Thermal empirical equations for post-flashover compartment fires

Abstract

Many useful correlation equations derived for estimating the heat release rate are believed to be adequate in fire engineering application. However, heat release rates in deriving those equations were mainly based on estimating mass loss rate of fuel. Flashover in a compartment fire had been studied experimentally on gasoline pool fires with results on heat release rate reported earlier. Transient heat release rates were measured by oxygen consumption calorimetry. The gas temperature curves at different locations in the room were measured instantaneously. Correlation equations on heat release rates with gas temperature reported in the literature will be reviewed and justified with the experimental results. It was observed that heat release rate estimated were lower than the experimental measurement.