Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Comparison of FPETool:FIRE SIMULATOR With Data From Full Scale Experiments (NISTIR 6470)

Published

Author(s)

R Vettori, Daniel M. Madrzykowski

Abstract

A comparison of the compartment zone fire model FPETool:FIRE SIMULATOR is made with data from three different full scale experimental compartment fire studies. These three studies represent a variation of room geometry, ventilation factors, thermal physical properties, fuels, fire geometry and fire growth. Depending on the experimental data presented, comparisons were made for the following parameters, ceiling jet velocity, ceiling jet temperature, upper layer depth, detector link temperature, time to sprinkler activation, and heat release rate at time of sprinkler activation. Results for predicted sprinkler activation times ranged from 74% to 159% of measured times depending on the RTI chosen for the sprinkler, characteristics of the fire, and fire growth rate. All predicted ceiling jet velocities differed by approximately a factor of two from measured values. Generally, upper layer depth predictions were good only for situations where there was not a large vent from the room. For the full scale experiment conducted in a large room with a high ceiling, predicted link and ceiling jet temperatures had better agreement with measured values if consideration was given to the time required for the transport of the products of combustion from the fire to the link. For experiments which had varying fire growth rates predictions for upper layer temperature increase were better for experiments with the slower fire growth rates.
Citation
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6470
Report Number
6470

Keywords

zone models, ceiling jets, computer models, fire growth, layer heights, quick response sprinklers, residential sprinklers, sprinklers, sprinkler response, wall fires

Citation

Vettori, R. and Madrzykowski, D. (2000), Comparison of FPETool:FIRE SIMULATOR With Data From Full Scale Experiments (NISTIR 6470), NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.6470 (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created February 1, 2000, Updated November 10, 2018