Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

The way fire spreads and the principles of structural fire protection are outlined. The necessity for having fire stops in ventilating systems and in suspended ceilings is shown. The furnace test for building elements specified in B.S. 476: Part 1: "Fire tests on building materials and structures" is described. Fires in flammable liquids, which are different from more conventional building fires and from the furnace test, are discussed. Flame temperatures and the sizes of flames from pools of liquid are described. The rates of heating for structures and storage vessels which may be surrounded by fire or heated by radiation from flames in a nearby bund are given. Methods of estimating the amount of protective material to insulate structures and vessels are provided. This protection is compared with the amount needed in the standard furnace test.