Analysis on the Fire Growth Rate Index Considering of Scale Factor, Volume Fraction, and Ignition Heat Source for Polyethylene Foam Pipe Insulation

Jung Wook Park, Ohk Kun Lim and Woo Jun You
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Jung Wook Park: Department of Architecture & Fire Safety, Dong Yang University, Yeongju 36040, Korea
Ohk Kun Lim: R&D Laboratory, Korea Fire Institute, Yongin 17088, Korea
Woo Jun You: Department of Architecture & Fire Safety, Dong Yang University, Yeongju 36040, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: The fire growth rate index ( FIGRA ), which is the ratio of the maximum value of the heat release rate ( Q max ) and the time ( t max ) to reach the maximum heat release rate, is a general method to evaluate a material in the fire-retardant performance in fire technology. The object of this study aims to predict FIGRA of the polyethylene foam pipe insulation in accordance with the scale factor ( S f ), the volume fraction of the pipe insulation ( VF ) and the ignition heat source ( Q ig ). The compartments made of fireboard have been mock-up with 1/3, 1/4, and 1/5 reduced scales of the compartment as specified in ISO 20632. The heat release rate data of the pipe insulation with the variation of S f , VF, and Q ig are measured from 33 experiments to correlate with FIGRA . Based on a critical analysis of the heat transfer phenomenon from previous research literature, the predictions of Q max and t max are presented. It is noticeable that the fire-retardant grade of the polyethylene foam pipe insulation could have Grade B, C, and D in accordance with the test conditions within ±15% deviation of the predicted FIGRA . In case of establishing the database of various types of insulation, the prediction models could apply to evaluate the fire-retardant performance.

Keywords: pipe insulation; fire growth rate index; scale factor; volume fraction; ignition heat source; maximum heat release rate; time to reach maximum HRR (heat release rate) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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