Ventilation of partially open car parks

Purpose. The article evaluates the effectiveness of the natural ventilation system of partially open car parks using numerical simulation in the Fire Dynamics Simulator software package. In large shopping centers, along with open and closed car parks, there are car parks, whose open doorways areas are comparable to the areas of enclosing structures. The study is due to the lack of requirements for smoke protection of partially open car parks in the current regulatory documents. Methods. The authors have carried out numerical simulation in the Fire Dynamics Simulator software package, which implements a field model of a fire in the room. Findings. The study has showed that the efficiency of the system with natural draft induction (with natural ventilation) and with mechanical draft induction (exhaust smoke ventilation systems) is almost the same. The combustion temperature of a car reaches 816 °С, the temperature of the combustion products drops to the level of the average value of a car park area (24 °С) at a distance of no more than 2 m. Research application field. The results of the study can be used in the development of regulatory requirements for smoke protection of partially open car parks. Conclusions. The conducted research allowed the authors to draw a number of conclusions. 1. For a partially open car park in “Mega-Khimki” shopping mall the use of natural ventilation is effective: the temperature of combustion products and the visibility distance inside the car park practically do not differ from the corresponding values outside the building. The distance from the burning car to the point where the temperature of combustion products drops to about 20 °С is no more than 9 m. 2. The distance from the burning car to the point where the temperature of the combustion products drops to about 20 °С is no more than 9 m. 3. Taking into consideration the possible variety of planning solutions and sizes of partially open car parks, it is advisable to support the requirements of current regulatory documents with calculations using a field mathematical model.