Meta-analysis of compartment fires: Exploring extensive experimental datasets with heat release rate in focus

Abstract

This study reviews and analyzes 112 compartment fire tests to provide insights into fire behavior in realistic scenarios. The complex nature of compartment fire dynamics is emphasized by the significant variability in the collected data, which currently poses challenges for the development of engineering tools based on physical models. The results indicate that fuel load density alone does not fully account for fire hazard due to the impact of other factors on the maximum heat release rate (HRR) while higher compartment shape factor, defined as the ratio of total area (A_T) to floor area (A_F), result in reduced HRR due to greater heat loss and ventilation limitations. In the fire’s growth phase, effective removal of hot gases through openings can slow fire growth by reducing thermal feedback. In addition, increased fuel load density and furniture fuels, containing high calorific materials, shortens the time required to reach maximum HRR and prolongs post-flashover duration; reduced opening factors delay peak HRR time and extend post-flashover durations. It can be concluded that effective fire safety design necessitates considering the interconnection of all parameters for accurate predictive modeling.