Response Surface Approximation for the Bench-Scale Peak Heat Release Rate From Upholstered Furniture Exposed to a Radiant Heat Source.
Response Surface Approximation for the Bench-Scale Peak
Heat Release Rate From Upholstered Furniture Exposed to
a Radiant Heat Source.
(876 K)
Thompson, S. L.; Apostolakis, G. E.
Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1, 1-24, 1994.
Keywords:
upholstered furniture; heat sources; heat release rate;
flame spread; scenarios; small scale fire tests; oxygen
concentration
Abstract:
This work investigates the initial stages of a
residential fire scenario: specifically the peak heat
release rate from an item ignited by exposure to a
radiant heat source. Parameters which may define a
scenario include the material properties of the
furniture and the ignition source. The emphasis is on
the uncertainties in these parameters and their impact
on the peak heat release rate. A response surface
analysis is performed to determine the equivalent
bench-scale heat release as a function of fabric,
padding, oxygen concentration, and imposed radiant heat
flux. A response surface is a polynomial which
approximates the computer code and it may be used to
predict heat release values, as well as the
uncertainties in these values due to uncertainties in
the model input variables.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899