Flashover for bus fires from empirical equations

Wan Ki Chow

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Flashover for local bus fires is discussed using the heat balance equation. Empirical equations on the air intake rates through the opening, heat release rate of the fire, and heat lost rate through the compartment wall are reviewed and applied. The possibility of flashover is studied by plotting the heat lost through the bus envelope and the heat generated by a fire against the air temperature rise in the bus compartment. The heat release rate curve of the fire was computed with the aid of a two-layer zone model. Heat losses through the bus envelope with different materials are compared. It is further confirmed that thermal conducting materials with higher heat loss would have lower chance to flashover.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81-93
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Fire Sciences
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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