Fire Risk Research Articles

Reduced scale test bench for investigating the upward flame heat impact on external thermal insulation composite system facades

The project aimed to develop a reduced scale test protocol designed to be repeatable and capable of providing the upward fire evaluation for assessing fire risk on external thermal insulation composite system facade samples. The variation of heat flux is simulated by radiant panel. This experimental setup permits the recording of dynamic variables in flame propagation, such as ignition time, flame extinguishing time, and variations in both surface and back temperatures of the insulation panel. Notably, the measurement of back temperature provides a means to assess the thermal insulation efficiency of the external thermal insulation composite system facade. Furthermore, the fire spreading temperature is collected during the test could also be useful for larger-scale testing.

Urban Fire Risk Dynamics and Mitigation Strategies in Shanghai: Integrating Spatial Analysis and Game Theory

In recent decades, the increasing frequency of urban fires, driven by urban functional enhancements and climate change, has posed a growing threat to metropolitan sustainability. This study investigates the temporal and spatial characteristics of fire incidents in Shanghai from 2019 to 2023. Using satellite fire point data and official government records, kernel density analysis and wavelet analysis were employed to analyze the time series and spatial distribution of fire data. Subsequently, eleven primary factors influencing urban fire occurrence were identified, encompassing probability, regional characteristics, and hazard sources. A combined methodology of subjective and objective weights with game theory was used to generate a fire risk assessment at a 1 × 1 km2 grid scale. Furthermore, the spatial distribution characteristics of the assessments were analyzed. The results reveal that the downtown area exhibits the highest intensity of urban fires in terms of spatial domain, with a decreasing intensity towards the suburbs. Temporally, fire frequency demonstrates significant periodicity at an 18a time scale, while clear seasonal fluctuations and periodicity are observed at a 16-22a time scale, with higher occurrences in spring and winter. The study identifies typical aggregation patterns of urban fires, with high-risk centers in downtown Shanghai. Considering the impact of climate change and human activities, high-risk areas may gradually expand to adjacent urban suburbs, presenting a concerning future scenario. By examining the dual attributes of “combustibles and fireproof space” within urban greening systems, this research offers recommendations for the future strategies of disaster prevention and mitigation of green systems in Shanghai.

Reliability evaluation of a medical oxygen supply system by FTA based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets

The main objective of healthcare centers is to ensure a consistent and high-purity oxygen supply for the safety of patients. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) is a commonly used technique for supplying medical oxygen by eliminating nitrogen from the ambient air. Due to the increased fire risk associated with oxygen, any malfunctions in the oxygen supply system can lead to serious hospital fires. This study aimed to assess the reliability of the oxygen supply system using Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) based on both the traditional method and Intuitionistic Fuzzy Analysis. FTA is a logical analysis method used to identify events that could result in an undesirable top event and calculate the probability of its occurrence. The FTA of the PSA system outlined the logical sequence of events that could lead to the release of oxygen as a top event. The study revealed that the failure of the pressure switch in the concentrator, inadequate sealing, and the use of inappropriate materials for the seals were the primary basic events that led to the release of oxygen. Additionally, this study utilized the Intuitionistic Fuzzy System to quantify experts' opinions, providing more flexibility in handling ambiguous situations and considering both membership and non-membership functions simultaneously.

Fire Risk Reduction and Recover Energy Potential: A Disruptive Theoretical Optimization Model to the Residual Biomass Supply Chain

Rural fires have been a constant concern, with most being associated with land abandonment. However, some fires occur due to negligent attitudes towards fire, which is often used to remove agroforestry leftovers. In addition to the fire risk, this burning also represents a waste of the energy present in this residual biomass. Both rural fires and energy waste affect the three dimensions of sustainability. The ideal solution seems to be to use this biomass, avoiding the need for burning and recovering the energy potential. However, this process is strongly affected by logistical costs, making this recovery unfeasible. In this context, this study aims to propose an optimization model for this chain, focusing on the three dimensions of sustainability. The results of the present study comprise a summary of the current state of the art in supply-chain optimization, as well as a disruptive mathematical model to optimize the residual biomass supply chain. To achieve this objective, a literature review was carried out in the first phase, incorporating the specificities of the context under study to arrive at the final model. To conclude, this study provides a review covering several metaheuristics, including ant colony optimization, genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, and simulated annealing, which can be used in this context, adding another valuable input to the final discussion.

Bio-based boards made of hazelnut shell and A. donax for indoor applications - A solution with good performance in case of fire

The present study investigated the reaction to fire of bio-based boards for indoor applications made of A. donax and hazelnut shells as aggregates. A sodium silicate solution was employed as the adhesive due to its several advantages. Among others, the possibility of moderating some of the main drawbacks of bio-based building composites, such as the resistance to fire. The considered materials were analysed both individually, to test their inherent properties, and when integrated into the composites, ensuring considerations about materials' influence on the final products’ properties. Two different test methods, using a cone calorimeter, were considered and performed. The results showed that the sodium silicate solution avoided flaming and smoking, in case of a constant heat application with and without an igniter (spark), demonstrating the benefit of its use in this type of bio-based composites. Overall, the particleboards demonstrated their ability to comply with fire behaviour consistent with the Class A1 requirements, while the bio-components on themselves were characterized by an intermediate fire risk propensity. Thus, the present study provided an effective solution to avoid one of the main drawbacks of bio-based composites. It demonstrated the feasibility of employing the proposed bio-based boards as indoor coating, with no risk to human life in case of fire.

Применение методов пространственного анализа при оценке степени горимости лесов Хабаровского края

Forest fires are the dominant factor in the transformation of natural landscapes in the boreal zone. The area of the Khabarovsk Territory, 93.6 % of which belongs to the forest fund lands, currently has a forest cover of only 66.5 %, which is largely due to forest fires. This makes urgent the problem of reducing the forest fire frequency in the region, including in terms of assessing the actual fire frequency for predicting the risks of landscape fires. The article shows the possibilities of using spatial analysis methods of the Spatial Analyst module of the ArcGIS 10.8 software package to assess the degree of actual forest fire frequency based on calculating the number of fires per 1 million and 250 thousand ha and the area of fires per 1000 ha for a sliding window of a given size. Based on the data from the Remote Monitoring Information System of the Federal Forestry Agency for 2000–2020 and the data on the number of fires from the Fire Information for Resource Management System website for 2000–2021, an assessment of the actual fire frequency for the Khabarovsk Territory has been carried out. The analysis of the results reflects the high spatial and seasonal heterogeneity of the spread of landscape fires in the territory and their proximity to transport and residential structures. Areas with high fire frequency often do not coincide with the boundaries of forestry enterprises, and the maximum indicators are typical for non-forest areas that are not covered by forestry statistics. For different seasons of the year, along with quantitative differences, spatial shifts of firing points and areas with their high density are also observed. Most of the lands in the region (88.3 %) in terms of fire danger belong to the “low” and “below medium” fire frequency categories, which is primarily due to the low degree of development of these areas. The assessment of the degree of fire frequency in the territory on the basis of annual and seasonal maps of the density of firing points, calculated using the sliding window method, makes it possible to fairly objectively and in detail reflect the average long-term risk of fire occurence outside of reference to forestry boundaries. In combination with a map of the distribution of forests by natural fire hazard classes based on pyrological characteristics, the results of the reseаrch can become the basis for calculating the background fire risk, reflecting the risk of fire occurrence and development.

A fire risk assessment method for offshore platforms: applications of 24Model with BN

ABSTRACT This paper integrates the 24Model with a BN and proposes a fire risk assessment method for offshore platforms. Triangular fuzzy membership function fuzzy set theory, coefficient of variation method and the combination of node state distance function and fuzzy inference are used to address the subjectivity and uncertainty due to insufficient objective data and conflicting opinions of multiple experts. Based on the proposed method, the human, organisational and technical factors of an offshore platform are comprehensively analysed from the perspective of the system. Based on diagnostic inference and sensitivity analysis, the main affecting factors and causal path of the risk scenario are determined. The results show that the proposed method could help in identifying the root causes of the failures and provide new insights into the probabilities and relationships among different factors.

Probabilistic Path Planning for UAVs in Forest Fire Monitoring: Enhancing Patrol Efficiency through Risk Assessment

Forest fire is a significant global natural disaster, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained attention in wildfire prevention for their efficient and flexible monitoring capabilities. Proper UAV patrol path planning can enhance fire-monitoring accuracy and response speed. This paper proposes a probabilistic path planning (PPP) module that plans UAV patrol paths by combining real-time fire occurrence probabilities at different points. Initially, a forest fire risk logistic regression model is established to compute the fire probabilities at different patrol points. Subsequently, a patrol point filter is applied to remove points with low fire probabilities. Finally, combining fire probabilities with distances between patrol points, a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm is employed to generate an optimal UAV patrol route. Compared with conventional approaches, the experimental results demonstrate that the PPP module effectively improves the timeliness of fire monitoring and containment, and the introduction of DP, considering that the fire probabilities and the patrol point filter both contribute positively to the experimental outcomes. Different combinations of patrol point coordinates and their fire probabilities are further studied to summarize the applicability of this method, contributing to UAV applications in forest fire monitoring and prevention.

Combustion characteristics and mechanism of hydrothermally aged asphalt in underwater tunnels

Asphalt could suffer hydrothermal ageing in underwater tunnels, which varies its combustion characteristics significantly. The hydrothermally aged asphalt (HA) was comparatively studied with base asphalt (BA) and thermal-oxidatively aged asphalt (TA). Major findings are achieved: (1) The C＝O and S＝O bonds are more abundant in TA/HA than BA. HA contains more prominent –OH and H2O but less substantial aliphatics. And it has lower SO than TA by about 20 %, attributing to the oxygen isolation of aqueous immersion during hydrothermal ageing. (2) Remarkably bimodal heat release rate (HRR) peaks are found for HA, while only unimodal HRR peak is observed for TA/BA. Importantly, the primarily main HRR peak of HA occurs at around 110 s, which exhibits to be earlier than those of TA/BA by over 120 s. Meanwhile, the fire growth rate index (FGRA) of HA is higher than those of TA/BA by more than 15 %, implying that hydrothermal ageing dramatically increases the asphalt's fire risk. (3) Herein, the combustion mechanism of bimodal HRR peaks found for HA is analyzed, attributing to thin-layer boilover effect. This could be supported by plentiful pores observed on the combusted HA via scanning electron microscopy technique.

Syringaldehyde‐DOPO derivative for enhancing flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy resin

AbstractWith the wide application of epoxy resins in adhesives, electronic packaging materials, and aerospace fields, it is necessary to prepare high‐performance flame‐retardant epoxy resins to reduce the fire risk caused by their flammability. In this study, the rigid structure intermediate Schiff base (DMDA‐SH) was synthesized by condensation reaction of syringaldehyde (SH) with O‐Tolidine (DMDA). Then, DMDA‐SH‐DOPO, a novel P/N‐structured biobased flame‐retardant curing agent, was synthesized by addition reaction with 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxaza‐10‐phosphame‐10‐oxide (DOPO) and was applied to the preparation of intrinsic flame‐retardant epoxy resin. As expected, DMDA‐SH‐DOPO has good flame‐retardant properties due to the synergistic action of N/P elements. Epoxy resin with only 2.5% DMDA‐SH‐DOPO (P = 0.16%) can pass the UL‐94 V‐0 test. Compared with DGEBA/DDM, DMDA‐SH‐DOPO‐7.5's (P = 0.49%) peak heat release rate was reduced by 48.4% and the limiting oxygen index (LOI) reached 27%, making it a flame‐retardant material. From the point of view of carbonaceous residue performance, the expansion height of carbon residue after DMDA‐SH‐DOPO‐7.5 combustion is significantly increased, and the amount of carbon residue at 800°C is increased by 36.4%. In addition, appropriate DMDA‐SH‐DOPO can effectively improve the bending property of epoxy resin. This study provides a new idea for preparing renewable high‐performance intrinsic flame‐retardant epoxy resin.

Development of a Finishing Process for Imbuing Flame Retardancy into Materials Using Biohybrid Anchor Peptides

Flame retardants are commonly used to reduce fire risk in various products and environments, including textiles. While many of these additives contain harmful substances, efforts are underway to reduce their usage. Current research aims to minimize flame-retardant quantities and enhance durability against external factors. This involves utilizing anchor peptides or material-binding peptides (MBPs), which are versatile molecules that bind strongly to surfaces like textiles. MBPs can be equipped with functional molecules, e.g., flame-retardant additives, by chemical or enzymatic bioconjugation. In this research, biohybrid flame retardants and an adapted finishing process are developed. Specifically, biobased adhesion promoters, the so-called MBPs, are used to finish textiles with flame-retardant additives. To date, there is no finishing process for treating textiles with MBPs and so a laboratory-scale finishing process based on foulard was developed. Necessary parameters, such as the take-off speed or the contact pressure of the squeezing rollers, are determined experimentally. In order to develop an adapted finishing process, various trials are designed and carried out. Part of the trials is the testing and comparison of different textiles (e.g., glass woven fabrics and aramid woven fabrics) under different conditions (e.g., different ratios of MBPs and flame retardants). The finished textiles are then analysed and validated regarding their flammability and the amount of adhered flame retardants.

Challenges of pre-hospital emergency care at Addis Ababa Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a qualitative study

BackgroundA challenge to pre-hospital emergency care is any barrier or obstacle that impedes quality pre-hospital care or impacts community pre-hospital utilization. The Addis Ababa Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission (AAFDRMC) provides pre-hospital emergency services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These services operate under a government-funded organization that delivers free emergency services, including out-of-hospital medical care and transportation to the most appropriate health facility. This study aimed to assess the challenges of pre-hospital emergency care at the Addis Ababa Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodsA qualitative descriptive study was conducted from November 20 to December 4, 2022. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 21 experienced individuals in the field of pre-hospital emergency care, who were selected using purposeful sampling. A thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data.ResultsThis study includes twenty-one participants working at the Addis Ababa Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission. Three major themes emerged. The themes that arose were the participants’ perspectives on the challenges of pre-hospital emergency care in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Conclusion and recommendationThe Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission faces numerous challenges in providing quality pre-hospital emergency care in Addis Ababa. Respondents stated that infrastructure, communication, and resources were the main causes of pre-hospital emergency care challenges. There has to be more focus on emergency management in light of infrastructure reform, planning, staff training, and education, recruiting additional professional power, improving communication, and making pre-hospital emergency care an independent organization in the city.

Contributing to the knowledge of Pantanal Flora: a new endemic species of Dimerostemma (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Dimerostemma pantanalense is a new species, which is described, illustrated, and discussed in this paper. The species can only be found in the municipalities of Ladário and Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Pantanal, Brazil. It is preliminarily categorized as Critically Endangered (CR) due to the advance of urbanization and the risk of fires in the Pantanal. It is morphologically similar to D. annuum but differs by its life-cycle perennial (vs. annual), leaves opposite and alternate (vs. only opposite), sessile (vs. subsessile with petiole up to 5 mm long), lanceolate (vs. linear), venation suprabasal acrodromous imperfect (vs. hyphodromous), adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces strongly villous to estrigose and glandular (vs. only nearly glabrous), receptacle convex to conical (vs. only convex), phyllaries 3-seriate (vs. 2-seriate), conduplicate palea carinate-alate (vs. not carinate-alate), cypselae oblanceolate to obovate (vs. subquadrangular) and pappus coroniform with two slightly developed awns (vs. coroniform with two well-developed awns). We present photographs and line drawings of the new species, along with discussions on its geographical distribution, habitat, phenology, and conservation status. Additionally, we provide an identification key for species of the genus in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Mechanisms for Data Acquisition to Train Artificial Intelligence Models for Detecting Increased Susceptibility to Fire Situations by Using Internet of Things Devices and Satellite Systems

Aim: Exploration and developing mechanisms of advanced data acquisition necessary for training an artificial intelligence model capable of effectively detecting areas with increased susceptibility to fire situations. The study focuses on utilizing data from satellite missions and ground-based sensors, which provide both high-resolution imagery and precise data on temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. By analysing these diverse data sources, the research aims to create a comprehensive and efficient model capable of early detection of potential fire hazards, which is crucial for prevention for fire-prone situations. Project and methods: It centres on a project that aims to enhance fire detection and management through the integration of artificial intelligence with data acquired from satellite systems and internet of things devices. The methodologies employed in this project involve a combination of advanced data acquisition, machine learning techniques, and the synthesis of diverse environmental data to train artificial intelligence models that can predict and detect fire incidents more effectively. Results: Significant advancements in fire detection and management have been demonstrated through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with satellite data and IoT: 1. Enhanced monitoring capabilities the use of satellite data systems enabled real-time monitoring of thermal anomalies and vegetation health, crucial for early detection and effective monitoring of wildfires. This real-time capability allowed for quicker responses and more informed decision-making in firefighting efforts. 2. Effective integration of data sources: the integration of satellite and surface data proved to be effective in enhancing the predictive capabilities of the fire management systems. This comprehensive approach allowed for a better understanding of fire dynamics and contributed to more accurate and timely predictions. Conclusions: It could be emphasize the significant benefits and future potential of integrating artificial intelligence with satellite and internet of things data for improving fire detection and management. The integration of satellite imagery and internet of things sensor data is essential for enhancing the predictive accuracy of artificial intelligence systems. This integration allows for a comprehensive assessment of fire risks, providing actionable intelligence that is critical for prevention for fire-prone situations. These conclusions underscore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing fire management systems. Keywords: data acquisition, artificial intelligence, IoT, satellite data systems, fire management systems

A survey of recent publications on polymers employing reactive, halogen‐free flame‐retardant functionalities

AbstractModern society relies heavily on producing commercial and industrial plastics to improve the quality and quantity of our lives. However, increased fire risks threaten commercial operations and the potential impact of high‐performance electronic and transportation technologies that utilize polymeric materials. Despite significant monitoring and reduction of commonly used halogenated flame retardants, their worldwide usage still poses environmental hazards. Many non‐halogenated flame‐retardant compounds are viable additives for synthetic polymers; however, their incorporation often results in reduced composite homogeneity and mechanical strength. This review focuses on reactive flame retardants and the effect of polymer structure on inherent flame retardance in recent studies. The synthesis and characterization of polymeric systems (e.g. polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, polyesters and epoxy resins) are discussed in terms of structure–flame‐retardant performance using a complement of analytical tools, including thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimetry, limiting oxygen index and UL 94 testing. These commercially important polymeric systems represent a broad compositional space for future adaptation and the discovery of increasingly modular polymeric materials with, while also contributing to the fundamental understanding of unique combinations of gas‐ and condensed‐phase mechanisms of flame retardance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fire Blackbox Control for Public Marketing

This paper presents the system for Fire Blackbox control in Public Marketing. When information is required following a fire incident, investigators or police might use the smart black box system to collect information. The black box system is used to continuously record, temperature, smoke, and other data. The information is then stored in a storage device. We are able to examine, track, and evaluate fire situations. In this paper, we propose a novel concept termed "Fire Black Box Control" (FBBC) tailored specifically for public marketing spaces. FBBC integrates cutting-edge sensing technologies, data recording, and data analytics. We present a comprehensive framework for implementing FBBC, encompassing sensor deployment strategies, data processing techniques, decision-making algorithms, and performance evaluation methodologies. Through extensive simulations and analysis, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed FBC approach in mitigating fire risks and ensuring regulatory compliance in public marketing spaces

On fire risk reduction when operating individual households

The article aims to elaborate a technical means for reducing fire occurrence in internal electrical networks of individual households. General scientific methods of numerical analysis, electric circuit theory, and prediction theory were used. It was determined that the operating mode of the electric network under study is characterized by a significant unbalanced power consumption due to the asymmetry and non-sinusoidality of phase currents caused by the occurrence of additional symmetrical components of forward, reverse, and zero sequences. Additional heat losses increase significantly and lead to overheating of the neutral conductor, thus intensifying fire risks. On the basis of measurements and the authors’ software, a simulation modeling of integration of the developed balancing device into the investigated network was carried out. The conducted analysis found that the developed device can reduce additional heat losses and fire risks by over 90%. Using statistical methods of forecasting, regression analysis in particular, a preventive long-term assessment of the level of additional power losses was conducted. Autoregressive equations for predicting the parameter of additional power losses at a certain probability level were derived. MATLAB graphic editor technologies and Excel software were used to visualize changes in the studied indicators. The results can be used by construction companies when designing the internal electrical network of individual households, as well as for researchers developing approaches to reducing additional losses of electrical energy.

Simplified identification of fire spread risk in building clusters based on digital image processing technology

ABSTRACT Due to factors such as smoke, the non fire identification rate and fire identification accuracy in building fire identification are low, resulting in poor identification results. Therefore, a simplified identification method for building fire spread risk based on digital image processing technology is proposed. A fire spread model is constructed by considering both thermal radiation and thermal plumes, and based on this model, changes in smoke, temperature, and other factors during the occurrence of a fire are obtained. Using K-means to improve the dark channel defogging algorithm, the image after defogging is obtained, making the colour of the image more prominent and the feature information more abundant. Using the area threshold method to further extract the flame target contour in the defogged image, and determine whether the suspected flame area is a flame. Finally, four aspects of colour, sharp corner characteristics, area growth characteristics, and automatic estimation of propagation direction were identified to obtain simplified identification results for fire propagation risk. The experimental results show that the average non fire recognition rate of the proposed method reaches 95.8%, with good fire recognition accuracy and recognition effect, which verifies its feasibility.

Experimental study on fire extinguishing performance of typical large space fires on ships

ABSTRACT A reliable fire extinguishing system is an effective measure to reduce the risk of ship fire. Based on a typical large space cabin platform, the experiments on the fire extinguishing performance of different fire extinguishing systems (high-expansion foam, aqueous film-forming foam and water spray) against oil pool fire (6 MW) and wood stack fire (0.3 MW) were carried out. The results show that for oil pool fire, the fire extinguishing performance of aqueous film-forming foam system is higher than that of high-expansion foam system. The fire extinguishing performance of high-expansion foam system is significantly affected by the relative location of high-expansion foam generator, fire source and obstacle. For wood stack fire, the fire extinguishing performance of water spray system is the best, and the fire extinguishing time is only 25 s, followed by the aqueous film-forming foam system (54 s) and the high expansion foam system (66 s).

К ВОПРОСУ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ НОРМАТИВНОЙ БАЗЫ ПО ПОЖАРНОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ СТОЕЧНЫХ СУДОВ

The actual problem of improving the regulatory documentation on fire safety of rack-mounted inland water transport vessels used as hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, in which there is a significant number of visitors (mass stay of people), is considered. There is an increase in the number of such vessels, and, consequently, an increased risk of fires with severe consequences. The purpose of the work is to improve the regulatory framework for fire safety of moored ships. The study used the method of analyzing statistics and problematic issues of their suppression. The results of the work showed the need to assess the features of ensuring the safety of rack-mounted non-self-propelled vessels. Based on the processing, analysis and systematization of the data obtained, it will be possible to develop proposals for further implementation in legal documents and assess the feasibility of their application.