Modeling the Pyrolysis and Combustion Behaviors of Non-Charring and Intumescent-Protected Polymers Using “FiresCone”

A mathematical model, named FiresCone, was developed to simulate the pyrolysis and combustion processes of different types of combustible materials, which also took into account both gas and solid phases. In the present study, some non-charring and intumescent-protected polymer samples were investigated regarding their combustion behaviors in response to pre-determined external heat fluxes. The modeling results were validated against the experimental outcomes obtained from a cone calorimeter. The predicted mass loss rates of the samples were found to fit reasonably well with the experimental data collected under various levels of external irradiation. Both the experimental and modeling results showed that the peak mass loss rate of the non-charring polymer material occurred near the end of burning, whereas for the intumescent-protected polymer it happed shortly after the start of the experiment. “FiresCone” is expected to act as a practical tool for the investigation of fire behavior of combustible materials. It is also expected to model fire scenarios under complicated conditions

Pyrolysis of tropical hardwood under long-term and low-temperature conditions

Pyrolysis experiments were carried out on Kapur and Nyatoh hardwood species in ovens isothermally at low temperatures 160 °C, 175 °C and 190 °C for extended durations up to 153 days in aerobic condition. Oxygen chemisorption and functionality of chars were analysed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Pyrolysis kinetic models for Nyatoh and Kapur wood under isothermal conditions in air were developed based on weight loss history. Thermal degradation of wood samples in the study followed a first order reaction process after the initial period of fast degradation. The model can be used to estimate the heating period to reach different degrees of degradation under air condition as a function of temperature and to predict the duration to reach the final stage where self ignition is most likely at a particular low temperature. The study has shown that chars created at low temperature for long duration in aerobic condition were susceptible to oxygen chemisorption. Results indicated that they were reactive and prone to self ignition

Grading maintainability parameters for sanitary-plumbing system for high-rise residential buildings

Sanitmy -phunbing system can waste energy and even become a source of fatal contamination tmless designed, constructed or maintaii1ed properly. Human health and convenience are the two critical issues and it is in1portant to identify, analyse and quantify the maintainability parameters of complex sanitary-plumbing systems to meet requirements of today's bigger andbetter buildings. This research was tmdertaken to investigate the common defects in sanitary plumbing system in high rise residential buildings and their causing factors which may be the critical maintainability parameters of sanitary-phunbing systems. From the detailed case studies of five residential buildings ii1 Singapore, a total of 113 defects were identified for ten major components of sanitary-phunbing system. Out of them 56 were graded as significant by 33 experienced facility managers based on frequency of occurrence and their adverse effect on: economy, system performance, enviroruuent and health. Poor maintainability consideration in design stage was apparent from tl1e comprehensive defect analysis. The defect conunonly found in almost all the components was the " inaccessibility" for regular inspection and maintenance

Gradingof risk parameters for façade maintainability

Maximum facade performance with minimum life cycle cost of cleaning. repair. replacement and downtime can be achieved at the 'optimum maintainability' of facade in spite of various Ii sk fac tors. A condition stuvey of 450 tall buildings of Singapore and a detailed assessment of funher 120 of them identified 22 significant risk factors under four major groupings of design. construction. maintenance and environment. These risk factors were quantified and used as inputs for an mtificial nemal network (ANN) model to develop a maintainability scoring system (MSS) as a predictwe indication of vatious design, constmction and maintenance options for both traditional and modern facades

Architectural risk of buildings and occupant safety: an assessment protocol

Architectural risk of buildings relates to the possibility that technical and environmental elements of buildings interiors and outdoor spaces, may create dangerous situations for health and safety of occupants due to their engineering properties and their state of preservation, maintenance and use. Despite dangerous situations arising from architectural features of buildings are mentioned but undervalued in safety regulations, and a limited number of built environment aspects are currently analyzed in standard assessments of health and safety on work, many evidences demonstrate the strong relation between injuries or diseases of occupants and technical and environmental features of life and work environments. From this background, the study presents a Protocol for the Assessment of Architectural Risk (ARAP) for working environment proposed by Laboratory of Applied and Experimental Ergonomics of University of Naples Federico II (LEAS), with the Campania Chapter of INAIL, the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work. Main results of an application of the ARAP Protocol to an office building are also presented