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Contributes towards the research into the potential dangers of unprotected hotel rooms by highlighting the incidence, and cause, of some major hotel fires in Asia and USA. Additionally, through the use of fire modelling computer software, predicts various fire scenarios inside the guest room, demonstrates how little time is available for evacuation, and states that without specific precautions, fire fatalities will continue to occur. Suggests that once such an appreciation becomes widespread, together with the worldwide publicity resulting from fires in hospitality environments, this may influence the demands made by travellers, and that hoteliers might be well advised to exceed the requirements placed upon them by statute, and advertise such personal safety guarantees alongside their usual facilities, as part of an overall strategy in the battle for competitive edge.

The purpose of this paper is to present a complex pyrolysis computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of timber protection exposed to fire in a medium size enclosure. An emphasis is placed on rarely used temperature-dependent thermal material properties effecting the overall simulation outputs. Using the input dataset, a fire test model with oriented strand boards (OSB) in the room corner test facility is created in Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS).

Seven FDS models comprising different complexity approaches to modelling the burning of wood-based materials, from a simplified model of burning based on a prescribed heat release rate to complex pyrolysis models which can describe the fire spread, are presented. The models are validated by the experimental data measured during a fire test of OSB in the room corner test facility.

The use of complex pyrolysis approach is recommended in real-scale enclosure fire scenarios with timber as a supplementary heat source. However, extra attention should be paid to burning material thermal properties implementation. A commonly used constant specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity provided poor agreement with experimental data. When the fire spread is expected, simplified model results should be processed with great care and the user should be aware of possible significant errors.

This paper brings an innovative and rarely used complex pyrolysis CFD model approach to predict the behaviour of timber protection exposed to fire. A study on different temperature-dependent thermal material properties combined with multi-step pyrolysis in the room corner test scenario has not been sufficiently published and validated yet.

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an experimental campaign conducted on a recently developed fire protection system (FPS), specifically designed for installation on continuous glass curtain walls systems typical of multi-story buildings.

The authors will first present the theoretical derivation of the relevant parameters to characterize and predict the fire evolution and probability of flashover, according to existing codes and standards. Then, the results of two full-scale tests will be presented in terms of temperature fields, thermal gradients and position of the neutral plane.

The experimental evidence shows how the proposed system is able to dramatically reduce internal temperatures in the rooms interested by the fire, also allowing for safer evacuation procedures by increasing the height of the neutral plane.

The novel window frame element comprises an automatic doubly convergent aperture system that induces ventilation in the compartment by increasing internal convection in the rooms subject to the fire. This allows for an efficient dispersion of hot gases and fumes and a drastic improvement in safety for both the occupants and firefighting operators. The theoretical results are then compared to the experimental evidence to evaluate the performance of the proposed ventilation system in the context of existing standards and design procedures.

A numerical study of a two‐dimensional turbulent flow in a partially open rectangular cavity such as a room is carried out. The turbulent flow is induced by the energy input due to a localized heat source positioned on the floor of the cavity. This flow is of interest in enclosure fires where the flow in the cavity interacts with the environment through the opening or vents. The focus is on the stable, thermal stratification that arises in the room and on the influence of the opening height. A finite‐difference method is employed for the solution of the problem, using a low Reynolds number k — ε turbulence model for the turbulent flow calculations. This model is particularly suitable for flows in which the possibility for relaminarization exists. It was found that, for high Grashof numbers and for relatively small opening heights, particularly for doorway openings, a strong stable thermal stratification is generated within the cavity, with a cooler, essentially uniform, layer underlying a warmer, linearly stratified, upper layer. As a consequence, turbulence is suppressed and the flow in the upper region of the cavity becomes laminar with turbulence confined to locations such as the fire plume above the source and the shear layer at the opening. The penetration distance and the height of the interface are both found to decrease with a reduction in the opening height. The Nusselt number for heat transfer from the source is seen to be affected to a small extent by the opening height. The basic trends are found to agree with those observed in typical compartment fires. Comparisons with results available in the literature on turbulent buoyancy‐driven enclosure flows indicate good agreement, lending support to this model and the numerical scheme.

The UK has been a pioneer and international leader in the development of fire and rescue services and this has been based on a long attachment and strong adherence to empirical evidence at both the local and national levels. Policy makers, in close collaboration with practitioners, have also developed standards and practices and any changes have traditionally needed robust justification. Yet the evidence base and the tools and techniques for investigating and interrogating the evidence base have been significantly deteriorating over the last 10 years. This chapter sets out what is inadequate, what is missing and suggests what needs to be done about it.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate approaches pertaining to qualitative fire risk assessment of existing hotel facilities, for the purpose of identifying and eliminating fire hazards, and meeting requirements of the current legislation.

The paper carries out several research activities, including: identifying the set of factors that render hotel facilities a high‐risk type of facilities in fires; investigating potential high‐risk areas to fires in hotels; exploring the role of hotel managers towards operating safe hotel facilities; discussing the concept of fire risk management, and the role of fire safety inspections as a risk mitigation strategy to ensure the adherence of existing hotels to fire safety legislation; and describing a methodical approach that fire safety inspectors can follow while conducting fire safety inspections. The paper also presents the development of a qualitative fire risk assessment tool, whereby existing hotel facilities can be assessed.

The paper establishes that hotel facilities are a high‐risk type of facilities in fire emergencies due to the combination of several risk factors. The fire risk assessment tool provides 76 items to assess, in seven main divisions, including exits, fire protection systems, electrical, fire doors, hazardous materials, housekeeping and miscellaneous.

This paper provides for a better comprehension of the roles of hotel managers towards operating safe hotel facilities. The paper emphasizes adherence of existing hotels to fire safety legislation to ensure the minimum level of safety for guests in all hotel properties. It serves to enhance the understanding of the potential dangers present in hotel facilities. It is of practical value to hoteliers responsible for the day‐to‐day operation of hotel facilities and for surveyors inspecting such properties.

Polymer flammability is a subject of growing importance Most of the “things” we use are made of polymers: paper, cotton, wood, fabrics (whether natural or synthetic), and plastics. How these materials will behave when exposed to fire is a question of considerable significance in the current direction of polymer research.

The current fire protection measures in buildings do not account for all contemporary fire hazard issues, which has made fire safety a growing concern. Therefore, this paper aims to present a critical review of current fire protection measures and their applicability to address current challenges relating to fire hazards in buildings.

To overcome fire hazards in buildings, impact of fire hazards is also reviewed to set the context for fire protection measures. Based on the review, an integrated framework for mitigation of fire hazards is proposed. The proposed framework involves enhancement of fire safety in four key areas: fire protection features in buildings, regulation and enforcement, consumer awareness and technology and resources advancement. Detailed strategies on improving fire safety in buildings in these four key areas are presented, and future research and training needs are identified.

Current fire protection measures lead to an unquantified level of fire safety in buildings, provide minimal strategies to mitigate fire hazard and do not account for contemporary fire hazard issues. Implementing key measures that include reliable fire protection systems, proper regulation and enforcement of building code provisions, enhancement of public awareness and proper use of technology and resources is key to mitigating fire hazard in buildings. Major research and training required to improve fire safety in buildings include developing cost-effective fire suppression systems and rational fire design approaches, characterizing new materials and developing performance-based codes.

The proposed framework encompasses both prevention and management of fire hazard. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework in improving fire safety in buildings, major limitations of current fire protection measures are identified, and detailed strategies are provided to address these limitations using proposed fire safety framework.

Fire represents a severe hazard in both developing and developed countries and poses significant threat to life, structure, property and environment. The proposed framework has social implications as it addresses some of the current challenges relating to fire hazard in buildings and will enhance overall fire safety.

The novelty of proposed framework lies in encompassing both prevention and management of fire hazard. This is unlike current fire safety improvement strategies, which focus only on improving fire protection features in buildings (i.e. managing impact of fire hazard) using performance-based codes. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework in improving fire safety in buildings, major limitations of current fire protection measures are identified and detailed strategies are provided to address these limitations using proposed fire safety framework. Special emphasis is given to cost-effectiveness of proposed strategies, and research and training needs for further enhancing building fire safety are identified.

Discusses the effectiveness and appropriateness of gas flooding systems to control fire in computer rooms. Explains the workings of such systems, detailing their components and operation. Describes the advantages and disadvantages of gas flooding systems. Analyses the environmental impacts of the various alternatives to halon and provides indications as to when gas flooding is appropriate. Presents alternatives to gas flooding systems and describes some guidelines for the safe decommissioning of halon.

The purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of smoke flow in building fires and optimize the design of smoke control systems.

A total of 435 3-D fire simulations were conducted through NIST fire dynamics simulator to analyze thermal behavior of combined buoyancy-induced and pressure-driven smoke flow in complex vertical shafts, under consideration of influence of heat release rate (HRR) and locations of heat sources. This influence was evaluated through neutral pressure plane (NPP), which is a critical plane depicting the flow velocity distributions. Hot smoke flows out of shafts beyond the NPP and cold air flows into shafts below the NPP.

Numerical simulation results show that HRR of heat source has little influence on NPP, while location of heat source can make a significant difference to NPP, particularly in cases of multi-heat source. Identifying the location of NPP helps to develop a more effective way to control the smoke with less energy consumption. Through putting an emphasis on smoke exhausting beyond the NPP and air supplying below the NPP, the smoke control systems can make the best use of energy.

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may need to be tested by further experiments.

The paper includes implications for the optimization of smoke control systems design in buildings.

This paper fulfills an identified need to research the behavior of hot smoke in building fires and optimize the design of smoke control systems.