St. Lawrence Burns: summary report

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St. Lawrence Burns: summary report

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R e f Ser TH1 R 4 2 7 no. 1 5 8 BLDG - IRC P U B

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

NATIONAL

RESEARCH

COUNCIL

' C A N A D A

DIVISION O F B U l LDl NG RESEARCH

ST.

LAWRENCE

BURNS

SUMMARY REPORT

G. W. SHORTER A N D J. H. MCGUIRE

THIS REPORT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR INFORMATION AND RECORD PURPOSES AND IS NOT TO BE CITED AS A REFERENCE IN ANY PUBLICATION

OTTAWA

DECEMBER 1959

DBR INTERNAL REPORT NO, 158

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NATIONAL RESEARCH

COUNCIL

CANArn

DIVISION

O F

BUILDING

RESEARCH

SIC.

LAWRElVCE

BURNS

SUMMARY

REPORT G.

W.

S h o r t e r

and

J.

H.

McGuire Report

No.

158 of _{t h e} Division of B u i l d i n g Research OTTAWA

Deoember

1959

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REPORTS ON

THE

ST.

LAWRENCE

BURTJS S u b - T i t l e

General Report

Smoke and Sound Measurements Temperature Measurements Radiometer Measurements

V e n t i l a t i o n Rate Measurements R e s i s t a n c e Thermometer

Measurements

Radiant Temperature of Openings Gas A n a l y s i s Summary Report; Author G.W. _{S h o r t e r} G. W i l l i a m s - L e i r G, ?Villiams-Leir J . H . NcGuire J.H. McGuire No.

-

150 151 3-52

153

154

9.55

156

157

158

- -- - -- -- - -- - - -- J . H . McGuire D. G. Stephenson J.R. J u t r a s G,V. S h o r t e r and J.H. TJcGuire

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/

PREFACE

The c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t l e d t o t h e c a r r y i n g o u t of f i r e t e s t s on e i g h t b u i l d i n g s i n t h e p r o j e c t known a s t h e S t . Lawrence Burns, and t h e o b j e c t i v e s and t h e ways i n which t h e s e were a c h i e v e d a r e f u l l y d e s c r i b e d i n a

g e n e r a l r e p o r t . It c o n s t i t u t e s t h e complete r e c o r d of t h e planning and e x e c u t i o n of t h e experiments, t o g e t h e r w i t h a l l g e n e r a l information. The d e t a i l s on each k i n d of

measurement made, i n c l u d i n g t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d , a r e c o n t a i n e d i n s e p a r a t e companion r e p o r t s of which t h i s i s

one. A l l t h e r e s u l t s a r e combined and a r e d i s c u s s e d and f i n a l c o n c l u s i o n s drawn i n t h i s summawy r e p o r t .

D u p l i c a t i o n h a s been avoided as f a r a s p o s s i b l e , and i t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y t o r e f e r t o t h e g e n e r a l r e p o r t

i n

r e a d i n g any of t h e o t h e r r e p o r t s i n c l u d i n g t h i s one f o r any i n f o r m a t i o n which i s p e r t i n e n t t o more t h a n one of

them. A l i s t i n g of a l l r e p o r t s on t h e p r o j e c t f o l l o w s

t h i s p r e f a c e .

The p a r t i c i p a t i o n of t h e B r i t i s h J o i n t F i r e Research O r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e experiment, t h e i n t e r e s t and s u p p o r t of t h e F e d e r a l C i v i l Defence a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e a s s i s t a n c e of t h e O n t a r i o F i r e Marshal and h i s s t a f f , and f i n a l l y t h e complete c o - o p e r a t i o n and v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e a s s i s t a n c e extended by t h e Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario a r e all g r a t e f u l l y acknowledged. It i s a p l e a s u r e a l s o

t o be a b l e t o r e c o r d t h e s p e c i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n made by

members of t h e staff of t h e F i r e S e c t i o n who worked l o n g hours, o f t e n under t r y i n g f i e l d c o n d i t i o n s and a t g r e a t

p e r s o n a l inconvenience, t o meet t h e many d e a d l i n e s . a n d t o

complete t h e p r o j e c t i n a most s a t i s f a c t o r y manner.

!l?he a u t h o r s of t h i s r e p o r t a r e M r . G. W. S h o r t e r , head of t h e F i r e S e c t i o n of t h i s D i v i s i o n , who w a s r e s - p o n s i b l e f o r t h e immediate d i r e c t i o n of t h e p r o j e c t , and

M r . J.H. McGuire, now r e s e a r c h o f f i c e r with t h e F i r e S e c t i o n , who p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e t e s t s a s a m e m b e r of t h e B r i t i s h J o i n t F i r e Research Organization and w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e r a d i o m e t e r , anemometer and r e s i s t a n c e thermometer measurements.

O t t a w a

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ST. LAWRENCE BURNS S~J~IQ~IAR Y REPORT

by

G. W. S h o r t e r and J, H. McGuire

When it became known t h a t t h e S t . Lawrence Power P r o j e c t would r e s u l t i n t h e f l o o d i n g of l a r g e a r e a s ,

in-

oluding a number of small totvns on t h e Canadian s i d e o f

t h e r i v e r , it w a s r e a l i z e d t h a t t h i s would provide a unique o p p o r t u n i t y t o c a r r y o u t f u l l s c a l e experiments on t h e b u i l d i n g s which f o r v a r i o u s r e a s o n s were n o t t o be moved away. . Accordingly, arrangements were made with t h e

Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario t o have a

number of t h e s e b u i l d i n g s made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g Research, N a t i o n a l Research Council of Canada, f o r experimental f i r e s .

In d e s i g n i n g t h e experiments t h e D i v i s i o n i n v i t e d

the co-operation o f ' t h e B r i t i s h J o i n t F i r e Research Organi- z a t i o n and t h e D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g Technology, U.S, N a t i o n a l Bureau of S%andards. !be JBRO expressed p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t

i n t h e development of f i r e i n l a r g e compartments and o f f e r e d t o assist i n i n s t r u m e n t i n g t h e , tests, sending a member of t h e s t a f f t o Canada t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e e x p e r i - ments. P r e s s u r e of work i n t h e U.S. o r g a n i z a t i o n precluded such a n a c t i v e s h a r e i n t h e work, b u t a member of t h e s t a f f w i t n e s s e d t h e experiments,

SCOPE OF EXPERIMEXTS

The main o b j e c t of t h e operation, was t o s t u d y t h e development of f i r e i n dwellings with _{r e g a r d t o t h e}

l i m i t i n g time of s u r v i v a l of t h e occuwants and t o t h e

l i k e l i h o o d of s p r e a d of f i r e t o neigh%ouring b u i 1 d . i ~ ~ .

?he J F R O were p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n studying f i r e s

i n

l a r g e compartments w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e i n i t i a l growth

of t h e h e a t c o n t e n t of t h e g a s e s and t o t h e v e n t i l a t i o n r a t e s .

OVER-ALL PLANNImG

OF

THE EXPEHImTS

In

t h e l a r g e s t v i l l a g e s u i t a b l e f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n t h e r e were a b o u t 100 b u i l d i n g s ; t h e most i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n

In t h e i n i t i a l planning w a s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e number whioh should be burned.

(7)

If a l a r g e number of b u i l d i n g s were t o be burned t h e q u a n t i t y of u s e m 1 r e s u l t s would be i n c r e a s e d . The n a t u r e of t h e problem, however, r e q u i r e d f u r t h e r exami- n a t i o n t o a s s e s s t o what e x t e n t t h i s could be achieved. The independent v a r i a b l e s would be such f a c t o r s a s i n t e r n a l l i n i n g s , e x t e r i o r c l a d d i n g s , v e n t i l a t i o n , s i z e of b u i l d i n g , and geometry. A s it w a s known t h a t some of t h e s e f a c t o r s

have i n t e r a c t i o n s , a f a c t o r i a l design of t h e experiment suggested i t s e l f . The a v a i l a b l e b u i l d i n g s , however, d i d n o t l e n d themselves t o such a design. I n a d d i t i o n , it

was t h e f i r s t t i n e t h a t a f i e l d experiment of t h i s kind

had been a t t e m p t e d i n Canada and it was p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n t o be developed o r a d a p t e d f o r t h e t e s t s might f a i l otving t o unforeseen circumstances. On t h e s e counts it was d e s i r a b l e t o l i m i t t h e e x t e n t of t h e opera- t i o n . A s it l a t e r t r a n s p i r e d , it was p o s s i b l e t o c a r r y o u t only one b u m p e r day s o t h a t , remembering t h a t w i n t e r c o n d i t i o n s p r e v a i l e d , t h e burning of a l a r g e number of b u i l d i n g s would have been a formidable t a s k .

It was decided t h a t t h e e f f e c t of combustible i n t e r i o r l i n i n g s and of t i m b e r c l a d d i n g s would be t h e

f a c t o r s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n v e s t i g a t e d s o f a r a s d w e l l i n g s were ooncerned. A s e a r c h w a s t h e r e f o r e m a d e - f o r a s e r i e s of dwellings wnich i n a l l o t h e r r e s p e c t s were similar. With this r e s t r i c t i o n t h e choice was reduced t o s i x ( s e e Pigs.

1 t o 5 and 7). Af-ter minor m o d i f i c a t i o n s t h r e e of t h e s e

were combustible l i n e d , a t l e a s t on t h e ground f l o o r , and t h r e e were noncombustible l i n e d . One d w e l l i n g , i n each of t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s had t i m b e r e x t e r i o r c l a d d i n g and a l l

dwellings had wood f l o o r s and s u b f l o o r s . Table I summarizes

t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e dwellings.

The l a r g e s t dotvnstairs room was chosen a s t h e

l o o a t i o n of t h e i g n i t i n g source. A s t h e geometries of t h e

rooms i n t h e d i f f e r e n t houses were n o t i d e n t i c a l , it was likely t h a t t h e r e would be wide v a r i a t i o n i n t h e time from i g n i t i o n t o f l a s h - o v e r . To reduce t h i s source of time

soale

e r r o r t o a minimum it w a s a r r a n g e d t h a t t h e f i r e should devslop r a p i d l y i n t h e room of o r i g i n by u s i n g two c r i b s

of

t h e d e s i g n i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g .

9,

each weighing a b o u t

340

1 b

and composed of wood r a n g i n g i n s i z e from 7 b x 1 i n .

$0 2 by 4 i n . nominal. This weight of rrood corresponded

t o

a f i r e l o a d i n g i n t h e room of o r i g i n of a b o u t 3 l b p e r

aq f t , w h i c h approximates t h e f i r e l o a d t y p i c a l of t h e f'um.lahings i n such rooms.

No d e c i s i o n w a s n e c e s s a r y r e g a r d i n g t h e s c a l e of experiments i n wh3ch t h e B r i t i s h were p r i m a r i l y

(8)

school and a community h a l l ( s e e F i g s . 6 , 6 a , 8 and 8 a ) . Both were two-story b u i l d i n g s and t o convert them t o single* compartments t h e upper f l o o r s were demolished.

Most of t h e r e s u l t i n g s c r a p timber was l e f t on t h e ground f l o o r and t h e f i r e w a s s t a r t e d i n t h i s timber.

I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n was r e q u i r e d t o provide i n f o r m a t i o n on ( a ) the l i m i t i n g t i m e s a t which l i f e could be s u s t a i n e d i n t h e bedrooms of t h e dwellings and ( b ) t h e levels of r a d i a t i o n o u t s i d e t h e dwellings t h a t might g i v e r i s e t o

fire i n neighbouring b u i l d i n g s .

It was assumed t h a t d e a t h would g e n e r a l l y r e s u l t from a h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n of carbon monoxide, a low con- a e n t r a t i a n of oxygen, o r a h i g h temperature. In a d d i t i o n , a high smoke d e n s i t y would r e s u l t i n poor v i s i b i l i t y and make escape d i f f i c u l t . Measurements of t h e s e q u a n t i t i e s were made; carbon monoxide and oxygen were measured a t

30-sec i n t e r v a l s w i t h continuous sampling equipment i n

eaoh of two bedrooms, one w i t h t h e door open and t h e o t h e r

with t h e door c l o s e d . Measurements of smoke d e n s i t y were made by a n o p t i c a l a t t e n u a t i o n method i n t h e two bedrooms. Tamperature w a s measured by chromel-alumel thermocouples

of which between t e n and s i x t e e n were d i s t r i b u t e d throughout each dwelling.

The i n t e n s i t i e s of r a d i a t i o n n e a r t h e b u r n i n . g dwellings were measured by t o t a l l y e n c l o s e d , gold d i s c r a d i o m e t e r s s p e c i a l l y designed f o r t h i s s e r i e s of e x p e r i - ments. I n g e n e r a l two r a d i o m e t e r s were l o c a t e d a t d i f f e r e n t

d i s t a n c e s from t h e leeward s i d e of a b u i l d i n g and one on

t h e windward s i d e ( s e e P i g s . 1 t o 5 and 7 ) .

There was a double purpose i n t a k i n g measurements

by pyrometer of t h e t o t a l r a d i a t i o n a t a windom i n t h e room of o r i g i n of t h e f i r e . The f i r s t was t o c o r r e l a t e

results w i t h t h o s e from r a d i o m e t e r s t o determine t h e

r e l a t i v e importance of t h e window openings and of t h e flames above t h e windows a s s o u r c e s o f r a d i a t i o n . !The second

was t o determine whether a n y ' s i m p l e r e l a t i o n e x i s t e d

between t h e black-bod-y temperatures recorded by t h e pyrometer

and

t h e temperatures given by t h e v a r i o u s thermocouples, and t o compare t h e time behaviour of t h e s e t e m p e r a t u r e s

w i t h t h e s t a n d a r d f u r n a c e time-temperature curve used i n f i r e - r e s i s t a n c e t e s t i n g .

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I n c i d e n t a l t o t h e main program o f measurement, t a p e r e c o r d i n g s were made o f t h e sounds c r e a t e d by t h e F i r e

i n

t h e two bedrooms, It was thought t h a t a t some f i t u r e d a t e t h e s e c o u l d be used i n a s t u d y of t h e f a c t o r s governing t h e l i k e l i h o o d of a p e r s o n ' s being'awakened i f a f i r e o c c u r r e d i n a d w e l l i n g ,

'Po complete t h e d a t a n e c e s s a r y f o r a n a l y s i s of t h e development of f i r e s

i n

t h e d w e l l i m s , r e c o r d s were made o f wind d i r e c t i o n and speed, ambient a i r temperafure and t h e m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t of t h e i g n i t i n g c r i b s . A t t h e r e q u e s t of a n o t h e r government agency, measurements of g a s o o n c e n t r a t i o n , t e m p e r a t u r e , and smoke d e n s i t y were made

i n t h e basements of t h e d w e l l i n g s . 5 e r e s u l t s of t h e s e measurements a r e n o t d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s r e p o r t , b u t a r e given

i n t h e r e l e v a n t d e t a i l e d r e p o r t s .

2 . m o Large B u i l d i n g s

I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n of t h e two l a r g e b u i l d i n g s d i f f e r e d

somewhat from t h a t of t h e d w e l l i n g s . No smoke, gas, o r sound measurements were made. I n a d d i t i o n t o measuring r a d i a t i o n and temperature as i n t h e d w e l l i n g s , copper r e s i s t a n c e w i r e thermometers, extending froin t h e f l o o r t o

a p o i n t a few f e e t from t h e c e i l i n g , were i n s t a l l e d t o g i v e a measure of t h e mean gas temperature o v e r t h i s

h e i g h t i n t h e i n i t i a l s t a g e s of t h e f i r e . Although i t w a s planned t o use the.se r e s i s t a n c e thermometers o n l y i n t h e l a r g e b u i l d i n g s , t h e y were a l s o i n s t a l l e d i n t h e d w e l l i n g s

t o

g a i n e x p e r i e n c e i n u s i n g them.

I n f o r m a t i o n was r e q u i r e d concerning t h e v e n t i l a t i o n

r a t e s induced by t h e f i r e s . A d e f l e c t i o n - t y p e anemometer

wa8 a c c o r d i n g l y designed s o a s t o be rugged and t o f u n c t i o n

o v e r a wide range of temperature. Measurements were made by r e a d i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t d i a l through a t e l e s c o p e .

Many o f t h e measurements a t a l l t h e b u r n s i n v o l v e d r e c o r d i n g equipment which was housed i n a h e a t e d t r a i l e r t h a t was moved from s i t e t o s i t e . Approximately f i f t y e l e c t r i c a l and pipe connection.^ were made a t each l o c a t i o n ,

m a i n l y by simple m u l t i p l e - p i n p l u g s and s o c k e t s .

For f u r t h e r d e t a i l s of t h e i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n , r e f e r e n c e should be made t o t h e r e p o r t s d e t a i l i n g each i n d i v i d u a l t y p e I o f measurement. DXSCUSSION OF RESULTS 1. S u r v i v a l of t h e Occupants I I I Complete s t a t e m e n t s of a l l t h e r e s u l t s a r e n o t

lnoluded i n t h i s r e p o r t , t h e scope of which i s

oonfined

(10)

The r e s u l t s on oxygen and carbon monoxide concen- t r a t i o n have been t r e a t e d s e p a r a t e l y . I n f a c t t h e r e i s

almost c e r t a i n l y a n i n t e r a c t i o n between t h e two, and

s u r v i v a l time should b e e x p r e s s e d i n t e r n s of one e q u a t i o n i n v o l v i n g b o t h parametnrs. A time of s u r v i v a l based on such a n e q u a t i o n would e s s e n t i a l l y be s h o r t e r t h a n t h e t i m e s g i v e n by t h e two supposedly independent c r i t e r i a

a t a t e d above. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , however, no such r e l a t i o n s h i p

i s known t o have been estab3.ished.

I t was assumed t h a t t h e l i m i t i n g s u r v i v a l time would bo governed by one o r more o f t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t o r s :

(1 ) h i g h concenfxation of carbon monoxide, ( 2 ) low c o n c e n t r a t i o n of oxygen,

( 3 )

h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e , and

( 4 ) h i g h smoke d e n s i t y g i v i n g impaired v i s i b i l i t y . The q u e s t i o n of when any of t h e above f a c t o r s would r e n d e r

o person unconscious o r o t h e r w i s e make escape d i f f i c u l t h a s n o t b.een e x t e n s i v e l y i n v e s t i g a t e d . Although a v a i l a b l e Information cannot be c o n s i d e r e d a b s o l u t e l y r e l i a b l e , t h e following c r i t e r i a were adopted a f t e r a l i t e r a t u r e survey:

For oxygen c o n c e n t r a t i o n , a lower l i m i t of 1 0 p e r o s n t was assumed, based on t h e r e p o r t (1) of t h e N a t i o n a l F l r e P r o t e c t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n Committee on F i r e G a s Research which s t a t e s t h a t c o l l a p s e o c c u r s q u i c k l y when t h e oxygen o o n o e n t r a t i o n f a l l s below 1 0 p e r c e n t .

The l i m i t f o r carbon monoxide c o n c e n t r a t i o n h a s been found

t o

be a f u n c t i o n b o t h of c o n c e n t r a t i o n i t s e l f and of t o t a l dosage. Hamilton and Johnstone ( 2 ) have r o p o r t e d t h a t , a t a c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f 1.28 p e r c e n t carbon monoxide by volume, t h e r e i s a n immediate e f f e c t and con- s o i o u s n e s s i s l o s t . For lower c o n c e n t r a t i o n s it i s g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t c o n s c i o u s n e s s

i s

l o s t when 40 t o 50 p e r c e n t

of t h e blood haemoglobin. i s converted t o carboxy-haemoglobin.

plis e f f e c t w i l l be more n e a r l y a f u n c t i o n of t o t a l dosage t h a n of c o n c e n t r a t i o n , and Minchin ( 3 ) r e p o r t s t h a t c o l l a p s e

will occur when t h e product 'of t h e carbon monoxide concen- t r a t i o n , Kco(per c e n t ) , and time of exposure, t ( m i n u t e s ) , a g u a l s 4.5. This l a w h a s been assumed v a l i d where K O h a s been a f u n c t i o n of time and h a s t h u s been t a k e n a s

(11)

!be l i m i t i n g v a l u e of temperature t h a t w a s adopted was 300°P f o l l o w i n g t h e example s e t by o t h e r workers ( 4 ) .

The c r i t e r i o n f o r impaired v i s i b i l i t y i s t h a t used

b y Kingman and o t h e r s

( 5 ) .

I t depends on t h e assumption

that when v i s i b i l i t y f a l l s t o 4 f t , a room i s smoke-logged

t o a degree t h a t would s e r i o u s l y impede t h e escape of t h e occupants. V i s i b i l i t y h e r e means t h e d i s t a n c e a t which the h o l d e r of a f i r e m a n ' s handlamp can p e r c e i v e o b j e c t s by

t h e l i g h t t h e y r e f l e c t and s h o u l d be d i s t i n g u i s h e d from

the m e t e o r o l o g i c a l s e n s e of t h e word. From t h e d a t a given

by Kingman and o t h e r s ( 5 ) it can be f n f e r r e d t h a t t h e

4 - f t

v i s i b i l i t y l i m i t can be c o n s i d e r e d t o have been reached

when t h e l i g h t t r a n s m i t t e d through t h e 2 - f t smoke p a t h of

t h e i n s t r u m e n t used was reduced t o

5

' p e r c e n t of t h e i n t e n s i t y o b t a i n e d i n t h e absence of smoke.

The r e s u l t i n g t i m e s of s u r v i v a l , based on a l l t h e s e d i f f e r e n t c r i t e r i a , a r e g i v e n i n Table 11. Except i n one i s o l a t e d i n s t a n c e the t i m e s based on t h e 4 - f t v i s i b i l i t y c r i t e r i o n a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y l e s s t h a n t h e o t h e r s . This

b e i n g s o , i t becomes i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e a findamental dis- t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e of t h e smoke c r i t e r i o n . The carbon monoxide, oxygen, and temperature c r i t e r i a r e l a t e t o l o s s o f consciousness ( o r i n t h e l a s t i n s t a n c e , t o d e a t h ) , whereas

t h e smoke c r i t e r i o n r e l a t e s Go a s u b s t a n t i a l l i m i t a t i o n i n

t h e v i s u a l powers of the occupant and i n c i d e n t a l l y t o some measure of discomfort. Thus i t might be s a i d t h a t d u r i n g

the t i h e g i v e n by t h e smoke c r i t e r i o n a n occupant could become aware of t h e f i r e and t h a t i f he t h e n proceeded t o & window he could be saved, provided adequate r e s c u e

a p p a r a t u s w a s forthcoming w i t h i n t h e s h o r t e s t time given

by t h e remaining c r i t e r i a . Viewed i n t h i s l i g h t t h e important r e s u l t s , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e mean c u r v e s o n l y , are

t h o s e g i v e n i n Table 111. On t h i s b a s i s c o n d i t i o n s a r e

substantially improved by c l o s i n g t h e bedroom door. The d i f f e r e n c e i n time r e s u l t i n g from t h e use of noncombustible i n s t e a d of combustible l i n i n g s , when t h e door i s c l o s e d , oould be c r i t i c a l s i n c e a p e r i o d of 1 0 minutes i s t y p i c a l

o f t h e time which i t would t a k e a f i r e a p p l i a n c e t o respond

t o

a n alarm and e f f e c t a r e s c u e . Opening t h e window might l e n g t h e n t h e a v a i l a b l e time i n s p i t e of t h e f a c t t h a t an open u p s t a i r s window would l a r g e l y c o n s t i t u t e a n exhaust.

R a d i a t i o n Levels

During t h e f i r s t b u m t h r e e r a d i o n e t e r s were l o o a t e d a t d i f f e r e n t d i s t a n c e s from t h e same s i d e of t h e b e l l i n g i n o r d e r t o d e r i v e t h e form of t h e r e l a t i o n between r a d i a t i o n l e v e l and d i s t a n c e from t h e house. During t h e

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oourse of t h e b u m , however, it was n o t i o e d t h a t t h e d i r e c t i o n

of t h e wind g r e a t l y a f f e c t e d r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s , t h o s e on t h e leeward s i d e b e i n g g r e a t e r t h a n t h o s e on t h e windward s i d e beoause of t h e f a r g r e a t e r volume of flame i s s u i n g from

the leeward windows. It w a s t h e r e f o r e decided t h a t t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h i s f a c t o r measurements should be t a k e n on

b o t h s i d e s o f t h e b u i l d i n g s ; s u b s e q u e n t l y one r a d i o m e t e r was l o c a t e d on t h e windward s i d e and two on t h e leeward.

me

i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e r e l a t i o n between r a d i a t i o n

l e v e l and d i s t a n c e from t h e d w e l l i n g now i n v o l v e d o n l y two measurements p e r d w e l l i n g and w a s t h e r e f o r e r e s t r i c t e d

t o

determining t h e n a t u r e of any d e p a r t u r e from a c o n f i g u r a - t i o n f a c t o r law based on t h e assumption t h a t windom openings o o n s t i t u t e d t h e only r a d i a t i n g a r e a s . m e peak r a d i a t i o n l a v e l s r e c o r d e d a r e l i s t e d i n Table I V .

The concept of i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e r e s u l t s i n t e r m s

of h y p o t h e t i c a l r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s a t t h e window openings a p p e a r s u s e f u l , f o r t h e r e i s a f a i r measure of agreement

f o r each burn between t h e r e s u l t s , expressed i n t h e s e terms,

f'rom t h e two r a d i o m e t e r s on t h e same s i d e of t h e b u i l d i n g .

In

t h e c a s e of t h e s c h o o l b u r n t h e agreement was poor. lhis r e s u l t s l a r g e l y from t h e f a c t t h a t t h e windows of t h e r a h o o l annex c o n t r i b u t e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y t o t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n f a c t o r F f o r t h e more d i s t a n t r a d i o m e t e r , b u t n o t f o r t h e n e a r e r one. When t h e r a d i a t i o n from t h e main body of t h e b u i l d i n g was a maximum t h e f i r e i n t h e annex mas n o t f u l l y developed. The v a l u e of I/F ( e q u a l s " r a d i a n t i n t e n s i t y

a t

a p o i n t " d i v i d e d by " c o n f i g u r a t i o n f a c t o r of t h e source

at t h a t same p o i n t " ) r e l a t i n g t o t h e more d i s t a n t r a d i o m e t e r

i s

t h u s much lower t h a n t h a t r e l a t i n g t o t h e n e a r e r one. Values of I/F were n o t d e r i v e d from t h e r e s u l t s of the

f i r s t b u m because t h e more d i s t a n t r a d i o n e t e r s were a l s o i r r a d i a t e d by a shed which i g n i t e d e a r l i e r t h a n was expected.

In

l a t e r experiments i g n i t i o n of sheds, e t c . , was suppressed and t h e bui.ldings were s t r i p p e d of porches, v e r a n d a s , e t c . , which would have s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n f l u e n c e d r a d i a t i o n measurements.

! h e agreement between t h e v a l u e s of I/F f o r B u i l d i n g Po.7 w a s a l s o marred, t o a l e s s e r e x t e r i t , by a s i t u a t i o n s i m i l a r t o t h a t o c c u r r i n g d u r i n g t h e s c h o o l b u m . The b e s t agreement was f o r t h e c a s e of B u i l d i n g No. 4 , a s i s

i l l u s t r a t e d i n Fig. 10. The l e v e l s of r a d i a t i o n d i f f e r e d

by a f a c t o r of t h e o r d e r of t h r e e , . b u t t h e two c u r v e s of I/F a l m o s t o v e r l a p .

The maximum v a l u e s of I/F f o r t h e f o u r t h and s e v e n t h burns a r e about t h e same, a s a r e t h o s e f o r t h e t h i r d and

f i f t h b u m s (Table I V ) . It would t h e r e f o r e seem t h a t t h e u s e of clapboard e x t e r i o r c l a d d i n g does n o t a p p r e c i a b l y

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b e r a s e t h e maximum r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s from a house, Where

#a

& e l l i n g s had combustible i n t e r i o r l i n i n g s , a s i n

-8 No. 3 and

5 ,

v a l u e s of I/F u p t o 40 cal/cm2/sec were & w i n e d . Where t h e l i n i n g s were nonoombustible, a s i n

mr

f o u r t h and seventh b u r n s and t h e two l a r g e r b u i l d i n g s , v a l u e s were no more t h a n h a l f t h i s B u i l d i n g NO, 2

t. a maximum v a l u e of o n l y 11 cal/cma/sec a l t h o u g h it C a l u d e d f i b r e b o a r d and plywood l i n i n g s downstairs. It

Lm

Wlought t h a t t h i s r e s u l t e d p a r t l y from t h e absence o f

m b u s t i b l e l i n i n g s u p s t a i r s and p a r t l y from t h e low speed

#

We p r e v a i l i n g wind. The v e n t i l a t i o n r a t e measurements

mb t h e o r e t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s described l a t e r i n d i c a t e

+Ut

Induced i n l e t speeds i n a d w e l l i n g f i r e do n o t u s u a l l y

moeed

7 mph a s l o n g a s t h e r o o f remains i n t a c t . Ambient

I

a n d

speeds of t h e o r d e r of 1 0 t o 1 4 mph, a s p r e v a i l e d i n

c a s e of t h e t e s t s on t h e l a s t f o u r h o u s e s , could m a r e f o r e have had a s u b s t a n t i a l e f f e c t on t h e r a t e

o f

Comparison can be made between t h e v a l u e s of I/F

@,van

above and t h e pyrorneter measurements d i s c u s s e d l a t e r

wader

t h e h e a d i n g " I n t e r n a l Temperature Conditionst'. A t

a@

time w a s a black-body temperature h i g h e r t h a n 1000°C rmoorded, a l t h o u g h i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t a s l i g h t l y h i g h e r tamperature might have developed i n t h e community h a l l a b o u t 32 minutes a f t e r t h e s t a r t of t h e f i r e . The r a d i a t i o n l e v e l oorresponding t o a black-body temperature of 1000°C i s

3.6 cal/cm2/sec, s o t h a t i t f o l l o w s t h a t window openings themselves only made a small c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e peak l e v e l s of r a d i a t i o n recorded by t h e r a d i o m e t e r s , w i t h t h e major c o n t r i b u t i o n coming from t h e l a r g e volume of flame r p r e a d i n g o u t from t h e windows.

Figure 1 0 g i v e s a n i n d i c a t i o n of the t y p i c a l be- hnviour of t h e r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s w i t h time. I n a l l b u t one

of t h e t e s t s t h e l e v e l s of r a d i a t i o n up t o 16 minutes a f t e r

the s t a r t of t h e f i r e were l e s s t h a n t h e maximum v a l u e s d i s c u s s e d above by a f a c t o r of t h e o r d e r of f o u r . I n t h e case o f house No.

5,

i n which t h e l i n i n g s were p r e s s e d paperboard and t h e whole c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s combustible,

8 q u a r t e r of t h e maximum v a l u e was a t t a i n e d i n 1 0 t o 11

minutes. I n t h i s c o n t e x t t h e maximum v a l u e r e f e r s t o t h e h y p o t h e t i c a l v a l u e s of I/T of 40 cal/cm2/sec, where t h e b u i l d i n g had combustible i n t e r n a l l i n i n g s , and h a l f t h i s

value where t h e l i n i n g s were noncombustible. I n some o f the t e s t s , t h e s e maximum v a l u e s were n e v e r a t t a i n e d ,

Conclusions drawn from r a d i a t i o n measurements may be summarized a s follovis:

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(1 ) R a d i a t i o n l e v e l s from b u i l d i n g s completely

l i n e d i n t e r n a l l y w i t h combustible m a t e r i a l s may be double abose where noncombustible l i n i n g s a r e used.

( 2 ) If I is. t h e i n t e n s i t y of r a d i a t i o n a t a dis- &nce f r o m ' a b u i l d i n g and

P

i s t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n f a c t o r of

' b e openings a t t h e p o i n t of measurement, t h e n I/F i s a oonvenient f a c t o r by which t h e r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s from

Uff

e r e n t b u i l d i n g s - may be compared. The maximum v a l u e s

of

I/F f o r b u i l d i n g s completely l i n e d w i t h combustible p u t e r i a l were of t h e o r d e r of 40 caljcm2/sec.

( 3 )

A t p e r i o d s of peak r a d i a t i o n . t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n . @f r a d i a t i o n d i r e c t l y from openings i n e x t e r i o r w a l l s was -

l u b s t a n t i a l l y l e s s t h a n t h a t from-the flames above and a r r o u n d i n g t h e windows

.

( 4 ) A p e r i o d of a t l e a s t 1 6 minutes e l a p s e d b e f o r e maximum r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s were a t t a i n e d .

(5)

R a d i a t i o n l e v e l s were a f f e c t e d by wind c a n d i t i o

but

t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d were n o t adequate t o all.ovi a q u a n t i ' k t i v e a n a l y s i s of t h e e f f e c t s .

3.

I n t e r n a l Temperature Conditions

The black-body temperature r e c o r d s of t h e dwelling t e s t s are g i v e n i n Figs. 11 t o 13. It i s o f i n t e r e s t t o oompare t h e s e r e s u l t s w i t h t h e f u r n a c e time-temperature

ourve p r e s c r i b e d by t h e American S o c i e t y f o r T e s t i n g Materia f o r t h e f i r e r e s i s t a n c e t e s t i n g of s t r u c t u r e s ( 6 ) . Two

of

t h e c u r v e s r e l a t i n g t o houses w i t h combustible l i n i n g s (Fig. 11) a r e almost i d e n t i c a l ' and l i e a b o u t 150°C (270°P)

h i g h e r t h a n t h e ASTM curve. For t h e c a s e of B u i l d i n g No.

5

t h e r e w a s a s l i g h t d e l a y b g f o r e t h e culve r o s e s h a r p l y ,

snd measurements were d i s c o n t i n u e d s h o r t l y a f t e r t h i s . From

t h e form of t h e curve, i t would appear t h a t q u i t e high b l a c k body t e m p e r a t u r e s were l a t e r a t t a i n e d . . For t h e two houses

with noncombustible l i n i n g s ( b u r n s No. 4 and 7 , Fig. 1 2 ) t h e black-body t e m p e r a t u r e s remained s u b s t a n t i a l l y below t h e ASTM: ourye f o r a b o u t 1 0 min.utes and t h e n r o s e above i t ,

So f q r as t h e h e a t t r a n s f e r t o t h e i n t e r i o r w a l l s

o f t h e dwellfngs i s concerned, t h e black-body temperature w i t h i n t h e b u i l d i n g i s probably t h e most a p r o p r i a t e

q u n n t l t a t i v e measurement o f t h e " i n t e n s i t y a of t h e f i r e t h a t i s capable o f simple d e f i n i t i o n . Where h e a t t r a n s f e r

t o t h e c e i l i n g s i s consLdered, however, c o n v e c t i v e h e a t t r a n s f e r from t h e gages e i t h e r n e a r t o o r enveloped by flame might predominate and t h e r e l e v a n c e of a black-body temperature would n o t be s o s i g n i f i c a n t .

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A number of thermocouples were i n s t a l l e d throughout t h e houses, A t y p i c a l s e t of temperature r e c o r d s i s g i v e n i n Pig. 13. One of t h e c u r v e s ( 2 ) r e f e r s t o a thermocouple l o c a t e d 4 f t from t h e f l o o r i n t h e room of o r i g i n . and t h e o t h e r

( 3 )

r e f e r s t o a thermocouple a t c e i l i n g l e v e l a t the

f o o t of t h e stairs. It w i l l be s e e n t h a t t h e t e m p e r a t u r e s a r e n o t r e l a t e d t o time by a simple law.

The r e s u l t s f o r t h e l a r g e r b u i l d i n g s a r e g i v e n i n Fig. 1 4 which shows t h a t t h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e d e l a y , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e c a s e of t h e community h a l l , b e f o r e s u b s t a n t i a l black-body t e m p e r a t u r e s were a t t a i n e d . During t h e course of t h e t e s t on t h e community h a l l , t h e pyrometer measurement vias a t f a u l t and t h e only r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d were f o r t h e p e r i o d z e r o t o 18 m i n u t e s , when t h e black-body

temperature approximated ambient, and f o r t h e p e r i o d 34 t o

35 minutes. In each b u i l d i n g two thermocouples were i n -

s t a l l e d 1 5 f t a p a r t on a beam which had o r i g i n a l l y c o n s t i t u t e d

a f i r s t - f l o o r j o i s t , The thermocouple temperature r e c o r d s f o r each t e s t were i n q u i t e c l o s e agreement and t h e r e f o r e only one curve has been dravin i n each case. The r a p i d drop

i n

temperature a t a b o u t 18 minutes i n each b u m i s

b e l i e v e d t o r e s u l t from t h e c o l l a p s e of t h e s u p p o r t i n g beam; t h e s e s e c t i o n s of t h e r e c o r d s should n o t n e c e s s a r i l y be t a k e n a s i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e r e w a s a s h a r p drop i n temperature a t t h e o r i g i n a l l e v e l of t h e thermocouples.

V e n t i l a t i o n

!The r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d from t h e anemometer used d u r i n g t h e f i r s t house burn were i n c o n c l u s i v e . I t w a s o n l y p o s s i b l e t o l e a v e t h e i n s t r u m e n t i n p l a c e f o r t h e f i r s t 1 0 minutes

o f t h e f i r e and o t h e r measurements and o b s e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e t h a t it d i d n o t r e a c h i t s peak u n t i l a t l e a s t 20 minutes had e l a p s e d . The r e a d i n g s ranged from n e g a t i v e v a l u e s t o

a

maximum speed of

4.5

mph. T h e i r s i g n i f i c a n c e i s even l e s s

i n

t h e light of t h e f a c t t h a t t h e ambient wind speed was of t h e o r d e r of 6 mph and w a s s u b j e c t t o v a r i a t i o n s .

The same arguments made t h e v e n t i l a t i o n measurements d u r i n g t h e community h a l l b u m of v e r y l i t t l e i n t e r e s t . When t h e

achool w a s burned t h e r e was v e r y l i t t l e wind and it was also

o s s i b l e t o l e a v e t h e anemometer i n p o s i t i o n u n t i l t h e f i r e

a d developed f u l l y . The r e s u l t s can t h e r e f o r e b e c o n s i d e r e d

i

s i g n i f i c a n t . They a r e g i v e n i n Fig. 15, and it i s i n t e r e s t i n g

t o

compare them w i t h t h e o r e t i c a l p r e d i c t i o n s . On t h e

assumption t h a t t h e g a s temperature w i t h i n t h e b u i l d i n g i s 1000°C a n a p p l i c a t i o n of B e r n o u l l i ' s theorem g i v e s t h e v a l u e s 7.8 and 1 6 mph, approximately, f o r t h e c a s e s where, f i r s t , t h e a r e a s of open o r broken window a t t h e i n l e t and o u t l e t l e v e l s a r e e q u a l , and where, second, t h e a r e a of t h e o u t l e t i s much g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t of t h e i n l e t . A t about t h e

time

when t h e measurements had t o be d i s c o n t i n u e d a l l t h e u p s t a i r s windows and m o s t o f t h e downstairs windows had

(16)

fillen

o u t . The h i g h e r t h e o r e t i c a l v a l u e g i v e n above was Wlus not d i r e c t l y a p p l i c a b l e and some value between t h e two was a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e c o n d i t i o n s o b t a i n i n g . The

mxLmum

v a l u e r e c o r d e d , a b o u t

7

mph, i s i n remarkable w e a m e n t w i t h t h e t h e o r e t i c a l v a l u e , c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t the b r i v a t i o n o f t h e l a t t e r n e g l e c t s such f a c t o r s a s aerody- -10 r e s i s t a n c e .

3. Miscellaneous

Measurements R e s i s t a n c e thermometer measurements a r e of r e s t r i c t 0 U t e r e s t and t h e r e s u l t s a r e n o t , t h e r e f o r e , l i s t e d

i n

t h i s

port.

The s e n s i n g elements f a i l e d a t t i m e s r z n g i n g betwee

and 18 minutes when t h e recorded mean t e m p e r a t u r e s were

#%ween 200 and 600°C.

Noise r e c o r d i n g s were compared w i t h t h e l e v e l of

ound emanating from a n alarm clock s i t u a t e d 3 f t from

aound l e v e l meter. The r e s u l t s a r e l i s t e d i n Table V.

l a s t column h a s been i n c l u d e d because i t i s b e l i e v e d t I t i s t h e noises i n t h e higher frequency range which

most l i k e l y t o awaken a s l e e p i n g person. Table V

8 t h a t t h e h i g h e r f r e q u e n c i e s a r e a t t e n u a t e d much more

t h e lower f r e q u e n c i e s by t h e c l o s i n g of t h e bedroom Working on t h e premise t h a t an alarm c l o c k would a a s l e e p e r , t h e r e seems l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t t h e f i r e

would awaken t h e occupant of a room w i t h t h e door a. Taking t h e second column as t h e more s i g n i f i c a n t , r e i s some doubt whether a person would be awakened

i n

adroom w i t h t h e door c l o s e d .

I t must be emphasized t h a t t h e experiment i s r a t h e r

do, The s h a r p c r a c k l i n g sounds produced r i g h t from the

rt

of t h e s e f i r e s may n o t be t y p i c a l of a d w e l l i n g f i r e

a s s o c i a t e d only w i t h t h e n a m r e o f t h e i g n i t i n g c r i b s .

i s a l s o t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a c t o r t h a t a person may b i t u a l l y wakened by a c e r t a i n s p e c i a l sound such as o f a baby c r y i n g . It may be t h a t many would be complet s t u r b e d by t h e n o i s e s c r e a t e d by a f i r e .

From t h e f i l m r e c o r d of some o r t h e b u m s , e s t i m a t e s

made of t h e g r e a t e s t d i s t a n c e t h a t t h e flame extended each b u i l d i n g . For burn No. 5 i t was 18 f t , t h e l e v e l ese extreme r e g i o n s of flame being a b o u t t h e h e i g h t of op of t h e house. Pox burn No. 7 t h e maximum range was

t h e same, 1 7 f t , and t h e l e v e l was j u s t below t h a t e eaves. lChe extreme l i m i t s of flame i n t h e c a s e of

ma

oornrnunity h a l l were a b o u t 25 f t from t h e b u i l d i n g a t h e i g h t of a b o u t h a l f t h a t of t h e b u i l d i n g i t s e l f . During

@I# achool burn, f l a m e s extended t o a d i s t a n c e of 18 f t

(17)

IMPLICATIONS FOR WRTHER WORK

The e f f e c t on r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s of combustible

l i n i n g s on w a l l s only o r c e i 1 i n . g ~ only w a s n o t i n v e s t i g a t e d d u r i n g t h e s e experiments. Such i n f o r m a t i o n might be d s s i r - a b l e when f u r t h e r r e f i n e m e n t s of a b u i l d i n g code a r e en- visaged. I t i s thought t h a t s m a l l e r - s c a l e s t u d i e s could g i v e adequate i n f o m a t i o n on t h i s q u e s t i o n s i n c e no

r e l i a n c e need be p l a c e d on t h e a b s o l u t e v a l u e s r e s u l t i n g from such s t u d i e s . I n t u i t i v e l y , t h e r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s

.. a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e ,partial use of combustible l i n i n g s w i l l

l i e between t h e two l e v e l s g i v e n by t h e f u l l - s c a l e e x p e r i - ments. It i s t h e r e f o r e o n l y n e c e s s a r y t o i n f e r , from t h e

suggested model s t u d i e s , t h e approximate n a t u r e of t h e law which should be used t o i n t e r p o l a t e between t h e two f u l l -

s c a l e r e s u l t s .

A n i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o the e f f e c t of wind on r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s might be considered. It i s l i k e l y t h a t s m a l l - s c a l e experiments i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e S t . Lawrence r e s u l t s would g i v e i n f o r m a t i o n of adequate accuracy f o r p r a c t i c a l

purposes.

Since t h e r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e t h a t a t t e n t i o n should be p a i d t o measures t h a t w i l l m a i n t a i n a s a f e atmosphere

i n escape r o u t e s , s t u d i e s might be undertaken t o determine t h e o r d e r s of air p r e s s u r e t h a t must be e s t a b l i s h e d i n an

escape r o u t e t o c o n f i n e smoke t o t h e compartment of o r i g i n

o f t h e f i r e .

gONCLUSIONS

The S t . Lawrence b u r n s have y i e l d e d r e s u l t s t h a t f i l l i n come of t h e more i m p o r t a n t gaps t h a t have h i n d e r e d t h e development of b u i l d i n g codes with r e f e r e n c e t o c e r t a i n

p e c t s of f i r e p r o t e c t i o n . Despite t h e f a c t t h a t t h e S t .

wrence program of b u r n s was time-consuming and expensive,

i s u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e same r e s u l t s could have been o b t a i n e d economically, if a t a l l , by any o t h e r type of experiment. e f o l l o w i n g i s a summary of t h e m o r e ' s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s t a i n o d .

1, The d w e l l i n g s became smoke-logged w i t h i n 6 minutes of t h e i g n i t i o n of t h e c r i b s .

2. Chances of s u r v i v a l were much l e s s i n the

dviellings w i t h combustible l i n i n g s t h a n i n t h o s e w i t h noncombustible l i n i n g s .

(18)

3, Peak r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s from t h e d w e l l i n g s w i t h combustible l i n i n g s were t w i c e t h o s e a s s o c i a t e d with noncombustible l i n i n g s . 4. A p e r i o d of a t l e a s t 16 minutes e l a p s e d b e f o r e maximum r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s were a t t a i n e d . 5. R a d i a t i o n l e v e l s were a f f e c t e d by wind d i r e c - t i o n , t h o s e on t h e leeward s i d e of t h e b u i l d i n g b e i n g , i n general, much g r e a t e r than t h o s e on

the windward s i d e .

6. I n two o f t h e t h r e e d w e l l i n g s l i n e d with con- b u s t i b l e m a t e r i a l s , t h e black-body t e m p e r a t u r e s a t t a i n e d i n t h e room of o r i g i n of t h e f i r e

exceeded f o r approximately 30 minutes t h e v a l u e s p r e s c r i b e d by t h e ASlCPll f u r n a c e time- temperature curve.

7. The maximum v a l u e s of i n l e t a i r v e l o c i t y

were comparable t o t h o s e p r e d i c t e d by an a p p l i - c a t i o n of B e r n o u l l i t s e q u a t i o n .

(1) F i r e Gas Research Report. N a t i o n a l F i r e P r o t e c t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , Committee on P i r e Gas Research, NPPA

Q u a r t e r l y ,

a,

280 _(1952).

( 2 ) Hamilton, A. and R. T. Johnstone. I n d u s t r i a l Toxicology. Oxford U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1945.

( 3 )

Minchin,

I,,

T. M i l d Carbon Monoxide Poisoning a s a n I n d u s t r i a l Hazard. Ind. Chemist,

-

30, 381 ( 1 9 5 4 ) . ( 4 ) Corson, R.C. and W.R. Lucas. L i f e Hazard T e s t s on

Wood I n t e r i o r Fin.ish. Factory Mutual L a b o r a t o r i e s Report No. 11975, Boston Mass., Oct. 1, 1951.

( 5 )

Kingman, F. E, T.

,

E.H. Coleman and ' D. J. Rasbash. The

P r o d u c t s of Combustion i n Burning B u i l d i n g s . J o u r , App. Chem.,

3 ,

1953, p.463-468.

( 6 ) American S o c i e t y f o r T e s t i n g M a t e r i a l s . Standard Methods of F i r e T e s t s of B u i l d i n g C o n s t r u c t i o n and M a t e r i a l s . ASTM Designation E119-58.

(19)

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF WALLS

B u i l d i n g No. E x t e r i o r Wall I n t e r i o r L i n i n g s

1 b r i c k p l a s t e r

2 b r i c k and 1 - i n . f i b r e b o a r d downstairs

rough b o a r d s ( e x c e p t k i t c h e n mainscot which was

wood) 3 cavity b r i c k f i b r e b o a r d 4 frame, b r i c k p l a s t e r i n f i l l i n g , 1-in. b o a r d s c l a p b o a r d

-

5 frame, 1-in. b o a r d s p r e s s e d p a p e r cedar s h i n g l e s c l a p b o a r d 7 brick p l a s t e r r

(20)

- . .-u.l(

LIMITING TIIiiES OF SURVIVAL (TLINUTB)

*

t h e s e v a l u e s a r e t a k e n from t h e c u r v e s o f t h e means o f t h e q u a n t i t i e s ( a ) i n d i c a t e s t'nat o n l y two r e s u l t s were a v a i l a b l e a t t h e t i m e c o n s i d e r e d ( b ) i n d i c a t e s t h a t o n l y one r e s u l t was a v a i l a b l e at t h e t i m e c o n s i d e r e d

r

Closed Bedroom

I

Open Bedroom

D P ~ of w a l l Building J K = 4.5 ~ 1.28% ~0 ~ ~ 10% ~

o2

3 0 0 0 ~ 4-ft v i ~ i - 4-ft v i s i - L i n i n g NO. b i l i t y

J

~ ~= 4.5 ~ 1.285 d tCO 10% 0, 300's bilitr 1 12.0

>

1 3 1 11.8 3.9 4 . 5 1.8 2.5 2.8

-

Noncombustible 4 1 4 . 8 14.8 21.0 1 6 . 5 5.2 7 . 0 1 2 . 1 3.6 1 1 . 5 2. 4- C o u b u s t i S l e (mean c u r v e ) 1 2 . 9 8 . 7

!

5 . 0

1

Zg

1

2.5

I

1 . 8

1

1 . 5

-1

( b ) ( a ) I

-

(21)

mxmm

RIUlUrr011 XIFPBFSf'lPfICS

B e u n and

B u i l d i n g E k t e r i o r I n t e r i o r Lining Radiometer Nax I n t e n s i t y Config. F a c t o r

Numbers I (cal/crn2/sec ) of Openings

Number Cladding (cal/crn2/sec)

1 B r i c k P l a s t e r 1 0.12* P

F

2 0.15

7

9

4 0.09

+

'f

Downstairs

-

f i b r e - 1 0.47 0.05 9

2 B r i c k board and plywood 4 0.18 0.016 11

U p s t a i r s

-

p l a s t e r 2 0.08 0.04 2 1 1.25 0.034 37 3 Brick rybreboard 4 ~ 0 . 1 8 0.013 1 4 0.46 0.034 1 4 1 0.56 0.032 18 Clapboard P l a s t e r 4 0.17 0.011 1 5 2 0.46 0.028 1 6 1 1.05 0.027 37 5 Clapboard P r e s s e d Paper 4 6 - 3 2 0.008 40 2 0.35 0.012 - - - -- -- - - ---- 29 6 1 0.9 0.075 1 2 (Community B r i c k P l a s t e r ; wooden 4 b 0 . 4 1 o i 0 3 l H a l l ) c e i l i n g 2 0.42

.

4 0.9 0.058 1 6 7 Brick P l a s t e r 3

.

, 2 1 n n~ 3 2

-.

"- '0 044 h 4 0.83 0.049

8 Brick P l a s t e r ; wooden 3

-

0 . lo/ 0.013 17

(3+00l, ceiling 5 > 0 . 5 0 . rJ88

==

6

i

-

*

Radiometer removed b e f o r e peak l e v e l a t t a i n e d

(22)

KITCHEN 1 8 ' - 7 " x 1 0 ' - 3 " 1 1 . 6 ,5_ 4

-

:-

LIVING ROOM RAILING 8 ' 1 1 " ~ I / ' 8" GROUND FLOOR BEDROOM 10'-2"x 10'- 6" NOTES :

1. ALL WALLS A CEILINGS OF PLL)STC

2. INSTRUMENTATION /N BASEMENT WEST CORNER LEGEND : 4 THERMOCOUPLES RESISTANCE T H E M M E TER

0

RADIOMETERS

THERMOPILE RAD/OME TER GAS COLLECTORS SMOKE METERS

FIRST FLOOR 0 5 10

t _ T l s r z m ~ b : ~ : ~

F E E T

FIGURE I

-

BUILDING N O I

-

T W O

-

STOREY SOLID BRICK DWELLlMe

(23)

8 DINING HOOM I?'-7" fe'-5- 1 0 ' - 6 " r l t l ' - 5 " GROUND FLOOR NOTES. BEDROOM l0'-8"# 10'-5- OPEN BEDROOM 3 0 ' - o n J FIRST FLOOR

-

=.. : F

F

I ALL WdL LS B CEILINGS OF FIBREBOARD EXCEPT

- IN BEDROOMS, WALLS B CEILINGS OF PLASTER

- IN KlTCliEN , WAINSCOT OF WOO0

2. INSTRUhtENTATION IN BASEMENT WEST CORNER L EGENO :

-

THERMOCOUPL ES 5 RESISTANCE rHERMOMETER @ THERMOPILE RADIOMETER GAS COLLECTORS SMOKE METERS

(24)

-- COVERED WITH PLASTERBOARD

KITCHEN tl

DINING ROOM 18'-2"x 9'-10"

- . - -- . LIVING ROOM _{WOOD .}

9'- 1I"x 18'-2" -C 6 - 0- GROUND FLOOR BEDROOM 9 ' - / I " # 18'-2"

I

26'-0" - FIRST FLOOR

FIGURE 3 -BUILDING No. 3

-

T W O

-

STOREY

N o r s :

I. ALL WALLS B CEILINGS

OF FIBREBOA RD '' -%

1

INSTRUMENTATION IN BASEMENT WEST CORNER LEGEND : 4 THERMOCOUPLES

RESIST4 NCE fHERMOME rER

0

RADIOMETERS @ THERMOPILE RADIOMETER C] GAS COLLECTORS

A

SMOKE METERS 10 O U F E E T

(25)

KITCHEN 14'- 6"" 8'-8 * NOTES .' I. A L L W A L L S B CEILINGS OF PLASTER 2. INSTRUMEN TANON IN BASEMENT SOUTH CORNER

-& RESISTANCE THERMOME TER

0

RADIOMETERS

GAS COLLECTORS SMOKE METERS

(26)

- -. DOOR LEFT OPEN \ GROUND FLOOR HALL OPEN BEDROOM

.

2

R1 9 ' - 0 " x 1 2 ' - 6 " I I PO'- 8" FIRST FLOOR

FIGURE 5

-

BUILDING NO. 5

-

TWO

-

STOREY WOOD

CLAPBOARD EXTERIOR

NOTES :

/. ALL WALLS 8 CZILINGS OF

PRESSED PA PERBOC) RD 2. tNSTRUMEN TATION 1N BASEMENT LEGEND .'

0

RADIOMETERS

@ THERMOPILE RADlOME TER

0 GAS COLLECTORS

SMOKE METERS

-

FEET

(27)

GROUND FLOOR NOTE : cE/L IN6 WALLS B WAINSCOT OF PL ASTER WOOD LEGEND: -4 THERMOCOUPL ES RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS ANEMOMETERS

0

RADIOMETERS @ TH€RhfOPlLE RAD/OMETER

-

BUILDING No. 6

-

T W O

-

S T O R E Y _{SOLID BRICK}

(28)

FRONT ELEVATION REAR ELEVATION E A S T ELEVATION 0

-

L 10 FEET W E S l ELEVATION FIGURE 6 0

-

E L E V A T I O N S O F B U I L D I N G No. 6 ( F R A T E R N I T Y H A L L )

(29)

BEDROOM I1 '-6"1 11'-6"

NOTES:

I. ALL WALLS a CMINGS

OF PLASTER

INS TRUMEN TA TION IN BASEMENT SOUTH CORNER L € G E M :

-

THERMOCOUPLES % RESISTANCE THERMOMETER

0

RADIOMETERS @ THERMOPILE RAOlOMErER GAS COLLECTORS

a

SMOKE METERS 0

-

5 K) FEET

(30)

C I , ' .

NO WIND

NOTE :

WALLS OF PLASr.FR CElL ING OF WOOD

LEGEND : --o THERMOCOUPLES 5 RESISTANCE THERMOMETERS ANEMOMETERS