Heat Analysis and Fire Prevention of Timber Buildings in Southwest China Based on Fractal and Seepage Theory

In traditional settlements in Southwest China, there are many timber historical buildings and residential buildings, which feature a low fire resistance rating. The preservation and inheritance of these timber buildings are mainly threatened by fire. However, the existing research has not explored the deep correlation between the spatial structure of settlements and fire. To make up for the gap, this paper aims to find the ideas and measures that effectively prevent the fire from occurring in timber buildings of traditional settlements in Southwest China, based on fractal and seepage theory. Firstly, the fractal features were extracted from the spatial structure of these settlements. Then, the authors identified the factors affecting the spread of fire in buildings, and analyzed the mechanism of fire propagation between the timber buildings of traditional settlements. On this basis, a fire prevention scheme was proposed, which integrates the “targeted control of overall structure” with “comprehensive synergy between multiple local elements”. The research results provide a reference for applying fractal and seepage theory in the fire prevention of other buildings with special structures.

An Experimental Study on Fire Resistance Performance of a Bended Type Cladding Column System

As buildings are growing higher and larger, more composite structures have been used. However, the steel member used for composite structure tends to rapidly lose its strength at elevated temperatures. For this reason, it is required to apply a fire resistance mechanism, but it is difficult to implement because of the cost and technical limitations in the case of fire-resistant paint. In case of fireproof spray coat, scattering phenomena, poor work conditions for wet application, and construction delay are the main challenges to be addressed. In this study, a full-scale fire resistance test of non-fire resistant cladding column was conducted in accordance with KS F 2257-7. According to the test results, the specimens CC-01, CC-02, and CC-03 failed to meet the requirements for a 3-hour fire resistance rating because of the joint deformation and less cover thickness, while CC-04, CC-05, and CC-06 with increased thickness and reinforced joints satisfied the requirements for a 3-hour fire resistance rating.

Evidence of recent increased pathogenicity within the Australian Ascochyta rabiei population

Ascochyta Blight (AB), caused by Ascochyta rabiei (syn Phoma rabiei), is the major endemic foliar fungal disease affecting the Australian chickpea industry, resulting with potential crop loss and management costs. This study was conducted to better understand the risk posed by the Australian A. rabiei population to current resistance sources and to provide informed decision support for chemical control strategies. Recent changes in the pathogenicity of the population were proposed based on disease severity and histopathological observations on a host set. Controlled environment disease screening of 201 isolates on the host set revealed distinct pathogenicity groups, with 41% of all isolates assessed as highly aggressive and a significant increase in the proportion of isolates able to cause severe damage on resistant and moderately resistant cultivars since 2013. In particular, the frequency of highly aggressive isolates on the widely adopted PBA HatTrick cultivar rose from 18% in 2013 to 68% in 2017. In addition, isolates collected since 2016 caused severe disease on Genesis 090, another widely adopted moderately resistant cultivar and on ICC3996, a commonly used resistance source. Of immediate concern was the 10% of highly aggressive isolates able to severely damage the recently released resistant cultivar PBA Seamer (2016). Histopathology studies revealed that the most aggressive isolates were able to germinate, develop appressoria and invade directly through the epidermis faster than lower aggressive isolates on all hosts assessed, including ICC3996. The fungal invasion triggered a common reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hypersensitive response (HR) on all assessed resistant genotypes with initial biochemical and subsequent structural defence responses initiated within 24 hours of inoculation by the most highly aggressive isolates. These responses were much faster on the less resistant and fastest on the susceptible check host, indicating that speed of recognition was correlated with resistance rating. This will inform fungicide application timing so that infected crops are sprayed with prophylactic chemistries prior to invasion and with systemic chemistries after the pathogen has invaded.

THE PROGRESS IN HYDROGEN SAFETY RESEARCH

This paper presents the progress in hydrogen safety research which includes some of studies carried out at HySAFER Centre of Ulster University during last two years 2016-2018. The results of four studies are presented: modeling and simulation of radiation from cryogenic underexpanded jet fires; improved fire test protocol for hydrogen storage composite vessels accounting for dependence of fire resistance rating on the burner heat release rate; validation of the pressure peaking phenomenon for unignited releases and jet fires; and modeling of hydrogen tank fuelling.

Development of advanced intumescent flame-retardant binder for fire rated timber door

Intumescent flame-retardant binder (IFRB) offers a great advancement for the most efficient utilization of a wide variety of passive fire safety system at the recent development. This article highlights the fire-resistance and thermal properties of the IFRB using Bunsen burner and thermogravimetric analysis. The five IFRB formulations were mixed with vermiculite and perlite for the fabrication of fire-resistant timber door prototypes. Additionally, the fire rated door prototypes were compared under 2 hours fire test. The prototype (P2), with a low density of 637 kg/m3 showed the superlative fire-resistance rating performance, resulting in temperature reduction by up to 58.9 °C, as compared with that of prototype (P1). Significantly, an innovative fire rated timber door prototype with the addition of formulating intumescent binder has verified to be effective in stopping fires and maintaining its integrity by surviving a fire resistance period of 2 hours.

Preparation of Intumescent Fire Protective Coating for Fire Rated Timber Door

Intumescent flame-retardant coating (IFRC) provides a protective barrier to heat and mass transfer for the most efficient utilization of a wide variety of passive fire protection systems at the recent development. This article highlights the fire-resistance, physical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the IFRC using a Bunsen burner, furnace, Scanning Electron Microscope, freeze-thaw stability test, Instron Micro Tester, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test. The five IFRC formulations were mixed with vermiculite and perlite for the fabrication of fire-resistant timber door prototypes in this research project. Additionally, the best fire-resistance performance of the fire-rated door prototype was selected and compared with a commercial prototype under the fire endurance test. An inventive fire-rated door prototype (P2), with a low density of 636.45 kg/m3, showed an outstanding fire-resistance rating performance, resulting in temperature reduction by up to 54.9 °C, as compared with that of the commercial prototype. Significantly, a novel fire-rated timber door prototype with the addition of formulating intumescent coating has proven to be efficient in preventing fires and maintaining its integrity by surviving a fire resistance period of 2 h.