Title: The use of rate of heat release in understanding fire

Authors: John P. Redfern

Addresses: PL Thermal Sciences Ltd, Surrey Buisness Park, Kiln Lane, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1JF, UK.

Abstract: The recognition of the oxygen consumption principle provides a convenient and powerful tool for estimating the rate of heat release in fire experiments and in fire tests. The current small scale instrumentation is described, with particular reference to the Cone Calorimeter. After an outline of the theory, the final section details with applications and the use of Cone Caolrimeter rate of heat release data to predict behaviour in full scale tests. Thus those working to reduce the consequences of fire now have a most important and powerful quantitive weapon.

Keywords: cone calorimeter; fire hazards; heat release rate; oxygen consumption principle; fire size; fire growth rate; escape time; fire suppression time; suppressive actions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1990.036655

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1990 Vol.5 No.4, pp.349 - 366

Published online: 05 Nov 2010 *

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