Investigation on the ability of glowing firebrands deposited within crevices to ignite common building materials

Manzello, Samuel L.; Park, Seul-Hyun; Cleary, Thomas G.

doi:10.1016/j.firesaf.2009.05.001

Cited by 79 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Regarding ornamental vegetation, Long et al (2006a) provided flammability data for horticultural beds by evaluating the effect of the type of mulch, planting composition and drought conditions on fire spread and heat release in both field and controlledenvironment conditions. Several experiments were carried out on firebrands but very few used surface fuels (Manzello et al 2006a(Manzello et al , 2006b(Manzello et al , 2007(Manzello et al , 2008(Manzello et al , 2009Ganteaume et al 2011b). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the flammability of surface fuels beneath ornamental vegetation in wildland–urban interfaces in Provence (south-eastern France)

Ganteaume¹,

Jappiot²,

Lampin³

2013

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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The objectives of this paper are to assess in laboratory conditions the flammability of undisturbed litter sampled beneath plants of seven species that are among those most frequently planted in hedges in Provence (south-eastern France). The variability in litter flammability recorded during burning experiments was partly explained by the proportions of the different litter components of each species. Phyllostachys sp. and Nerium oleander litters were the quickest to ignite whereas Prunus laurocerasus litter had the lowest bulk density and long time-to-ignition, but high flame-propagation. Photinia fraseri litter ignited frequently and had a high flame spread whereas Pittosporum tobira litter ignited the least frequently and for the shortest duration. Cupressus sempervirens litter had the highest bulk density and the longest flaming duration but the lowest flame propagation. Pyracantha coccinea litter was the slowest to ignite and flame propagation was low but lasted a long time. Co-inertia analysis identified species with the same flammability characteristics according to the composition of their litter. Hierarchical cluster analysis ranked the seven species in four distinct clusters from the most flammable (Photinia fraseri and Prunus laurocerasus) to the least flammable (Pittosporum tobira), the other species displaying two groups of intermediate flammability. These latter species should not be used in hedges planted in wildland–urban interfaces in south-eastern France.

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confidence: 99%

Assessing the flammability of surface fuels beneath ornamental vegetation in wildland–urban interfaces in Provence (south-eastern France)

Ganteaume¹,

Jappiot²,

Lampin³

2013

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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“…The duration of an actual WUI fire firebrand attack may be longer than the one simulated in this study, which would result in the tile roofing assembly being exposed to a greater number of firebrands, increasing the probability that a greater number of firebrands would deposit under the tiles. If the wind speed was higher, the temperature of the firebrands could be higher as compared to the present experiments, providing even more favorable conditions to melt and ultimately penetrate the sarking by melting the thin aluminum foil backing of this material (as Al has a melting temperature of 660 °C and glowing firebrand temperatures have been shown to exceed that [12]). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

“…Manzello et al [12] quantitatively showed that the surface temperature of glowing firebrands increased as the applied airflow was increased. In that work, building materials were observed to ignite under higher applied airflows, as compared to no ignition observed for lower applied airflows.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In that work, building materials were observed to ignite under higher applied airflows, as compared to no ignition observed for lower applied airflows. Specifically, firebrand temperatures were observed to increase from 550 °C at an applied wind speed of 1.3 m/s to 675 °C when the wind speed was increased to 2.4 m/s [12]. The duration of an actual WUI fire firebrand attack may be longer than the one simulated in this study, which would result in the tile roofing assembly being exposed to a greater number of firebrands, increasing the probability that a greater number of firebrands would deposit under the tiles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Performance of Concrete Tile and Terracotta Tile Roofing Assemblies Exposed to Wind-Driven Firebrand Showers

Manzello¹

2013

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“…The firebrand size and mass produced using the newly developed device presented in this paper has been tied to those measured from full-scale tree burns and actual WUI fires. Based on past ignition studies, continual bombardment of firebrands of the size and mass generated at a feeding rate of 15 pieces (34.6 g/min), which corresponds to 0.05 g/s of firebrands produced, are capable of igniting fuel beds [32][33]. Specifically, the firebrand sizes produced using this device are commensurate with characteristics of firebrand exposure at a single location during a severe wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire in California that destroyed 254 homes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Development and Characterization of a Reduced Scale Continuous Feed Firebrand Generator

Suzuki¹,

Manzello²

2011

Fire Safety Science - Proceedings of the 10th International Sym

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A new experimental apparatus, known as the NIST Reduced Scale Continuous Feed Firebrand Generator (the NIST continuous feed Baby Dragon) is presented. This version of the Firebrand Generator is based upon the NIST Dragon, the only experimental device capable of generating controlled firebrand showers. The unique features of the continuous feed Baby Dragon, as opposed to the present NIST Dragon, is the capability to produce a constant firebrand shower in order to expose building materials to continual firebrand bombardment. An experimental series was conducted to determine the range of operating conditions for this device. Wood pieces were fed into the device using a conveyer system, ignited using a propane burner, and a blower was used to loft the generated firebrands. The number flux and mass flux were measured as a function of feeding rate to determine optimum conditions to generate steady firebrand showers. It was observed that a feeding rate of 15 pieces (34.6 g/min) provided the most constant and uniform continuous firebrand production. Measurements of heat release rate (HRR) were conducted to make sure the device provided low HRR in order to determine if it may be considered for use by testing laboratories in a safe manner. Finally, the firebrand size and mass produced using the newly developed device presented in this paper are commensurate to those measured from full-scale tree burns and actual WUI fires.

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Investigation on the ability of glowing firebrands deposited within crevices to ignite common building materials

Cited by 79 publications

References 11 publications

Assessing the flammability of surface fuels beneath ornamental vegetation in wildland–urban interfaces in Provence (south-eastern France)

Assessing the flammability of surface fuels beneath ornamental vegetation in wildland–urban interfaces in Provence (south-eastern France)

The Performance of Concrete Tile and Terracotta Tile Roofing Assemblies Exposed to Wind-Driven Firebrand Showers

On the Development and Characterization of a Reduced Scale Continuous Feed Firebrand Generator

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