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Fire Safety Challenges with Sustainable Buildings, Materials & SystemsProfessor Brian Meacham, PhD, PE, CEng FIFireE, FSFPEDepartment of Fire Protection EngineeringWorcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
Sustainable Fire Engineering 2016 DublinDublin, Ireland, 30 September 2016
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 2
Overview• What do we mean by sustainable? • Current focus on sustainability as a function of
energy may disadvantage other areas, including resiliency to fire
• Fire performance challenges with sustainable buildings, materials and systems
• Overview of research program at WPI that is looking at fire performance of domestic housing, naturally ventilated buildings and development of risk / hazard screening tool for the fire service
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 3
What do we mean by sustainable?
• Environmentally friendly
• Can be maintained in the future
• Economic stability• Social
responsibility• Appropriate use
and respect of natural resources
3
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 4
What are sustainability strategies?
• Reduce direct environmental impacts─ Extraction, processing and transport of
raw material─ Reduce water use, materials, pollution
• Reduce carbon emissions / climate change potential─ Energy production─ Transportation─ Built environment
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 5
What are sustainability strategies?
• Within the built environment─ High density buildings / housing Reduce transportation needs
─ Vertical construction Limit land use for building
─ Reduce materials / mass of elements Reduce embodied energy Reduce new construction Increase building rehabilitation
─ Increase use of sustainable materials (e.g., timber)─ Reduce energy use Heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation… Alternative energy sources
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 6
High density & high rise
Shanghai, 1990 Shanghai, 2010
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 7
Increase existing building reuse
• In most countries, existing buildings make up the significant majority of the building stock─ Urban centers built-up, sufficient number of buildings for
housing and work─ Less material usage (recycle / reuse)─ Less impact on green space (‘brown fields’ redevelopment)
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 8
Reduce energy
http://www.alrc.doe.gov/newsroom/features/08-2009.html
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 9
Sustainable architecture
• Reduced electrical lighting loads – increased natural lighting –increased glass façade
• Reduced mechanical heating and cooling – reduce fans and heating and cooling loads –increased natural ventilation
• Increase thermal insulation –better energy performance
• Green roof – better water management
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 10
Sustainable architecture
• Reduce construction material (lower embodied energy) –smaller structural members – less mass
• Increased use of alternative energy sources – photovoltaic panels, skins and coatings – fuel cells
• Combination gives rise to ‘green’ buildings and ‘green’ / sustainable / energy efficient buildings, energy rating schemes, and regulations (EPBR)
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 11
FPRF study: examples of incidents Table 1. Representative Fire Incidents
Commercial Photovoltaic Panel Fire 383 kW roof PV system fire, Target Store, Bakersfield, CA, April 2009
http://nfpa.typepad.com/files/target‐fire‐report‐09apr29.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
PV roof fire, France warehouse, January 2010
http://www.aria.developpement‐durable.gouv.fr/ressources/fd_37736_valdereuil_jfm_en.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
Roof PV system in Goch, Germany, April 2012.
http://www.feuerwehr‐goch.de/index.php?id=22&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=596&cHash=982afcd5c431b7299f67de4af397cc43 (last accessed 10/21/12)
1,208kW roof PV system, Mt. Holly, NC, April 2011
http://www.solarabcs.org/about/publications/meeting_presentations_minutes/2011/12/pdfs/Duke‐Webinar‐Dec2011.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
PV roof fire, Trenton, NJ, March 2012
http://blog.nj.com/centraljersey_impact/print.html?entry=/2012/03/trenton_firefighters_battle_ro.html (last accessed 10/21/12) http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2012/03/solar_panels_source_of_fire_at.html (last accessed 10/21/12)
Residential Photovoltaic Panel Fire PV Fire: Experience and Studies, UL, 2009
http://www.solarabcs.org/about/publications/meeting_presentations_minutes/2011/02/pdfs/Arc‐PV_Fire_sm.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
PV fires, FPRF report, 2010 http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/research/fftacticssolarpower.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)PV fire, San Diego, CA, April 2010
http://www.nctimes.com/article_8a32fb03‐9e3f‐58ca‐b860‐9c7fe1e28c7e.html (last accessed 10/21/12)
PV fire, Stittingbourne, UK, March 2012
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/march/30/solar_panels.aspx (last accessed 10/21/12)
Battery Storage and UPS Fire Battery fire, Data Center, Taiwan, February 2009
http://indico.cern.ch/getFile.py/access?sessionId=8&resId=1&materialId=0&confId=45473 (last accessed 10/21/12)
https://solarjuice.com/blog/buildings-and-pv/solar-panels-and-fire/
http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/warning-solar-panel-owners/1256986/
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 12
FPRF study: examples of incidents Table 1. Representative Fire Incidents
Residential Spray Foam Insulation FireFoam insulation home fire, North Falmouth, MA, May 2008
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/NEWS/805200318/‐1/rss01 (last accessed 10/21/12) http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green‐building‐news/three‐massachusetts‐home‐fires‐linked‐spray‐foam‐installation (last accessed 10/21/12)
Foam insulation, Woods Hole, MA, February 2011
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110211/NEWS/102110323 (last accessed 10/21/12)
Foam insulation fire, Quebec, May 2010
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green‐building‐news/nze‐project‐tragic‐fire‐and‐will‐rebuild (last accessed 10/21/12)
Residential Foil Insulation, Fire / Shock HazardsHome Insulation Program (Australia)
http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/initiatives/hisp/key‐statistics.aspx (last accessed 10/21/12) http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/974027/ (last accessed 10/21/12) http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/insu‐f22.shtml (last accessed 10/21/12)http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/garretts‐roofing‐fire‐admission/story‐e6frg6n6‐1225829880090 (last accessed 10/21/12)
Sandwich Panels / Structural Integrated Panel (SIP) with Combustible Foam Insulation or CoatingBorgata Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, Façade Fire (2007)
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2010/05/modern‐building‐materials‐are‐factors‐in‐atlantic‐city‐fires.html (last accessed 10/21/12)
Apartment Façade Fire, Busan, Korea
http://koreabridge.net/post/haeundae‐highrise‐fire‐busan‐marine‐city‐burns (last accessed 10/21/12) http://view.koreaherald.com/kh/view.php?ud=20101001000621&cpv=0 (last accessed 10/21/12)
Apartment Façade and Scaffold Fire, Shaghai, China
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/shanghai_apartment_fire.html (last accessed 10/21/12) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world‐asia‐pacific‐11760467 (last accessed 10/21/12)
High‐Rise Façade Fires, UAE http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/fire‐breaks‐out‐at‐sharjah‐tower‐1.1014750(last accessed 10/21/12) http://article.wn.com/view/2012/05/02/Tower_cladding_in_UAE_fuels_fire/ (last accessed 10/21/12) http://article.wn.com/view/2012/05/01/Experts_shed_light_on_how_fires_spread_in_towers/(last accessed 10/21/12)
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-news/three-massachusetts-home-fires-linked-spray-foam-installation
http://koreabridge.net/post/haeundae-highrise-fire-busan-marine-city-burns
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 13
FPRF study: examples of studies Table 2. Fire Safety Concerns in Green Buildings: Selected Resources
Overall Concerns BRANZ ‐ Building Sustainability and Fire‐Safety Design Interactions (2012)
http://www.branz.co.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=716733515027fe4626188881f674635d51e3cfb0 (last accessed 10/21/12)
BRE – Impact of Fire on the Environment and Building Sustainability (2010)
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1795639.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
Bridging the Gap: Fire Safety and Green Buildings, NASFM 2010
http://firemarshals.org/greenbuilding/bridgingthegap.html (last accessed 10/21/12)
Photovoltaic / Energy systems Fire Fighter Safety and Emergency Response for Solar Power Systems
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/research/fftacticssolarpower.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Installations Research Project, UL 2011
http://www.ul.com/global/documents/offerings/industries/buildingmaterials/fireservice/PV‐FF_SafetyFinalReport.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
Lightweight Wood Structures Lightweight structure fire, NFPA http://www.nfpa.org/publicJournalDetail.asp?categoryID=1857&i
temID=43878&src=NFPAJournal&cookie%5Ftest=1 (last accessed 10/21/12)
Improving Fire Safety by Understanding the Fire Performance of Engineered Floor Systems and Providing the Fire Service with Information for Tactical Decision Making, UL 2012
http://www.ul.com/global/documents/offerings/industries/buildingmaterials/fireservice/basementfires/2009 NIST ARRA Compilation Report.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
Architectural Performance of double‐skin façade http://www.bse.polyu.edu.hk/researchCentre/Fire_Engineering/s
ummary_of_output/journal/IJEPBFC/V6/p.155‐167.pdf (last accessed 10/21/12)
Fire Hazards of Foam Insulation Toxicity of Flame Retardants in Foam Insulation and Other ProductsBrominated flame retardants and health concerns http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241790/ (last
accessed 10/21/12)Toxicity of flame retardants and impact on fire fighters http://www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/upload/4‐Purser.pdf (last
accessed 10/21/12)
http://firemarshals.org/greenbuilding/bridgingthegap.html
http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/industries/buildingmaterials/fire/fireservice/lightweight/
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 14
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• Material properties• High thermal insulation vs.
flammability • New materials as interior lining,
façade, insulation, within sandwich panel and more – increased fuel load, distribution, flame spread, smoke spread…
• High thermal insulation vs. effect on compartment temperatures in a fire
http://koreabridge.net/post/haeundae-highrise-fire-busan-marine-city-burns
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-news/three-massachusetts-home-fires-linked-spray-foam-installation
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 15
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2010/05/modern-building-materials-are-factors-in-atlantic-city-fires.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yQLIlIetDM
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22346184
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 16
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• Toxicity (IAQ) vs. fire retardant qualities
• Chemical additives in foam insulation and other materials – toxicity under fire and non-fire conditions?
• Polystyrene foam insulation used in building insulation (both XPS, such as Styrofoam, and EPS) is treated with hexabromocyclododecane, (HBCD), a persistent, bioaccumulating, and toxic fire retardant
• Reduce fire retardant, have fire riskhttp://www.noburn.com/intumescent-paints-fire-retardant-coatings
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 17
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 18
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• Natural ventilation vs. smoke management─ 1 Bligh Street, Sydney
https://www.asme.org/kb/news---articles/articles/energy-efficiency/down-under-a-highly-sustainable-high-rise
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 19
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• Reduced and/or natural material vs. reduced strength or fire protection
• Lightweight engineered lumber • High strength concrete• Combustible interior finishes
Courtesy MSU
http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/industries/buildingmaterials/fire/fireservice/lightweight/
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 20
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
2”x 4” or2”x 6”
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)
Engineered Wood I-Joist
Structural Insulated Panel
Engineered Wood
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 21
Structural Failure Time
Experimental Count
Maximum (Min:Sec)
Minimum (Min:Sec)
Average (Min:Sec)
Standard Deviation
Dimensional Lumber 10 20:40 7:04 15:01 4:10
Engineered I-Joist 8 23:10 2:20 8:17 3:54
Castellated I-Joist 3 8:10 6:50 7:23 0:42
Hybrid Trusses 3 6:00 5:30 5:50 0:17
Steel I-Joist 2 10:08 6:11 8:10 2:48
MPC Wood Trusses 2 6:08 3:28 4:48 1:53
Joist without Fire Resistant Protection Failure Time Comparison
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
Copyright Underwriters Laboratories
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 22
Joists without Fire Resistant Protection Failure Times versus Fire Department Response Times
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
Copyright Underwriters Laboratories
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 23
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
http://thecompanyofficer.com/tag/unprotected-wood-frame/
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 24
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• Tall timber buildings
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 25
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 26
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
Copyright Underwriters Laboratories
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 27
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 28
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
https://solarjuice.com/blog/buildings-and-pv/solar-panels-and-fire/http://www.feuerwehr-goch.de/index.php?id=22&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=596&cHash=982afcd5c431b7299f67de4af397cc43
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 29
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news/local&id=9226626&photo=1
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 30
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 31
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• High density housing, smaller streets, …
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 32
http://www.homefiresprinkler.org/images/FM-Global-Environmental-Study.pdf
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 33
FPRF study: fire safety concerns
• Combination of high density housing, LEL systems, combustible insulation, smaller streets, water conservation, …
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 34
FPRF study: green building attributes
• 80 Green Building Elements / Attributes─ Structural Materials
and Systems (9)─ Exterior Materials and
Systems (13)─ Façade Attributes (4)─ Interior Materials and
Finishes (9)─ Interior Space
Attributes (10)─ Building Systems &
Issues (12)─ Alternative Energy
Systems (9)─ Site Issues (14)
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 35
FPRF study: risks / hazards• 22 Fire Risk / Hazard
Attributes─ Presents a potential hazard E.g., ignition, electrical shock,
explosion, toxicity─ Hazard attributes E.g., readily ignitable, burns
readily once ignited, contributes more fuel / increased HRR, etc.
─ Failure potential E.g., shorter time to failure,
failure affects burning characteristics or smoke spread or…
─ May impact building FP system or feature E.g., smoke/heat venting,
suppression effectiveness, apparatus access, firefighter access & operations…
Poses potential ignition hazard
Poses potential shock hazard
Poses potential explosion hazard
Poses potential toxicity hazard
Readily ignitable
Burns readily once ignited
Contributes more fuel / increased heat release rate (HRR)
Material affects burning characteristics
Fast(er) fire growth rate
Significant smoke production/hazard
Potential for shorter time to failure
Failure affects burning characteristics
Failure presents smoke spread concern
Failure presents flame spread concern
Material presents flame spread concern
May impact smoke/heat venting
May impact occupant evacuation
May impact fire‐fighter (FF) water availability
May impact suppression effectiveness
May impact fire apparatus access
May impact fire‐fighter (FF) access and operations
May impact containment of runoff
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 36
FPRF study: risks / hazards
Poses
poten
tial ig
nition
haza
rd
Poses
poten
tial sh
ock h
azard
Poten
tial e
xplos
ion ha
zard
Poses
poten
tial to
xicity
hazar
d
Read
ily ig
nitab
le
Burns
read
ily on
ce ig
nited
Contr
ibutes
more
fuel
/ incre
ased H
RR
Mater
ial af
fects
burn
ing ch
aracte
ristic
s
Fast(
er) fir
e gro
wth r
ate
Signif
icant
smok
e pro
ducti
on/h
azard
Poten
tial fo
r sho
rter t
ime t
o fail
ure
Failu
re aff
ects
burn
ing ch
aracte
ristic
s
Failu
re pre
sents
stab
ility c
once
rn
Failu
re pre
sents
smok
e spr
ead c
once
rn
Failu
re pre
sents
flame
sprea
d con
cern
Mater
ial pr
esent
s flam
e spr
ead c
once
rn
May i
mpac
t smo
ke/h
eat v
entin
g
May i
mpac
t occu
pant
evacu
ation
May i
mpac
t FF w
ater a
vaila
bility
May i
mpac
t sup
pressi
on ef
fectiv
enes
s
May i
mpac
t fire
appa
ratus
acce
ss
May i
mpac
t FF a
ccess
and o
perat
ions
May i
mpac
t con
tainm
ent o
f runo
ff
Exterior Materials and Systems
‐ Structura l integrated panel (SIP)
‐ Exterior insulation & finish (EFIS)
‐ Rigid foam insulation
‐ Spray‐appl ied foam insulation
‐ Foi l insulation systems
‐ High‐performance glazing
‐ Low‐emiss ivi ty & reflective coating
‐ Double‐skin façade / cavi ty wal l
‐ Bamboo, other cel lulos ic
‐ Bio‐polymers , FRPs
‐ Vegetative roof systems
‐ Insulating materia l
‐ Thickness
‐ Type of vegetation
‐ PVC ra inwater catchment
‐ Exterior cable / cable trays
‐ Extended solar roof panels
‐ Awnings / exterior solar shades
‐ Exterior vegetative covering
Façade Attributes
‐ Area of glazing
‐ Area of combustible materia l Copyright FPRF, 2012
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 37
FPRF study: risks / hazards
Poses
poten
tial ig
nition
haza
rd
Poses
poten
tial sh
ock h
azard
Poten
tial e
xplos
ion ha
zard
Poses
poten
tial to
xicity
hazar
d
Read
ily ig
nitab
le
Burns
read
ily on
ce ig
nited
Contr
ibutes
more
fuel
/ incre
ased H
RR
Mater
ial af
fects
burn
ing ch
aracte
ristic
s
Fast(
er) fir
e gro
wth r
ate
Signif
icant
smok
e pro
ducti
on/h
azard
Poten
tial fo
r sho
rter t
ime t
o fail
ure
Failu
re aff
ects
burn
ing ch
aracte
ristic
s
Failu
re pre
sents
stab
ility c
once
rn
Failu
re pre
sents
smok
e spr
ead c
once
rn
Failu
re pre
sents
flame
sprea
d con
cern
Mater
ial pr
esent
s flam
e spr
ead c
once
rn
May i
mpac
t smo
ke/h
eat v
entin
g
May i
mpac
t occu
pant
evacu
ation
May i
mpac
t FF w
ater a
vaila
bility
May i
mpac
t sup
pressi
on ef
fectiv
enes
s
May i
mpac
t fire
appa
ratus
acce
ss
May i
mpac
t FF a
ccess
and o
perat
ions
May i
mpac
t con
tainm
ent o
f runo
ff
Relat
ive ris
k leve
l
Exterior Materials and Systems
‐ Structura l integrated panel (SIP)
‐ Exterior insulation & finish (EFIS)
‐ Rigid foam insulation
‐ Spray‐appl ied foam insulation
‐ Foi l insulation systems
‐ High‐performance glazing
‐ Low‐emiss ivi ty & reflective coating
‐ Double‐skin façade / cavity wal l
‐ Bamboo, other cel lulos ic
‐ Bio‐polymers , FRPs
‐ Vegetative roof systems
‐ Insulating materia l
‐ Thickness
‐ Type of vegetation
‐ PVC ra inwater catchment
‐ Exterior cable / cable trays
‐ Extended solar roof panels
‐ Exterior solar shades / awning
‐ Exterior vegatative covering
Façade Attributes
‐ Area of glazing
‐ Area of combustible materia l
Risk Ranking Key
Low or N/A Presents a low risk when unmitigated or is not applicable to the listed attributesModerate Presents a moderate risk when unmitigated.
High Presents a high risk when unmitigated.
Copyright FPRF, 2012
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 38
FPRF study: report
• Report available at: http://www.nfpa.org/research/fire-protection-research-foundation/projects-reports-and-proceedings/building-and-life-safety/general-life-safety-issues/fire-safety-challenges-of-green-buildings
• Other reports on related topics also available at NFPA Research Foundation site─ Fire performance of tall buildings─ Fire performance of exterior wall systems─ Hazard assessment of Lithium Ion batteries for storage
systems (underway – report not yet available)
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 39
Follow-up research: DHS project
Research effort supported by grant from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, award EMW-2012-FP-01336, US$1,000,000
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 40
DHS project: framing
Conventional Framing
Advanced Framing
Wall stud spacing
2x4 wood framing spaced 16 inches on center
2x6 wood framing spaced 24 inches on center
Top plates Double top plates Single top plates Corner framing
Three stud corners
Two stud corners
Framing support members around opening
Multiple Jack Studs and cripple
Minimum use of Jack studs and cripple
No. of header
Double or triple headers
Single header
• A system of construction framing techniques designed to optimize materials usage and increase energy efficiency.
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 41
DHS project: failure modes
• Loss of vertical framing alignment loss of single top plate. ─ Loss of top plates causes
wall collapse─ A structural failure of a stud
in a fire leads to the roof collapse.
• Additional insulation adds to fuel
• Flame spread through one top plate
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 42
DHS project: SIP framing
• SIPs are composite structural panels with an insulating core of rigid foam and structural facings.
• Can be used for wall, floors and roofs.
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 43
DHS project: SIP framing• A strong, structural bond between
the three layers is essential to the load bearing ability of the SIP
• The load carried by the SIP is transferred to ground by the OSB skins, held in position by the fully bonded insulation core.
• Structurally, “they perform similar to a steel I-beam”.
• Type of shell construction: Load is distributed evenly across the entire panel.
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 44
DHS project: structural facilities
• WPI fire performance laboratory
• 190m2 of space with 9.2m ceiling height
• 5-6MW fire • 6m x 6m exhaust hood• Accommodate two-
story building fire test
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 45
DHS project: structural rig design
• 2 Semi-Permanent Walls─ Constructed of Steel and Aluminum─ Include Vent Openings
• Dimensions─ Length – 16 ft (4.88 m)─ Width – 14 ft (4.27 m)─ Height – 16 ft (4.88 m)
• The compartment rig features the semi-permanent walls and floor
• Stick frame walls and floor/ceiling are built up around these walls
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 46
• Designed to provide uniform thermal environment• Looked at standard fires and ‘modern’ fire loads• Conducted FDS analysis to support design
DHS project: structural rig design
-200
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Tem
pera
ture
(de
g C)
Time (hour)
Time-Temperature Curve
UL
ASTM E119
Swedish Curve (vent=0.12)
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 47
DHS project: structural rig design
Twitter page - https://twitter.com/greenbldgfire
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 48
DHS project: natural ventilation
• Building ventilation is determined by─ Complex building geometry─ Internal dynamics
• Unrealistic computational power needed to compute all scenarios
• A laboratory scaling approach is necessary
UMD Experimental Facility
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 49
DHS project: saltwater modeling
Fire Experiments
Fire Source
Smoke
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 50
DHS project: saltwater modelingSaltwater Experiments
Saltwater Source
Fresh Water
VentAcrylic Model
Salt Water
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 51
DHS project: sloped ceiling model3 Ceiling Slopes 3D Printed Injectors
laminar outflow
Moveable Floor
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 52
DHS project: unsymmetrical flow
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 53
DHS project: façade model
• Clear acrylic• Disassembles into
two floors with a double skin façade and louvers
• Two basic features –exchangeable windows [1] and adjustable louvers [2]
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 54
DHS project: louver configurations
Three different louver positions tested:
b) 45a) 90 c) Closed
Double Skin façade
• Goal to understand how louver angle effects smoke transport and window heating
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 55
DHS project: louver test results
• Angled louvers make the plume run down thin and close to the wall, however closed louvers result in a thicker wall flow while running down to the next compartment
• Louver position effects density, not filling speed of second compartment
b) 45a) 90 c) Closed
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 56
DHS project: smoke in 2nd space
• Louver angle does not affect filling of the second compartment
• Salt water running in the second compartment seems to be darker when the louvers are angled than when they are closed
45°Louver
90°Louver
ClosedLouvers
t/s10
30 50
70
90
©Brian Meacham, 30 September 2016 57
Summary
• FPRF project complete – report on the FPRF website
• DHS effort targeted for completion in July 2017─ Fire tests this year – structure─ Salt water modeling – ventilation
• Report likely available December 2017• Future work targeted on insulation, exterior
claddings, integrated PV