Measurement of Room Conditions and Response of Sprinklers and Smoke Detectorsduring a Simulated Two-Bed Hospital Patient Room Fire

摘要

A series of experiments are reported in which a wood crib was burned within asimulated two bed hospital patient room in order to measure the activation times of various types of quick and standard response sprinklers and ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors at several locations in the room simulating multiple options for protection of the space. Gas and surface temperatures, heat flux, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen concentrations were continuously measured in order to access the tenability of the room. Of the parameters measured, temperature was the best indicator of the tenability of the space. Temperature at time of activation of the quickl response sprinklers was at or below 77 deg C (171 deg F) at the five foot level and at or below 48 deg C (118 deg F) at the three foot level between the patient beds, in all tests with the exception of the shielded fire scenario where temperatures at the five and three foot levels reached 111 deg C (232 deg F), and 78 deg C (172 deg F) respectively. An initial detector activation was received between 232-377 seconds prior to activation of the first sprinkler, and 552-722 seconds prior to activation of the QR-EC sidewall sprinkler.