Study on the flashover criteria for compartmental fires

Wan Ki Chow

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Criteria on the possibility of having flashover in a compartment fire were reviewed. The heat balance equation in the compartment was studied. The zone model CFAST 2.0 was applied to study the fire environment in a small compartment with a door of different area. Important parameters including the average upper and lower layer temperature, the smoke layer interface height, and the mass flow rates for intake air and outgoing smoke were calculated. Those predicted results were substituted back to the heat balance equation for determining the possibility of having flashover. The analysis shows that it is possible to determine the likelihood for flashover by using a well-validated zone model. From the heat-temperature curves derived, effect of the sprinkler can also be studied.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)95-107
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Fire Sciences
Volume15
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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

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