A Study on Fire Spread and Evacuation Risk of Conduit Combustion in Ceiling Hiding Place

Abstract

In this study, the ISO 5660 and ISO 5659 combustion tests were conducted with synthetic resin conduits (CD, VE) and metal conduit (ST) used for wiring work in electrical facilities, which can be installed in ceiling concealed places. Then, fire spreading and evacuation risks were analyzed based on the measured data. In the ISO 5660 test, CD of 120.5 MJ/㎡, VE of 81.9 MJ/㎡, and ST of 4.9 MJ/㎡ were measured. In the ISO 5659 test, the CD 1320, VE 731, and ST 102 were measured, and then the maximum smoke densities were measured for CD 605 s, VE 740 s, and ST 1,200 s. In terms of fire spreading and evacuation risk, the CD conduit, VE conduit, and ST conduit were in order. In the fire spreading risk analysis, total heat emission was calculated as 4,820 MJ/㎡, 4,267 MJ/㎡, and 196 MJ/㎡ for CD, VE, and ST, respectively. Evacuation risk analysis shows at transmittance of 89%, CD is 127 s, VE is 35 s, and ST is 969 s. At transmittance of 79%, representing almost invisible concentration, CD is 157 s and VE is 50 s. The CD and VE conduits had a high fire spreading and evacuation risks, while the ST conduit had little effect on fire spreading and evacuation risk.