On the temperature prediction in a fire escape passage

Fire safety engineering requires a detailed understanding of fire behaviour and of its effects on structures and people. Many factors may condition the fire scenario, as for example, heat transfer between the flame and the boundary structures. Currently advanced numerical codes for the prediction of the fire behaviour are available. However, these solutions often require heavy calculations and long times. In this context analytical solutions can be useful for a fast analysis of simplified schematizations. After that, it is more effective the final utilization of the advanced fire codes. In this contribution, the temperature in a fire escape passage, separated with a thermally resistant wall from a fire room, is analysed. The escape space is included in a building where the neighbouring rooms are at a constant undisturbed temperature. The presence of the neighbouring rooms is considered with an equivalent heat transfer coefficient, in a boundary condition of the third type. An analytical solution is used to predict the temperature distribution during the fire. It allows to obtain useful information on the temperature reached in the escape area in contact with a burning room; it is useful also for a fast choice of the thermal characteristics of a firewall.