Real Fire Performance of Partition Assemblies.
Real Fire Performance of Partition Assemblies.
(1110 K)
Manzello, S. L.; Gann, R. G.; Kukuck, S. R.; Prasad, K.
R.; Jones, W. W.
Fire and Materials, Vol. 29, No. 6, 351-366,
November/December 2005.
Keywords:
partitions; fire tests; failure; ignition; flashover;
gypsum boards; heat flux; thermocouples; cameras; fire
behavior; experiments; ASTM E 119; temperature;
compartments
Abstract:
A series of real-scale compartment tests was performed
to provide information on the phenomenology of partition
response and failure, to guide model development. Two
partition assemblies of 2.44 m X 2.44 m were exposed to
two intense fires from the time of ignition to beyond
flashover. The assemblies were constructed using type X
gypsum panels. The stud spacing and stud dimensions were
fixed for both assemblies. Heat flux gauges provided
time histories of the energy incident on the partitions,
while thermocouples provided data on the propagation of
heat through the partitions and on the progress toward
perforation. Visual and infrared cameras were used to
image partition behavior during the fire exposure. The
results obtained from these experiments are discussed.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899