B009 Evacuee thermal exposure

Thermal radiation exposure of evacuee in fire smoky enclosures

Brief:

The effectiveness of corridor as a component in the architectural fire safety design of a large building is examined from the perspective of a “minimum escaped velocity (MEV)” by the occupant in order not to experience pain from the exposure to the hot smoke layer’s thermal radiation. The range of MEV and its dependence on corridor’s parameters are determined for the typical geometry of a corridor. Corridor geometry is shown to be an important factor affecting the required MEV for safety. The length of a corridor for “safe escape (SE)” can be determined as a function of the corridor’s width, smoke layer depth and temperature, and the expected walking speed of an occupant. The maximum escape distance can be used as a quantitative design criterion for the design of corridor.

Further information:

Wong LT, 2003. Thermal radiation exposure of evacuee in fire smoky enclosures, International Symposium on Fire Science and Fire-protection Engineering (ISFSFE) at Beijing International Convention Center, 12-14 October, Beijing, China, China Fire Protection Association (CFPA), pp. 456-462.