Effects of Time to Unactuate Air Conditioning on Fire Growth

Teng-Yi Wang and Kuang-Chung Tsai
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Teng-Yi Wang: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan
Kuang-Chung Tsai: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Air conditioning systems have become essential equipment in many buildings. However, fire safety design and management in buildings rarely consider whether to turn the system off or keep it on in a fire. This study ignites a stack of wood in a room center or corner to explore the influence of air inlet actions of a fan coil unit (FCU) with the door opened or closed. Simulation results using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) demonstrate that the heat release rate (HRR) and room temperature obviously decrease when the room doorway is closed, regardless of whether the air conditioner is turned on. The air supply for combustion is poor. When the door of the room is opened, turning off the air conditioner can effectively reduce the HRR and the room temperature in the early stages of fire growth. However, along with the fire growth, turning on air conditioning can help decrease the heat radiation feedback and the consequent HRR. Therefore, the conclusion that air conditioning always enhances a fire because it provides oxygen may not always be correct.

Keywords: fan coil unit (FCU); air conditioning; ventilation; FDS; flashover; ceiling jet; compartment fire; fire growth (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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