Experimental and computational studies of compartment fire behavior training scenarios

Because of the substantial risk to fire fighter safety in fighting compartment fires, the New South Wales Fire Brigade (NSWFB) in Australia has implemented Compartment Fire Behavior Training (CFBT). The CFBT scheme equips fire fighters with the knowledge and experience required to effectively, efficiently and safely deal with this type of fire, via the use of a demonstration cell (in this case a shipping container) within which the fire fighter can experience, observe and deal with real flashover situations. A crib fire is used as the fuel source with the addition of several particle boards lining the closed end of the demonstration cell. In the current study, the CFBT demonstration cell has been studied both experimentally and computationally while the cell undergoes a variety of different conditions including fuel load and ventilation changes. This data will provide useful additional information in further assisting NSWFB fire fighters in their understanding of fire growth and smoke movement and by allowing them to extrapolate their experiences of handling other possible fires they may face in compartments.