- Author
- Alger, R. S. | Nichols, J. R.
- Title
- Survey of Fires in Hyporbaric and Hyperbaric Chambers.
- Coporate
- Naval Ordnance Lab., Silver Spring, MD
- Report
- NOLTR-71-128, July 20, 1971, 43 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- NOL-394/NEFC-101
- Keywords
- hypobaric chambers | hyperbaric chambers | controlled atmospheres | spacecraft | oxygen | combustion | ignition | fire hazards | fuels | cellulose | electrical equipment | fire spread | oxygen enriched atmospheres | accident investigations
- Identifiers
- oxygen enriched atmospheres
- Abstract
- The design of fire detection and suppression equipment requires some knowledge of the fire characteristics for the particular fuels and environments involved. In order to provide these characteristics for hyperbaric chambers, evidence from the most recent fires in British, Japanese, and U. S. chambers was examined and summarized. Items of particular interest are the conditions for ignition, e.g., the fuel, environment, and source of heat, the pattern and mechanism of fire spread; the degree of fuel involvement; the time required to develop a lethal environment; the results of fire suppression and rescue efforts. The evidence suggests a variety of design features and operational procedures which can reduce fire hazards in hypobaric and hyperbaric installations.