- Author
-
Hume, B.
- Title
- Firefighting in Under-Ventilated Compartments: Literature Review.
- Coporate
- Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, London, England
- Report
-
04LGFG02767(5),
December 2004,
56 p.
- Keywords
-
fire fighting
|
fire fighters
|
compartments
|
compartment fires
|
ventilation
|
literature reviews
|
backdraft
|
fire fighting training
|
building codes
|
standards
|
fire safety
|
fire statistics
|
backdraft
|
smoke
|
basements
|
smoke filling
|
fire departments
|
flashover
|
regulations
- Identifiers
- Positive Pressure Ventilation (PVV); guidance for fire fighters; FIRENET: Under-ventilated compartment fires; fire incidents where a backdraught or similar event has been reported; review of smoke ventilation of basements; analysis of FDR1 data; Fire Experimental Unit (FEU): backdraught simulator
- Abstract
- Firefighting, search and rescue in under-ventilated compartments involves additional risks due to the possibility of rapid fire development as firefighters enter the compartment. This rapid fire development may come in the form of a backdraught, flashover or related phenomena. The aim of the project was to review the relationship between operational firefighting practices and procedures and fire safety provisions within under-ventilated compartments, in order that guidance can be provided on these issues. The project included a literature review of previous research, guidance and building regulations, an analysis of FDR1 statistics and a review of reported fire incidents involving backdraught. Initially it was intended to include computer modelling and experimental work on backdraught but these plans were abandoned when it was realised that a project in this area called 'FIRENET' was already underway, led by Kingston University. This project was part of the work program of the Building Disaster Assessment Group (BDAG). The group was established to consider the issues, for fire authorities and their fire brigades in the UK, that have been highlighted by the World Trade Centre incident of 11th September 2001.