Enhancement of Fire Safety of an Existing Green Building due to Natural Ventilation

Hong Sheng Huang, Chung Hwei Su, Cheng Bang Li, Ching Yuan Lin and Chun Chou Lin
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Hong Sheng Huang: Department of Architecture, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
Chung Hwei Su: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, No.1, Daxue Rd., Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan
Cheng Bang Li: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, No.1, Daxue Rd., Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan
Ching Yuan Lin: Department of Architecture, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 10607, Taiwan
Chun Chou Lin: Institute of Fire Science, WuFeng University, Chiayi 62153, Taiwan

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-28

Abstract: In recent years, natural ventilation technology is extensively used in order to improve indoor environment quality and reduce power consumption of air-conditioning systems in green buildings. However, the effect of natural ventilation on fires needs to be evaluated carefully, and how to make these energy-saving buildings safe is a topic worth studying. This study uses Fire Dynamics Simulator on some fire safety enhancement measures for an existing green building without installation of a smoke exhaust system. Since the building is located on a school campus, it does not require a smoke exhaust system according to Taiwan fire regulations. Referential results, obtained after a series of improvement strategies are tested, show that kiln natural ventilation can generate a comfortable air flow. Unfortunately, due to the stack effect, hot air and fatal smoke are blown into the evacuation route area behind the room when a fire occurs. The findings showed that there are two feasible improvement measures, “controlling the off state of each air inlet” and “setting up an exhaust port in the rear of room”, which can effectively resolve the fire safety issues; the construction of which can be undertaken at a reasonable cost.

Keywords: fire safety; green building; natural ventilation; stack effect; fire dynamics simulator (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: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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