A model for calculating the probabilities of smoke hazard from fires in multi-storey buildings

This paper presents a simplified model for calculating the probabilities of smoke hazard in multi-storey buildings. This model first establishes the fire development in a compartment on any floor, using the results from a one zone fire growth model, and then computes the smoke movement in the building, yielding the temperature and concentration of toxic gases at any location in the building. At a critical time, which is defined as the time when the conditions in the stairs leading to an exit are lethal, such that occupants are trapped and cannot evacuate, the smoke movement calculations are terminated and the probability of smoke hazard are computed based on the temperature and the concentration of toxic gases in the building. The procedure used for the calculation of smoke movement, the critical time and the smoke hazard probabilities is described in this paper. Results are presented, as an example, for a twenty-five storey apartment building.Reprinted in NRCC-39021Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye