Recent Trend in Fire Research

byby

Professor Jennifer X Wen Professor Jennifer X Wen School of EngineeringSchool of Engineering

Kingston UniversityKingston University

Mankind has learnt to make use of Mankind has learnt to make use of

fires more than 1.7 million years fires more than 1.7 million years ago, far earlier than many ago, far earlier than many

scientists have assumed……scientists have assumed……(Science News, April 29, 2000)(Science News, April 29, 2000)

The FirewalksThe Firewalks

Are human Are human mind and body mind and body more powerful more powerful than the fire?than the fire?

The Kings Cross FireThe Kings Cross Fire- Wednesday 18th November 1987- Wednesday 18th November 1987

The Bush Fires in AustraliaThe Bush Fires in Australia

The World Trade Centre FireThe World Trade Centre Fire

““It takes a disaster to make one It takes a disaster to make one cautious” cautious”

(Eddie Foy, 1903) - a well-known entertainer who made this remark after witnessing the Iroquois

Theatre Fire in Chicago which killed 602 people in just 8 minutes.

Relative impact of fire among different nations (Richardson 2000)

Impact of Global Fire Problem Country

Fire Costs as % of GDP*

United States 0.80 Canada 0.91 Japan 0.78 Sweden 0.63 United Kingdom 0.66

Some further statistics for Some further statistics for USA USA from a 1991 surveyfrom a 1991 survey

The total loss of life and injury to fire had decreased over recent decades;

Still high with 4000 deaths, including about 100 fire fighter deaths, annually;

100,000 debilitating fire injuries;

Direct fire losses to property today are over $10 billion

The total economic burden of fire turned out to be a whopping $128 billion.

Brief History of Fire Brief History of Fire ResearchResearch

World war IIWorld war II The National Bureau of Standards (USA) was The National Bureau of Standards (USA) was

founded in 1901 and its Fire Research founded in 1901 and its Fire Research Program started shortly after that. Program started shortly after that.

The Building Research Establishment’s (UK) The Building Research Establishment’s (UK) Fire Research Station established in 1948Fire Research Station established in 1948

The 1st Int. Symp. on Fire Safety Science The 1st Int. Symp. on Fire Safety Science held in 1986held in 1986– The Int. Association for Fire Safety Science was The Int. Association for Fire Safety Science was

founded at the Symp.founded at the Symp. The 8th Int. Symp. to take place in The 8th Int. Symp. to take place in China China

20052005

Definition of FireDefinition of Fireby the International Standards Organisation (1987)by the International Standards Organisation (1987)

A process of A process of combustion combustion characterized characterized by the emission by the emission of heat of heat accompanied by accompanied by smoke or flame, smoke or flame, or both.or both.

Combustion Combustion spreading spreading uncontrolleduncontrolled in in time and spacetime and space

The Fire TriangleThe Fire Triangle H W Emmons (Harvard University 1973)H W Emmons (Harvard University 1973)

FUELFUEL

HEATHEAT Oxygen Oxygen

Transfer Processes

Fire Physics and ChemistryFire Physics and Chemistry

Materials - ignition, fire retardant Materials - ignition, fire retardant properties, flame spread…properties, flame spread…

Smoke - toxicity and toxic hazard, Smoke - toxicity and toxic hazard, visibility through fire smoke, smoke visibility through fire smoke, smoke spread …spread …

Risk, hazard and statisticsRisk, hazard and statistics

SuppressionSuppression

People and fires - Human reactionsPeople and fires - Human reactions

The Forum for International Cooperation on Fire Research-FORUM

Established in 1985. 15 members from Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan,

New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States and 24 corresponding members.

The FORUM meets annually and co-hosts a national symposium for bringing international attention and expertise to issues concerning the advance of fire safety engineering in the host’s country.

Past symposia have addressed issues such as advancing fire safety engineering, performance- based codes, and developing fire research capacity.

The Forum for International Cooperation on Fire Research-FORUM

GOAL– Reduce the human and economic losses to

fire,– Reduce the burdens of fire and fire safety on

business and multi-nationals,– Open access to global markets for product

manufacturers,– Reduce risk exposure,– Enable deregulation/reform, and leverage

scarce resources,– Enhance the public good and quality of life.

A GLOBAL AGENDA FOR FIRE RESEARCH

The FORUM proposes as a strategy for accomplishing this goal the following steps:– Form Global Network and organization

to service it.– Develop the Global Fire Research

Agenda.– Develop participation in and financial

support of it.– Form collaborative teams to carry out

the research and deliver results.

Objectives of Research Agenda and Major Research Topics

1. Incident and risk data, and supporting infrastructure– Web-based data - incident, denominator, and cost;– Risk modeling tools;. . .

2. Facilitate development of innovative products and services– Better, lower cost, lower loss, e.g. designer polymers,

advanced composites, with demonstrated value added,. . .

3. Develop tools for product acceptance and differentiation– Test methods and standards that are scientifically-

based, harmonized, and with legacy links;

Objectives of Research Agenda and Major Research Topics

4. Develop improved fire protection and fire fighting technologies– Advanced suppression, sensing, control; Suppressant

delivery; Fireground tools & electronics, advanced equipment.. .

5. Enable and promote performance- based codes and regulations.– Verified quantitative tools and models, data,

demonstrations, value added, consistency.. .

6. Provide human objectives and behavioural data and tools– Desired/acceptable levels of risk, values– Fire & risk perceptions; behaviors, tenability, motivation,. . .

Objectives of Research Agenda and Major Research Topics

Conduct use-inspired fundamental fire research to support above.– Mechanisms, Fire dynamics,

Consequences, ...

The Forum for International Cooperation on Fire Research-FORUM

SOME NOTABLE PRODUCTSSOME NOTABLE PRODUCTS– A survey of computer-based fire model written by Ray

Friedman of Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) in 1990/1

– Initiated cooperative research projects involving a number of member institutes, e.g. Heat flux measurement (NIST)

– International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) Working Commission W14 on Fire

– International Organization for Standardization (EO) activities

The Forum for International Cooperation on Fire Research-FORUM

Past Chair (1984-2001)– Jack Past Chair (1984-2001)– Jack Snell, Snell, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA

Current Chair (2001 onwards) – Current Chair (2001 onwards) – Paul Croce, Paul Croce, Factory Mutual Global, USA.

Technical Basis for Performance Based Fire Regulations - A Discussion of Capabilities, Needs and Benefits

of Fire Safety Engineering January 7-11,2001, San Diego, CA.

Paul Croce made a speech on the future Paul Croce made a speech on the future

of fire research in which he called forof fire research in which he called for ““USE-INSPIRED APPLIED USE-INSPIRED APPLIED

RESEARCH”RESEARCH”

Fire Research NetworksFire Research Networks

United KingdomUnited Kingdom – Fire Engineering Research Networks (FERN, Fire Engineering Research Networks (FERN,

led by Prof. Jim Shields of Univ. of Ulster)led by Prof. Jim Shields of Univ. of Ulster)– Human Behaviour Fire Engineering Human Behaviour Fire Engineering

Research Networks (HUBFERN, also led by Research Networks (HUBFERN, also led by Prof. Jim Shields)Prof. Jim Shields)

– Fire Chemistry Research Networks, led by Fire Chemistry Research Networks, led by Dr. Richard Hull of Bolton Institute)Dr. Richard Hull of Bolton Institute)

EuropeEurope– Research Training Networks in Under-Research Training Networks in Under-

Ventilated Compartment Fires (FIRENET, led Ventilated Compartment Fires (FIRENET, led by Prof. Jennifer Wen, Kingston University)by Prof. Jennifer Wen, Kingston University)

Some outcome from these Some outcome from these networksnetworks

A joint research proposal on A joint research proposal on Fire-Safe Composite Materials by Design - a Feasibility Fire-Safe Composite Materials by Design - a Feasibility StudyStudy– Bolton Institute, Kingston University, University of Edinburgh Bolton Institute, Kingston University, University of Edinburgh

and University of Ulsterand University of Ulster

Another joint platform proposal is under preparation.Another joint platform proposal is under preparation.

Backdraft Experiments at Lund Backdraft Experiments at Lund UniversityUniversity

(sub-contractor in EC funded FIRENET (sub-contractor in EC funded FIRENET project)project)

Under-ventilated Compartment Under-ventilated Compartment FiresFires

- 1.5 m Euro EC Funded Project - 1.5 m Euro EC Funded Project

Participants

Institution/Company Town and country Person in charge

Kingston University London,UnitedKingdom

Prof. JX Wen(Co-ordinator)

Iceland Fire Authority Reykjavik, Iceland Dr. B Karlsson

University of Ulster Belfast, UnitedKingdom

Prof. TJ Shields

CNRS – ENSMA - Poitiers Futuroscope,France

Dr. JM Most

Universita of Napoli“Federico II”

Napoli, Italy Prof. CD Blasi

University of Liege Liege, Belgium Prof. JM Franssen

National TechnicalUniversity of Athens

Attiki, Greece Prof. NC Markatos

AEA Technology Oxfordshire, UnitedKingdom

Dr. I P Jones

Lund University Lund, Sweden Sub-contractor forIFA

Compartment Fire Experiments at LCD-Compartment Fire Experiments at LCD-CNRSCNRS

(Ensma-Poltiers, Partner in FIRENT)(Ensma-Poltiers, Partner in FIRENT)

3rd International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards

PERMANENT JET FLAMES

Classification of the behaviors

l ater al vie w

(came ra 1) ce il ing

door

burner

Permanent Jet Flame

l ater al vie w

(came ra 1)

ce il ing

doorburner

Jet Flame andCloud of Flame

CYCLIC FLAMES

l ater al vie w

(came ra 1) ce il ing

doorburner

door

burner

bottom vi ew

(came ra 3)

bottom vi ew(came ra 3)

front view

(came ra 2)burner

Cyclic Flame Behavior

INTERFACE FLAMES

bottom vi ew

(came ra 3)door

burner

Permanent Cloudy Flame between

burner and aperture

Yellow Interface Flame

front view

(came ra 2)burner

bottom vi ew

(came ra 3)

door

burner

bottom vi ew(came ra 3)

Ghost Flame

bottom vi ew

(came ra 3)door

burner

Interface yellow-blue Flame

l ater al vie w

(came ra 1)ce il ing

doorburner

Clouds of Flame withSporadic Flame Propagationin the enclosure background

EXTINCTION

Behaviour of Glazing Systems in Enclosure Behaviour of Glazing Systems in Enclosure Fires Fires

(FireSERT, University of Ulster - partner in FIRENET)(FireSERT, University of Ulster - partner in FIRENET)

Galzing response experiments

New £6 m Fire Safety Engineering Research Facility

The World Trade Centre The World Trade Centre FiresFires

11 September 200211 September 2002

NIST (USA) was given $6M to investigate NIST (USA) was given $6M to investigate the resulting fires from the aircraft the resulting fires from the aircraft impact and the collapse of the towersimpact and the collapse of the towers

Recovered World Trade Center SteelRecovered World Trade Center Steel from NIST Investigation of the World from NIST Investigation of the World

Trade Centre FireTrade Centre Fire

Key Findings (1) – Key Findings (1) – Innovative Structural SystemInnovative Structural System

The fire protection of a truss-supported floor system by The fire protection of a truss-supported floor system by directly applying spray-on fireproofing was innovative directly applying spray-on fireproofing was innovative and not consistent with prevailing practice at the time and not consistent with prevailing practice at the time of construction. of construction.

The fireproofing thickness (specified to meet a 2-hour The fireproofing thickness (specified to meet a 2-hour fire endurance rating) was 1/2 inch at construction and fire endurance rating) was 1/2 inch at construction and was upgraded on some floors to 1-1/2 inches prior to was upgraded on some floors to 1-1/2 inches prior to Sept. 11, 2001. Sept. 11, 2001.

Unrelated to the WTC buildings, a model code Unrelated to the WTC buildings, a model code evaluation system service recommended in June 2001 a evaluation system service recommended in June 2001 a minimum thickness of 2 inches for a similar floor minimum thickness of 2 inches for a similar floor system to achieve the 2-hour fire rating. system to achieve the 2-hour fire rating.

Key Findings (1) – Key Findings (1) – Innovative Structural System (cond.)Innovative Structural System (cond.)

The three-to-four-fold difference (between 1/2 inch and 2 The three-to-four-fold difference (between 1/2 inch and 2 inches) in specifying the fireproofing thickness to meet the inches) in specifying the fireproofing thickness to meet the required fire rating is extraordinarily large and required fire rating is extraordinarily large and confirms confirms the lack of technical basis in selecting a thicknessthe lack of technical basis in selecting a thickness. .

While the building designers recognized the benefits of While the building designers recognized the benefits of conducting a full-scale fire endurance test to determine the conducting a full-scale fire endurance test to determine the required fireproofing thickness, no such tests were required fireproofing thickness, no such tests were conducted on the floor system used in the WTC towers conducted on the floor system used in the WTC towers (NIST will be conducting this test later this summer). (NIST will be conducting this test later this summer).

If a “structural frame” approach (considering that the floor If a “structural frame” approach (considering that the floor truss was connected to the interior and perimeter columns, truss was connected to the interior and perimeter columns, essentially forming a single structural unit) had been used, essentially forming a single structural unit) had been used, the needed fire rating would likely have been 3 hours, as it the needed fire rating would likely have been 3 hours, as it was for the perimeter columns alone.was for the perimeter columns alone.

Computer Simulations of World Trade Computer Simulations of World Trade Center Center from NIST Investigation of the from NIST Investigation of the

World Trade Centre FireWorld Trade Centre Fire

Key Findings (2) – Key Findings (2) – NISNIST computer simulations T computer simulations

Flames in a given location lasted about 20 minutes Flames in a given location lasted about 20 minutes before spreading to adjacent, yet unburned combustibles, before spreading to adjacent, yet unburned combustibles, and that this spread was generally continuousand that this spread was generally continuous because of because of the even distribution of combustibles throughout the the even distribution of combustibles throughout the floors and the lack of interior partitions. floors and the lack of interior partitions.

Key Findings (3) – Key Findings (3) – NIST commissioned wind tunnel testsNIST commissioned wind tunnel tests

The results of two sets of wind tunnel tests on The results of two sets of wind tunnel tests on the WTC towers conducted by independent the WTC towers conducted by independent laboratories in 2002 show 40% differences in laboratories in 2002 show 40% differences in resultant forces on the structures. resultant forces on the structures.

NIST is conducting an independent analysis to establish NIST is conducting an independent analysis to establish the baseline performance of the WTC towers under the the baseline performance of the WTC towers under the original design wind loads and will compare those wind original design wind loads and will compare those wind load estimates with the then-prevailing code load estimates with the then-prevailing code requirements. requirements.

More findings can be found at More findings can be found at the NIST web sitethe NIST web site

http://www.wtc.nist.govhttp://www.wtc.nist.gov