Fire Risk Analysis on Buildings Considering Fire Spread and Total Floor Area

Fire risk analysis models utilized for the fire risk assessment of domestic structures do not usually take into account flame spread and building size. Therefore, in this study, the effect of the building size on flame spread was investigated. Results showed that the frequency of occurrence of fires increased when the building has 11 or more floors. Additionally, the rate of occurrence of small-scale fires also increased when the total floor area was greater than or equal to 1,000 m2. From the risk analysis, the fire risk of health care, medical, and recreational facilities were calculated to be 25.7 × 10-3, 4.29 × 10-3, and 0.91 × 10-3 persons per year, respectively. As such, these were classified as high-risk facilities.

FLAME SPREAD AND SMOKE & TOXICITY TESTING INTERPRETATIONS FOR PLASTIC PIPES

Lightweight composite materials are increasingly used in the ship industry as a substitute to their heavier steel alternatives. These materials are often inherently flammable and require an assessment of the fire risk associated with their flame spread and smoke & toxicity in order to enable their safe usage. However, for plastic pipes there are contradictions within the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) guidelines which lead to different interpretations and different implementations. The goal of this work is to evaluate whether smoke and toxicity is adequately assessed for products currently approved for use and commercially available on the market. Testing according to standardised means given in the IMO code shows that the materials fail both flame spread and smoke & toxicity testing. This proves that there are different interpretations and illustrates the need for clarity in this area to enable safe and consistent use of these materials.