Evaluating Positive Pressure Ventilation In Large Structures: High-Rise Fire Experiments.
Evaluating Positive Pressure Ventilation In Large
Structures: High-Rise Fire Experiments.
(17094 K)
Kerber, S.; Madrzykowski, D.
NISTIR 7468; 141 p. November 2007.
Keywords:
high rise buildings; ventilation; structures;
evaluation; experiments; furniture; fans; instruments;
pressure; heat flux; cabon monoxide; weather effects;
thermal imaging; apartments; floors; wind effects; high
temperature; smoke; hallways; NFPA 92A; stairwells;
effectiveness; fire safety; fire fighters;
survivability; occupants; uncertainty
Abstract:
A series of six experiments was conducted in a high-rise
apartment building in Chicago, Illinois during November
2006. Experiments on each of the fire floors utilized
portable fans and another utilized a large truck or
trailer mounted fan. Two experiments on the third floor
examined the
effects of wind driven fire conditions. All of the
experiments created high temperatures and dense smoke
conditions in the hallway. Numerous configurations were
used during the experiments and the ability of the fans
to keep smoke and heat out of the stairwell was
analyzed. The minimum design pressures of NFPA 92A were
used as baselines to compare to the actual pressures
measured. In this limited set of experiments, portable
fans and mounted fans were able to quickly clear the
stairwell of smoke and maintain a pressure high enough
to prevent smoke infiltration into the stairwell.
Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fans utilized
correctly can increase the effectiveness and safety of
fire fighters and survivability of occupants in
high-rise buildings. When configured properly, PPV fans
can meet or exceed previously established performance
criteria for fixed smoke control systems. The primary
objective of this report is to present the reduced data
generated by the experiments. More detailed analyses
will be included in subsequent publications.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899