Advantages and challenges with using hypoxic air venting as fire protection
(2014) In Fire and Materials 38(5). p.559-575- Abstract
- The use of hypoxic air venting system as fire protection is increasing and is sometimes used to replace traditional extinguishing systems. An oxygen level of 15% is generally used because a lower concentration could pose serious health risks. On the request of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, a literature review was conducted to determine advantages and challenges with the system and further research needs. The main advantages with a reduced oxygen environment are the reduced probability of ignition and lowered heat release rate. However, at 15% oxygen level, risk for fire still exists, and the system cannot be seen as an alternative to extinguishing systems. Reduced oxygen environment also results in higher production rates of soot... (More)
- The use of hypoxic air venting system as fire protection is increasing and is sometimes used to replace traditional extinguishing systems. An oxygen level of 15% is generally used because a lower concentration could pose serious health risks. On the request of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, a literature review was conducted to determine advantages and challenges with the system and further research needs. The main advantages with a reduced oxygen environment are the reduced probability of ignition and lowered heat release rate. However, at 15% oxygen level, risk for fire still exists, and the system cannot be seen as an alternative to extinguishing systems. Reduced oxygen environment also results in higher production rates of soot and smoke, and there is limited knowledge regarding the effect of fuel configuration and fire behavior of products. In addition, a first evaluation of the test method specified in the hypoxic air venting standards was carried out through testing. The testing showed that the particleboard passed the test criteria at normal atmosphere even though it is commonly known that a particleboard burns in normal air. It is concluded that the test method has deficiencies, and there is clearly a need for development of the test method to guarantee safety levels. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3971117
- author
- Nilsson, Martin LU and Van Hees, Patrick LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2014
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- hypoxic air venting, reduced oxygen, burning behavior, ignition, heat release rate, limiting oxygen concentration
- in
- Fire and Materials
- volume
- 38
- issue
- 5
- pages
- 559 - 575
- publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000340533700004
- scopus:84906330139
- ISSN
- 1099-1018
- DOI
- 10.1002/fam.2197
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Open Access
- id
- e31a8c42-8c5a-429c-8e40-a13767213bd0 (old id 3971117)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 13:08:08
- date last changed
- 2022-03-13 22:23:26
@article{e31a8c42-8c5a-429c-8e40-a13767213bd0,
abstract = {{The use of hypoxic air venting system as fire protection is increasing and is sometimes used to replace traditional extinguishing systems. An oxygen level of 15% is generally used because a lower concentration could pose serious health risks. On the request of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, a literature review was conducted to determine advantages and challenges with the system and further research needs. The main advantages with a reduced oxygen environment are the reduced probability of ignition and lowered heat release rate. However, at 15% oxygen level, risk for fire still exists, and the system cannot be seen as an alternative to extinguishing systems. Reduced oxygen environment also results in higher production rates of soot and smoke, and there is limited knowledge regarding the effect of fuel configuration and fire behavior of products. In addition, a first evaluation of the test method specified in the hypoxic air venting standards was carried out through testing. The testing showed that the particleboard passed the test criteria at normal atmosphere even though it is commonly known that a particleboard burns in normal air. It is concluded that the test method has deficiencies, and there is clearly a need for development of the test method to guarantee safety levels.}},
author = {{Nilsson, Martin and Van Hees, Patrick}},
issn = {{1099-1018}},
keywords = {{hypoxic air venting; reduced oxygen; burning behavior; ignition; heat release rate; limiting oxygen concentration}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{5}},
pages = {{559--575}},
publisher = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
series = {{Fire and Materials}},
title = {{Advantages and challenges with using hypoxic air venting as fire protection}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3181087/3972932.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1002/fam.2197}},
volume = {{38}},
year = {{2014}},
}