Large scale fire test: The development of a travelling fire in open ventilation conditions and its influence on the surrounding steel structure

• Published in: Fire safety journal Vol. 130; p. 103575
• Main Authors: Nadjai, Ali, Naveed, Alam, Charlier, Marion, Vassart, Olivier, Welch, Stephen, Glorieux, Antoine, Sjostrom, Johan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Building materials; Condition; Fire tests; Fires; Flammability testing; Heat flux; Large scale fire tests; Large-scale compartment test; Large-scale compartment tests; Large-scales; Natural fire; Natural fire test; Natural fire tests; Stability; Steel columns; Steel construction; Steel structure; Steel structures; Steel testing; Structural members; Structural stability; Structural steels; Transient heating; Travel; Traveling fire test; Travelling fire tests; Travelling fires; Ventilation; Natural fire tests; Large-scale compartment tests; Travelling fire tests; Steel structure
• ISSN: 0379-7112; 1873-7226; 1873-7226
• DOI: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103575

In the frame of the European RFCS-TRAFIR project, natural fire tests in large compartment were conducted by Ulster University, involving steel structure and aiming at understanding the conditions in which a travelling fire develops, how it behaves and impacts the surrounding structure. During the experimental programme, the path and geometry of the travelling fire was studied and temperatures, heat fluxes and spread rates were measured. The experimental data is presented in terms of gas temperatures recorded in the test compartment at different positions and levels. The influence of the travelling fire on the surround structure is presented in terms of the temperatures recorded in the selected steel columns and beams. The temperatures in the test compartment were dependent on the positioning of the travelling fire band as well as the height from the floor level. The non-uniform temperatures in the compartment lead to transient heating of the nearby structural steel elements, resulting in a reduction of their resistance which may influence the global structural stability. The results obtained will help to understand the behaviour of travelling fires and their influence on the structural members. This knowledge will help to reduce the travelling fire associated risks in future.