Experimental studies of compartmental fire

Full-scale burning tests were carried out with wood cribs and methanol in a fire chamber of height 4.0 m, width 3.0 m and height 2.8 m to study the preflashover stage of a compartmental fire and the effect of ventilation. The mass loss rate of fuel, temperature distribution in the compartment; air flow rates; oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide concentrations at the outlet openings were measured. The burning process was found to be affected by the ventilation rates when the ventilation factor was small or when there is over ventilation. Under those circumstances, a higher concentration of carbon monoxide was recorded.