Field Modeling: Effects of Flat Beamed Ceilings on Detector and Sprinkler Response. International Fire Detection Research Project. Technical Report. Year 1

Published

October 1, 1993

Author(s)

Glenn P. Forney, Richard W. Bukowski, William D. Davis

Abstract

This report documents the work performed during the first year of the International Fire Detection Research Project sponsored by the National Fire Protection Research Foundation (NFPRF). The first task was to confirm that fire sensor response can be evaluated using computational data obtained from numerical simulations. A field model was verified for this application by showing that its temperature predictions match experimental results obtained earlier by Heskestad and Delichatsios. The second task consisted of performing a parameter study to show the effect of sensor response under beamed ceilings for various geometries and fire growth rates. One question that is addressed is under what conditions can sensors be located on beams rather than in beam pockets. Time to sensor activation contour plots are presented that address this question. Twenty cases were run for various fire growth rates, beam depths, beam spacings and ceiling heights. These data are summarized and recommendations are made on placing sensors in rooms with beamed ceilings.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) -

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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Keywords

fire detection, field models, ceilings, detector response, sprinkler response, equations, turbulence, heat transfer, case histories, data analysis

Citation

Forney, G. , Bukowski, R. and Davis, W. (1993), Field Modeling: Effects of Flat Beamed Ceilings on Detector and Sprinkler Response. International Fire Detection Research Project. Technical Report. Year 1, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=912646 (Accessed October 27, 2025)