This paper presents the results of a survey of floor areas and combustible contents in multi-family dwellings such as semi-detached houses, town houses and low-rise apartments. The survey was primarily based on measurements and photographic information obtained from real-estate websites. This is a novel method, which reduces the effort required to conduct fire load surveys in residential buildings. In addition to quantifying combustible contents, an important objective of the survey was to determine the similarities in combustible contents and configurations of these dwellings, which could be used in designing fire experiments. The survey provided an insight into the types and quantity of combustible contents found in the dwellings, as well as the types of floor configurations and other information that are pertinent to fire issues. Typical furnishings that constituted a significant portion of the movable fire load were identified and possible values of fire load densities were calculated for rooms such as: kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms. The average fire load densities in various rooms were estimated to be: kitchens-807 MJ/m 2 ; dining rooms-393 MJ/m 2 ; living rooms-412 MJ/m 2 ; basement living rooms-288 MJ/m 2 ; primary bedrooms-534 MJ/m 2 ; and, secondary bedrooms-594 MJ/m 2 . Although kitchens had the highest fire load densities the actual fire load (heat content) was found to be lower than bedrooms, which have a higher fire load due to the presence of mattresses, clothing and carpeting.

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Two series of experiments were conducted to determine the burning characteristics of different fuel packages, in both pre- and post-flashover fires, to develop data to characterize design fires for commercial premises. These fuel packages represented fuel loads determined from the survey of commercial buildings. Results suggest substantial differences in the burning characteristics of different stores. In this article, the description of the recommended design fires includes: (1) types of combustibles, (2) fire load density (MJ/m 2), (3) fire growth rate, and (4) yields of CO and CO2.

In 1992, Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) and the National Research Council Canada (NRCC) initiated a joint research project on upward flame spread in which NRCC set-up and conducted upward flame spread tests using a large-scale radiant panel facility. The test procedure, developed as part of the joint research project, is described and the results obtained using plywood specimens are discussed. The University of Kentucky team was invited to join this project and to provide their expertise on automated infrared temperature measurements. The identical materials were also tested using a bench-scale fire test apparatus to provide input for the FMRC upward Flame Spread and Growth (FSG) model. An overview of the FSG model and the small-scale tests is provided in this paper. Simulations for both the small-scale and full-scale tests with plywood specimens are provided and comparisons made with the experimental results.

Fire detection systems play a crucial role in ensuring safe evacuation and firefighting operations in road tunnels, but information on the performance of these systems in tunnels has been limited and guidelines for their application in tunnel environments are not fully developed. Recently, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Fire Protection Research Foundation completed a 2-year international research project, with the support of private-and public-sector organizations, to determine some of the strengths and weaknesses of the various types of fire detection systems and the factors that can affect their performance in tunnel environments. The project included both laboratory and field fire tests combined with computer modeling studies. Although this research was conducted on road tunnels, the findings should apply to other tunnels, such as those used in subway systems. As part of the project, the NRC conducted two series of tests in the Carleton University-NRC tunnel facility to investigate the performance of detection systems under minimal and longitudinal airflow conditions. In addition, NRC conducted tests in the Carre´-Viger Tunnel in Montre´al, as well as a computer modeling study. The project studied nine fire detection systems that covered five types of currently available technologies. The performance of the detection systems, including response times and ability to locate and monitor a fire in the tunnel and the effect of the tunnel environment, were evaluated under the same conditions. This article provides an overview of the findings of the project. Fire detectors, fire scenarios and test protocols used in the test program are described. A summary of the research results of the full-scale fire tests conducted in a laboratory tunnel facility and in an operating road tunnel as well as of the computer modeling activities is reported.