Field Modeling: Simulating the Effects of HVAC Induced Air Flow From Various Diffusers and Returns on Detector Response. International Fire Detection Research Project. Year 4 Report/Data.
Field Modeling: Simulating the Effects of HVAC Induced
Air Flow From Various Diffusers and Returns on Detector
Response. International Fire Detection Research
Project. Year 4 Report/Data.
(5810 K)
Klote, J. H.; Davis, W. D.; Forney, G. P.; Bukowski, R.
W.
Year 4 Report/Data; 1998.
Sponsor:
National Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA
Available from:
National Fire Protection Research
Foundation (NFPRF), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA
02269-9101.
Telephone: 617-984-7283;
Fax:
617-984-7010.
Website: http://www.nfpa.org
Keywords:
air conditioning; fire models; heating; smoke detectors;
ventilation
Abstract:
Rapid activation of fire protection systems in response
to a growing fire is one of the important factors
required to provide for life safety and property
protection. Airflow due to the heating, ventilating and
air conditioning (HVAC) system can significantly modify
the flow of smoke along the ceiling and must be taken
into consideration when a particular system is designed.
At present, the standards used to guide the design of
systems contain very little quantitative information
concerning the impact of airflow produced by HVAC
systems. This project is part of a multi year,
International Fire Detection Research Project sponsored
by the National Fire Protection Research Foundation
(NFPFR), and it describes the results of the fourth year
of the project during which numerical simulations of
smoke movement in response to HVAC flows resulting from
ceiling mounted slot diffusers, wall mounted slot
diffusers, high sidewall diffusers, and ceiling
diffusers from which airflow drops to the floor. The
computer model calculated smoke detector activation
using a mass density simulation which was consistent
with a 13 deg C temperature correlation used during the
first two years of the project.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899