Zone fire modeling with natural building flows and a zero order shaft model

Abstract

This paper addresses applications of zone fire models to simulate smoke flow in multistory buildings. Natural flows in buildings are discussed. A zero order model for shaft smoke flow was developed which treated the shaft as one perfectly mixed zone. A two zone fire model was modified to simulate natural flows and the zero order shaft smoke flow. The extent to which the one zone model and the two zone model are appropriate to simulate smoke flow in shafts is discussed. The modifications for the natural building flow included development of new initial conditions and of the capability to simulate the gross effects of a heating and air conditioning system. Eighteen example zone model simulations were made to develop insight into the program modifications.