FireDOC Search

Author
Beyler, C. L.
Title
Technical Review of the Furniture Fire Model Version 3.
Coporate
Hughes Associates, Inc., Columbia, MD
Sponsor
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Report
NIST GCR 92-618
October 1992
23 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Contract
NIST-GRANT-43NANB114423
Keywords
computer models | fire models | fire research | furniture | mathematical models
Abstract
This paper reviews the furniture fire model and the documentation of the model in terms of its adequacy, accuracy, generality, and validity. Individual elements of the model are assessed as well as overall modeling approach. Serious deficiencies in the model are identified which make it of little value in its present form. Many of the submodels used have not been validated by comparison with literature data, and these submodels differ substantially from well accepted methods in the literature. This brings into question the correctness of the model and its relation to the state-of-the-art. The model has a large numberof inputs which are not determined by definite procedures. The documentaiton of the model is highly fragmented and incomplete. These attributes seriously compromise the validty and usefulness of the model. Extensive work would be required to make the model useful in hazard evaluations. These include extensive validation of submodels, evaluations of the adequacy of the overall program including experimental and numerical experimentation, and definition of methods for developing the inputs required.