Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Design Fire for Building Content in Arson Scenarios

Leisted, Rolff LU (2014) In LUTVDG/TVBB VBRM05 20141
Division of Fire Safety Engineering
Abstract
The cost of fires caused by arson on a global-scale is estimated between 0.1 and 0.4% of a country's GDP. If arsonist uses liquid accelerants is the potential for growth much greater and the risk for loss of live is increased. It is desirable to reduce this risk by anticipating the accelerant in the design phase. In this thesis the possibility of predicting components behaviour when accelerants are added is investigated by use of small-scale experiments. The specimens were ignited
with a smaller ignition source and the heat release rate was measured using oxygen calorimetry. Data was analysed using factorial analysis and functional analysis. It was showed that both methanol and heptane affected parameters such as the time to peak, peak... (More)
The cost of fires caused by arson on a global-scale is estimated between 0.1 and 0.4% of a country's GDP. If arsonist uses liquid accelerants is the potential for growth much greater and the risk for loss of live is increased. It is desirable to reduce this risk by anticipating the accelerant in the design phase. In this thesis the possibility of predicting components behaviour when accelerants are added is investigated by use of small-scale experiments. The specimens were ignited
with a smaller ignition source and the heat release rate was measured using oxygen calorimetry. Data was analysed using factorial analysis and functional analysis. It was showed that both methanol and heptane affected parameters such as the time to peak, peak heat release rate and growth rate in a way that made the foam and fabrics behave worse.
With superposition was it possible to predict the total heat released with a 12% error on average for standard non flame retarded foam.
The increase in growth rates is found to be of such magnitude that accelerant as part of the ignition source should be accounted for in the design phase if an arson scenario is deemed likely. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Leisted, Rolff LU
supervisor
organization
course
VBRM05 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
heat release rate, oxygen consumption, accelerant, functional analysis, superposition
publication/series
LUTVDG/TVBB
report number
5460
ISSN
1402-3504
language
English
id
4522775
date added to LUP
2014-06-27 13:54:30
date last changed
2014-06-27 13:54:30
@misc{4522775,
  abstract     = {{The cost of fires caused by arson on a global-scale is estimated between 0.1 and 0.4% of a country's GDP. If arsonist uses liquid accelerants is the potential for growth much greater and the risk for loss of live is increased. It is desirable to reduce this risk by anticipating the accelerant in the design phase. In this thesis the possibility of predicting components behaviour when accelerants are added is investigated by use of small-scale experiments. The specimens were ignited
with a smaller ignition source and the heat release rate was measured using oxygen calorimetry. Data was analysed using factorial analysis and functional analysis. It was showed that both methanol and heptane affected parameters such as the time to peak, peak heat release rate and growth rate in a way that made the foam and fabrics behave worse.
With superposition was it possible to predict the total heat released with a 12% error on average for standard non flame retarded foam.
The increase in growth rates is found to be of such magnitude that accelerant as part of the ignition source should be accounted for in the design phase if an arson scenario is deemed likely.}},
  author       = {{Leisted, Rolff}},
  issn         = {{1402-3504}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{LUTVDG/TVBB}},
  title        = {{Design Fire for Building Content in Arson Scenarios}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}