread of fire and smoke inside a multi-level, multi-compartment geometry with complex ventilation. The model was developed to aid designers in analyzing the effect of changes in fire protection systems (both passive and active) and compartment layout on fire spread potential. It is also used to provide data on fire-related phenomena (e.g. temperature, smoke, activation of detection system, and effectiveness of active or passive fire protection) to support recoverability and vulnerability analyses. Extensive verification and validation exercises have been performed to demonstrate the applicability of FSSIM [2]. Additionally, a novel methodology to account for the known stratification effects of elevated fuel packages has been investigated in FSSIM. The current effort will examine the performance of FSSIM in simulating the 1986 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) enclosure fire tests [3]. The performance of FSSIM will then be compared to other commonly used fire simulation tools, including the Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport (CFAST) [4], and the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) [5]. This study is intended to demonstrate the relative level of accuracy that can be obtained from several fire models using simplistic methodologies such as those that may be employed in the design evaluation stage of fire hazard analysis. This effort supports the use of single zone models in the design and fire hazard analysis of highly complex buildings with multiple challenging design fire scenarios.