Table Of ContentPrinciples of
FIRE
BEHAVIOR
S E C O N D E D I T I O N
Principles of
FIRE
BEHAVIOR
S E C O N D E D I T I O N
James G. Quintiere
Boca Raton London New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Quintiere, James G., author.
Title: Principles of fire behavior / James G. Quintiere.
Description: Second edition. | Boca Raton, FL : Taylor & Francis, CRC Press,
2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016004478 | ISBN 9781498735629
Subjects: LCSH: Fires. | Fire. | Fire investigation. | Fire prevention. |
Flame spread.
Classification: LCC TH9448 .Q55 2017 | DDC 628.9/2--dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016004478
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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To the memory of Philip H. Thomas, a friend, a mentor,
and the father of fire science. He developed the science for
many aspects of fire before others. He set the path.
Contents
Preface .....................................................................................................................xv
Acknowledgments .............................................................................................xvii
Acronyms .............................................................................................................xix
Nomenclature ......................................................................................................xxi
1. Evolution of Fire Science ...............................................................................1
Learning Objectives .........................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................1
1.2 What Is Fire? ..........................................................................................3
1.3 Natural Causes of Fire ..........................................................................4
1.3.1 Lightning ...................................................................................4
1.3.2 Earthquake ................................................................................5
1.3.3 Meteors ......................................................................................7
1.3.4 Volcanoes ..................................................................................8
1.3.5 Underground Fires ..................................................................8
1.4 Fire and War ..........................................................................................9
1.5 Fire in the United States and Abroad ...............................................10
1.5.1 U.S. Statistics ...........................................................................10
1.5.2 United States and the World ................................................13
1.5.3 U.S. Fire Prevention Infrastructure .....................................13
1.5.4 Motivation for Improvement ................................................15
1.5.5 Flammability Tests ................................................................15
1.5.6 Cost of Fire ..............................................................................17
1.6 Fire Research ........................................................................................20
1.6.1 Disciplines That Underlie Fire .............................................20
1.6.2 Computer Simulations and Physics ....................................20
1.6.3 Brief History of Fire Science .................................................21
1.7 Visualization of Fire Phenomena ......................................................23
1.8 Scientific Language .............................................................................25
1.8.1 Units of Measure ....................................................................25
1.8.2 Symbols ...................................................................................28
1.8.3 Scientific Notation ..................................................................28
1.9 Summary ..............................................................................................29
Review Questions ..........................................................................................30
Activities .........................................................................................................30
References .......................................................................................................31
vii
viii Contents
2. Combustion in Natural Fires......................................................................33
Learning Objectives .......................................................................................33
2.1 Introduction .........................................................................................33
2.2 Fire and Its Ingredients ......................................................................34
2.2.1 Typical Temperatures and Energy Levels to
Achieve Combustion .............................................................34
2.2.2 Fuel Chemistry .......................................................................36
2.2.3 Fire Triangle and Tetrahedron .............................................36
2.2.4 Combustion Time and Extent ..............................................37
2.2.5 Types of Fire............................................................................38
2.3 Diffusion Flames .................................................................................39
2.3.1 Candle Flame ..........................................................................43
2.3.2 Anatomy of a Diffusion Flame ............................................48
2.3.3 Turbulent Diffusion Flames .................................................54
2.4 Premixed Flames .................................................................................56
2.4.1 Laminar Flame Propagation ................................................57
2.4.2 Flame Temperatures ..............................................................59
2.4.3 Turbulent Propagation to Detonation .................................61
2.5 Smoldering ...........................................................................................62
2.6 Spontaneous Combustion ..................................................................64
2.7 Summary ..............................................................................................69
Review Questions ..........................................................................................70
True or False .........................................................................................70
Activities .........................................................................................................70
References .......................................................................................................71
3. Heat Transfer .................................................................................................73
Learning Objectives .......................................................................................73
3.1 Introduction .........................................................................................73
3.2 Definitions and Concepts...................................................................74
3.3 Forms of Heat Transfer .......................................................................77
3.3.1 Conduction..............................................................................78
3.3.1.1 Steady ..........................................................................78
3.3.1.2 Thermal Penetration Time ........................................80
3.3.2 Convection ..............................................................................81
3.3.3 Radiation .................................................................................84
3.4 Heat Flux as an Indication of Damage .............................................93
3.5 Heat Flux Due to Smoke in Room Fires ...........................................94
3.6 Heat Flux from Flames .......................................................................98
3.7 Summary ..............................................................................................99
Review Questions ..........................................................................................99
True or False .......................................................................................100
Activities .......................................................................................................100
References .....................................................................................................101
Contents ix
4. Ignition .........................................................................................................103
Learning Objectives .....................................................................................103
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................103
4.2 Piloted Ignition and Autoignition ..................................................104
4.3 Evaporation in Liquids .....................................................................104
4.4 Liquid Fuels .......................................................................................106
4.4.1 Piloted Ignition .....................................................................107
4.4.2 Autoignition ..........................................................................108
4.5 Solid Fuels ..........................................................................................110
4.5.1 Ignition of Wood as an Example ........................................111
4.5.2 Ignition Temperature and Critical Heat Flux ..................112
4.6 Time for Flaming Ignition ...............................................................114
4.7 Predicting the Ignition Time for Solid Fuels .................................116
4.7.1 Ignition of Thin Objects ......................................................117
4.7.2 Ignition of Thick Materials .................................................119
4.8 Solid Properties for Piloted Ignition ..............................................124
4.9 Summary ............................................................................................131
Review Questions ........................................................................................132
True or False .......................................................................................132
Activities .......................................................................................................133
References .....................................................................................................133
5. Flame Spread ...............................................................................................135
Learning Objectives .....................................................................................135
5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................135
5.2 Definitions ..........................................................................................136
5.3 General Flame Spread Theory ........................................................138
5.4 Spread on Solid Surfaces ..................................................................140
5.4.1 Effect of Thickness ...............................................................141
5.4.2 Downward or Lateral Wall Spread on a
Thick Material ..................................................................142
5.4.3 Upward or Wind-Aided Spread on a Thick Material ........145
5.5 Spread through Porous Solid Arrays .............................................147
5.6 Spread on Liquids .............................................................................151
5.7 Spread through a Dwelling .............................................................155
5.8 Typical Fire Spread Rates .................................................................157
5.9 Standard Test Methods ....................................................................157
5.10 Case Study: Fire Spread in a School Gymnasium ........................158
5.11 Summary ............................................................................................160
Review Questions ........................................................................................161
True or False .......................................................................................161
Activities .......................................................................................................162
References .....................................................................................................162
