Development of a Room Fire Test

Abstract

This paper has attempted to indicate the need for full-scale room and compartment tests at this time, indicating two possible uses of the compartment test (for approval, or for validating small-scale tests) and has discussed a few of the factors which affect the design of the tests, using the choice of ignition source as an example of the problems involved in the test design. Reference is made to the recommended practice developed by the task group of American Society for Testing and Materials Committee E-39.10.01.

Calorimetry

“…The need for a standard room fire test and some aspects of its design were discussed by Benjamin in 1977 [85]. Subsequent research in North America to arrive at a standard full-scale test was conducted primarily by Fisher and coworkers at the University of California (UCB) [86] and by Lee at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) [87].…”

Combustion of mattresses exposed to flaming ignition sources :

“…Wilson [63] advocated the importance of time as the unifying variable in firesafety over a decade ago. More recently Benjamin [64] emphasized the importance of reporting room burn results in units of time. Williamson [65] has found that the analysis of fullscale room burns can be systematically accomplished by the use of a state transition model.…”

Room Fire Test for Fire Growth Modeling-A Sensitivity Study

“…First, an extensive review of the literature was undertaken [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Then, a five-step experimental program was designed to ultimately develop a validated mathematical model able to accurately describe fires extending to walls and ceilings.…”