Design Fires For Use in Fire Safety Engineering 9781848061521 Compress

DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN
FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING

Christopher Mayfield and Danny Hopkin
I •
bre press bretrust

DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN
FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING
Christopher Mayfield and Danny Hopkin
bre press · bretrust

DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING
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© Copyright BRE 2011
First published 2011
ISBN 978-1-84806-152-1
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 IMPORTANT FACTORS INFLUENCING QUANTIFICATION OF A DESIGN FIRE 2
3 STEADY-STATE DESIGN FIRES 5
4 TIME-DEPENDENT DESIGN FIRES 7

4 .1 t-sq uared fi re growth curves 7
4 .2 Other calcu lation methods 8
4.3 Experimental design fires 8
4.3. 1 Heat release rate 9
4.3.2 Smoke production rate 9
5 FULLY DEVELOPED FIRES 10

5 .1 Parametric design fi res 10
5.2 Time-equivalence 11
EXPERIMENTAL FIRE DATA 13

6 OCCUPANCIES 14
6.1 Bar/Nightclub 14
6.2 Car parks 16
6.3 Carpet store 18
6.4 Clothes store 20
6.5 Indoor play area 22
6.6 Library 24
6.7 Livi ng room 26
6.8 Luggage store 28
6.9 Office 30
6.10 Prison ce li 32
6.11 Rèception 34
6.12 Retail star.e 36
6.13 Video store 37
7 COMMODITIES 39
7.1 Beds 39
7.2 Boxes 40
7.3 Buses 42
7.4 Cars 44
7.5 Chairs 46
7.6 Christmas trees 48
7.7 Computers 50
7.8 Curtains 51
7.9 Fl ight luggage 52
7.10 Hand cart 53
Cont'd ...
- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING
7 COMMODITIES {CONT'D)
7.11 Pallets 55
7.12 Pool fires 57
7.1 3 Soft toys 60
7. 14 Televisions 62
7.1 5 Upholstered furniture 63
7.1 6 Wardrobe 64
8 REFERENCES 66
1 INTRODUCTION
1 INTRODUCTION
The objective of this publication is to provide technical in unnecessary expenditure), but nevertheless capable of
data and guidance for defining a robust, appropriate meeting the life safety requirements to avoid potentially
and acceptable design fire for the fire safety engineering life-threatening omissions.
design of a building. lt explains: There are a number of different approaches to defining
• what a design fire is an appropriate design fire ranging from calculation based
• how it can be determined on fuel load surveys of real buildings and quantification to
• its limitations experimental determination. These different approaches
• the experimental data (where available) will be described in detail.
• current calculation methods used for defining a design This publication is aimed at those professionals
fire. involved in the fire safety engineering design process,
either as a designer fulfilling a brief or a regulator/
Depending on the geographical location of a building, approver of the design. lt is intended that this publication
its legislative fire safety requirements may be achieved in will provide evidence to assist the review of the
a number of ways. Fire safety engineering is a generally foundation of the fire engineered solution as part of any
accepted approach for demonstrating that the legislative approvai process.
fire safety requirements of a design have been achieved. More generally, those in the position of the responsible
A building design which is supported by a person, as defined by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety
performance-based fire safety engineered solution Order) 2005 111 (FSO), or those delegateci as competent
comprises a number of components. One of these under the FSO by the responsible person, are likely to
criticai components is the selection of an appropriate find this resource beneficiai when undertaking a fire safety
and relevant design fire. In a performance-based fire risk assessment in both fire safety engineered and non-fire
safety engineered solution the design fire will determine a safety engineered buildings. That is, it is important that
number of important parameters fora given space, which the responsible person understands the design principles
include: of his or her buildings so that he or she can ensure that
• the quantity of heat released they are managed on an ongoing basis, within their design
• the quantity of smoke produced limits. Specifically, the fire load is restricted to within
• the composition of the smoke the limits of the assumed design fire. This is particularly
• the fire size important where, for example, a change of use or change
• the temperature of a smoke layer of ownership might occur.
• the time to involvement of ali exposed combustible Fire safety engineering design requires the
materials identification of an appropriate fire size on which a design
• the fire duration. can be basedl 2,31. This is one of the key decisions in fire
safety engineering design and requires formulation of a
Based on the values determined for the parameters, a fire quantitative description of the fire. Published reliable data
engineered analysis can establish: is scarce and fire safety engineers often resort to a simple
• if predetermined tenability criteria are exceeded generic description based on assumption.
• if further fire protection measures are required (eg a A summary of the most commonly used parameters in
smoke contrai system) fire safety engineering are detailed as part of the summary
• the specification of such fire protection measures. of each of the experimental fires where available and
include the following parameters:
Clearly, there is great significance associated with the • HRR
selection by the fire safety engineer of an appropriate • heat of combustion
design fire to ensure it is representative of the situation • mass of fire load
considered to fulfil the life safety requirements. In • optical density
addition to this, it is important to determine if the fire • carbon dioxide concentration
safety measures proposed by a fire safety engineered • carbon monoxide concentration.
solution are proportionate (ie not overly onerous, resulting
2 IMPORTANT FACTORS INFLUENCING

QUANTIFICATION OF A DESIGN FIRE
Box 1: Factors influencing the characteristics of a fire
A design fire is a simplffied approxlmation of a fire that
ls considered to be representatlve of a fire lnvolvlng a • Building design
specified hazard. • Building fabric

• Environmental influences
• Potential ignition sources and locations
• Types of combustible materials
For a design fire to be representative of a realistic fire
• Distribution, arrangement and quantity of different fuels
situation, it should replicate the physical size and heat
• Ventilation conditions
output of the fire changing with time. This allows the
• Possible interventions during the fire
growing threat to occupants, property/business continuity,
and firefighters to be calculated as time progresses141.
Time-based calculations often form part of a holistic
assessment, where the time to the onset of untenable Potential ignition sources and locations
conditions is compared with the time required for the A hazard assessment covering both accidental and
safe evacuation of occupants of the building or the time deliberate ignition events and the probabilities of each
recommended for the initiation of successful firefighting should be conducted and potential ignition sources
operations. To undertake a time-based assessment, fire and locations identified. Deliberate ignition can be
growth curves need to be selected that are applicable characterised by multiple ignition sources. Depending on
to the exact circumstances of the building occupancies, the hazards identified, the probability of them occurring
fuel arrangements and suppression system performance, and the resulting consequences, a design may involve fire
where appropriate'41. Where this information is available protection measures to significantly reduce or eliminate
it can be integrateci into a fire engineered solution fora either the hazard, probability and/or consequences of an
building following recommended fire safety engineering ignition event. However, it is recognised that this may not
procedures, such as BSl's PD 79 7415 1 series of documents. always be achievable.
Severa! important factors which influence the
characteristics of a fire are summarised in Box 1 Types of combustible materials
and described in the sections below. They are well The type of occupancy and the use of the building
documented and should be considered in the will govern the types of combustible materials. The
quantification of a design fire. combustible materials may be present as construction
products incorporateci into the fabric of the building or
Building design the contents of the building, or both . During the early
The geometry and layout of the building should be clearly stages of a fire, the contents will typically be of primary
understood and defined. concern.
Building fabric Distribution, arrangement and quantity of

Combustible construction elements and insulation types, different fuels
presence of vapour barriers in roofs, and types of roof, The way that the different fuels are distributed within
floor and wall constructions should be identified. the building will have an effect on the characteristics of
the fire so ali readily available fuel should be considered
Environmental influences including:
Internal environmental conditions should be defined in • wall and ceiling linings
terms of ambient temperatures, oxygen concentration, • low-level localised storage of goods
air movement, presence of HVAC systems and how these • high-rack, high-density storage of goods
could impact on pre-fire and fire conditions • distribution of furniture and types of furniture
(eg office, residential)
• materials being processed.
2 IMPORTANT FACTORS INFLUENCING QUANTIFICATION OF A DESIGN FIRE
Table 1: Fire load densities for different occupancies where:

Extract from PD 7974-1 1· 1
QTOTAL total heat release (kJ)
Occupancy Fire load density mTOTAL tota! mass loss (kg)
Average Fractile t.Hc heat of combustion of fuel (kJ/kg)
(MJ/m 2 ) (MJ/m 2 )
80% 90% 95% lf the fuel load is mixed, eq uation 2 can be applied as
Dwelling 780 870 920 970 follows:
Hospital 230 350 440 520
Hospital storage 2000 3000 3700 4400
Hotel bedroom 310 400 460 510
Offices 420 570 670 760
Shops 600 900 1100 1300
Manufacturing 300 470 590 720 where i = fuel type.
Manufacturi ng 1180 1800 2240 2690
and storage Fire load density is the fire load per unit area. This is
Libraries 1500 2250 2550 obtained by dividing QTOTAL from equation 1 or 2 by the
Schools 285 360 410 450 floor area of the enclosure of fire origin.
The distribution and orientation of any fire load
is important in determining the rate of fire growth.
Combustible materiai orientateci vertically can yield
They will ali result in different distributions of fuel load a rapid rate of fire growth as a result of the increased
per square metre of floor area which is common ly potential for direct flame impingement on unburnt
referred to as the fire load density. materiai lead ing to increased levels of radi ative and
Traditionally, hazard assessment focuses on the building convective heat transfer.
contents as the primary available fuel source(s). However,
with new developments in the design of buildings leading Ventilation conditions
to the use of more combustible construction, it might The ventilation of an enclosure within a building is of
be necessary to consider the construction materials in significance in determining the HRR of a fire. Assuming an
the hazard assessment. This is occurring as a result of enclosure of fire origin with defined dimensions and fire
a concerted effort to use renewable materials (often load . lf there is sufficient venti lation to the space within
cellulose-based) and highly thermally efficient materials which the fire is initiated, without intervention, the fire
(synthetic polymer-based). In the majority of cases, a can grow until it has consumed ali of the avai lable fue l
building's fabric will be controlled by building regulation (Figure 1 ).
requirements (depending on the geographical location) lf ventilation of the same enclosure with an identica!
and to the same extent any combustible elements of fire load is restri cted, the fire growth and heat release wi ll
construction shou ld be fire-separated from the areas become limited by the available oxygen and the mass of
containing the fire hazards within a building, to prevent fuel consumed by the fire wil l also be limited (Figure 2).
them from becoming involved in fire.
Fire load densities for different types of occupancies
are provided in Table 1 taken from PD 7974-1 151.
However, caution should be exercised when using these
data as they are derived from a series of fire load surveys 2 I I
~ Fuel-controlled
1 1
that were carried out before 1983 and presented in a Q)
"'"'
CIB W14 workshop report. For some types of occupancy Q)
~
in particular, advances in technology and changes in iii
Q)
design philosophy have resu lted in significant changes, for I
examp le the increased use of IT and the move to open- 1lgnition

Time
pian accommodation in offices and dwellings.
Clearly, for goods stored in rack ing (eg in warehouses), Figure 1: Fuel-controlled fire
the fire load per square metre of floor area could
significantly exceed the va lue in Table 1.
Given the data in Table 1, the maximum heat that can
be rel eased from a fire, assuming that it is fu lly venti lateci
2
will be the fire load density (MJ/m 2) x the floor area (m 2).
lf the fire load density is not known or there is a
~
Q)
"'"'
Q) /
~------ .... \~ Fuel-controlled case
mixture of uneven ly distributed fue ls within the enclosure, ~
then it is possible to calculate the maximum HRR

ro
Q)
I
"""'Ventilation-controlled ' , , ......... __
(assuming that all of the fuel is consumed) using either 1lgnition Extinction
eq uations 1 or 2 below, as appropriate. Time
(Eqn 1) Figure 2: Ventilati on-controlled fire

- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEER_IN_G
--~----------------""
Both of the scenarios described above assume that the Possible interventions during the fire
ventilation conditions within the enclosure of fire origin This is basically an event or series of events that can
remain unchanged as a function of time. occur during the course of a fire and alter the fire's
While it is important to consider the availability of characteristics. Such interventions could include:
oxygen in the air, it is also important to be aware of • breaking of windows to increase ventilation
circumstances where the thermal decomposition of • opening of doors by occupants during evacuation or
certain materials produces oxygen (an oxidant) in addition by the fire service
to that already present in the air. This could result in a • operation of HVAC system
combustion reaction being supported in the absence • operation of fire dampers
of air (or at reduced oxygen leve!). In addition, the • operation of smoke contrai ventilation system
designated function of the building may also introduce • operation of suppression system.
additional sources of oxygen. For example, piped oxygen
and/or cylinders of compressed oxygen are found AII these interventions could influence the growth of a
commonly across a hospital site to satisfy the ongoing fire and should be considered in terms of the overall
needs of patients. Such circumstances are not likely to be characterisation and definition of a design fire. Particular
encountered widely, but every effort should be made as care is necessary since what represents a worst case for
part of the fire safety engineering design process to take some interventions might be best case for others.
account of the presence of oxidising materials.
3 STEADY-STATE DESIGN FIRES
The simplest approach to specifying a design fire is based building, it is determined between the approver and the
on assessing the largest size a fire is reasonably likely to designer that a steady-state design fire is most appropriate
reach in the situation being considered141, This is then far the situation being considered, then the size of the
used as the basis far the design of the fire protection steady-state fire must be defined based on a credible fire
systems and assumes that the HRR continues indefinitely. area dependent on the fuel sources likely to be present.
Figure 3 shows an example of a plot of a generic HRR The basis of the design fire must be clearly explained
versus time representation of a steady-state design fire. so that its limitations are easily understood. lf there is a
Steady-state design fires have historically been employed design fire w ithin this publication that is representative of
as a basis far design, as there has previously been an the design scenario, the fixed fire size far design wi ll need
acknowledged lack of data in relation to time-dependent to be defined based on consideration of the fire growth
design fires121. Steady-state design fires have been used in curve. Selection of a peak HRR far a steady-state design
the design of smoke control systems in a range of bui lding may represent an onerous design condition, but on ly in
· occupancies, but they were initially app lied to the design re lation to the fue l load far which the data are ava ilable .
of smoke control systems in enclosed and partially lf the design fire (transientor steady state) is going to
enclosed shopping centres. be employed to determine the specification of a smoke
Research into smoke control in enclosed and partially control system, consideration shou ld be give n to the
enclosed shopping centres and the subsequent guidance proportion of the total heat re leased which is convection .
produced1 21 used the methodology of selecting a fixed fire A number of the design fires presented in this publication
size. By basing the design of the smoke control system have had the fraction of the total heat re leased as
on the maximum likely fire size means that, as stateci convection plotted or stateci. In cases where this has not
previously, any fire size up to the maximum fire wi ll be been possible, it can be determined by the app lication of
managed by the system and a degree of flexibility can be an appropriate correction factor based on the type of fuel
retained . For example, even if the occupancy changes, load to determine the convected fraction.
the designer may be able to demonstrate that the lt is the convective portion of the total heat re leased
maximum likely fire size is stil i within the bounds of the which re lates to the entrainment of air into the ris ing
originai smoke control system design. piume above the fire, thus the rate of smoke being
lf, in the design of the fire safety precautions far a produced, which is normally expressed in terms of mass/
I.s 2500 -•-• -·
f! 2000
GI
V)
CO
GI
e 1500
ivGI
:e
1000
500
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ; - - - - - + - - - ~- ---;,------1
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Time (s)
Figure 3: Example of a generi c steady-state design fire

Table 2: Examples of the fraction of the total heat rad iation. Radiative heat transfer has little bearing on the
released which is transferred as convection for a range
rate of smoke production, hence it is discounted in the
of different fuel types
design of smoke contro! systems. However, radiative heat
Materiai Convective transfer is relevant to the overall fire growth characteri stics
fraction
as it is a significant factor in fl ame spread, fire spread,
Ethano l 0 .74
Kerosene 0.65 time-temperature analysis and also in the calculation of
Benzene 0.40 the temperature of the structure.
Octane 0 .67 Steady-state design fires are a conservative
Silicone 0.84 representation of a realistic fire scenario fora particular
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) 0.69 set of circumstances . However, when implemented in a
Douglas fir 0 .62 transient analysis, the results may be unconservati ve in
Polystyrene 0.41 the early phases, particularly in rel ation to detection time.
Polyurethane 0.42 As such, their application in design may result in the over-
specification of fire safety provisions at cost to a project.
lt is probable that as the database ~f time-dependent
volume per unit of time. Values for the proportion of fire cu rves increases and broadens in vari ety, together
the total heat released that is released as convection w ith adva nces in fire modell ing, the steady-state fire as a
(convective factor) are given in the literature12 • 4 • 61. The design tool may become restricted. However, calculations
values given in Table 2 are taken from reference [6] and based on the use of steady-state design fires provide a
are a se lection of the convective fraction values which relatively sim plistic method of giving an initial quantitative
could be applied by the designer. evaluation of the impact a particular fire may have on a
The remaining fraction of the total heat released which particular set of circumstances.
is not transferred via convection is mainly transferred via
------------------------4 TIME-DEPENDENT DESIGN FIRES -
4 TIME-DEPENDENT DESIGN FIRES

This type of design fire provides a closer approximation However, despite these uncertainties, for fully venti lateci
to a real fire than a steady-state design fire. lt is generally fires, it has been found that the rate of development
accepted that there are five stages characteristic of the approximates to a parabolic growth (a t-squared growth)
development of a fire: following an initial incubation periodl5 • 7 • 8 1. Thus:
• ignition
• pre-flashover (growth) (Eqn 3)
• flashover
• fully developed where:
• decay. Q HRR at any time (kW)
aI fire growth coefficient (kW/s2)
Where the fully developed and decay stages occur t time (s)
during the post-flashover phase of the fire, these can be t0 incubation time of fire (s)
· represented schematically as given in Figure 4.
After ignition of the first item(s) has occurred, the The coefficient a I appears to lie in the range of
speed of fire growth is dependent on the transfer of heat 10-3 kW/s2 for slowly developing fires to 1 kW/s2 for rapid
to adjacent combustible materials and products and the fire growthl71_ Four standard fire curves have been defined
ease with which they are ignited. As a consequence, fire and validatedl 91; the values of the coefficients are set out
growth rates will vary significantly. The following sections in Table 3.
explain how these may be approximated. The t-squared curve is quadratic without any limit; it
does not have a steady state and decay period . When the
coefficients a I presented in Table 3 are plotted for each
of the four fire growth coefficients (slow, medium, fast
4.1 t-SQUARED FIRE GROWTH CURVES and ultrafast) they appear as shown in Figure 5. These fire
As has already been discussed, the growth phase of a fire growth coefficients are derived from the time taken to
is sensitive to many variables, such as the: reach the HRR of 1 MW.
• distribution of combustible materiai within a space The fire growth coefficient is a valici way of predicting
• properties of the materials the likely rate at which a fire will develop to its maximum
• configuration of the materials. HRR for horizontally spread ing fires, but alone, it does not
provide the user with the maximum heat release value.
Users shou ld be aware that the fire growth coefficient
lncipient Growth Flashover Fully developed Decay Extinction

phase phase phase phase
lgnition
Time
Figure 4: Phases of fire development

Table 3: Th e four standard fire growth coeffici ents. Data from Chitty & Fraser-Mitchelll'' 1
Fire growth Time to reach Coefficient Fire scenario

coefficient 1MW a.(
(s)
Slow 600 0.00293 Densely packed paper
Mediu m 300 0.011 72 Traditional mattress or armchai r
Fast 150 0.0469 PU mattress or PE pallets
Ultra fast 75 0.1876 High rack storage
PU = polyu rethane, PE = polyethylene.
:::-r-----,--,----r-.--..-..-_----.-._-l --r------.1~,. .-.--._-_.,I--

. . . .-..--. -I_-_-_----,-----.
1.6 -· ··r··-·- -- -·--i--···-·· .j-.. .
§"
~
.!
5:
1.4
1.2
E 1.0
:3 o.a
°E
J.
I
l
··f ..
I
i
·-l-···
l·~ ___L I
~ 0.6 - -+- - -· - l - - --
!
0.4 - .. - +-..
j
: :: ~
o
==;.::::;,.=;:::::;:::::::.._~ ~ ~ ~ ~·-.;.1_··
2 4 6
~-··~·· ·. .;f. ~·~~--l-l~
8
--~-··_··_·
10
·~·+:-·~~,--+-~~__j
12 14 16
Time (mi n)
I- Ultrafast - Fast - Medium - Slow l
Figure 5: The t-squared fire growth curves
alone does not give an assessment of the likely duration 4.3 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FIRES
of the fire as this is dependent on the amount of fu el In some cases, th e fire perfo rm ance of a parti cular fu el
available and the ventilation conditions in the vicin ity arrangement may not be kn own or q uantified. In such
of th e fire. Wh ere this approach is used as part of th e cases, it may be necessary and advisable to measure the
process to develop a th eoretical fire curve, it is necessary parameters far the particular fu el arrangement and to use
to carry out further calculati ons (eg the size of th e fire at th em as the basis fa r the design fire description within a
the onset of flashover) to set an upper limit to wh at wo uld fire safety engineering design.
oth erwise be an infin ite fire growth121. Such an experim ent should be carefu lly designed in
Th e peak HRR values and th e tim e associateci to reach discussion w ith th e end user of th e data to ensure th at it
the peak HRR, shown in chapters 6 and 7, have allowed a is representative and appro priate. lt may also be advisable
fire growth coeffi cient to be determin ed, wh ere possible, to consu lt with th e approva ls authority du ring th e
fa r the experim ental fires detailed in this pu bli cati on. planning stages to ensure that all concerns are adequately
addressed. A typical checklist of factors th at wi ll be
considered w ill include th ose listed in Box 2.
A large-scale experiment carri ed out under an
4.2 OTHER CALCULATION METHODS appro priately sized calori meter will produce data on
There are a number of different meth ods far calculating parameters such as HRR, rate of production of smoke
th e HRR in an enclosure fi re, most of wh ich are based and chemical species such as CO, C0 2 (and others as
on experim ental data. As such, th ey could be described speci fi ed) as a function of time. Additi onal localised
as semi-empirica! or, in some cases, fully empirica!. Due measurements can also be made of parameters including
to this, th ey are all limited to th e cond iti ons relati ng to te mperatures, velocities, heat transfer, chemical species
the experim ental design, in parti cular, in relation to the concentrations and optical density. lt is important to note
venti lati on conditi ons and heat transfer characteristi cs. that any parameters determi ned experim entally are likely
M ore infarmation can be faund in PD 7974-1151. to be specifi c to th e test configurati on and apparatus.
4 TIME-DEPENDENT DESIGN FIRES -
Box 2: Typical checklist of factors to consider when

designing an experimental fire
• ldentification of types of combustible materials

• Mass of each type of combustible materiai
• Probability of involvement of each combustible materiai
in fire
• Type of fire load
• Distribution of fire load
• Calculation of fire load density
• lgnition scenario
• Param eters to be measured
• Ventilation conditions, whether an enclosure is required,
etc.
• Large-scale calorimetry (such as th e 1O MW calori meter Figure 6: Office fire during early phases of development
in BRE Global Burn Hall) will be required to measure th e
parameters, heat rel ease rate, rate of smoke produced, rate
of produ ction of chemical species (eg CO, CO, ... ). There
are only a few large-scale calorimeters available worldwide
• Estimation of maximum heat release and assessment of
wheth er th e laboratory facility has the necessary capacity to
carry out th e experiment safely (if not, re-visit th e fuel load
or consider mitigation measures, or both)
• Suppression system to be included or not
Fi re-fighti ng provisions
4.3.1 Heat release rate

The total heat release rate (HRR) of the gases produced
from a fire are measured by monitoring the amount of
oxygen th at has been removed from a given mass of gas
under a large calori meter hood. Th e method requires all Figure 7: Fu lly developed luggage store fire
the gaseous products to be collected by a large extraction
hood and duct system in which the required properties
of the combustion gases are subsequently monitored .
The oxygen concentration is measured as a function
of time using a paramagnetic type analyser, while the
concentrations of C0 2 and CO are typically measured
using infrared gas analysers.
The tota! heat release can also be measured using
the mass loss rate of fuel. This is determined by using
a load celi arrangement on which th e fu el is mounted,
typically on a metal fram ework on which four load
cells are mounted at eaçh corner. The load cells used
are essentially strain gauges which generate a voltage
according to load.
4.3.2 Smoke production rate

The tota! smoke production rate is measured within the
collection hood and duct of the calori meter. lt is typically
determined by m easuring the obscuration of light across
th e duct. For more details, see ISO 24473 1101.
Figure 8: Deve loping fire in an indoor pl ay area

S FULLY DEVELOPED FIRES

Nominai or standard fire curves are the simplest Standard (ISO) fire curve:
representatio n of fu lly deve loped post-flashover fire for E\ = 20 + 34Slog10 (8t + 1) (Eqn 4)
design applications. Such fires are normal ly adopted in
the performance-based design of fire exposed structures External fire curve :
(structural fi re engineering). They include the standard 0 = 660(1 - 0.687e-0· 32 ' - 0 .313e-3·8') + 20 (Eqn S)
8
(ISO 8341 11 1) fire curve which is used in the deri vation of
fire resistancel 12 , 131as we ll as more severe rep resentations Hydrocarbon fire curve:
of fire behaviou r such as the hydrocarbon fire. Less 0 = 1080(1 - 0.675e-0· 167' - 0.67Se-2·5') + 20 (Eqn 6)
8
severe representations also exist such as the external
fire curve (used for elements of a structure outside the where:
bui ld ing envelope) 11 41_ Nom inai fire curves essential ly 0 = the co mpartment gas temperatu re (°C)
8
assume that flashover occurs instantaneously at the point t = time from ign ition (min).
of ignition, the fire then continues to grow indefinitely
with no cooli ng. Three fire curves taken from Eurocode
1, Part 21151are shown below in Figure 9. The use of
the standard fi re (ISO 834 1131 ) curve as a design fire S.1 PARAMETRI( DESIGN FIRES
means that the performance of the structure can be The parametric design fire curve, as specified in
directly benchmarked against regu latory fire resistance Eurocode 1 Part 21151 , is a step forward in complexity from
requirements. A lthough more rea listic representations nominai fire curves and re lates the time- temperature
of a compartment fire exist, ie parametric design fires response of a compartment to the available venti lation,
(discussed below), the standard fire curve is stili large ly fire load density and thermal characteristics of the
used in the performance-based design of timber compartment boundary. Sim ilar to th e nom inai fi re
structures. curves, the parametric approach is a post-flashover
The corresponding equations for each curve, taken model assuming instantaneous fl ashover at ign ition
from Eurocode 1, Part 21 1511 are shown below for and is almost exclusively adopted by structural fire
completeness: engineers undertaking performance-based designs. The
appli cation of parametric design fi res is largely li mited to
1000
~ 800
e
:,
~Cl) 600
Cl.
E
Cl)
I-
400
200
o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Tlme(mln)
I - - ISO 834 - - Hyd rocarbon - - Externa l I

Figure 9: Nominai fire curves
5 FULLY DEVELOPED FIRES
relatively small compartments and becomes inaccurate time at which peak compartment temperatures are
for large open-pian spaces typical in many multistorey · reached. An example of the parametric approach is
structures. Unlike the nominai fire curves, the parametric shown in Figure 1 O.
approach includes a cooling phase and is often used to
design structures to survive compartment burnout. The s.2 Time-equivalence
parametric curve is given as: The concept of time -equivalence is used to relate the
severity of real fires to the time-temperature relationship
0g = 1325(1 - Q.324e·0 ·21 ' - 0.204e·l7t' (Eqn 7) in a standard fire res istance test115• 161 • Figure 11 illustrates
- 0.472e·19'') the concept of time-equivalence, relating the actual
maximum temperature of a structural member (ie beams
where: and columns) from an anticipateci fire severity, to the
0 g = temperature in the (OC) time taken for the same member to attain the same
fire compartment temperature when subjected to the standard fire.
t* t.r (h) Generally, time-equivalence can either be determined
t time (h) by using a simple equation or taken from experimental
r [O/bF/(0.04/1160) 2 (d imension less) data from natural and standard fire resistance tests.
b -V(pcA) and shou ld li e between U/ m2sV'K) Although si mple to use, the time-equivalence is a crude
1000 and 2000 approximate method of modell ing real fire behaviour
o opening factor (A)h/A,) (m V') and bears little relationship with r_ eal fire behaviour. In
Av area of vertical openings (m2) addition, the limitations of the method should be clearly
h height of vertical openings (m) understood. The main lim itation is that the method is
A, tota I area of enclosu re (m2) on ly applicable to the types of members used in the
p density of boundary enclosure (kg/m 3 ) derivation of the adopted formu lae . The method is most
c specific heat of bou ndary U/kgK) applicable to unprotected steel frame structures although
of enclosu re modification factors exist for concrete and protected steel
A thermal conductivity of bou ndary (W/mK) frames. The most common ly used form of the time-
equ ivalence method adopted today is that of Eurcode 1
, The concept of parametric t ime (t*) is used to modify the Part 21 151 w hich is shown below for comp leteness:
predicted time- temperature relationship. The background The equivalent time of fire exposure, te,d' is calculated
theory to this calcu lation approach was developed by using:
Wickstroml161 . The valu es 0.04 and 1160 re late to the
open ing factor and the thermal inertia of the standard (Eq n 8)
fire compartment as used in the originai test programme.
The cooling phase of the time-temperature response is where:
assumed to be linear and is dependent on the parametric q1d = design fire load density (MJ/m 2)
1000
800
o
~ 600
I!!
::,
f
8.
! 400
200
0+-~---~---~---~~--~~- -~~--~----~---~---~-
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00
Time (hours)
Figure 10: Example of a parametric design fire

-- -- --- --
=- -------=--'. . : -------- "'
.,-\-~-----
,.- ----
Standard fire
~
" .............
--I:/ ---...
..........
~ ....~
,,: , " Member temperature ',,,,
,,,,,,
~? --
I , ...
/1
,,,,
Realfire -
:;" I
~-.,"
--
- - - ' - - - - Equivalent time te,d
Time
Figure 11 : The concept of tim e-equivalence
kb conversion factor dependent on thermal av = Av/Af, where Av and Af are the area of the vertical
properties of compartment boundaries ventilation openings and the area of the
(min .m 2/MJ), typically taken as 0.09 in the UK compartment floor, respectively
(as per the National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-21171) H = the height of the compartm ent (m)
wr = ventilation factor (dimensionless) ah = Ah/Af, where Ah is the area of horizontal
ventilation openings
where, w 1 is given by: bv = 12.5(1 + 10av - a } ) .;::,: 10 (Eqn 1O)
6 J0.3 4
w1 =( H ·[0.62+90(0.4-a,) /(I+bv ·ah)];:,: 0.5 (Eqn 9)
EXPERIMENTAL FIRE DATA -
EXPERIMENTAL FIRE DATA
The fo llowing two chapters present 29 experimental fires Table 4: Summary of the experimental fire occupancy
which have been categorised into two groups.: scenarios included in Chapter 6
• Occupancies (Table 4), which considers design fire
Section no. Occupancy
scenarios that are representative of a type of building
6.1 Bar/Nightclub
occupancy. These experimental fire scenarios can
6.2 Car parks
include a number of different combustible materials. 6.3 Carpet stare
The arrangement of the combustible contents was 6.4 Clothes sta re
intended to represent that of a typical example of such 6.5 Indoo r play area
an occupancy. 6.6 Library
• Commodities (Table 5), of which some of the 6.7 Living room
examples, like the occupancies, may contain a number 6.8 Luggage stare
of different combustible materials. The fire tests are 6.9 Office
intended to document the fire performance of stand- 6.10 Prison cel i

6.11 Reception
alone items. For example, this resource considers a car
6.12 Retai l stare
to be a commodity and a car park to be an occupancy.
6.13 Video stare
A summary of the most commonly used parameters in fire

safety engi neeri ng are detailed as part of the summary of
each of the experimental fires where avai lable, including Table 5: Summary of the experimental fire
the following: commodities included in Chapter 7
• heat release rate
Section no. Commodity
• heat of combustion
7.1 Beds
• mass of fire load 7.2 Boxes
• optical density 7.3 Buses
• carbon dioxide concentration 7.4 Cars
• carbon monoxide concentration. 7.5 Chairs
7.6 Christmas trees
Indi cative gas concentrations and smoke production 7.7 Computers
parameters are included where available. However, these 7.8 Curtains
parameters alone may not be appropriate fa r adoption in 7.9 Flight lu ggage

7.10 H and cart (se lling flowers)
computational models. Full tranisent definition of many
7.11 Pallets
of the experimental fires contained in this publication are
7.12 Pool fires
availab le in BRE's Design fires databasei181.
7.13 Soft toys
7.14 Televisions
7.1 5 Upholstered furn iture
7.1 6 Wardrobe
- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFfTY ENGINEERING
6 OCCUPANCIES
6.1 Bar/Night club
TEST TYPE
Two free-burn experiments (with anci without sprinklers)
SPRINKLER SPECIFICATION
Four stanciarci-response sprinklers (unless stateci) operateci
manually, Total combineci flow rate of 270 1/min anci with
a pressure of 0.6 bar at the sprinkler heacis. This gave
at least a 12 m 2 coverage per heaci anci 5 mm/min/m 2
cielivereci water ciensity.
FIRE LOAD
Description Mass No.of
(kg) items
Upholste red bench seating constructed from chipboard, foam seat and back, 132.7 8
covered in dralon-type materiai. Solid wooden chairs and tables. Upholstered stools
with materiai covers and foam fillings. Additional items in the unsprinklered test
included four jackets with polyester outer shell and hollow-fibre fillings
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total anci convective), temperatures,
optical ciensity, mass flow rate, raciiant heat, (0 2 anci CO
concentrations
PEAK MEASURED PARAMETERS

Optical density Mass flow rate C02 CO
(OD/m) (kg/s) (ppm) (ppm)
Unsprinklered (Test terminated at 2900 s) 2.51 (2025) 3.12 (1485) 14289 (2058) 615 (1356)
Sprinklered (No sprinkler activated, 0.81 (108) 2.31 (648) 4381 (498) 423 (237)
Test terminated at 1500 s)
Numbers in pare ntheses = time to peak parameters in seconds
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETER

For O < t ~ 372 s, a= 0.0045 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered)
REFERENCE
Clarke P & Smith DA. Charç1cterisation of fires for design purposes:
a database for fire safety engineers. lnterflam 2001 . Proceedings of
9th Conference, Volume 1. London, lnterscie nce Communications,
2001 . p 1157
6 OCCUPANCIES -
HEAT RELEASE RATE DATA
900.00
800.00 .....
l
i
.l!l
700.00
600.00
I;! 500.00 ~--------

J
-
À} \..,..
'
/t\
C1)
"'"'
C1)
400.00 I .ft I '\. ....... _ /_
I
1!
1uC1) 300.00 '
-- ~ -
f.J ·~
:r
) ~. ìj
~- . ,,,.,.
)
200.00
I - } ,. i
100.00
0.00
1/ I
i
i' r-
O 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200
Time(s)
- - Total - - Convective
Heat release rate of an unsprinklered bar
160.00
140.00 . . . . -l- i
I
I
I
120.00
§'
~ 100.00
iC1) 80.00
"'"'
C1)
1! 60.00
1uC1)
:r
40.00
20.00
0.00
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Tlme(s)
- - Total - - Convective
Heat release rate of a sprin kle red bar

6.2 Car parks
TEST TYPE
Three experiments simulating an open-sided carpark (with
and without sprinklers) and one experiment simulating a
car park stacker
Six standard-response sprinkl er heads (to BS EN 12845:
2004 specification), 5 mm/ min with coverage of 12 m 2
per head. Mean pressure of 2.5 bar with a maximum flow
rate of 51 O litres/m in.
FIRE LOAD
Test Description
no.
Free burn: 3 cars in a 'typical' open-sided car park .
Parking space 1: large hatchback (petrol); Parking space
2: unoccupied; Parking space 3 : srna li car (petrol);
Parking space 4: large estate (diesel).
Fuel levels in ali ca rs approxirn ately 20 litres of either
diesel or petro l.
Fire service intervention after 24 rninutes.
2 Sprinkl ered burn: 3 cars in a 'typical' open-sid ed ca r
park.
Parking space 1: MPV (petrol); Parking space 2:
unoccupied; Parking space 3: srnall ca r (petrol);
Parking space 4: 4X4 (petrol).
Fuel levels in all ca rs approxirnately 20 litres of either
diesel or petrol.
Fire service intervention after 85 rnin. MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Spri nkler operation: 2 heads after 4 rn inutes, 4 heads Heat release rate, te mperatu res, optical density,
after 42 rninutes, 6 heads after 45 rninutes. mass flow rate, radiant heat, C0 2 and CO concentrations
3 Free burn: 3 cars in a 'typica l' open-sided car park.
Parking space 1: MPV (petrol); Parking space 2: FIRE DESIGN PARAM ETERS
unoccupied; Parking space 3: rnid -sized estate (d iesel);
Parking space 1: 4 X4 (petrol). For O < t ::::; 1269 s, a 1 = 0.0101 kW/s 2 unsprinklered
Fuel levels in ali cars approxirnately 20 litres of either For O < t::::; 3231 s, a 2 = 0.00065 kW/s 2 sprinklered
diesel or petrol. For O < t ::::; 600 s, a 3 = 0.0306 kW/s 2 unsprinklered
Fire se rvice intervention after 10.5 rninutes.
11 Free burn: 2 cars in a stacker configuration (one directly For O < t ::::; 678 s, a 11 = 0.0164 kW/s 2 unsprinklered
above the other).
Lower parking space: 4x4; REFERENCES
Upper parking space : farnily estate. BSI. BS EN 12845: 2004 + Amendrnent 2: 2009 Fixed firefighting
Fuel levels in ali ca rs approx irnately 20 litres of either systems. Automatic spri nkler systems. Design, instaliation and
diesel or petro l. maintenance
Fire service intervention after 24.5 rninutes.
Shipp M, Fraser-Mitchell J, Chitty R et al. Fire spread in car parks; a
summary of the CLG/BRE resea rch programrne and findings. 2009.
Ava ilable from http://www.info4fire.com/ in-depth-content/fu ll/fire-
sp read-in-ca r-parks
6 OCCUPANCIES -
16000 -···------·- ·------- ·--······-··--· ··-·--·············· · - - - - - · · · · ····--·----+···-·····-----
14000 ·········--·--··-· ··--·-···
12000 ~- - - - - - + - - - - --+t ~- - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - - - ----1
I
~ 10000
G)
U)
m
e
i
:I: 6000 ·······-·-
o
o 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time (minutes)
- Free-burn , 3 cars - Sprinklered, 3 cars - Free-burn, 3 cars
- Single car, medium size, engine fire - Single car, MPV - Stacker test, 2 cars
Total heat release rates fro m car park fi res

- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEE_RI_
NG- - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6.3 Carpet stare
TEST TYPE
Two free-burn experiments (with and without sprinklers)
Four standard-response sprinklers (unless stated) operateci
manually. Total combined flow rate of 270 1/min and with
a pressure of 0.6 bar at the sprinkler heads. This gave
at least a 12 m 2 coverage per head and 5 mm/ min/ m 2
delivered water density.
FIRE LOAD
Description Mass No. of
(kg) items
Carpet mixes included polypropylene/wool/hair, 100% polypropylene, 80% wool, 117 15
wool/polypro pylene mix. Also included vin yl flooring and foa m rubber underlay.
Backing materials were either hessian, felt or foam rubber.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total and convective), temperatures,
optical density, mass flow rate, radi ant heat,
C0 2 and CO concentrations

Optical density Mass flow rate ( 02 CO
Unsprinklered (Test terminateci at 1400 s) 2.23 (1116) 3.97 (11 10) 30845 (1 134) 907 (1137)
Sprinkl ered (First sprinkl er activated at 380 s, 3.72 (240) 2.79 (381) 12858 (399) 2350 (225)
Test terminateci at 500 s)
Nurnbers in parentheses = tirne to peak pararneters in seconds

For O < t ::; 591 s, a = 0.0238 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered)
REFERENCE
Clarke P & Smith DA. Characterisation of fires for design purposes:
a database for fire safety engineers. lnterfl am 2001. Proceedings of
9th Conference, Volume 1. London, lnterscience Communications,
2001. p 1157
6 OCCUPANCIES -
2500.00 , - - - - - , - - - - - - , - - - - - , - - - , - - - - - , - - - - - - , - - - - - , - ---,
2000.00
I
J!! 1500.00
e!
Cli
"'ns
e 1000.00
Cli
-··- - -+---
1aCli
:e i
500.00 ····-··---r~··
!
....
I
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Time(s)
j -Total - Convective j
Heat release rate af an unsprinklered carpet stare
800.00
I
700.00 ···-····+ .. ···- ···-···-·
600.00 ---·---t- --·- .
I 500.00 ·-----+
i
Cli
400.00 ··········-r--- -------------~--
"'ns
Cli
e1a 300.00 ················--··i-·····-···
Cli
:e 200.00 ... ,
I
100.00 ·-·---~---
!
0.00
o 100 200 300 400 500 600
Tlme(s)
j -Total - Convective [
Heat re lease rate afa sprinkle red carpet stare

- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING_ - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6.4 Clothes store
TEST TYPE
Two free-burn experime nts (with anci w ithout spri nklers)
Four stanciarci-response sprinklers (u nless stateci) operateci
manually. Tota! combineci flow rate of 270 1/min anci with
a pressure of 0.6 bar at the sprin kler heacis. This gave
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
AII synthetic materi als including nylon, po lyester, acrylic and cotton mixes. 144.6 363
Each item was hung on a plastic coat hanger. ltems included T-shirts,
tracksuit trousers, bomber jackets and fl eece tops.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
H eat release rate (tota ! anci convective), temperatures,
optical ciensity, mass flow rate, raciiant heat,
C0 2 anci CO concentrations
· PEAK MEASURED PARAMETERS

Optical density Mass flow rate co, CO
Unsprinklered (Test terminated at 31 O s) 4 .00* (228) 100867 (309) 4922 (282)
Sprinklered (First sprinkl er activated at 290 s, 1.04 (336) 3.12 (297) 26451 (3 12) 710 (315)
Test term inated at 500 s)
* Limit of measuring range for instrument
Numbers in parentheses = time to peak parameters in seconds

Far 150 < t :::; 310 s, a= 0.308 kW/s 2 (u nsprinkl ereci)
REFERENCE
a database for fire safety engineers. lnterflam 2001. Proceedi ngs of
9th Conference, Vo lum e 1. London, lnterscience Communications,
2001. p 11 57
----------------------------
6-0_CCUPANCIES -
8000.00 , -- - - - , - - - - . , . - - - - - , - - - - - - , - - - - - , , - - - - - - - ~
7000.00 I
t
6000.00
§'
::!. 5000.00
i
a, 4000.00
.,UIa, >+•• ··
i! 3000.00
1;j
a,
:i:
2000.00
!
1000.00 ... ________ i ···-·

!
0.00 +-,-.---,-,......+-
1
~ ,.....,......-,j,,c,;,=;=='F"l'=i=::;::::;,4~1--r-~,.....,..+~~.,....../-.---,-,-,-1
o 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time(s)
1- - Total - - Convective!
Heat release rate of a n unspri nklered clothes store
1600.00
1400.00
1200.00
Is 1000.00
f! 800.00
a,
.,UIa,
i! 600.00
1;j
a,
:i: 400.00
200.00
0.00
o 100 200 300 400 500 600
Time(s)
1- - Total - - Convective!
Heat release rate of a sprinklered clothes store

---~----------~-------~-
6.S Indoor play area
TEST TYPE
Two free- burn experim ents (with anci w ithout sprinklers)
Four stanciarci-response spri nklers (u nless stateci) operateci
manually. Total combi neci fl ow rate of 270 1/min anci with
FIRE LOAD
Description
• Th e stee l fram ewo rk was covered in pipe lagging materiai
(expanded foam), with the padded flooring constructed of
plywood and foam covered w ith PVC. AII padded areas were
PVC-covered foam. A GRP sl id e and polypropylene rotation
moulded crawl tube were prese nt. Netting materia i was nylon.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
optical ciensity, mass fl ow rate, raciiant heat, C0 2 anci CO
concentrations

Optical den sity Mass flow rate co, CO
(OD/ m) (kg/s) (ppm ) (ppm)
Unsprinklered (Test terminateci at 360 s) 4.00 * (330) 3.62 (357) 201347 (369) 8550 (369)
Sprinklered (First sprinkler activated at 440 s, 1.02 (633) 2.72 (432) 7024 (45 3) 931 (423)
Test term inateci at 800 s)
*Lim it of measuring range for instrument

For 100 < t ~ 370 s, a= 0.1 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered)
REFERENCE
a database for fire safety engineers. ln terflam 2001. Proceed ings of
9th Conference, Volume 1. Lon don, lnterscience Communications,
2001. p 1157
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _......._ _ _G_o_ccuPANCIES -
8000.00
7000.00 +--- - ---------:----------- ···-
6000.00
is 5000.00 ··----··---·-·+·----- ···- ·-·-· ···- --~ ------
E 4000.00
Cli
I
1/1
"'Cli
e! 3000.00 I
-;
Cli
:e 2000.00
_j
1000.00
0.00
o 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Time(s)
1- - Total - - Convective !
H eat release rate of an unspri nklered play area
400.00
-
,)\
A
350.00 - ----·
300.00
-)r \ ·---
is 250.00
E 200.00
Cli
I
lt
1/1
I )_ 11
"'Cli ..
e! 150.00
-;
Cli
:e 100.00 ----~ ~~- - - ----- -
50.00
_.-,- ::/ I
~ ,_
I
I
!
!
/"-I
0.00
o 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Time(s)
1- - Total - - Convective !
Heat release rate of a spririklered play area

6.6 Library
TEST TYPE
Two free-burn experiments (with and without sprinklers)
Four fast response heads on a 3.4 m square grid. Each
sprinkler head had a coverage of 12 m2 and flow rate of
60 1/min.
FIRE LOAD
Description
One wooden shelving unit fixed to the rear wall (2100 mm
high, 4 bays long) filled with hardback books side by side
(80%) and paperback books stored in a display fashion.
One metal shelving unit fixed to the wall perpendicular to
Rig hood Fibreglass curtains kept lowered lo
the wooden shelving (1800 mm high, 5 bays long) filled with and duci form 'wall' behind the wooden shelving
hardback books side by side (80%) and paperback books
stored in a display fashion.
Two paperback racks (1800 mm long) and two video racks
(60-75 videos in each) were placed in the centre of the room .
A small wood/plastic top table with a VDU, keyboard and
Paperback
racks 1.8m
D
chair were placed at the end of the metal shelving together
with a table and three chairs. D
D
long
Video racksD
Book shelving
metal on this
run, against
(60-75 videos
on each) partition
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (tota!), temperatures, optical density,
Table and
mass flow rate, radiant heat, C0 2 and CO concentrations VDU with
keyboard
Newspaper/magazine rack
(originally proposed, bui noi included far lests)

co 2
CO
(%) (ppm)
Unsprinklered (Test terminated at 16 mins) 4.00 (1080) 1000 (1080)
Sprinklered (First spri nkler activated at 3.5 mins, 1.40 (240) 900 (720)
Test terminated at 20 mins)

For O < t :':': 580 s, a = 0.008 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered)
REFERENCE
Webb J & Samme P. Th e characterisation of library fires using a
sp rinklered ca lorimeter. Private communication, 1996
6 OCCUPANCIES -
2500
§'
:. 2000
2
r:
Cl)
"''" 1500
Cl)
~
...
'"
Cl)
J:
1000
500
\ ~------
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Time (s)
- - Unsp rinkl ered - - Sprinklered I
Total heat release rate of a li brary w ith and w ith out sprinklers
Unsprinklered tes t after 6 minutes (approx imate fi re size of

1 MW)
6.7 Living room
TEST TYPE
One free-burn experim ent (no sprinklers operateci)
FIRE LOAD
Description
• Th e contents of the room primarily co nsisteci of:
3-seater settee, 1 ciining room chair, 1 beanbag,
2 small coffee tables, 1 sicieboarci, cu rtains anci books.
• The centrai area of th e floor was laici with carpet tiles (see
cii agram, right).
• Th e seating was part-covereci by a throw rug.
• Other furnishings inclucieci w icker ornaments, newspapers,
magazines in a rack anci ca nciles on horizontal surfaces.
• Th e curtain s were hung from a stee l pole (Note: there was no
winciow).
• Books anci toys were locateci o n th e sofa anci sicieboa rci.
• A sma ll wastepape r bin containing crumpleci newspape r
sheets was locateci betwee n the beanbag anci th e settee.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total), temperatures, oxygen depletion,
C0 2 and CO concentrations
Sideboard Carpe! tiles Small tables

CO Minimum 0 2
(% ) (%)
Unsprinklereci (Test terminateci at 24 mins) 0.94 (660) 0.026 (660) 19.9 (660)
Numbe rs in parentheses = time te peak parameters in seconds

For 300 < t :s; 660 s, a = 0.04 kW/s 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Th e data for this design fire were contributed by
M artin Shipp, BRE Global.
REFERENCE
DeHaan JD. Kirk 's fire investigation. 6th eciition. New Jersey,
Pearson Eciucation/ Prentice- Hall, 2006
6 OCCUPANCIES -
/ Flashover
5000
~4000
~
i
i Flames in smoke layer
3000 ~ - - · · - - - ~ - ~
e Fire dies down
i
:e 2000
I
.............................................. ··-·······
Sideboard fully alight
··············+ ··-···················-············· ································I
1000
0 -1--=-.-..---.--=:;=,:,,.,..._ __ _
o
~-~-~--~'-,--'-..-----------~-~-...:..j
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Time from lgnition (min)
Total heat release rate of an unsprinklered living room

6.8 Luggage store
TEST TYPE
Four free-burn experiments (unsprinklered, fast-response
sprinklers and two with standard sprinklers)
Four standard-response sprinklers (unless stateci) operateci
manual ly. Total combined flow rate of 270 1/min and with
a pressure of 0 .6 bar at the sprinkler heads. This gave
at least a 12 m2 coverage per head and 5 mm/min/m 2
delivered water density.
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Mainly manmade fibres. Nylon outer shells with PVC waterproof interliner, 92 57
polyester inrier pockets and compa rtm ent dividers. Some cases had fabric she lls
w ith simi lar liners to the other cases. Rucksacks were mainly nylon weave
with polyester inner linings.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total and convective), temperatures,
optical density, mass flow rate, radiant heat, (0 2 and CO
concentrations

Optical density Mass flow rate C02 CO
Unsprinklered (Test terminateci at 175 s) 4.0* (11 O) 3.95 (175) 64994 (175) 5059 (175)
Sprinklered (Fast-response sprinkler activated 4.0* (150) 53978 (220) 4322 (220)
at 11 O s, Test terminateci at 500 s)
Sprinklered (Standard-response sprin kler 1 4.0* (60) 4.05 (140) 47747 (145) 3479 (130)
activated at 60 s, Test terminateci at 400 s)
Sprinklered (Standard-response sp rinkl er 2 4.0* (105) 3.81 (115) 40658 (155) 2730 (155)
activated at 100 s, Test terminateci at 460 s)
Numbers in parentheses = tim e to peak parameters in seconds

Far 75 < t :S 175 s, u = 0.6054 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered)
REFERENCE
a database for fire safety engineers. lnterflam 2001. Proceedings of
2001. p 1157
6 OCCUPANCIES

7000.00
6000.00 ~~ - - - · - -····· · · · · - · è - - - - - - - - + - - - - -- -- - + - ~ -/ -·-·-·-·-·-
5000.00
I.s 4000.00 ,
f!
Cl)
!Il
ca 3000.00
Cl)
e-;
:e 2000.00
Cl)
1000.00
0.00
o 50 100 150 200
Time(s)
- - Unsprinklered (Tota!) - - Unsprinklered (Convective)
Heat release rate of an unsprinklered luggage store
4000.00 -,--- - - - - , - - - - - - , - - - - - - , - - - - - , - - - - - , - - - - --,
3500.00 --
3000.00
~
- 2500.00
i
Cli 2000.00
!Il
e
m 1500.00
m
:e
1000.00
500.00
o 100 200 300 400 500 600

Time(s)
- - Fast response (Tota!) - - Fast response (Convective)

· - - Standard response 1 (Tota!) - - Standard response 1 (Convective)
- - Standard response 2 (Tota!) - - Standard response 2 (Convectivè)
Heat re lease rate of a-sprinklered luggage store

6.9 Office
TEST TYPE
manually. Total combineci flow rate of 270 1/min anci with
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Melamine-faced chipboard desks, materiai- and foam-covered MDF dividing screens 245.6 70
on each desk, computer monitors, keyboards and generai office items,
which were mainly constructed from plastics. Upholstered office chairs
with materiai covers, foam seat and back with polypropylene trim.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
optical ciensity, mass flow rate, raciiant heat, C0 2 anci CO
concentrations

Optical density Mass flow rate co2 CO
(OD/ m) (kg/s) (ppm) (ppm)
Unsprinklered (Test terminated at 1800 s) 2.21 (846) 4.13 (1575) 107157 (1779) 11803 (1728)
Sprinklered (First sprinkler activated at 950 s, 0.84 (903) 2.54 (924) 6063 (942) 493 (1137)

= 0.0003
For 500 < t ::s; 1200 s, a kW/s 2 (unsprinklereci)
REFERENCE
2001. p 1157
6 OCCUPANCIES
5000.00 - , - - - - - - - , - - - - - ----,.- - - - - - ~ - - - - - -~
4500.00 ~ ----- --------- --- -------- ---------- --;-------- -- ----- ----- ---- ------·---+----------- ------------ -------------1- ----------------- -----·------
4000.00
3500.00 s - - - - - - - ------------~------------------- ·----------, -------------------- - -----------1
i
~ 3000.00 + --- -- - -·-- - --------------t----------·----------------+------------ ·------ ------+---1- - - - - - -----
~
Cl) 2500.00 + ·-- -- ·--- --- ------------------ -------------1----···-· ···---------·----- --· --------------+---------············ ··········-·----··---+
lii
"'
Cl) 2000.00 ~- -- - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - -- - - - -------·-- I --·-···---
~
1u
Cl) 1500.00
:e
1000.00
500.00
0.00
o 500 1000 1500 2000
Time(s)
1--Total - - Convectivel
Heat re lease rate of an unsprinklered office
300.00
250.00
i 200.00
~Cl) 150.00
lii
"'
Cl)
~
1u 100.00
Cl)
:e
50.00
0.00
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Tlme(s)
1--Total - - Convective j
Heat re lease rate of Ùprinklered office

DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFITT ENGINEERING
6.10 Prison cell
TEST TYPE
Single experiment (free burn, no sprinklers operated) .
Cell contained representative prison-issue furniture and
persona! items.
FIRE LOAD
Description
Double-occupancy prison ce li measuring inte rnally
3 m x 4 m and 3 m high, givi ng a tota[ volume of 36 mJ.
• The room was of blockwork constructio n, inte rnally clad with
plaste rboard.
• Fire load comprised 2 prison-issue matresses, 2 prison -issue
bedside lockers, one of whi ch was placed on its side on the
lower leve[ of a bunk bed. Th e locker on the bunk bed was
fill ed with: 12 crisp packets, 4 boxes of cereal, a pair of jea ns,
a vest, 2 toilet rolls, 2 plastic bottles, a newspaper, a magaz in e,
1 O singl e CD cases, a compu te r keyboa rd, a prison issue duvet
cove r, sheet and pillow slip. Additio na lly, 2 desks, 2 chairs
(one of which was plastic), 2 pairs of shoes, a towel, 3 shirts,
a television and 2 pa irs of jeans.
• Fire was manu ally extinguished after approximate ly
18.5 minutes.
• Door was open th roughout the test.
++-+-+- - Ceiling extract

location
Doorway

Minimum Volume
oxygen C0 2 CO HCN HCL flow rate
(%) (m3/s) (m 3/s) (ppm) (ppm) (m 3/s)
0.2 (mid-height) 0.165 (1074) 0 .03 (396) 1030 (600) 51 (600) 20 (600)
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN REFERENCE

Heat release rate (tota!), temperatures, optical density, Annable K. Watermist systems far prison cells. 201O. Available at
HCN, HCL, C0 2 and CO concentrations www. info4fi re .com/in-de pth-conte nt/fu ll/water-mist-systems-for-
prison-cells
For O < t ::; 600 s, a = 0.0069 kW/s 2
6 OCCUPANCIES
2500
- - -•~-, ---+--·· - - -
I
. r. . . . . .
I
i
1500
11.
-~
1000 --·--···-··· · ···- · --··-·· · ······--·-···- ·-·············· ·-··-··---····- I
!
!
500 ······--·-·-··· .... ·········-··········· ········· ············· ··········-----·-······· 1 ·······-····---····· +· ····-··-··········.
'
o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Tlme(min)
Tota! heat release rate from a typi cal prison ce li (un sprinklered)
1111 DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING
6.11 Reception
TEST TYPE
Two free-burn expe riments (with anci without sprinklers)
a pressure of 0.6 bar at the sprinkl er heacis. This gave
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Computer monitors, keyboards, TV/monitor, polypropylene wastebasket, videocassettes 86.5 19
and recorder as well as generai office items such as ring binders and paper.
Two office-style leather faced chairs with foam seat and back. Two visitors' seats
material-covered w ith hollow-fibre cushions and one material-covered sofa w ith hollow fibre.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total & convective), temperatures,
concentrations

Unsprinklered (Test terminateci at 1700 s) 4.00* (975) 4.23 (1062) 51615 (1515) 12589 (1629)
*Lim it of measuring range for instrument

Far 180 < t :::: 1400 s, a = 0.003 kW/s 2 (unsprinklereci)
REFERENCE
2001.p1157
6 OCCUPANCIES -
3500.00 I
3000.00 . . _.J. i
·········· I
2500.00 ·i
I
.2! 2000.00
. J_
f!
a,
Il)
lii 1500.00
I
······--1·····--:
a,
e'la
a,
:e 1000.00 ......... -·- ·-·- · - . f ····-+
I !
500.00
0.00
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Time(s)
1- - Total - - Convective/
Heat release rate of an unsprinkle red rece ptio n area
500.00 . - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - , !~ ----,------~---------,
450.00
I 1
. . -~-_r-··· ~--
I
350.00
§" i I
~ 300.00 I :
.!
f!
a, 250.00
::i
---L . '
200.00
ea,
m150.00
:e
100.00
I
-- -- --------- - ---·-r
50.00
o 100 200 300 400 500 600

Tlme(s)
/ - - Total - - Convective/
Heat release rate of a spri nkle red reception area

6.12 Retail store
TEST TYPE
Single free-burn experim ent (without sprinklers)
FIRE LOAD
Description
• Retai l store com plete with luggage, plastic manikin, bags,
plastic shoes, LCD display, chairs, storage cupboard and
plastic toys arranged over both the floor area and in hanging
displays.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate, temperatures, vo lume fl ow, rate of
smoke produ ction, 0 2
, C0 2
and CO concentrations

Smoke Volume
CO co 2
0 2
minimum production rate flow rate
(%) (% ) (%) (m 2/s) (m 3/s)
Unsp rin klered 0.08 (1128) 1.66 (1122) 19.07 (11 13) 14.77 (11 52) 16(11 22)

For O < t :::; 153 s, a = 0.1 84 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered)
4500
4000
3500 .f...--
!
i'3000
~
Cli
·-+--~-·
'
f 2500 i---
Cli
U)
Sl 2000 . J.
!
~
j 1500
J:
1000
500
0 .-.....,,::.....,...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--i
o 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Time(s)
Tota l heat release rate of an unsprinkl ered retai l store

6 OCCUPANCIES -
6.13 Video stare
TEST TYPE
Single free-burn experiment (without sprinklers)
FIRE LOAD
Description
• Video cassettes in plastic or cardboard boxes, empty compact
disc cases. Shelving formed from mou lded polypropylene
video and CD trays supported by a meta l framework. The
layout was intended to represent a corner aisle of a video
shop. The tests represented malicious ignition of the bottom
row of the centre video rack .
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate, temperatures, optical density, radiant
heat, C0 2 and CO concentrations
·PEAK MEASURED PARAMETERS

Optical density co 2
CO
(OD/m l (%) (ppm)
Unsprinklered 2.5 (240) 4.1 (660) 7000 (660)
Numbers in parentheses = time to peak parameters in seconcls

For 100 < t :e; 660 s, a = 0.02 kW/s 2 (unsprin klered)
REFERENCE
Samme P & Webb J. The characterisation of video shop fires using
a sprinklered ca lorimeter. Private commun ication, 1997
5000
~
~
Cl) 4000
"'"'
Cl)
~
-; 3000
Cl)
::e
2000
o 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Time(s)
Tota! heat release rate of an unsprinklered video store

6 Notes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -7 COMMODITIES -
7 COMMODITIES
7.1 Beds
FIRE LOAD
Experiment Description Mass No.
no. (kg) of items
Double bed, bedding, night table 53.70
2 Double bed, bedding, night table 53 .70
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN REFERENCES

Heat release rate (tota!) Spearpoint M. FireBaseXML database. Version 1.34. New Zealand,
Unive rsity of Canterbury, 2007. Visit http ://www. civil.canterbury.
ac. nz/spearpoi nt/HRR_ Database/HRR_ Database.xmI
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS
Bed a Heat of combustion
(kW/s 2 ) U/kg)
2.22 far O< t :5: 360 s 18100
2 0.82 fa r O< t :5: 230 s 18100
7000 ~------~--~---------'--~-----~-----+---~~~+---~~~--+~---------- --------~-----------------------+~~~~--+-~~~~I
6000 i'\
i sooo
~
:ll 4000
e"'
Q)
m3000
:i:
2000 -r---
1000
o
/\ 1 --=-r=~=======-1-·-- -_-- --_-- - ---·1--_--
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 16.00

Time(s)
- Bed 1 - Bed 2 I
Tota! heat re lease rate of a double bed, bedding a nd night tab le

7.2 Boxes
TEST TYPE
Two free -burn experiments (with anci without sprinklers)
Four stanciarci-response sprinkl ers (unless stateci) operateci
m anually. Tota! combineci flow rate of 270 1/min anci with
a pressure of 0.6 bar at th e sprinkl er heacis. This gave
at least a 12 m 2 coverage per heaci anci 5 mm/ min/m 2
cielivereci water cien sity.
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Corrugated cardboard boxes (610 mm x 610 mm x 480 mm) fill ed w ith packing materials, 353 96
mainl y polystyre ne chips and expanded foam mouldings. 16 boxes per stack each on
a wooden pallet with 6 stacks in total
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
H eat release rate (tota! anci co nvective), temperatures,
optical ciensity, mass flow rate anci raciiant heat

Optical density ~ Mass flow rate
(OD/m) (kg/s)
Unsprinklered (Test terminated at 880 s) 4.00* (625) 3.71 (880)
Sprinklered (First sprinkl er activated at 1200 s, 3.07 (1470) 3.03 (1355)
Numbers in parentheses = time to peak pa rameters in seconds

For O < t ~ 880 s, a = 0.0362 kW/s 2 (unsprinklereci)
REFERENCE
Garrad C & Smith DA. Characterisation of fires for design.
lnterflam 1999. Proceedings of 8th Confere nce, Volume 1.
London, lnterscience Communications, 1999. p 555
7 COMMODITIES

5000.00
4500.00 ····-···--·- · - · - - + - - - -- -1
i
4000.00 ·- - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - -- - - - · - - - - --- - - - - - --- ••+>-•••·
3500.00 ·····---· ·-···---······ ·············, .. ... ··--··1

i ! :
e 3000.00 + - - - - -----+;_ _ _
.e I
I! ·····------~-~~-·-·· ----------------- ----~ ... · - -------:~------·-···
Cl)
.,
Il)
!
·+·- ----
Cl)
e 2000.00
'liiCl) 1500.00
:e
. -·------ . . . . ______L__...........
1000.00 ------+------·--·· - -r-----·-··--···
500.00
O.OD
I
o 200 400 600 800 1000
Tlme(s)
1- -Total - - Convective l
Heat re lease rate of unsprinklered boxes
800.00
I
700.00 I
·-······-·--i--
1 __ _ _ _ _ : ___ _
600.00 -- -i
!
i
[ 500.00 i
.e ____ J1-----j-- -
I! 400.00
Cl)
.,
Il)
Cl)
L__ ____!
e 300.00 ··--· i_ _ ____ ; _______ _,...._ _ _
'liiCl)
:e 200.00 . __ ].._ ____ , ____ _
···r
100.00 ·····---- ---- ----- ··i ....I ········-·-r···--
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Tlme(s)
1- -Total - - Convectivel
Heat release rate of sp'rinklered boxes

1!11 DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING- - ~ - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - -
7.3 Buses
TEST TYPE
A single free-burn experiment to simulate a fire in the rear
luggage compartment
FIRE LOAD
D escription
• A 13 m si ngle-deck Volvo coach with 49 passenger seats.
Th e bus was used for development purposes and was
never used in publi c traffic. Gear box fitted with a retarder.
Fire ignited in the rear luggage compartmen t using a propane
burner. Calorimeter placed to measure heat release rate from
rear two-thirds of the bus length.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
H eat re lease rate (total), t emperatures, visibility, CO, C0 2 ,
H C I, HCN, HF, HBr, 50 2, NOa and N0 2 concentrations
Photos courtesy of Bjorn Sundstrom, SP Techn ica l Resea rch

lnstitute of Sweden
PEAK MEASURED PARAMETERS (inside passenger compartment after 8 minutes)

HCN HF HBr so, NOa NO,
(ppm ) ( pm) ( pm ) (p m) ( m) (ppm)
65 <5 < 10 < 10 < 15 <5

For O < t :S 11 40 s, a= 0 .009 kW/s 2
REFERENCE
Hammarstr6m R, Axe lsso n J, F6rsth M et al. Bus fire safety.
SP report 2008:41. Boras, Technical Research lnstitute of Sweden,
2008. Available as a pdf from: www-v2.sp.se
7 COMMODITIES -

14000 ,--~~~~~~~~~~~~---,-~~~~~~-,-~~~~~~
~~I.. --~ -
-
!
~
I
12000
10000
8000
----·--·--------------;!
~~-------~---_+-1~~~-.. -.J+-i
1 r
>_est_l•~-min- ate_d E~
i
1
i
a,
6000 - · - ·- - - ·--- --- l·----·- I
I
·--r·---
i
I
I
I
:e
4000 ----------------··---··-···· ·····r - --1 ---
!
i
i
2000 ........... ·-·---··--· ·-+-- ···--····-······
i
o 5 10 15 20
Time(min)
Total heat release rate of a bus (fire in luggag~ compartment)

7.4 Cars
TEST TYPE
Four free -burn experim ents :
• Small fami ly car
• fire originating in the passenger compartment
(windows and doors closed)
• fire originating in the engine compartm ent
• MPV
• fire origin atin g in the passenger compartm ent
(win dows and doors closed)
• fire ori ginating in the engine co mpartment
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate, temperatures, smoke production,
volume fl ow rate, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
oxygen depleti on
FIRE LOAD
Experiment Description
no.
200 2 5-Doo r medium-sized hatchback: Fire origin ating in the passenger co mpartm ent,
ignition using a No. 7 cr ib, 20 litres of fu el in tank
2 2000 MPV: Fire origin ating in the passenger co mpartment, igniti on using a No. 7 crib
20 li tres of fuel in tank
3 2002 5-Door medium-sized hatchback: Fire originating in the engine bay,
ignition using an IMS-soaked fibreboa rd , 20 litres of fuel in tank
4 2000 MPV: Fire originating in the engin e bay, ignition using an IM S-soaked fibreboard
20 litres of fue l in tank
Note: Ex periment nos 1 ancl 3 self-ex tin guishecl ancl we re term inateci respectively due to the lack of avai lable air.

Smoke production Volume flow rate C0 2 CO
(m 2/s) (m 2/s ) (%) (%)
Experiment 1 0.095 (5 10) 15.386 (O to 22 17) 0.0 57 (O to 2163) 0.004 (1959)
Experiment 2 0.492 (1413) 18.069 (O to 1 300) O.OSO (O to 1800) 0.022 (78)
Experiment 3 91.164 (2 940) 19.378 (O to 4836) 1.33 4 (265 0) 0.046 (2800)
Experim ent 4 81 .183 (2529) 19.539 (O to 3504) 1 .'181 (3546) 0 .044 (3 0 78)
Numbers in parentheses = time to peak pa rameters in seconcls
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS REFERENCE

For 750 < t s 930 s, a = 0.06 kW/s 2 in Experim ent 3 Shipp M , Frase r-Mi tchell J, Chitty R et al. Fire spread in car parks.
For 300 < t s 750 s, a = 0.0098 kW/s 2 in Experi ment 4 A summary of the CLG/ BRE resea rch programm e and findings.
2009. Ava ilable at www.i nfo4fire.com/in-depth-co ntent/full/fire-
spread-in-ca r-parks
7 COMMODITIES
50
45
40
35
~
=-.e 30
~
Q) 25
"'
cu
Q)
e 20
1a 15
Q)
:e
10
o
o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Tlme(min)
- - Familycar - - MPV f
Total heat release rate of a fam ily car and MPV (fire originating in passenger compartment with windows
and doors closed)
6000
5000
~ 4000
=-.e
~
Q) 3000
"'cu
Q)
e 2000
1a
Q)
:e
1000
o
o 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time (mln)
- - Family car - - MPV f
Total heat re lease rate of a fami ly car and MPV (fire originating in engine compartment)
7.5 Chairs
FIRE LOAD
Experiment Description Mass No. of
no. (kg) items
Stacked chairs constructed from foam and cellulosic materiai 40.00 16
2 Wood-frame easy chair, polyeurathane cushions, polyolefin fabric' 28.34 1
3 Wood-frame easy chair, cotton padding, polyolefin fabric 8 31.20
4 Love seat, metal frame, four solid polyurethane foam-filled cushions
covered in plastic-coated fabrice

Heat release rate (total) Spearpoint M. FireBaseXML database. Version 1.34. New Zealand,
University of Canterbury, 2007. Visit http://www.civil.canterbury.
ac.nz/spearpoint/HRR_ Database/HRR_ Database.xml
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS ChairA
Chairs a Heat of combustion Williamson RB & Dembsey NA. Advances in assessment methods
(kW/s 2 ) (J/kg) for fire safety. lnterflam 1990. Proceedings of 5th Conference.
0.255 for O < t c5 84 s 15000 London, lnterscience Communications, 2001. p
2 0.017 for O < t c5 350 s
3 0.0075 for O < t c5 365 s 16800 Chair"
4 0 .0012 for O< t c5 500 s Lawson JR, Walton WD & Twilley WH. Fire performance of
furnishings as measured in the NBS furniture calorimeter. Part I.
NBSIR 83-2787. 1984. Available at http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/
fire84/art002.html
Chairc
Babrauskas V, Lawson J R, Walton W D & Twilley WH. Upholstered
furniture heat release rates measured with a furniture calorimeter.
fire82/art007 .html
7 COMMODITIES
1800 ········-·-r-···
1600 . I·· ····-····-·-··-·· · ··-1· -. -----------------·---- ··-·.
. . . --r'l -
1400
I
~
1200
E
Q)
1000
"'"'a, i '
800
~
'liia, 600
:e
400
I
··-··-·· --------·· -·- t----------·-······ J - -t
200 ... I / .. ---j

o -f-'=.---.---.---.---;---.---.---.---.--+--r--r--r--r-+-r - r - r - r -+--~ ~ ~~ f - - ~~ ~ r - l
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Time(s)
j- chairs1 j
Total heat release rate of 16 stacked chairs
2500 -.--~~~~~..,.-~~~~~-,-~~~~~--,-~~~~~-,-~~~~~--,
2000 ~-· ··-- ~ ;

I
i
I 1500 ······1· ·· ···············-·--

i
-j-·
~ i
Q)
i; I
i 1000 ·-·-- -i I
.. __ I ·-··
i
:e I
o 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Time(s)
\- chairs2 - Chairs3 - Chairs4 J
Total heat release rate of single chairs

7.6 Christmas trees
FIRE LOAD
no. (kg) items
Height 2.6 m, width at widest point 1.7 m, moisture co ntent 30% 17.2
Conditioned at 23 °C, SO% RH for 3 weeks. lgnition by e lectric match
2 Height 2.7 m, width at widest point 1 .3 m, moisture content 27% 15.9
3 Height 2.3 m, width at widest point 1.7 m, moisture content 30% 20.0
Conditioned at 23 °C, 50% RH for 3 weeks. lgnition by e lectric match
4 Height 2.5 m, width at widest point 1.2 m, moisture content 30% 9.5
5 Height 2 .5 m, width at widest point 1.7 m, moisture content 28% 19.1
6 Height 2 .5 m, width at widest point 1.1 m, moisture content 32%
Conditioned at 23 °C, SO% RH for 3 weeks. lgnition by e lectric match 12.7
7 Height 3.1 m, width at widest point 1.5 m, moisture content 25%
Conditioned at 23 °C, SO% RH for 3 weeks. lgnition by e lectric match 18.6

Heat release rate (total) Spearpoint M. FireBaseXML database . Version 1 .34. New Zealand,
University of Canterbury, 2007. Visit http://www.civil.canterbury.
ac. nz/spearpoint/H RR_ Database/H RR_ Database.xml
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS Stroup DW, Delauter L, Lee J & Roadarmel G. Scotch pine
Tree a Total heat release Christmas tree fire tests. NIST Report FR 401 O. Gaithersburg
(kW/s 2) (MW) MD, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National lnstitute of
1 1.63for0 < t:s 51 s 161 .282 Standards a nd Technology, 1999
2 2.98 for O < t :s 21 s 138.803
3 1.85 for O < t :s 53 s 203.852
4 0.38 for O < t :s 63 s 84.243
5 0.89 for O < t :s 61 s 188.3 1
6 0.26 for O < t :s 81 s 93.5425
7 1.63 for O < t :s 44 s 151.42
8 COMMODITIES
5000 ------ ---------
4000
I.e
E 3000
Q)
rn
"'
Q)
~
'la
Q)
2000
:e
1000
o 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Time.(s)
1- Tree 1 - Tree 2 - Tree 3 - Tree 4 1
Total heat re lease rate of Christmas trees (Trees 1- 4)
o 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Time(s)
!- Tree 5 -Tree 6 - Tree ?!
Total heat re lease rate of Christmas trees (Trees 5- 7)

7.7 Computers
FIRE LOAD
Experiment Description Mass No.of
no. (kg) items
Laptop computer in a corrugateci cardboard box and polystyrene foam packing 3.41
2 Desktop computer in a single wall corrugateci cardboard box and 5.93
polystyrene foam packing

Heat release rate (total) Hasegawa HK, Alvares NJ & White JA. Fire tests of packaged
and palletized computer products. Fire Technology 1999: 35(4):
291-307
Spearpoint M. FireBaseXML database. Version 1.34. New Zealand,
Computer a Total heat release University of Canterbury, 2007. Visit http ://www.civil.canterbury.
(kW/s2) (MW) ac.nz/spearpoi nt/H RR_ Database/H RR_ Database.xm I
0.0086 for 100 < t :5 358 s 42 .5
2 0.0135 for 100 < t :5 266 s 43 .7

400 -,--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
350 -I - - ·1 ~----
i
300 -
I 250 .......... . l
i i I
,i
8: 200
e=
Z 150 ---~i
I
. . r ... •.•. ·.·.. ........ ....
I
l
l
!
:i::
i
100 ... ; - - - -·-~f ·-·--···-
!
!
50 ~~------ i t-
o ~
o 100
~ 200
--,---,--,1~
300
.- ~~ 400 500 600 700
Tlme(s)
- Computer1 - Computer2
Total heat release rate of individuai computers

7 COMMODITIES
7.8 Curtains
FIRE LOAD
Experiment Description Mass No.of
no. (kg) items
Mixed mate ri ai curtains: 39% cotto n, 16% polyester, 45% acrylic 1.43
2 Mixed mate ri ai curta ins: 39% cotton, 16% polyester, 45% acrylic 1.43

H eat release rate (tota l) Cross D. Data sources for parameters used in predictive modeling
of fire growth and smoke spread. NBSI R.85-3223 . 1985 . Available
at: http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fi re85/art001 .html
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS Spearpoint M. FireBaseXML database. Version 1 .34. New Zealand,
Curtains a Heat of combustion University of Ca nterbu ry, 2007. Visit http://www.civi l. canterbury.
(kW/s 2) O/kg) ac. nz/spearpoint/HRR_ Database/H RR_ Database.xm I
0.027 fo r O < t :'.S 415 s 13000
2 0.042 for O < t :'.S 540 s 12000
160
140
120 I\
!
~a,
t/1
ca
a,
e'la
100
80
60
.. ................. , .... ................. ; ... ... - .......... ,'
_.,......... _....
I \
.. ,........ \ \- \
\ I .
a,
:e
40 ~--~--t--
·i
\ \
o
o 100 200 300
I
400 500
. . . _ _ I--
20 + .................. + ...................--;-..................... ,........... ,.......... ,...................,--1-..........,"-..
...... + ........., " " ........_____
600 700
I
800
!-----------
900
Time(s)
1-- Curtains 1 - - Curtains 2 I

Total heat re lease rate of pairs of curta ins
7.9 Flight luggage
FIRE LOAD
no.
Air-side airport design fi re consisting of two ca rry-on bags burn ing si multaneously
2 Land-side airport design fire consisting of bags on·a pi led-high luggage trolley
The bags were fill ed with clothing and other representative materials

H eat re lease rat e (total) Morgan H & De SmedtJ-C. Prescription in fl ight. Fire Engineers
Jou rnal and Fire Prevent ion 2002: July
Spearpoi nt M . Fire BaseXML database. Version 1.34 . New Zealand,

FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS University of Canterbu ry, 2007. Visit http://www.civil.canterbury.
Luggage a ac. nz/spearpoi nt/H RR _ Database/H RR _ Database.xml
(kW/s2 )
0 .006 fo r 128 < t ::; 419 s
2 0.003 for 94 < t ::; 1218 s
1400
1200
I
1000
~
~
i 800 ~-1 I
I
Cl>
-- --- -·--- ir·-·-- -----------------·-···
Il)
"'Cl> 600
~
-;
Cl>
:e
400
200
-----r- i
········ti ..
o
o 500 1000 1500 2000
Time(s)
J - - Luggage 1 - - Luggage 2 !
Tota l heat release rate o f fli ght luggage

7 COMMODITIES
7.10 Hand cart
TEST TYPE
Two free-burn experiments (with anci without sprinkl ers)
manually. Tota[ combineci flow rate of 270 1/m in anci w ith
at least a 12 m 2 coverage per head anci 5 mm/min/m 2
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Synthetic flowers constructed of manmade fibres, mainly polyester petals 13.1 100+
w ith polypropylene covered wire stems. H and cart was constructed of MDF
with a polycotton canopy
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
H eat rel ease rate (tota[ & convective), temperatures,
optical ciensity, racii ant heat, (0 2 and CO concentrations
PEAK MEASURED PARAMETER

Optical de nsity co, CO
(OD/ m) (ppm) (ppm)
Unsprinklered (Test terminateci at 600 s) 3.52 (268) 48939 (423) 630 (413)
Sprinkl ered (First spri nkl er activated at 1300 s, 1.91 (1290) 17965 (1305) 403 (1300)

a = 0.038 kW/s 2 (unsprinklered time to peak
heat release rate = 276 s)
REFERENCE
Clarke P & Smith DA. Characte risati on of fires for design purposes:
9th Conference, Volu me 1. London, lnterscience Comm unications,
2001. p 1157
3500.00
I
: I
3000.00 --f--------
1
1-- 1----- -
1 I
~'-
I
i
2500.00
! !
2000.00 -~-- -
~
- : I
"'
Cli I -----------·
lii
Cli
1500.00 - - - - - - - - + - - - - + - - -/
e....
:e
lii
Cli 1000.00
500.00 ··-~~--{----
1- ·r·--··,----------
I
o 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Time(s)
- Total - Convective
Heat release rate of an unspri nklered hand cart
1000.00
900.00 .. ---·---,-·
-]···········: .• ______ j _________ ____ _
·.···
------- ·r
!
700.00
600.00
+-----
! --
~Cli
500.00
"'
lii
Cli 400.00
e ~··
'liiCli 300.00
:e
200.00
I
!
100.00
0.00
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Tlme(s)
- Tcital - Convective
Heat release rate of an sprin klered hand cart

7 COMMODITIES -
7.11 Pallets
TEST TYPE
at least a 12 rn 2 coverage per heaci anci 5 rnrn/rnin/rn 2
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Wooden pallets 1200 rnm x 1200 rnm stacked between 1.15 111 and 1.1 7 rn high 500+ 40
Moisture content between 1O to 20%
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total anci convective), ternperatures,
concentrations

(OD/m ) (kg/s) (ppm) (ppfn)
Unsprinklered (Test terminateci at 480 s) 1.48 (870) 3.22 (830) 22850 (690) 4344 (535)
Numbers in parentheses = time to pea k parameters in seconds

Far O < t ~ 240 s, a= 0.0104 kW/s 2 (unsprinklereci)
REFERENCE
Garrad G & Smith DA. Characterisation of fires for design.
lnterflam 1999. Proceedings of 8th Conference, Volume 1.
London, lnterscience Comrnunications, 1999. p 555
- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN FIRESAFElY ENGINEERING
--------------------------
5000.00 ~ -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
4500.00 L-
4000.00
- 3500.00
::
~ 3000.00
i
a, 2500.00
lii
"'a, 2000.00 + --·------···------------------+ ------ ----------- ---------- -!---- ----------------·-------··-+------·--- / -------·------------!-------------------- ------ 1
f...
m 1500.00 + -------- ----+------·----------+
:e
1000.00
500.00
0.00 4--....-....-..-=F'"'i=:;::a=a;=;;;~~:;:::::;::_.,..-.,..-.,..--i-....-....-....-....-+-....-....-....-....--l
o 100 200 300 400 500
Time(s)
- -Total - - Convective
Heat release rate of unsprinklered pallets
1200.00
1000.00
!s 800.00
~
a, 600.00
lii
"'a,
f 400.00
'la
a,
:e
200.00
0.00
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Time(s)
- -Total - - Convective
Heat release rate of sprinklered pallets

7 COMMODITIES
7.12 Pool fires
TEST TYPE
Twelve free-burn experiments incorporating industriai
methylated spirit (IMS) and ke rosene fuel
FIRE LOAD
Test Location Fuel Tray size Mass of Nominai
(Length x width x height) fuel fire size
(m) (kg) (kW)
Centre of a room IMS99 0.75 X 0.75 X 0. 15 24 400
2 Centre of a room IMS99 0.75 X 0.75 X 0.15 24 400
3 Against a wal l IMS99 0.75 X 0.75 X 0. 15 24 400
4 Aga inst a wa ll IMS99 0.75 X 0.75 X 0.15 24 400
5 In a corner IMS99 0.75 X 0.75 X 0.15 24 400
6 In a corner IMS99 0.75 X 0.75 X 0. 15 24 400
7 In a corner IMS99 1.55 X 1.55 X 0. 15 128 2000
8 In a corner IMS99 1.55 X 1.55 X 0. 15 128 2000
9 In a corn er Kerosine 1.1 X 1.1 X 0.1 5 60 2000
10 In a corner Kerosin e 1.1 X 1.1 X 0. 15 60 2000
11 In a corner Kerosi ne 1.55 X 1.55 X 0. 15 160 5000
12 In a co rn er Kerosi ne 1.55 X 1.55 X 0.15 160 5000
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
Heat release rate (total), flame height, te mperatures,
optical density, mass flow rate, radiant heat, oxygen
depletion, C0 2 and CO concentrations

Test Maximum Average Total Peak Peak Peak rate of Flame
HRR HRR at SS HR CO C0 2 smoke production height
(kW) (kW) (MJ) (m 3/s) (m 3/s) (m 2/s) (m)
1/2 560 461.5 611 0.0219 (1323) 2.2
3/4 497 401. 1 591 0.0194 (1341) 2.2
5/6 512 403 .9 620 0.0196 (1467) 2.2
7/8 2685 2093.8 3089 0.0971 (1313) 4.2
9/10 2806 2165 .0 2408 0.00201 (684) 0.0891 (1011) 140.6 (1030) 4.2
11 /12 6961 55 1O.O 6659 0.00391 (1026) 0.2073 (639) 5.9
REFERENCE
Marshall N. Evaluation of fire models for fire hazard assessment
in buil dings. Part 1: Experimental programme. Private
co mmun ication, 1999
600 1.......... ...... _j
!
i
1--
I
!
o 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500

Tlme(s)
- HRR based on oxygen depletion - HRR based on MLR (30s average) I
Heat release rate fora 0.75 x 0.75 m2 IMS pool fire

MLR = mass loss rate
4000
3500 ~ - ·----~-- - - J_ _ _
3000 --------
i 2500
.!!
I!
=2000
i
i
:e
1500
i
1000 --··----------·-· ...... . ............1 ............. .... 1·· ... ---1-········· . . ..
500 - ----------- - --·- . ------------- - ------>- 1--
o
o 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500
Time(s)
Heat release rate fora 1.55 x 1.55 m2 IMS pool fire

_____________________________
1 _c_oM_M
_o__
DITIES -
5000 - - .. - ----·- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - ; - - - - --·----·------·----+----- --------·----·------ + - - - -
i i
- 4000 ········-- · - - - - - f - - ~ - - +- -- - -- - - --·+·················--·----------·-·-·-l·········-···· ··········-·----------'----·----····- ······-·········· - -1

!
~ I I
Q)
1/) ;- ...... J ..
"'
Q)
e
...
"'
Q)
:i: 2000
o 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500

Time(s)
· Heat re lease rate fo r a 1.1 x 1 .1 m2 keros ine pool fire
9000
I.e
E
Q)
1/)
"'
Q)
e
1;j
Q)
:i:
3000
o L~~~L~~~L~~~L~~~~~AM!LlUtJ~~~J
o 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Time(s)
Heat release rate fo r a 1.55 x 1.55 m2 ke rosine pool fi re

7.13 Soft toys
TEST TYPE
FIRE LOAD
(kg) items
Toys: mainly manmade fibres, described as hollow-fibre fillings with plush cove rings. 62 383
Wall-mounted items were made of an undetermined plastic and were contained in
blister packs with a cardboard backing .
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
concentrations

Optical density Mass flow rate co 2
CO
Unsprinklered (Test term inated at 1380 s) 2.40 (285) 4.34 (965) 27092 (540) 739 (1140)
Sprinklered (First sprinkl er activated at 300 s, 1.84 (265) 3.70 (300) 22320 (315) 400 (310)
Nu mbers in parentheses = time to peak parameters in seconds

For O < t :::; 535 s, a = 0.006 kW/s 2 (unsprinklereci)
REFERENCE
Garrad G & Smith DA. Characterisation of fires for design.
lnterflam 1999. Proceedings of 8th Conference, Volume 1.
London, lnterscience Communications, 1999. p 555
7 COMMODITIES -
1800.00
i
1600.00 ·- -+- I
I
1400.00 --------··-------····•------
!
1200.00
!
~ 1000.00
E
Q)
U>
800.00
"'
Q)
i! 600.00
1;j
Q)
J: i
400.00 -·-- - f -· ----·-··----···- ·----------
200.00
1
0. 00 -h"""F~ - +~ ~-r-l-r--r-~-i-~-,-.--+-,-~-,-+-,~ ~-+~ ~--,---,1-r--r-r-r-1
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Time(s)
- - Tota! - - Convective
Heat release rate of unsprinklered soft toys
1400.00 . - - - - , - -- ...,-- --.---- - . - - - --,-----,---- - , - - - -- --,
1200.00
1000.00
- ----·-·-(-
] . -···- 1· ... :-- --- I_-···

-+-
--,-----·-··--·
j f-I -- -- - -
!
!a> 800.00 !
~
Q)
U>
:;'l 600.00 ·-· .......... ~----
i! !
:
i
°ffi 400.00 [---
J:
200.00
o 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Time(s)
I - - Tota! - - Convective!
Heat release rate of sprinklered soft toys

- DESIGN FIRES FOR USE _IN_F_IR_
ES_A_FETY
__ EN_G_
IN_
EE_RI_NG_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
7.14 Televisions
FIRE LOAD
no. (kg) items
28 inch TV in a plastic case. lgnition with a 1 kW propane gas flame 31.83
2 25 inch TV in a plastic case. lgn it ion with a 1 kW propane gas flame 24.42
3 28 inch TV in a plastic case. lgn ition with a 1 kW propane gas flame 30.53

Heat release rate (tota!) Hietaniemi J, Mangs J & Hakkarainen T. Burning of electrical
househo/d appliances. VTT Research Note 2084. Espoo, VTT
Technica l Research Centre of Finland, 2001
Spearpoint M . Fi reBaseXML database. Version 1.34. New Zealand,
Television a Heat of combustion University of Canterbury, 2007. Visit http://www.civil.canterbury.
(kW/s 2 ) U/kg) ac. nz/spearpoi nt/H RR _ Database/H RR_ Database.xm I
0.057 for 77 <t :s; 147 s 31900
2 0.009 for O < t :5 162 s 28200
3 0.0087 for 84 <t :5 238 s 28600
250
i 200 I
I
.s I
~ 150
Il)
"'Cli
~
1u 100
Cli
:e
50
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Time(s)
- -TV1 - -TV2 - - TV3
Tota! heat re lease rate for singl e televisions

7 COMMODITIES -
7.15 Upholstered furniture .
FIRE LOAD
no.
oesig~ · · ··· · · · · ·· · · · i=ùii~i-·
Fully upho lstered 3-seater Polyether foa m seat/ Polyester fibre to seat 100% polyester ground cloth/
sofa with loose seat and po lyester interior back cushion polyacrylic pile
back cushions
2 Fu lly upholstered 3-seater CMHR foam seat/ FR-treated cotton
sofa with loose seat and shredded foam
back cush ions interior back
3 As for Experiment 1 but 2-seater sofa
4 As for Experiment 2 but single-seat cha ir
5 Fu lly upholstered chair CMHR foam seat/ FR po lyester fibre 100% Polyacrylic pil e fabric/
with loose seat and FR polyester interior FR back coated/ce llulosic
back cush ions and back ground
6 Fully upholstered chair HR foam Leather
w ith loose seat and
back cushions
FR = lire retardant, HR = high resilient, CMHR = combustion-modified high resi lient
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN
H eat re lease rate (tota l), smoke production rate, HCN,
HCI, HBr and CO concentrations

Experiment Peak Total Peak smoke Peak Peak Peak
HRR HR production HCN HCL CO
rate
(kW) (MJ) (m 2/ s) (g/s) (g/s) (g/s)
2154 704.4 33
2 1346 520.4 14 0.31 0.28 1.96
3 2285 658.4 28
4 784 368.4 4 0.14 0.3 0.83
5 742 463 .3 12 0.18 0.26 1.7
6 1158 412 .8 8 0.02 0.07 0.56
REFERENCE
Sundstrèim B (Ed). Fi re safety of upholstered furn itu re: the final
report on the CBUF research programme. Report EUR 16477 EN.
Brussels, European Commission Measurements and Testing. Far
information, visit http://www.sp.se/en/index/research/cbuf/sidor/
default.aspx
7.16 Wardrobe
FIRE LOAD
no. (kg) items
12.7 mm thick Douglas-fir plywood. Two hinged doors on front. 68
Unfinished surfaces. Contained 1.93 kg of clothing and paper
2 3.2 mm mahogany veneer plywood and hardboard on 19 X 40 mm 36
hardwood frame. Top, bottom and back were hardboard with plywood
sides and doors. Two rolling doors provided access to the interior.
A 384 mm deep shelf extended across the width . Contained 1.93 kg
clothing and paper

Heat release rate (tota!) Lawson JR, Walton WD & Twilley WH. Fire performance of
furnishings as measured in the NBS furniture calorimeter. Part I.
FIRE DESIGN PARAMETERS fire84/art002.html
Wardrobe a Heat of combustion Spearpoint M . FireBaseXML database. Version 1.34. New Zealand,
(kW/s 2) (J/kg) University of Canterbury, 2007. Visit http://www.civil.canterbury.
0.29for0 < t~ 110s 14900 ac. nz/spearpoi nt/H RR_ Database/H RR_ Database.xm I
2 0.28 for O < t ~ 150 s 16900
6000
5000
[
'; 4000 s ~ - - -1~ ,~ - - - - - + - - - - - ~,--
~
Il)
:"' 3000 - --- · - \ 1-1--··----- - -- nI --1---- ---------------,------·-------------------+---------------------------+--------- ------1-- -------- -----

e
1;j
~ 2000
~ I\
1000
o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Time(s)
1- - Wardrobe 1_ - - Wardrobe2!
Tota! heat release rate of a w ardobe

7 COMMODITIES -
7 Notes
8 REFERENCES
[1] HMSO. Regulatory Reform England and Wales: Regulatory [10] 851. 06/30133753 DC: ISO 24473. Fire tests. Open
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 . Statutory lnstrume nts 2005 No. calorimetry. Measurement of the rate of production of heat and
1541 . Available at www.legislation.gov.uk/ combustion products for fires of up to 20MW
[2] Morgan HP, Ghosh 8K, Garrad G et al. Design methodologies [11] lnternational Organization for Standardization. ISO 834-
for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation . 8RE Report 8R 368. 1:1999 Fire-resistance tests - Elements of build ing construction -
8racknell, IHS 8RE Press, 1999 Part 1: Generai requirements. Geneva, ISO, 1999
[3] 851. 85 7974: 2001 Application of fire safety engineering [12] 851. 85 476-21 : 1987 Fire tests on building materials and
principles to the design of buildings. Code of practice structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of
loadbearing elements of co nstruction
[4] 851. 85 7346-4: 2003 Components for smoke and heat
contro ! systems. Functional recommendations and calculation [13] 851. 85 EN 1363-1: 1999 . Fire resistance tests. Generai
methods for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems, requirements
emp loying steady-state design fires. Code of practice
[14] Lennon T, Rupasinghe R, Waleed N et al. Concrete structures
[5] 851. PD 7974 Application of fire safety engineering principles in fire : performance, design and analysis. 8RE Report 8R 490.
to the design of buildings 8racknell, IHS 8RE Press, 2007
Part 1: 2003 lnitiation and development of fire w ithin the
[15] 851. 85 EN 1991-1-2 : 2002 Eurocode 1. Actions on
enclosure of origin (Sub-system 1)
structures. Generai actions. Actions on structures exposed to fire
[6] 851. PD 7974 Application of fire safety engineering principles
to th e design of buildings [16] Wickstriim U. Application of the standard fire curve for
Part 2: 2002 Spread of smoke and toxic gases within and expressing natural fires for design purposes. In : Harmathy TZ
beyond the enclosure of origin (Sub-system 2) (Ed) Fire safety, science and engineering: a symposium. ASTM
Comm ittee E-5 on Fire Standards, Society of Fire Protection
[7] Drysdale D. An introduction to fire dynamics. 2nd edition.
Engineers. STP 882 . Philadelphia, American Society for Testing and
p 323. Chichester, Wiley, 1998
Materials, 1985
[8] National Fire Protection Association . Guide for smoke
[17] 851. NA to 85 EN 1991-1-2: 2002. UK National Annex to
management systems in malls, atria and large areas. 2000 edition.
Eurocode 1. Actions on structu res. Generai actions. Actions on
NFPA 928. NFPA, Quincy, Massachusetts, 2000. Available at www.
structures exposed to fire
minhbao.vn/ userfiles/file/A_ NFPA92 8.pdf
[18] 8RE. Design fires database. Watford, 8RE, 2003. Available
[9] Chitty R & Fraser-Mitche ll J. Fire safety engineering: a
from www.brebookshop.com
reference guide. 8RE Report 8R 459. 8racknell, IHS 8RE Press,
2003
OTHER REPORTS FROM BRE TRUST -
OTHER REPORTS FROM BRE TRUST

FB 1 Subsidence damage to domestic buildings: FB 15 Putting a price on sustainable schools
lessons learned and questions remaining A Surgenor and I Butterss. May 2008
R M CDriscoll and M S Crilly. September 2000
FB 16 Knock it down or do it up?
FB 2 Potential implications of climate change in the built F Plimmer, GPottinger, S Harris, M Waters and Y Pococh.
environment June 2008
H M Graves and M CPhillipson. December 2000
FB 17 Micro-wind turbines in urban environments:
FB 3 Behaviour of concrete repair patches under propped an assessment
and unpropped conditions: criticai review of R Phillips, P Blachmore, J Anderson, M (lift,
current knowledge and practices A Aguil6-Rullan and S Pester. December 2007
T DGCanisius and N Waleed. March 2000
FB 18 Siting micro-wind turbines on house roofs
FB 4 Construction site security and safety: the P Blachmore. May 2008
forgotten costs!
FB 19 Automatic fire sprinkler systems: a guide to good
R Knights, T Pascoe and A Henchley. December 2002
practice
FB 5 New fire design method for steel frames with CWilliams. June 2009
composite floor slabs
FB 20 Complying with the Code for Sustainable
CBailey. January 2003
Homes: lessons learnt on the BRE lnnovation Park
FB 6 Lessons from UK PFI and real estate partnerships: CGaze. November 2009
drivers, barriers and criticai success factors
FB 21 The move to low-carbon design: are designers
T Dixon, A Jordan, A Marston. J Pinder and GPottinger.
November 2003 taking the needs of building users into account?
M Hadi and CHalfhide. December 2009
FB 7 An audit of UK sodai housing innovation
K Ross, J Honour and F Nowah. February 2004
FB 22 Building-mounted micro-wind turbines on high-rise
and commerciai buildings
FB 8 Effective use of fibre reinforced polymer materials P Blachmore. March 2010
in construction
S M Halliwell and T Reynolds. March 2004 FB 23 The real cast of poor housing
M Roys, M Davidson, S Nicol, DOrmandy and P Ambrose.
FB 9 Summertime solar performance of windows with February 2010
shading devices
FB 24 A guide to the simplified building energy model
P Littlefair. February 2005
(SBEM): what it does and how it works
FB 10 Putting a price on sustainability R Hitchin. Aprii 2010
BRE Centre for Sustainable Construction
and Cyril Sweett. May 2005 FB 25 Vacant dwellings in England: the challenges and
costs of bringing them back into use
FB 11 Modem methods of house construction: M Davidson and K White. Aprii 2010
a surveyor's guide
K Ross. June 2005
FB 26 Energy efficiency in new and existing buildings:
comparative costs and C0 2 savings
FB 12 Cri me opportunity profiling of streets (COPS): F MacKenzie, CPout. L Shorroch, A Matthews
a quieti crime analysis - rapid implementation and J Henderson. September 2010
approach
FB 27 Health and productivity benefits of susta inable
J Oxley, P Reijnhoudt. P van Soomeren and CBechford.
November 2005 schools: a review
CMurphy and A Thorne. September 2010
FB 13 Subsidence damage to domestic buildings:
a guide to good technical practice FB 28 lntegrating BREEAM throughout the design process:
R Driscoll and H Shinner. June 2007 a guide to achieving higher BREEAM and Code for
Sustainable Homes ratings through incorporation
FB 14 Sustainable refurbishment of Victorian housing: with the RIBA Outline Pian of Work and other
guidance, assessment method and case studies procurement
T Yates. September 2006 V Cinquemani and J Prior. November 2010
Automatic fire detection and Automatic fire sprinkler systems
alarm systems
Good practice guidance on designing, install ing,
Get a complete understanding of fire and alarm commissioning and maintaining sprinkler systems.
systems , how they are designed, how you can FB 19 E35
manage them and how to ensure that all your
regulatory requirements are met. Sprinkler systems explained
BR 510 E22 .50
Understand fire sprinkler installations and the LPC
Fire safety and security in retail premises Rules to which they are designed. BR 503 E35
Protect your retail premises from fire and security Fire safety engineering
risks. Learn all the basic principles of fire safety, how
to carry out risk assessments and prepare Find out about key topics encountered in fire safety
emergency plans, plus get valuable guidance on engineering and aspects that should be considered
dealing with crime, terrorism and assault. by designers, enforcers and other responsible
BR 508 E25 persons. BR 459 E30
Fire safety and security in places Design methodologies for smoke and
of worship heat exhaust ventilation
Protect your places of worship, congregation and Practical advice on the design of smoke-control
visitors from fire and security risks. Learn all the basic systems, drawing on the authors' cumulative
principles of fire safety, how to carry out risk experience of the design features required for
assessments and how to prepare emergency plans. regulatory purposes. BR 368 E85
BR 499 E25
breglobal bre press

This publication provides technical data and guidance on defining a robust and
appropriate design fire for use in the fire safety engineering design of a building.
lt explains:
• what a design fire is
• how it can be determined
• the limitations of current methodologies
• experimental data
• calculation methods used to define a design fire.
Current approaches to defining an appropriate design fire, ranging from the
quantification of fuel load based on surveys of real buildings to experimental
measurements, are described in detail.
Aimed at professionals involved in the fire safety engineering design process,
either as designers fulfilling a brief or as regulators/approvers of the design, this
guidance provides data that originate from a range of sources including fire tests
undertaken by BRE Global. lt can be used to source quantifiable parameters
such as heat release rates and fire growth rates that are proportionate to the fire
hazard foreseen.
ISBN 978-1-84806-152-1
IHS BRE Press, Willoughby Road
Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 8FB
www.brebookshop.com
bre press FB 29

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DESIGN FIRES FOR USE IN

FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING

bre press bretrust

bre press · bretrust

This work has been funded by BRE Trust. Any views

The mission of BRE Trust is 'Through education and

A further aim of BRE Trust is to stimulate debate on

BRE Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered

Registered Office: Bucknalls Lane, Garston, Watford,

BRE Trust and BRE publications are available from

Requests to copy any part of this publication should be

Printed on paper sourced from responsibly managed

2 IMPORTANT FACTORS INFLUENCING QUANTIFICATION OF A DESIGN FIRE 2

3 STEADY-STATE DESIGN FIRES 5

4 TIME-DEPENDENT DESIGN FIRES 7

5 FULLY DEVELOPED FIRES 10

EXPERIMENTAL FIRE DATA 13

2 IMPORTANT FACTORS INFLUENCING

specified hazard. • Building fabric

Building fabric Distribution, arrangement and quantity of

Table 1: Fire load densities for different occupancies where:

design philosophy have resu lted in significant changes, for I

examp le the increased use of IT and the move to open- 1lgnition

then it is possible to calculate the maximum HRR

(Eqn 1) Figure 2: Ventilati on-controlled fire

I.s 2500 -•-• -·

Figure 3: Example of a generi c steady-state design fire

4 TIME-DEPENDENT DESIGN FIRES

lncipient Growth Flashover Fully developed Decay Extinction

Figure 4: Phases of fire development

Fire growth Time to reach Coefficient Fire scenario

:::-r-----,--,----r-.--..-..-_----.-._-l --r------.1~,. .-.--._-_.,I--

Figure 5: The t-squared fire growth curves

Box 2: Typical checklist of factors to consider when

• ldentification of types of combustible materials

4.3.1 Heat release rate

4.3.2 Smoke production rate

Figure 8: Deve loping fire in an indoor pl ay area

S FULLY DEVELOPED FIRES

I - - ISO 834 - - Hyd rocarbon - - Externa l I

Figure 10: Example of a parametric design fire

Figure 11 : The concept of tim e-equivalence

EXPERIMENTAL FIRE DATA

intended to document the fire performance of stand- 6.10 Prison cel i

A summary of the most commonly used parameters in fire

parameters alone may not be appropriate fa r adoption in 7.9 Flight lu ggage

PEAK MEASURED PARAMETERS

FIRE DESIGN PARAMETER

HEAT RELEASE RATE DATA

I;! 500.00 ~--------

Heat release rate of an unsprinklered bar

Heat release rate of a sprin kle red bar

6.2 Car parks

HEAT RELEASE RATE DATA

16000 -···------·- ·------- ·--······-··--· ··-·--·············· · - - - - - · · · · ····--·----+···-·····-----

14000 ·········--·--··-· ··--·-···

12000 ~- - - - - - + - - - - --+t ~- - - - + - - - - - + - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - - - ----1

Total heat release rates fro m car park fi res

6.3 Carpet stare

PEAK MEASURED PARAMETERS

FIRE DESIGN PARAMETER

HEAT RELEASE RATE DATA

o 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600