A Study of Smoke Behavior in a Compartment with Sprinkler System Activation -Theory and Validity on the Flow Rate of the Fire Plume during Sprinkler System Activation-

Abstract

In Japan, it is required by law to install a sprinkler system (hereafter, SP System) in accordance with the use of the building and its size. In general, the purpose of the SP System is to extinguish fires, and therefore most research reports are related to fire extinguishing. However, the influence of the SP system activation on the smoke layer has not yet been sufficiently assessed. It is difficult to quantify the extinguishing time for SP systems, and the prediction of the behavior of the flames and the smoke, which is restricted by the SP systems, is still in the process of preliminary research. In order to be able to apply the influence of fire extinguishing equipment on the smoke behavior to the performance design, the effects of the sprinkling system need to be quantified. The successful evaluation and application of the fire suppression effects would allow for a more rational assessment of the fire performance, which is currently evaluated by assuming the emergence of an uncontrolled fire. Consequently, this would result in greater flexibility with respect to fire prevention planning Therefore, this experimental study examined the influence on the smoke layer during sprinkling, in order to obtain information about smoke behavior during the SP system activation. In this paper, the changes occurring in the fire plume after sprinkling are reported.