Video 4 (of 4) of Post-flashover

fire behaviour
Equivalent time
Standard fire temperature-time curve
Examples of current practice
Enclosure T-t Relationship: if interrupted, the fire may
not develop into the flashover phase. Fire safety design aims to prevent/delay
flashover. However, the eventuality of flashover fire should be considered for
structural resistance. The temperature-time relationship is the key parameter.
Temperature

Growth Steady burning Decay

Flashover

Pre-flashover
Post-flashover fire
fire

Sprinkler

Limited fuel, oxygen Time

 Ascending Curve
Temperature
Tfi,max

td* Time


T fi  1325 1  0.324e 0.2t*  0.204e 1.7 t*  0.472e 19t* 
 qt ,d  
t  t in hours td  max 0.0002
* *
, 0.33 
 O 
 Time-Equivalency/Principle

Temperature Natural fire curve

Standard fire curve

Structural
Ts,max temperature rise
Structural
to standard fire
temperature rise
to natural fire

Equivalent time Time

Equivalent time (use with caution) – no
allowance for minimum burning duration.

(1) RC/protected steel: te,d=qt,d.kb.O-1/2

(2) Not protected steel: te,d=qt,d.kb.13,7O1/2
Equivalent times by comparison of T-t
curves – Protected steel
Equivalent time for protected steel/RC
RC/protected steel: te,d=qt,d.kb.O-1/2
1. Fire load 350, O=0.05, b=500, teq=26 minutes (based on comparing Ts: 46)
2. Fire load 350, O=0.05, b=2000, teq=26 (37)
3. Fire load 350, O=0.2, b=500, teq=13 (50)
4. Fire load 350, O=0.2, b=2000, teq=13 (46)
5. Fire load 1000, O=0.05, b=500, teq=74 (114)
6. Fire load 1000, O=0.05, b=2000, teq=74 (61)
7. Fire load 1000, O=0.2, b=500, teq=37 (50)
8. Fire load 1000, O=0.2, b=2000, teq=37 (46)

Comment:
Equivalent time equation not very accurate, but useful to argue for reduction in
fire resistance period.
Equivalent times by comparison
of T-t curves – unprotected steel
Equivalent time for unprotected steel
& comparison against using para. Ts
Un-protected steel: te,d=qt,d.kb.13,7O1/2
1. Fire load 350, O=0.05, b=500, teq=18 minutes (based on compare Ts: 159)
2. Fire load 350, O=0.05, b=2000, teq=18 (17)
3. Fire load 350, O=0.2, b=500, teq=36 (>240)
4. Fire load 350, O=0.2, b=2000, teq=36 (159)
5. Fire load 1000, O=0.05, b=500, teq=51 (>240)
6. Fire load 1000, O=0.05, b=2000, teq=51 (32)
7. Fire load 1000, O=0.2, b=500, teq=102 (>240)
8. Fire load 1000, O=0.2, b=2000, teq=102 (159)
Comments:
Wildly different results comparing the two sets of results. Use with caution.
Possible use of equivalent time
Example of calculation results
Design decision
 Summary & caution
• Using equivalent time is simple and allows existing practice based on the
standard fire curve to be adopted.
• However, equivalent time results according to EN 1991-1-2 are very
approximate, especially for unprotected steel. So use equivalent time with
great caution.
• Nevertheless, using equivalent time may help negotiate a lower fire resistance
period than required by regulation.