Reconstructing the Station Nightclub Fire: Computer Modeling of the Fire Growth and Spread.
Reconstructing the Station Nightclub Fire: Computer
Modeling of the Fire Growth and Spread.
(2543 K)
Bryner, N. P.; Madrzykowski, D.; Grosshandler, W. L.
Volume 2;
Interflam 2007. (Interflam '07). International
Interflam Conference, 11th Proceedings. Volume 2.
September 3-5, 2007, London, England, 1181-1192 pp,
2007.
Keywords:
fire investigations; building fires; computer models;
fire growth; fire spread; fire models; wooden
structures; material properties; simulation; smoke
spread; heat release rate; temeprature; oxygen;
sprinklers; NFPA 13; nightclubs; nightclubs
Abstract:
On February 20, 2003, during a band performance,
pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation
lining the walls and ceiling of the platform that was
being used as a stage in The Station Nightclub,
Rhode Island, USA. The fire spread quickly along the
foam lined walls and ceiling, smoke emerged
from the exit doorways in less than one minute, smoke
dropped quickly to near the dance floor, and
flames broke through the roof in less than five minutes.
One hundred people lost their lives in the fire
and hundreds were injured. As part of its technical
investigation of the fire, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) utilized a computer fire
model to reconstruct the fire growth and
spread through the entire nightclub. Input data for the
fire model were developed from a wide range
of sources including pre- and post-fire photographs,
site visits, floor plan drawings, small scale
material testing, and real-scale mockup experiments. A
commercial television station's video tape of
the nightclub on the night of the fire provided
information on the start and spread of the fire that was
almost unprecedented in fire forensics. The model
simulation of the entire nightclub was consistent
with the video record during the early stages of fire
development. The reconstruction predicted quick
fire growth due to the burning of the convoluted
polyurethane foam and the rapid growth led to rapid
production of smoke, high temperatures, and low oxygen
levels throughout most of the simulated
nightclub. The fire model predicted that many of the
occupants had less than 90 seconds after
ignition to exit the structure. Although the nightclub
was not equipped with automatic water
sprinklers, a second simulation included sprinklers. For
a sprinklered nightclub, examination of the
predicted temperature and the oxygen volume fractions
shows tenable conditions would have existed
throughout the duration of the simulation (300 s), as
the fire was extinguished approximately 114
seconds after ignition. Based on the results of the
model and the findings of the investigation, NIST
made a number of recommendations that are aimed at
improving life safety in nightclubs.
