Pressurization with Nitrogen as an Extinguishant for Fires in Confined Spaces II. Cellulosic and Fabric Fuels

摘要

Laboratory experiments on pressurization with nitrogen as a technique for suppressing fires in gastight spaces have been extended to solid fuel combustion. Flames from fabric and cellulosic fires in a 9.5 ft3chamber were quenched by the addition of ≲ 0. 5 atm of nitrogen. Several samples of each fuel were allowed to burn to self-extinguishment in the closed chamber to ascertain the true effectiveness of the technique in halting the production of noxious gases. By comparison with these unattended fires, it was shown that the depletion of oxygen was terminated quickly and the gross buildup of noxious gases was significantly repressed by nitrogen pressurization, leaving a habitable postfire atmosphere.