Heat release rate in fires

Abstract

Abstract In this paper the definition of heat release rate in fires is given in terms of heat of combustion and mass loss rate of the fuel. Various components of the heat of combustion are defined. The dependency of heat of combustion components and mass loss rate on factors such as fire stages, oxygen to fuel ratio, heat flux received by the fuel, chemical composition of the fuel vapors and products are enumerated. Applications of heat release rate data for relative fire hazard of fuels, for various fire conditions, for human escape potential from fires and for the operation of fire‐sensing devices are discussed.