Structural Collapse Fire Tests: Single Story, Ordinary Construction Warehouse.
Structural Collapse Fire Tests: Single Story, Ordinary
Construction Warehouse.
(8360 K)
Stroup, D. W.; Madrzykowski, D.; Walton, W. D.; Twilley,
W. H.
NISTIR 6959; 15 p. May 2003.
Available from:
Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB2003-104635
Keywords:
warehouses; structural collapse; building collapse;
building fires; fire data; fire fighting; large scale
fire tests; structural failure; temperature measurements
Abstract:
Two fire tests were conducted in a warehouse located in
Phoenix, Arizona to develop data for evaluation of a
methodology for predicting structural collapse. A
firewall was constructed to divide the warehouse into
two fire compartments. Temperatures were measured as a
function of time in three locations during the first
test and in two locations during the second test. In
addition, the concentration of carbon monoxide was
measured at selected locations during each test. Stacks
of wood pallets were used as the primary fuel source and
were ignited using paper and an electric match. Some
combustible debris and the building structural elements
provided the remainder of the fuel load. Peak
temperatures obtained during the tests ranged from
approximately 300 deg C (570 deg F) to 800 deg C (1470
deg F). Peak carbon monoxide measurement reached 4% in
the first test and 5% during the second test. The roof
of the front half of the structure burned through
approximately 18 minutes after ignition of the fire for
the first test. The roof of the back half of the
structure began burning about 15 minutes after the start
of the second test.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899