Also, [www.sfpe.org]

In fire modeling, there are direct inputs that are well-established. Other inputs need to be produced through other means. Sometimes fire tests are run to gain such inputs, especially with fire models. "Fire modeling" is somewhat of a misnomer. Generally, fire models are reasonably good at the transport of products of combustion, but are not as good for modeling the fire growth based on fundamental input variables. Usually, the model user inputs the heat or energy release rate of the fire and the model predicts the effects of that energy input. Thus, experimental data for the energy release rate can be generated through fire testing that can then be used as an input ot the model.

In addition, fire test data can be used to "calibrate" a fire model. The modeling of the Station Nightclub fire involved both the generation of data for the specific fire energy release rate and the calibration of the fire growth and spread with time for a more accurate representation of the actual event.

Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com