Fire-fighting underventilated fires

Working with the fire brigades, and using a small-scale experimental apparatus to define appropriate fire-fighting responses to underventilated fires in sealed or partially sealed compartments. 

Typically, the approach to entering a compartment in a fire situation, for both fire-fighting and rescue purposes, consists of (a) door opening procedure and (b) compartment entry procedure. Door opening is a dangerous process as if there is an underventilated fire in the compartment, allowing fresh air in may result in a violent flare up, or possibly a backdraught. To mitigate this possibility, procedures involving brief door openings and brief applications of water spray are generally used. However, there is little scientific foundation to current fire brigade paractice. This water application technique – called the 'gas cooling technique' – is not always effective. The purpose of this project is therefore to investigate which application methodology and what compartment conditions or characteristics increase or otherwise diminish its efficiency.

Project funded by the Fire Services Research and Training Trust (FSRTT).

Further Information: 

For further info, please contact Dr Carvel.

Picture of firefighters
That's Dr Carvel on the right, at the back.

Principal Investigator: 

Postgraduate Researchers: 

Dr Agustin Majdalani

Research Institutes: 

  • Infrastructure and Environment

Research Themes: 

  • Fire Safety Engineering

Last modified: 

Thursday, May 13, 2021 - 17:54