Fire Smoke Spread Research Articles

Validation Of A Network Fire Model Using The Ex-shadwell Submarine Ventilation Doctrine Tests

There is a need for fire modeling tools capable of rapid simulation of fire growth and smoke spread with complex ventilation in multiple compartments. Currently available tools are not capable of either the speed, the simulation of complex ventilation arrangements, and/or the ability to participate as a federate in a simulation environment. To address this, a new fire model was developed called FSSIM (Fire and Smoke SIMulator) [1]. FSSIM is a network model whose core thermal hydraulic routines are based on MELCOR [2]. FSSIM capabilities include remote ignition, multi-layer heat conduction, radiation streaming, HVAC systems, detection, suppression, oxygen and fuel limited combustion, and simple control systems. FSSIM was used to simulate four tests from the ex-Shadwell Submarine Ventilation Doctrine Tests. Excellent results are obtained in predicting the time-dependent temperature, visibility, and velocities.

441 散水設備作動時の区画火災性状 : その3 廊下の熱気流・煙伝播性状について(S40-1 火災科学とその応用(1),S40 火災科学とその応用)

441 散水設備作動時の区画火災性状 : その3 廊下の熱気流・煙伝播性状について(S40-1 火災科学とその応用(1),S40 火災科学とその応用)

Air Pressure and Building Envelopes

Control of airflow is essential to several important performance aspects of the building system. Air carries moisture which impacts a material’s longterm performance (serviceability) and structural integrity (durability), behavior in fire (smoke spread), indoor air quality (distribution of pollutants and microbial reservoirs) and thermal energy. Typical case studies are presented to illustrate how each of the above characteristics is affected when unintended airflow occurs as a result of poor construction. In some cases, there was simply a lack of understanding of the consequences of ignoring potential leakage paths and the interaction of the mechanical conditioning systems with the building structure. Rehabilitation of a troubled building requires that these interactions be understood. In general, the approach to developing that understanding is not involved.

Smoke venting and fire safety in an industrial warehouse

The intention of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of a performance-based solution for providing adequate life safety levels for the occupants of an industrial warehouse. Focus was given to the evaluation of the performance of a smoke venting system and the exit distribution in an industrial warehouse. Quantitative analyses of the available safe egress time and the required safe egress time were carried out using both a simple calculation and a computer modelling technique. The study included a sensitivity analysis to investigate multiple fire scenarios involving variations in design fires, ventilation conditions and number of exits. Computer simulations of fire growth and smoke spread in a large warehouse with a proportionally large ridge vent revealed somewhat interesting smoke movement patterns. The procedure for determining tenability in a well-ventilated high ceiling space is discussed. The result of the study demonstrated the acceptability of the alternative design solution against the established criterion. The limitations of the modelling technique and future research topics are also discussed.

Doorway Calorimetry for Heat Release Rate Measurement in Building Fires

Heat release rates obtained with conventional room calorimeters are not always readily applicable to the study of realistic fires, since the local environment in a conventional room calorimeter can be vastly different to that in a normal building enclosure. The doorway room calorimeter studied in this work was developed to overcome this difficulty and measure the heal release rate without disturbing the conditions in the burn room. Heat release rate is obtained from the use of the oxygen consumption method and the analysis of the measured velocity, temperature and oxygen concentration profiles across the burn room door. The technique was used in a series of building fire experiments involving various types of fuel loads under naturally ventilated combustion conditions. The measured heat release rates were compared with that based on fuel mass loss measurement. The results supported the feasibility of the technique and demonstrated its potential application in the studies of naturally ventilated fire growth and smoke spread in buildings.

Numerical simulation of multistory building fire with zone—Modeling method

Based on the basic idea of zone modeling method, a two-layer zone model is developed and programmed to calculate the fire growth and smoke spread in a multi-room building subjected to a fire. The related predictive equations, numerical simulation method and sub-models implemented in this model are concisely described. A set of experimental data from Cooper’s work at NIST for a two-room compartment fire are chosen for comparison with the model and program, and the numerical results fundamentally agree well with the experimental data. Then, an example of numerical calculation of a two-story building fire is presented, and the relevant output results are given and analyzed.