Design of emergency ventilation system for an underground storage facility

Fires have always been a major problem for underground spaces. As the demand for development of new underground structures increases, safety against fire incidents becomes even more important. This paper examines the design of an emergency ventilation system, which will provide the necessary control of smoke and heated gases within an underground warehouse facility, in case a fire occurs. Due to the pattern of the underground area and the variety of products stored, numerous fire scenarios should be examined in order to secure escape routes in every case, which significantly complicates the problem. For this reason, a different approach has been adopted, matching recent developments in fire safety from tunneling projects and ventilation practices from the mining industry. The ventilation design is based on the “critical velocity” theory; however, alternative configurations of the underground space are simulated by means of mine ventilation software. These alternatives affect the direction and velocity of the airflow and, consequently, the air quantity and the fan power required, in order to secure escape routes during fire emergency. The analysis not only determines the ventilation system characteristics, but also indicates the most appropriate design of the facility, in order to come up with a solution that is both secure and economically acceptable.     

Probability-based building design for fire safety: Part 1

This paper proposes a probability-based methodology for designing fire-safe buildings for property and lives. It is suggested that the performance of passive safety measures, taken in total and including building design and active devices such as sprinklers, should be assessed in terms of probable area damage and fatality rate per fire. Acceptable levels specified for area damage and fatality rate will provide design values for means of escape facilities, fire resistance and size of compartments, and other passive measures. Subject to these levels, the building's design can be altered, depending on active fire protection measures.     

Smoke generation—Developments in international test methods and use of data for selection of materials and products

Provision of means for escape in case of fire is a fundamental principle employed to ensure the fire safety of the occupants of a building. Obscuration of exits by smoke is a major hazard to the escape of the occupants as well as hindering access for the fire brigade. Considerable research has been carried out into smoke movement and smoke control systems but an unsatisfactory situation persists for manufacturers, designers and regulators concerning the relevance of smoke data from existing test procedures and how it may be applied to control materials for diverse applications. This paper examines the latest developments in smoke test procedures (both cumulative and dynamic) and indicates how the test data may be related to potential fire scenarios. The use of small-scale test data to predict fire growth and smoke generation in these defined scenarios is then proposed as the basis for future classification and risk assessment protocols.     

新西兰性能化防火设计规范的实施现状及其对我国消防的启示

随着经济的飞速发展，世界上许多国家出现了高层化和大型化的建筑，使得建筑规范从处方式规范转变到性能化设计规范。性能化防火设计规范已经在多个国家制定和实施。新西兰于1991年颁布了性能化为基础的建筑规范。以及给整个社会带来的影响，其中最主要的变化就是从强调财产保护转变到强调生命安全保护。结合我国的实际情况，提出了发展我国性能化设计的一些建议和想法。     

Post-earthquake fire and seismic performance of welded steel-concrete composite beam-to-column joints

The performance of steel-concrete composite full strength joints endowed with concrete filled tubes, designed with a multi-objective methodology dealing with seismic actions followed by fire is presented in this paper. In detail, instead of a traditional single-objective design where fire safety and seismic safety are independently achieved and the sequence of seismic and fire loading are not taken into account, the proposed design approach guarantees: (i) both seismic safety and fire safety with regard to accidental actions; (ii) fire safety for at least 15 min fire exposure on a joint characterised by stiffness deterioration and strength degradation due to seismic loading.In order to achieve the multi-objective design, full strength beam-to-composite tubular column joints were designed by means of the component method of Eurocode 4 Part 1-1 and Eurocode 3 Part 1-8, while Eurocode 4 Part 1-2 was considered for fire design. Moreover, to face a seismic-induced fire, they were enhanced with specific joint components which will be detailed.Both the experimental programme and the results provided by seismic tests, pre-damaged tests and fire tests carried out on beam-to-column joints are presented and discussed. The results demonstrate their adequacy in terms of design and performance. Moreover, non-linear numerical simulations clearly show that these joints can be deemed adequate for moment resisting frames of medium ductility class characterised by a behaviour factor of about 4.     

哈尔滨西站东广场交通枢纽交通换乘厅消防设计研究

铁路站房交通枢纽汇集铁路、轨道交通、城市公共交通、社会交通等多种交通方式,为方便换乘,交通枢纽各空间需保持连通,其交通换乘空间防火分区面积及疏散距离一般超过规范要求,因此设计时往往会借助消防性能化的方法.本文以哈尔滨西站东广场交通枢纽交通换乘厅为研究对象,研究并阐述了其消防设计的流程及消防策略.     

Results from a cost-effective, decision-making model for building fire safety and protection

Presented in this paper are results obtained from the application of a cost-effective, decision-making system model that is used to appraise the level of fire safety and protection in office buildings. The effects of fire spread are calculated using two performance parameters; namely the fire-cost expectation and the expected risk to life. Designs in conformity with building code requirements and alternative building designs were considered.

Following consideration of various risk assessment procedures, it was decided to adopt a decision criterion which identifies alternative designs that are equivalent (in terms of expected risk to life) to code-specified designs, and which achieve such performance at a lower fire-cost expectation. On the basis of the decision criterion described herein, alternative designs were identified that are shown to be more cost-effective than designs in conformity with building codes. For the selected alternative designs, it was found that whilst both the fire-cost expectation and the capital cost of building construction are significantly lower, a similar level of life safety is maintained for occupants, compared with designs in conformity with building code requirements.

The system model can be used as a basis both to make immediate changes to current building code provisions, and for the introduction of a performance-based approach to design. In addition, the model can be used to identify those areas of research which have a major impact on the provision of cost-effective fire safety and protection provisions in buildings, and which accordingly are deserving of further investigation.     

A methodology for the determination of code equivalency with respect to the provision of means of escape

The escape potential of occupants in a building and the effectiveness of existing escape strategies can be described as a function of the time required for escape and the time available for escape.

The formalisation of these two concepts within the contextual framework of equivalency is addressed in this paper. Existing fire simulation and people evacuation models (ASET and EVACNET+, respectively) are used to assess equivalent fire safety provision in public assembly buildings.

In each of the examples chosen, a safety index is derived for deemed-to-satisfy designs and used as a benchmark against which other prototype designs may be compared for the purpose of establishing code equivalency.

A methodology that is capable of assisting in the determination of code equivalency with respect to escape route provision while accommodating trade-off is postulated.     

大型公共建筑防火性能化评估方法基本框架研究

文章以现阶段消防安全工程的实际发展水平和现行指令性建筑防火设计规范为基本出发点，以性能化建筑防火设计规范为背景，依据面向对象主流程开发技术，初步建立了大型公共建筑防火性能化评估方法的总体框架，并对评估方法总体框架的基本内容进行了系统阐述。     

COSMO—Software for designing smoke control systems in high-rise buildings

A differential computer model specifically designed to quantify smoke movement during a fire in a high-rise structure is described. The basic conservation equations are transformed into a computer code which can be used to determine the paths that smoke will take during a fire. The program is a tool for fire protection engineers to design a smoke management plan with the ultimate goal of improving occupant safety in the event of a fire. The computer code is based on a modified and improved differential smoke control model for the conditions in the floor spaces, stairwells and elevator shafts and it considers a complete set of variables that influence the motion of smoke throughout the building. Program output suggests ways to alter the pressure distribution within the building by using air handling equipment, so that occupants will have smoke-free areas on the floors and inside of the fire escape stairwells. Results for several example cases are provided, and the results are used to illustrate how smoke movement can be managed in order to mitigate dangerous conditions within the building.     

一种推拉式防火门

分析我国规范对推拉式防火门的限制,介绍其他国家的规范要求.介绍一种新型的推拉式防火门,能克服悬挂砝码、电动驱动方式的缺陷,采用机械方式驱动滑轮.钟摆式悬吊系统所需开启力较小,可防止受挤压时的滑轨变形,可靠性较高.减速制动装置可以避免失速造成夹伤人员.关闭时引拉装置将门扇推向边框,防烟性能强.该门占地少、避免门扇对楼梯内人员的二次伤害,适用于竖井分隔和有无障碍要求的场所.     

Critical factors governing the fire performance of high strength concrete systems

High strength concrete (HSC), is being increasingly used in a number of building applications, where structural fire safety is one of the major design considerations. Many research studies clearly indicate that the fire performance of HSC is different from that of normal strength concrete (NSC) and that HSC may not exhibit same level of performance (as NSC) in fire. This paper discusses the material, structural and fire characteristics that influence the performance of HSC under fire conditions. Data from earlier experimental and numerical studies is used to illustrate the impact the concrete (material) mix design and structural detailing (design) has on fire performance of HSC systems. An understanding of various factors influencing fire performance will aid in developing appropriate solutions for mitigating spalling and enhancing fire resistance of HSC members.     

某大型公交枢纽消防性能化设计

设置在建筑内及地下的大型公交枢纽，因使用功能的需要，存在防火分区面积超过规范要求等问题。利用火灾安全工程学的原理和方法，对某大型公交枢纽进行消防性能化设计。通过设定火灾场景，进行烟气运动模拟和人员疏散安全性分析，验证加强性消防措施的可行性，为同类工程的消防设计提供参考。     

宾馆火灾逃生调查

通过对5起中小型宾馆火灾中的55名人员的逃生问卷调查，了解火灾现场及逃生人员的基本概况、火灾发生时人员所处的初始环境状态、火灾逃生行为反应及逃生途中的信息。研究表明，中小型宾馆类建筑在火灾时，服务人员和安全保卫人员能忠于职守，有效组织引导旅客疏散，是宾馆安全疏散的基本保障；疏散楼梯分隔使用，是造成火灾重大伤亡事故的主要原因；疏散标志失效，加重了火灾伤亡；疏散楼梯被封堵，加重了灾情。分析总结的火灾逃生经验，对于中小型宾馆类建筑逃生设计提供了可以借鉴的资料。     

人员安全疏散模型及其在性能化消防设计中的应用

性能化消防设计方法是运用消防安全工程学的原理和方法对火灾本身规律进行分析，并找出相关的设计参数的方法。现代建筑的体量越来越大，消防设计也变得越来越复杂，传统处方设计已较难满足火灾安全要求，性能化设计已经成为人们讨论和研究的重点。文章简要介绍了一种人员疏散的网格模拟模型，并对一典型建筑人员疏散进行了计算机模拟，其设计分析方法可以为我国未来的性能化消防设计提供借鉴。     

Fire safety aspects of PCM-enhanced gypsum plasterboards: An experimental and numerical investigation

New trends in building energy efficiency include thermal storage in building elements that can be achieved via the incorporation of Phase Change Materials (PCM). Gypsum plasterboards enhanced with micro-encapsulated paraffin-based PCM have recently become commercially available. This work aims to shed light on the fire safety aspects of using such innovative building materials, by means of an extensive experimental and numerical simulation study. The main thermo-physical properties and the fire behaviour of PCM-enhanced plasterboards are investigated, using a variety of methods (i.e. thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, cone calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy). It is demonstrated that in the high temperature environment developing during a fire, the PCM paraffins evaporate and escape through the failed encapsulation shells and the gypsum plasterboard's porous structure, emerging in the fire region, where they ignite increasing the effective fire load. The experimental data are used to develop a numerical model that accurately describes the fire behaviour of PCM-enhanced gypsum plasterboards. The model is implemented in a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code and is validated against cone calorimeter test results. CFD simulations are used to demonstrate that the use of paraffin-based PCM-enhanced construction materials may, in case the micro-encapsulation shells fail, adversely affect the fire safety characteristics of a building.