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Full Scale Firefighting Tests in the Tistbrottet Mine

Palm, Anders ; Kumm, Maria and Ingason, Haukur LU (2016) In Fire Technology 52(5). p.1519-1537
Abstract

The paper describes full-scale fire-fighting tests performed in an underground mine. A total of six different methods to fight a full scale fire in a mine tunnel were tested. The methods involved different fire-fighting equipment but were comparable regarding fundamental conditions such as length of response-route, fire-fighting set-up, and smoke and fire size. The aim was to compare different equipment and methods to reach and eventually extinguish the fire. Fire fighters using breathing apparatus (BA) were monitored regarding air consumption, movement speed and local actions and decisions. The results are presented and analyzed in respect to fire-fighting efficiency, front BA operations including moving speed and performed actions, as... (More)

The paper describes full-scale fire-fighting tests performed in an underground mine. A total of six different methods to fight a full scale fire in a mine tunnel were tested. The methods involved different fire-fighting equipment but were comparable regarding fundamental conditions such as length of response-route, fire-fighting set-up, and smoke and fire size. The aim was to compare different equipment and methods to reach and eventually extinguish the fire. Fire fighters using breathing apparatus (BA) were monitored regarding air consumption, movement speed and local actions and decisions. The results are presented and analyzed in respect to fire-fighting efficiency, front BA operations including moving speed and performed actions, as well as the time to successfully put out the fire. Measurements of heat release rates, temperatures and moving speeds are given in order to quantify the efficiency of the operation. Results indicate that a timespan of 15–30 min is needed for the firefighters to reach the fire source and achieve the extinguishing criteria in five of the tests. The standard equipment and nozzles shows good performance in the tests. A limiting factor on the firefighter’s endurance is the amount of air that is available. As a result from these findings the endurance of BA-teams could improve if focus is put on team organization, lightweight equipment and air supply.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Fire-fighting, Full-scale fire experiments, Heat release rate (HRR), Moving speed, Oxygen, Tunnel
in
Fire Technology
volume
52
issue
5
pages
19 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:84925423920
  • wos:000379161700016
ISSN
0015-2684
DOI
10.1007/s10694-015-0476-z
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f1967089-29bd-4e74-8c2f-57eb08ac549c
date added to LUP
2016-12-12 15:22:40
date last changed
2024-01-04 18:55:19
@article{f1967089-29bd-4e74-8c2f-57eb08ac549c,
  abstract     = {{<p>The paper describes full-scale fire-fighting tests performed in an underground mine. A total of six different methods to fight a full scale fire in a mine tunnel were tested. The methods involved different fire-fighting equipment but were comparable regarding fundamental conditions such as length of response-route, fire-fighting set-up, and smoke and fire size. The aim was to compare different equipment and methods to reach and eventually extinguish the fire. Fire fighters using breathing apparatus (BA) were monitored regarding air consumption, movement speed and local actions and decisions. The results are presented and analyzed in respect to fire-fighting efficiency, front BA operations including moving speed and performed actions, as well as the time to successfully put out the fire. Measurements of heat release rates, temperatures and moving speeds are given in order to quantify the efficiency of the operation. Results indicate that a timespan of 15–30 min is needed for the firefighters to reach the fire source and achieve the extinguishing criteria in five of the tests. The standard equipment and nozzles shows good performance in the tests. A limiting factor on the firefighter’s endurance is the amount of air that is available. As a result from these findings the endurance of BA-teams could improve if focus is put on team organization, lightweight equipment and air supply.</p>}},
  author       = {{Palm, Anders and Kumm, Maria and Ingason, Haukur}},
  issn         = {{0015-2684}},
  keywords     = {{Fire-fighting; Full-scale fire experiments; Heat release rate (HRR); Moving speed; Oxygen; Tunnel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1519--1537}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Fire Technology}},
  title        = {{Full Scale Firefighting Tests in the Tistbrottet Mine}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10694-015-0476-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10694-015-0476-z}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}