NOMENCLATURE

This research deals with the combined effects of fire and mechanical ventilation on the bidirectional flow occurring at a doorway for a fire scenario with a three compartment assembly. Based on large-scale fire tests, an experimental campaign has been carried out in order to investigate the effect of the ventilation rate and the fire heat release rate on doorway flow. The analysis focused on the velocity profiles at the doorway, the location of the neutral plane and the amplitude of the velocities entering and leaving the fire compartment. The conclusions point out the significant effects of the ventilation on the features of the doorway flow. The mechanical ventilation modified the relative contribution of inflows and outflows and might stop the release of smoke. Moreover, the position of the doorway in relation to the fire location and the direction of the ventilation flow have to be considered. A correlative approach has been proposed to support the analysis