Abstract
The Swedish Fire Research Board and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency are sponsoring a project to further the understanding of the basic mechanisms involved, as well as to support the development of standards for and to seek ways of improving the performance of portable fire suppression systems used by fire departments.
This paper describes a physically based computer model developed to simulate one aspect of the problem: the manual suppression of postflashover fires. This includes: (1) an overview of the physical basis behind the model; (2) a comparison of model predictions with available experimental data, and (3) an analysis of fire suppression effectiveness using the model.
The analysis concludes that, when direct access and extinguishment of the burning fuel is not possible, improved fire control occurs with water sprays having a Rosin-Rammler distribution of droplet sizes with volume-median-drop diameters in the 0.15 to 0.35 mm range. This agrees with available experimental data. It is also shown that fire fighting venting and standoff distance requirements may lead to more severe fires requiring more water for control; although venting and water spray induced air/gas flow also serve to channel hot steam and gases away from the fire fighter adding to his safety. The analysis also shows that allowing higher gas and surface temperatures at fire control through improved fire fighter protective clothing and equipment design reduces water flow rate requirements. Additional experimental work is recommended before all these conclusions are considered definitive.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pietrzak, L. M., G. A. Johanson, and J. A. Ball,A Physically Based Fire Suppression Computer Simulation For Post-Flashover Compartment Fires, Volume I—Simulation Overview, Applications, Results and Experimental Comparisons. Volume II—User's Guide. Volume III—Simulation Formulation, Software Documentation, and Experimental Requirements. Volume IV—FORTRAN Listings, Mission Research Corporation, MRC-R-846, March 1986.
Kawagoe, K.,Fire Behavior in Rooms, Building Research Institute Report No. 27, Tokyo, 1950.
Kawagoe, K.,Estimation of Fire Temperature Time Curve in Rooms, Building Research Paper No. 29, Research Institute, Tokyo, 1967.
Babrauskas, V., and R. B. Williamson,Post-Flashover Compartment Fires, Report No. USBFRG 75-1, Fire Research Group, University of California, Berkeley, 1975.
Rosin, P. and E. J. Rammler, Journal of Institute of Fuel, Vol. 7, 1933.
Magee, R. S., and Reitz, R. D., “Extinguishment of Radiation Augmented Plastic Fires by Water Sprays,” Factory Mutual Research, FMRC Serial No. 22357-1, 1974.
Rasbash, D. J., “The Extinction of Fires by Water Spray,”Fire Research Abstracts and Review Vol. 4, Nos. 1 & 2, pp. 28–53, 1962.
Salzberg, F., F. J. Vodvarka, and G. C. Maatman, “Minimum Water Requirements for Suppression of Room Fires,”Fire Technology Vol. 6, No. 1, 1970, p. 22.
Fuchs, P., “Brand-und Loschversuche mit vershiedenen Loschmitteln in einem Versuchsraum naturlicher Gross,”Fire Protection Seminar Karlsruhe, Germany, VFDB, 1976.
Osuga, Ichinosuke, “Development of a Fog Stream-Fire Extinguishing System for Medium and High Storied Buildings,”OSAKA, No. 4, 1983.
“Osaka Fire Department Fights Water Damage,”Urban Innovation Abroad, 1984.
Bruce, Raymond, R., “Innovative Fog Nozzles — Research on the Use of Innovative Water Application in Suppressing Fires in Modern High-Rise Buildings,” Fairfax County VA Fire and Rescue Department, December 1985.
Pickard, D. Hird, et al.,Use of High and Low Pressure Water Spray Against Fully Involved Room Fires, Fire Research Station Note 388, England, 1959.
Nichols, Savage,Determination of Drop Sizes of High and Low Pressure Water Sprays, Fire Research Station Note 373, England, 1959.
Pietrzak, L. M., and G. A. Johanson, “Effect of Nozzles on Fires Evaluated in Terms of Flow Rate and Droplet Size,”Rekindle, Publication of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, December 1985.
Pietrzak, L. M., and G. A. Johanson, “Analysis of Fire Suppression Effectiveness Using A Physically Based Computer Simulation,”Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, National Bureau of Standards, October 1985.
Pietrzak, L. M., and G. A. Johanson, “A Physically Based Computer Simulation for Evaluating Post-Flashover Fire Suppression Effectiveness,”Proceedings of the UJNR Panel on Fire Research and Safety, Tsukuba Japan, May 1985.
Pietrzak, L. M. and J. A. Ball, “Investigation to Improve the Effectiveness of Water in the Suppression of Compartment Fires,”Fire Research, Vol. 1, 1978, pp. 291–300.
Pietrzak, L. M. and J. A. Ball, “Optimizing the Mobility and Fire Suppression Performance of Fire Engines Using Physically Based Computer Simulations,”Fou-brand, 1979.
Pietrzak, L. M., and W. J. Patterson, “Effect of Nozzles on Fires Studied in Terms of Flow Rate, Droplet Size,”Fire Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 12, 1979.
Pietrzak, L. M., and J. A. Ball,A Physically Based Fire Suppression Computer Simulation — Definition, Feasibility Assessment, Development Plan and Applications, MRC-R-732, Mission Research Corporation, April 1983.
Pietrzak, L. M., et al.,Decision Related Research on Equipment Technology Utilized by Local Government: Fire Suppression — Phase II Research Report, National Science Foundation Report No. NSF/RA-770207, Washington, DC, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Reference: L. M. Pietrzak and G. A. Johanson, “Directions for Improving Manual Fire Suppression Using a Physically Based Computer Simulation,”Fire Technology, Vol. 22, No. 3, August, 1986, p. 184.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pietrzak, L.M., Johanson, G.A. Directions for improving manual fire suppression using a physically based computer simulation. Fire Technol 22, 184–209 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01043124
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01043124