Assessment of the influence of combustible acoustic finishing on the dynamics of fire hazards in a hall with a large number of people by the method of integral modelling

Introduction. Fires in halls with a large number of people are characterized by the rapid spread of dangerous factors, which critically limits the time to save people. A particular threat is the use of combustible acoustic trim, which significantly accelerates the development of a fire.

Aims and objectives. The aim of the study is to quantify the effect of combustible acoustic panels on the dynamics of changes in the average volume temperature, range of visibility and concentration of carbon monoxide compared with non-combustible analogues (NA group) in a room with a volume of 6,000 m3. The objectives of the study are: the construction of calculated fire scenarios for a hall with a volume of 6,000 m3 with combustible and non-combustible acoustic finishes, numerical modelling of changes in the average volume temperature, visibility and concentration of carbon monoxide using a single-zone integral model, as well as determining the time to reach critical values of fire hazards.

Methods. The mathematical model of pyrolysis is formulated in a single-zone formulation based on the equations of energy and material balance, which relate the total heat output of a fire and the mass rate of burnout of finishing materials with the evolution of the average volume temperature, smoke and carbon monoxide concentration.

Results and discussion. Based on a system of differential equations of energy and material balance, a numerical experiment was conducted for a 600 kW hearth. It was found that in the presence of combustible elements, the critical values of temperature (70 °C), visibility (5 m), and carbon monoxide (0.116 %) are reached at 528, 665, and 681 seconds, respectively. In the scenario using NA group materials, the smoke and toxicity thresholds are not exceeded during the estimated interval of 1,200 seconds, and the critical temperature rise occurs with a significant delay (at the 862nd second).

Conclusion. The use of combustible materials leads to the blocking of escape routes in the range of 9 to 12 minutes, which is unacceptable for facilities with a mass presence of people. The necessity of strict limitation of the use of combustible acoustic panels is substantiated and the effectiveness of the use of single-zone forecasting for the early design stage is confirmed.

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