Sensor-Driven Fire Model Version 1.1.
Sensor-Driven Fire Model Version 1.1.
(233 K)
Davis, W. D.; Forney, G. P.
NISTIR 6705; 37 p. January 2001.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush
Service (Telephone Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website:
http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB2001-102385
Keywords:
fire models; ceiling jets; computer models; predictive
models; compartment fires; heat detectors; smoke
detectors; fire alarm systems; fire detection systems
Abstract:
Modern building fire sensors are capable of supplying
substantially more information to the fire service than
just the simple detection of a possible fire. With the
increase in the number of sensors installed in buildings
for non-fire purposes, it is possible to capture this
diverse information as input to fire alarm systems to
enhance the value of the information in both fire and
non-fire conditions. In order to use this information, a
fire model needs to be developed that interprets a range
of sensor signals and provides information about the
building environment to the fire panel. Typical fire
models useful for predicting the impact of fire in a
building utilize a prescribed heat release rate (HRR)
for the fire and can predict sensor response. For the
inverse problem, a sensor-driven fire model uses sensor
signals to estimate the HRR of the fire, identify areas
where hazardous conditions are developing, and predict
the development of the fire. A sensor-driven fire model
is being developed at NIST for the NIST Virtual
Cybernetic Building Test-bed to investigate the
feasibility of such a model in buildings with HVAC
systems. Version 1.1 of this model uses ceiling jet
algorithms for temperature and smoke concentration to
convert the analog or digital data from heat and smoke
detectors to a HRR. A version of CFAST is then used to
obtain layer temperatures and depths for the room of
fire origin as well as surrounding rooms. With this
information, the growth and spread of the fire and the
location of hazardous conditions can be estimated.
Details of the model will be presented and comparisons
with experiments will be provided.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899