Design Fire for Building Content in Arson Scenarios
(2014) In LUTVDG/TVBB VBRM05 20141Division 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:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/4522775
- author
- Leisted, Rolff LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- VBRM05 20141
- year
- 2014
- 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}}, }