Defining Characteristic Times in Forced Ventilation Enclosure Fires

Several characteristic times are identified for describing force-ventilated enclosure fires. Using the initial properties of an enclosure and a prescribed fire heat release rate, a set of appropriate times for hazard evaluation can be calculated. Three times, characteristic of the histories of the mass of gas in the room, the energy in the room, and the response of the enclosure walls, are proposed, defined, and tested. These parameters are independent indicators of quasi-steady conditions in force-ventilated enclosure fires.