Abstract
A novel comprehensive methodology is presented for the determination of the vertical separation distance between floor glazing openings in buildings having a fire resistant non-flammable spandrel. The spandrel height is specified by requiring that the heat flux is less than a critical heat flux for glazing failure at the base of the opening of the floor above the floor of fire origin. For a specified room, opening geometries and fuel type, the heat flux at the base of this opening is calculated by using correlations for the flame height and heat flux distribution of the facade flames for under ventilated fire conditions in the compartment of fire origin. As the compartment opening increases a transition occurs from under ventilated to over ventilated conditions reducing the facade fire spread hazard. The methodology and results can also be applied for wooden and lightweight facade walls to predict fire spread behavior on the wall and towards the openings to floors above the floor of fire origin. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2016 Language: en
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONThe main mechanisms of façade flame spread after an initiating fire at the floor of fire origin are summarized as:
The main mechanisms of façade flame spread after an initiating fire at the floor of fire origin are summarized as: Fire spread to the interior of level above via openings such as windows causing secondary interior fires on levels above resulting in level to level fire spread. Flame spread over the external surface of the wall. Flame spread within an interval vertical cavity /air gap. Heat flux impacts cause degradation/separation of non-combustible external skin resulting on flame spread on internal core. Secondary external fires to lower levels arising from falling burning debris
Because the unburned fuel has been sufficiently heated and ignited, it is possible to have external flame heights with associated heat flux levels applied on the floor above the floor of fire origin, which could cause fire spread between floors through windows
Summary
The main mechanisms of façade flame spread after an initiating fire at the floor of fire origin are summarized as:. Because the unburned fuel has been sufficiently heated and ignited, it is possible to have external flame heights with associated heat flux levels applied on the floor above the floor of fire origin, which could cause fire spread between floors through windows This is possible for well-ventilated fires, but as the fuel has enough air to burn inside the compartment exterior flames would be much smaller. We demonstrate in this work that considerable flame height and heat flux values can be reached when specific opening sizes are associated with specific room sizes and fuel loads, which could lead to fire breakthrough on the floor above the floor of fire origin through windows even for the case that fire resistant standard block or concrete construction is used for the outside wall.
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