Methods for Predicting Smoke Detector Activation.
Methods for Predicting Smoke Detector Activation.
(878 K)
Bukowski, R. W.; Averill, J. D.
U.S./Japan Government Cooperative Program on Natural
Resources (UJNR). Fire Research and Safety. 14th Joint
Panel Meeting. Proceedings. May 28-June 3, 1998,
Tsukuba, Japan, 213-221 pp, 1998 AND Fire Suppression
and Detection Research Application Symposium. Research
and Practice: Bridging the Gap. Proceedings. National
Fire Protection Research Foundation. February 25-27,
1998, Orlando, FL, 64-72 pp, 1998, 1998.
Keywords:
fire suppression; fire detection; fire research; fire
safety; smoke detectors; computer models; ionization
detectors; light scattering detectors; particle size
distribution; response time; smoke coagulation; smoke
Abstract:
With the advent of performance-based codes in the United
States, a reliable methodology for predicting the
activation time of smoke detectors becomes crucial to
the proper consideration of the value of detection
systems to meeting performance objectives. This paper
will review three approaches for predicting smoke
detector activation time. The first method, and the one
most frequently cited in the Fire Safety Engineering
(FSE) literature is the temperature correlation method.
The second approach uses a model comprising a measure of
the ease of smoke entry into the detector
(characteristic length, L) and a factor which accounts
for the physics of the sensing method and aerosol
characteristics (detector material response number,
DMR). Finally, a rigorous approach involving modeling of
physical phenomena will be discussed. The strengths and
weaknesses of each approach will be explored in the
context of FSE and recommendations for future research
will be made.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899