Experimental Study on Early Fire Smoke Characteristics in a High-Volume Space: A Fire Detection Perspective

Abstract

High-volume space structures are characterized by high combustible loads, rapid fire development, difficulty in firefighting, and potential building collapse risks, making early fire detection particularly crucial. The effectiveness of early fire detection technologies relies on their ability to adapt to the characteristics of smoke-dominant combustion products in the protected space. However, there is a lack of targeted research on the characteristics of the smoke generated during the early low-power stages of fires in high-volume spaces, which has not supported the development of early fire detection technologies for such environments. To address this, this paper presents an experimental study that, for the first time, collects data on fire smoke parameters such as temperature, velocity, concentration, and particle size at heights ranging from 6.5 m to 18.5 m using lightweight sensors. The study analyzes the characteristic and correlations of these parameters and their impact on early fire detection in high-volume spaces for the first time, presenting variation patterns in the plume velocity and particle size distribution of early fire smoke with height. It identifies three patterns of particle size distribution, contrasting with previous studies, and offers a qualitative explanation for these findings. This research enhances the understanding of early fire smoke signals in large spaces and offers valuable insights for developing more accurate and efficient fire detection strategies and technologies.