NBSIR 75-903

San Antonio Veterans Administration Hospital Smoke Movement Study

Francis C. W. Fung and Richard H. Zile

Center for Fire Research

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

November 1975

Final Report

Prepared for Veterans Administration

Washington, D. C. 20420

NBSIR 75-903

SAN ANTONIO VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL SMOKE MOVEMENT STUDY

Francis C. W. Fung and Richard H. Zile

Center for Fire Research

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

November 1975

Final Report

Prepared for Veterans Administration

Washington, D. C.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Rogers C.B. Morton, Secretary

James A. Baker, III, Urtder Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director

CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES iv

LIST OF TABLES iv

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 2

3. INSTRUiMENTATION 2

3.1. Flow Rate Measurements 2

3.2. SFg Gas Metering 3

3.3. SFg Analysis 3

3.4. Pressure Measurements 3

4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS - TESTS 1 to 7 3

4.1. Test Conditions of Tests 1 and 2 3

4.2. Results of Tests 1 and 2 4 4.3. Test Conditions of Tests 3 to 7 4

4.4. Results of Test 3 5

4.5. Results of Test 4 5

4.6. Results of Test 5 6

4.7. Results of Tests 6 and 7 6

5. CONCLUSIONS FOR TESTS 1 to 7 7

6. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS - TESTS 8 to 11 8

6.1. Test Conditions of Tests 8 through 11 . . . 8

6.2. Results of Test 8 8

6.3. Results of Test 9 9

6.4. Results of Test 10 10

6.5. Results of Test 11 10

7. CONCLUSIONS FOR TESTS 8 to 11 11

8. REFERENCES 14

iii
LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1. Elevation Sketch, VAH 15

Figure 2. Layout of First Two Floors, VAH 16

Figure 3. Location of the Tower (3-7 Floors), VAH. . 17

Figure 4. Burn-Room Locations, VAH ......... 18

Figure 5. Test 10, Concentration Levels at Sixth

Floor. . . , . , 19

Figure 6. Test 11, Concentration Across C Wing Smoke

Barrier Door 20

' LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. San Antonio VAH Burn Room Configurations . 21

Table 2. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 1. . 22

Table 3. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 2. . 23

Table 4. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 3. . 24

Table 5. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 4. . 25

Table 6. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 5. . 26

Table 7. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 6. . 27

Table 8. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 7. . 28

Table 9. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 8. . 29

Table 10. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 9. . 30

Table 11. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 10 . 31

Table 12. San Antonio VAH Smoke Simulation Test 11 . 32

iv
SAN ANTONIO VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

HOSPITAL SMOKE MOVEMENT STUDY

Francis C. W. Fung and Richard H. Zile

A series of full-scale smoke movement experiments was conducted using a sulfur hexa-f luoride

(SFg) gas tracer, smoke simulation system. The

experiments were designed to study smoke movement

in a hospital building with an interstitial space

between floors. The penetration of smoke through

ceiling and interstitial space and the vertical

smoke movement in such a building were investigated.

Key words: Experiments; full-scale; gas tracer;

interstitial space; penetration through ceiling;

smoke movement; smoke simulation; sulfur hexaf luoride (SFg) ; Veterans Administration hospital.

1. INTRODUCTION

An entensive series of full-scale smoke movement experiments was conducted using a sulfur hexa-f luoride (SF^) gas

tracer, smoke movement simulation system. The experiment was

designed to study systematically the effect of various key

variables on smoke movement in the San Antonio Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital. Air from a "burn-room" was mixed

with a predetermined percentage of SFg tracer gasl and

heated to a temperature of 5 "C (9 "F) above the corridor

temperature. The subsequent spread of tracer gas through

the building was monitored.

The hospital has a total of seven floors above grade as

shown in figure 1, the elevation sketch. Between each numbered floor there is an interstitial space as shown. The

first two floors are divided into six zones labeled A to F as

shown in figure 2. The tower portion of the building extends

from the third to the seventh floor. Its location in relation to the first two levels is shown in figure 3.

SF5 was chosen as a tracer gas because of its electron capture property for detection, as well as being odorless,

colorless and stable.

1
2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

In tests 1 to 7 smoke was simulated by the release of

the SFg tracer gas in a closed room without any forced flow.

In tests 8 to 11 smoke was simulated by a net airflow of

19.6-22.4 m^/min (700-800 ft^/min) from a room designated as

the "burn-room". This pressurized airflow simulated the outflow from a small fire slightly larger than a household fireplace fire. The range of reference concentrations of the SFg

tracer gas^ in the air from the burn-room was from 100-150

parts per billion (ppb) . Altogether, 11 simulations were

tested

Prior to the beginning of each experiment, the simulated

burn-room air was preheated to a temperature of approximately

26.6 °C (80 ^F) by an electric heater with a capacity of 1,650

watts. In tests 1 to 7 no fan was used to pressurize the

burn-room. For tests 8 to 11 a window box-type fan, installed

in the corridor door, was used to force the preheated air from

the burn-room into the corridor. A cardboard mask was installed in the corridor doorway to allow air from the burnroom only to be channeled through the fan. The measured

airflow through the fan was approximately 19.6-22.4 m^/min

(700-800 ft^/min) with an ' average pressure of 1-1.5 N/m^

(0.04-0.06 inch) water pressure across the fan.

At time zero a standard lecture-size bottle of SFg gas

located in back of the fan on the room side was turned on to

deliver a predetermined amount of SFg to be mixed with the

burn-room air supply as it passed through the fan. The infiltration of SFg gas into the rest of the building was then

traced by sampling at designated floors and locations.

Flow rates across the fan were determined from average

velocities. Velocity measurements were performed by using a

thermo-anemometer with a low range of 30-150 m/min (100-500

ft/min) and a high range of 150-360 m/min (500-1,200 ft/min)

Average velocities were obtained by making a traverse of 9

points across the fan.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concentration limits of SFg is 1000 ppm as set forth in the

Federal Register, Vol. 36, No. 137, August 13, 1971.

3. INSTRUMENTATION

3.1. Flow Rate Measurements

2
3.2. SF^ Gas Metering

The continuous release of SF, gas was metered by a balltype flow meter with a range of 1.5 to 15 cc/hr (0.05 to 0.5

ft^/hr. In each test a slight turn of the needle valve unseated the ball to a position registering approximately .3

cc/hr (0.01 ft^/hr) . This range of metering of SFg, diluted

with approximately 22.4 m^/min (800 ftVniin) airflow from the

burn-room, usually leads to a burn-room SFg concentration of

the order of 150 ppb. We have found this concentration of SF^

to be quite acceptable for our experimental requirements since

the gas analyzer can detect a concentration of 1 ppb. This

means that the relative concentration of SF^ in relation to

the burn-room SF^ concentration can be measured to one part

in one hundred. Additional accuracy of the normalized measurements can be obtained by raising the burn-room SFg concentration. However, an increase of burn-room SFg concentration

leads to a corresponding increase of the purge time between

experiments, since the decay of the released SFg in the building is exponential with respect to time.

3.3. SFg Analysis

SFg samples captured by syringes were analyzed by a

portable gas chromatograph having an electron capture cell

fitted with a 300 mc radiation source. The response of the

instrument to SF^ is exponential and the usable range is

between 1 and 1,000 ppb. If dilution of samples was necessary,

the usual syringe technique was used.

3.4. Pressure Measurements

Static pressures were measured by a Magnehelic pressure

gauge of 0.25 to 12.5 N/m^ (0.01 to 0.5 in EM range.

4. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS - TESTS 1 to 7

4.1. Test Conditions of Tests 1 and 2

The objective of these two tests was to evaluate smoke

penetration through a ceiling from the burn-room directly to

the corridor. Thus, in these two tests the door of the

simulated burn-room was closed and the perimeter of the door

was sealed off with duct tape. Inside the simulated burn-room

an electric heater with a capacity of 1,650 watts was used to

raise the room air temperature thus simulating an equivalent

small energy fire.

3
For both tests 1 and 2 the burn-room was Room C153, a

patient bedroom (see fig. 4) . This room was served by a fan

coil unit mounted in the ceiling. A separate air handling

unit supplied conditioned outside air at the return duct

connecting to each fan coil unit. Exhaust from the room was

through a grille located in the connecting toilet room. The

exhaust fan duct work serves multiple toilet rooms. Both'

tests were conducted with fan coil units running, outside

supply air unit running and exhaust fan running. The penthouse fans which exhaust air from first floor interstitial

space over the burn-room were turned off as a normal operation. Table 1 summarizes the burn-room configurations tested.

;r; ' ; : , 4.2. Results of Tests 1 and 2

Results of tests 1 and 2 are shown in tables 2 and 3.

In test 1 up to 12 minutes of test time, not a trace of SFg

was detected in the corridor in front of the burn-room. In

test 2 it was decided to take off three ceiling tiles from the

burn-room ceiling to simulate an opening above the ceiling.

Results of test 2 indicated again, that for up to 10 minutes

SFg did not directly infiltrate the corridor through the burnroom ceiling. SFg was detected in Room C151 (see fig. 4) at

11 minutes. No SFg penetrated the ceiling of Room C155 on

the other side of the burn-room. (Rooms C151 and C155 are

adjacent to the burn-room C153.) Room C151 had a ceiling of

acoustical tiles while Room C155 had a plastered ceiling.

This indicated that SFg did move into the interstitial space

through the opening created by the removal of the three

ceiling tiles and contaminated Room C151 next door. However,

no trace of SF^ was observed in the corridor.

4.3. Test Conditions of Tests 3 to 7

In view of the findings from the previous two tests, that

there was no passage of SFg through the burn-room ceiling to

corridor, the following tests were planned. The objectives of

this series of tests were:

1. To find the extent of involvement of the interstitial

space in smoke movement.

2. To find other paths by which smoke could leave the

burn-room and infiltrate the rest of the building.

For tests 3 through 7, the burn-room was Room C134, a

doctor's examination room (see fig. 4). The room is served

from a central air handling unit which has a fixed amount of

outside air and return air. The room contains one supply and

4
one return grille. The air handling unit serving this room

also serves other rooms as well as adjacent corridors, therefore, any return air picked up from this room or adjacent

spaces is recirculated to all spaces. To test the room, the

supply and return grilles were taped off according to the

schedule shown in table 1, to obtain the desired airflow and

room pressure. In all tests, except test 5, the supply and

return air handling unit was in operation. Therefore, any

smoke which got out of this room could be recirculated through

the system to other areas. Except for tests 6 and 7, the

interstitial space exhaust fans for the interstitial space

over the burn-room were turned off.

4.4. Results of Test 3

In test 3, the burn-room door was sealed off, but both

the supply and return air systems were in normal mode and

grilles were open. The measuring stations for SFg were

interstitial space directly above the burn-room and corridor

space under the exhaust grille opening which interconnects

with the burn-room. At four minutes, a steady SF^ concentration of 2.3% of burn-room concentration was detected in the

corridor. Readings taken in the interstitial space directly

above the burn-room showed a gradual increase of SF, concentration to 11.3% of the burn-room concentration at x5 minutes.

All SF, concentrations measured in ppb are tabulated as normalized percent of burn-room concentration and shown in table

3 .

4.5. Results of Test 4

In test 4, the basic test 3 configuration was changed by

taping off the return air grille in the burn-room. Together

with the taped-off burn-room door condition, this allowed the

supply fan to pressurize the burn-room. Results of this test,

as tabulated in table 5. The measuring stations were again

same as test 3. In this case, we noticed a drastic drop in

contamination in the corridor, and a substantial increase in

contamination in the interstitial space above the burn-room.

This is considered to be due to the pressurized burn-room

forcing the SF, to go through the leaks around the ceiling

tiles. Since the return grille in the burn-room was closed

off the small amount of SFg passage via the exhaust duct could

indicate a small amount of leakage into the exhaust duct in

the interstitial space. At the end of 10 minutes test time, a steady-state appeared to occur at the two measuring stations.

5
4.6. Results of Test 5

In test 5, we continued to explore the paths of smoke

migration from a room. In this test, the variation from test

4 was that we taped off the supply air grille as well as the

return grille. In this case, the measured data indicated that

out in the corridor under the communicating corridor return

grille opening no contamination of the corridor was detected

up to 20 minutes. Contamination of the interstitial space was

again noted. However, comparing tests 4 and 5, one finds that

the movement of smoke into the interstitial space was more

rapid when supply is on and return is taped off (thereby

pressurizing the room) , and more gradual when both supply and

return were taped off. The in-between case is when both

supply and return were normal as in test 3.

4.7. Results of Tests 6 and 7

In tests 6 and 7, the condition of a partially burned-out

ceiling was simulated. It was decided in test 6 to produce a

ceiling opening with a dimension of 0.3 xO. 3m (1x1 ft) in

the burn-room. In test 7, three ceiling tiles, each of dimension 0.45 X 0.'6 m (1.5 x 2 ft), were removed in the burn-room.

This was an attempt to simulate a more severe fire condition.

In addition, in both of these two tests, the supply was on and

the return was taped off to produce the maximum smoke movement

through the ceiling possible with the system. In both tests

the interstitial exhaust fans were turned on. Two measuring

carts were employed for these tests. One was stationary and

one was moving. The stationary cart was located in the corridor in front of the burn-room. Results of test 4, imply that

under the above test conditions contamination of the corridor

may be insignificant. Thus, it was decided to open a ceiling

space 30 x 15 cm (24 x 6 in) right above the stationary instrumentation cart to create an additional passage of connection

with the interstitial space. The mobile instrumentation cart

was moved to the second level above the fire floor and during

the test it was made to traverse the entire second floor.

Tables 7 and 8 tabulate the results with the location of the

second floor sampling points designated by room numbers and

locations

The concentration readings picked up in the corridor were

significantly higher than in the previous tests. This is

attributed to the 30 x 15 cm (24 x 6 in) ceiling opening in

the corridor that was purposely set up for these 2 tests.

The smoke concentration directly above the burn-room at

the second floor passed the 1% level at 14 minutes for test 6

and for test 7 this took place at 10 minutes. Since all

6
variables were the same in the

ing opening in the burn-room i

contributing factor in causing

second floor.

se two tests, the larger ceiln test 7 must be taken as the

faster smoke migration to the

5. CONCLUSIONS FOR TESTS 1 TO 7

The first 7 tests, were suggested by the VA to investigate smoke penetration from a room to a corridor through a ceiling. It is noteworthy to point out that even with the

ceiling open as in tests 6 and 7, it took 10 minutes before

smoke penetrated the next level. This time delay in smoke

travel is attributed to the interstitial space separating the

occupancy levels. Thus, one can conclude that the interstitial space is acting as a smoke sink, particularly if the

interstitial space is m.aintained negative by exnaust fans.

This will become more obvious as we describe our vertical

smoke movement studies.

In tests 1 to 7 , to isolate the ceiling smoke propagation, we taped the door perimeter with duct tape to prevent

leakage through the doorway. We then experimented with different ventilation and ceiling opening parameters. Our first

seven test results can be concluded as follows:

1. Smoke movement from a room with a sealed door is

primarily by leakage through the room's ceiling tiles.

2. Rooms with acoustical tile ceilings permit smoke to

penetrate while plastered ceilings are more effective

barriers against the penetration of smoke (test 2)

3. Smoke that passed into the interstitial space was

diluted and dispersed. Due to the large volume of

the interstitial space, it served as an effective

smoke sink, particularly if the interstitial space

is maintained slightly negative with regards to the

spaces below by exhaust fans in the interstitial

space.

4. By virtue of the buoyance effect and the storage

capacity of the interstitial space, smoke that penetrated through the acoustical tile ceiling did not

return and repenetrate the ceiling to contaminate

the corridor unless the corridor ceiling was opened

up by removing portions of the ceiling tile.

5. For those rooms having a return air connection to the

air handling system, the smoke will be picked up from

the fire room and rapidly recirculated to the corridor

in front of the fire room even though the room door

is closed (see results of test 3).
6. Even though the interstitial space acts as an effective smoke sink, the room directly above the fire

room may become quickly contaminated with smoke

(see results of tests 6 and 7). The mechanism by

which smoke penetrates these upper rooms may be via

improperly caulked holes (fire stopping) around the

plumbing fixtures in these upper rooms. In tests 6

and 1, the exhaust fans for the interstitial space

in operation. Even so, the SFg penetrated the

rooms on the second floor directly over the firstfloor fire room in significant amounts. It is

possible, if the interstial space fans had a higher

capacity, this contamination of the rooms on the

second floor may have reduced or eliminated.

6. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS - TESTS 8 to 11

6.1. Test Conditions of Tests 8 through 11

In tests 8 through 11, the objectives were to simulate

smoke movement vertically and horizontally throughout the

entire hospital. In these cases, we simulated a burn-room

fire and allowed the smoke to leave the burn-room by way of

the ceiling as well as the burn-room doorway. To enhance the

smoke exit from the doorway, we pressurized the doorway by

using a window box-type fan. The doorway was masked throughout except for a cut-out for the fan. This fan generated a

flow of approximately 19.6-22.4 m^/min (700-800 ft^/min) and a

pressure difference of 1-1.5 N/m^ (0.04 to 0.06 in H2O)

Exact flow and pressure values for each test are tabulated in

table 1. The other burn-room test variables are listed also

in table 1. Burn-room location and test results are tabulated

in tables 9 to 12. For these tests, the two mobile units

carrying the SFg detector instruments were moved around to

obtain time-dependent smoke profiles of the building. Monitoring locations for each measured value are tabulated next to

each measurement in tables 9 to 12.

6.2. Results of Test 8

In test 8, the burn-room was located in the first floor

Room C134 (see fig. 4) . The room air control was in normal

mode. The burn-room was heated to 25.6 °C (78 ^F) and the

doorway pressurized to 1 N/m^ (0.04 in) overpressure with

an average outflow of 21.6 m^/min (770 ft^/min) . One instrument cart was located on the first floor and the other was

located on the second floor. During the test measurements on

the fire floor indications were that smoke was mainly confined

to the C wing and E wing (see fig. 2) . Up to 19 minutes the

out-patient area in A wing had no detectable smoke and the

8
smoke concentration in the D wing at 26 minutes was only 1.6%

of burn-room concentration. Due to the locked smoke barrier

doors, conditions inside of C wing right above the first floor

could not be ascertained. Later tests would give us the

chance to evaluate conditions right above the fire floor and

on the vertical smoke movement. But results of this test,'

when compared to tests for other buildings without the interstitial spacing indicated much less horizontal smoke movement

in this case. Actually, except for the area immediately surrounding the burn-room, e.g., the C wing, the second floor was

smoke-free up to 2 9 minutes at which time SFg began to show up

outside of C wing.

6.3. Results of Test 9

In test 9, the burn-room was located on the third floor

in Room B318 (see fig. 4) . The burn-room air handling operation was in normal mode. The air temperature in the burn-room

was raised to 26.7 °C (80 °F) and the burn-room doorway was

pressurized to 1.5 N/m^ (0.06 in) water overpressure with an

outflow of 19.2 m^/min (685 ft^/min) . The objective of this

test was to study the vertica.1 smoke movement in the tower.

One of the instrument carts was stationed on the third floor

and making rounds on that floor for sampling, the other instrument cart was making rounds on the 4th floor and followed

the smoke movement to the 5th, 6th and 7th floors later.

A study of the third floor measurements, where the burnroom was located, indicated that the highest smoke readings

outside of the burn-room were recorded in B300, the floor

dispatch room, and the main elevator shaft. This implies

movement of smoke through those shafts. Interesting enough,

measurements in stairwells 1 and 2 were quite low indicating

little smoke contamination of these two shafts. This phenomenon was confirmed in test 10. It was found in our simulation

experiments that smoke will move in limited streams channeled

by air handling units and pressure differences caused by vertical shafts. In some cases, it is an obvious situation of

smoke taking to the nearest vertical shafts as demonstrated by

this and other tests.

Measurements from the upper floors for test 9 are presented in table 10. Examination of the data shows that a small SFg trace of between 0.2 to 0.3% of burn-room concentration was detected on the fourth floor area up to 27 minutes.

At 28 minutes, the concentration in the intensive care unit

directly above the burn-room was only 0.5%. Through the

entire test the maximum upper level SF^ concentration recorded

was 1.5% inside stairway 1 at 37 minutes. The next highest

reading was 1.4% inside the 6th floor elevator at 55 minutes.

Most other floor area measurements during the entire test of

60 minutes were below the 1% level.

9
6.4. Results of Test 10

Test 10 was, again, conducted with burn-room in Room C318

(see fig. 4). This time a larger airflow of 23.4 m^/min (835

ft^/min) was measured across the burn-room doorway. This

effectively simulated a larger fire compared to test 9. The

burn-room temperature was again raised to 26.7 °C (80 °F)

The measurements for test 10, were concentrated to the fire

floor, the floor immediately above it and the 6th and 7th

floors. A comparison could be made between tests 9 and 10.

Generally, it is interesting to note that the trend of both

tests were very similar indicating reproducibility of the SFg

technique.

Measurements from test 10 exhibit a slightly higher

reading as expected because of the higher burn-room airflow

output. From table 10, it is interesting to note that the SFg

which infiltrated the vertical shafts did not contaminate the

fourth floor at all up to 41 minutes. Instead, the smoke

noved on up through the vertical shafts and showed up at 6th

and 7th floors. Again, as in test 9, all measurements of SFg

on the 6th and 7th floor areas were significantly below 1% of

the burn-room concentration. The only readings that exceeded

1% were measured either inside vertical dispatch shaft or

stairwell and elevators. Figure 5 shows a time history of SFg

concentration at the sixth floor stairwell and A wing nurse

station. The highest stairwell reading at the 6th and 7th

floor levels was 1.4%. A 2.1% SFg concentration was measured

at 7th floor, but that was taken from the vertical floor

dispatcher shaft. All the measurements point to below a 1%

concentration in all surveyed floor areas except the fire

floor. Even in stairwells, all readings were below 1% as in

the neighborhood of 1%. Readings above 1% were recorded in

the elevator shafts or elevator cabs. These low readings are

in contrast to our high-rise smoke simulation experiences

encountered with other buildings [1,3].

3

' 6.5. Results of Test 11

In test 11, the burn-room was on the first floor in Room

C134. The burn-room door was not pressurized by the box fan

as in previous tests. Instead the burn-room door was left

closed to simulate early fire when the door was still intact.

In this case, smoke leakage will be through the door gaps and

ventilation, openings. This represents a less severe situation

compared to tests 8, 9 and 10. The burn-room temperatures

Numbers in brackets refer to the literature references

listed at the end of this paper.

10
were heated up to 2 6.7 °C (80 °F) and the outside temperature

was 15.6 °C (60 T) . The smoke barrier door isolating C wing

was closed after starting test. After commencement of testing

one instrument cart was stationed on the other side of this

smoke barrier door to monitor smoke infiltration from the C

wing. The second instrumentation cart was on the second floor

making rounds including areas right above the burn-room.

Measurements for this test are presented in table 12. On the

first floor penetration of smoke across the C wing barrier

door was almost immediate. A 1.9% of burn-room concentration

was picked up across the smoke barrier door at 3 minutes, at

10 minutes this concentration rose to 23.9%. This buildup of

SFg concentration across C wing smoke barrier door is presented in figure 6. Elsewhere on the first floor smoke

showed up in the E wing and E wing elevator. This was probably due to the recirculation of the smoke by the air handling

system as opposed to passage of the smoke through the smoke

barrier doors. Away from the fire area, e.g., the F wing and

the outpatient area no contamination was recorded (fig. 2).

Measurements in the interstitial space above the 1st floor

indicated significant contamination. At 64 minutes, interstitial reading of 27.3% was recorded immediately above the burnroom and 12.9% above the C wing away from the burn-room.

Despite this intensity of SF^ in the interstitial space,

contamination of the second floor was minimal as shown by

values in table 12. At 40 minutes, the second floor maximum

SFg concentration was only 1.3%. This was taken in the room

directly above the burn-room. This seems to confirm again,

that the interstitial space did indeed serve as a smoke sink.

7. CONCLUSIONS FOR TESTS 8 to 11

In order to review the results of tests 8 to 10, it is

appropriate to discuss our smoke simulation parameters in

terms of actual fire parameters, e.g., energy output, gas

outflow from a room fire and overpressure buildup by a room

fire. For this discussion we shall make extensive use of the

formulas derived in [1] . For a detailed derivation of these

formulas one can refer to section 2, reference [1].

To recapitulate, for tests 8 to 10, our smoke simulation

parameters were 19.6-22.4 m^/min (700-800 ft^/min) outflow

from the burn-room, 1,6 50 watts energy input due to the

electric heater, and an average overpressure of 1 N/m^ (0.04

in) water pressure across a 0. 6x0. 6m (2x2 ft) fan. For

a ventilation controlled fire in a room, our 19.6 m^/min

(700 ft^/min) outflow according to formula (10b) in [2]

yields a simulated burning rate of 3.6 kg/min (8 Ib/min) for

a low temperature fire. However, for a high temperature fire.

11
say a burn-room with average temperature 500 °F , our 19.6

m^/min (700 ft^/min) will then simulate a burning rate of

1.8 kg/min (4 Ib/min) . According to formula 12 in [1] the

simulated parameter of 1 N/m^ (0.04 in) water pressure across

a0.6x0.6m (2x2 ft) opening can readily match the pressure of a room fire with a burning rate of 1.35 kg/min (3

Ib/min)

In a series of ventilation controlled burn-room experiments involving four 18-kg (40 lb) wood cribs conducted at the

National Bureau of Standards [2] , typical recorded burning

rates were 1.35 kg/min (3 Ib/min) maximum and 0.9 kg/min (2

Ib/min) steady for each vigorously burning crib. Thus, our

simulated airflow and overpressure can match 18-kg (40-lb)

vigorously burning wood cribs, burning at about 1.35 kg/min

(3 Ib/min) . This leaves the last important simulation parameter, energy output, remaining in question. Taking all into

consideration the only feasible way to increase our simulated

fire load would be to increase our energy input. Without

actually starting a fire the practical limitation would, of

course, in this case be the limited current capacity of

conventional hospital wiring. Incidentally a 1,650-watt

electric heater consumes approximately 15 ampere which is a

hefty current in available hospital room wiring. As a result

of the present series of experiments, within the range of our

simulation parameters, we can make the following conclusions:

1. This series of smoke simulation experiments demonstrated that given a low-order fire in a room where

the air from the room is exhausted to the outside

and not recirculated, the smoke from the fire will

be confined to the room and the interstitial space

' above the room (see tests 1 and 2 in Room C153)

Where the room's air is returned and recirculated

,

. through the air handling system, the smoke from the

fire in the room will be recirculated to all parts

of the building served by the air handling system

- unless some means are used to isolate the burn-room

from the air handling system at the onset of the

fire (see tests 8 and 11 for Room C134)

2. Both vertical and horizontal smoke infiltration were

not extensive at this hospital compared to similar

simulation experiments performed at other high-rise

buildings (with the exception of the comments above

in 1. relating to the air handling system). However,

the tests reported herein were conducted under moderate weather conditions. As a consequence, there

was negligible stack effect within the building.

12
3. Results from experiments 9 and 10 point to the interstitial space as the single factor in smoke infiltration reduction by serving as a smoke absorbing

void or "smoke sink."

4. Test 11 shows that smoke barrier doors may not be

effective if an air handling system serves areas on

both sides of the smoke barrier though it could not

be determined how much of the contamination was due

to smoke passing through the smoke barrier doors.

This points up the necessity of matching the position of smoke barrier partitions and doors with the

area covered by the air handling system using recirculated air; or to put it another way, all penetrations through smoke partitions must be protected

against the passage of smoke.

5. From the information provided to us, it appears

that it is not possible to program the recirculating

air handling systems in the VA Hospital, San Antonio,

to accomplish area pressurization or exhaust to control the movement of smoke in the hospital. Thus,

it would appear that if extensive smoke movement

throughout the hospital is to be avoided under fire

conditions, something will have to be done to effect

shutdown of the recirculating air handling systems

in the fire area, either manually or automatically,

at the time of the fire emergency. Additionally,

the provision of smoke-actuated dampers in these

ducts penetrating the smoke barrier partitions may

be necessary.

6. It is our understanding that of the seven interstitial spaces in the hospital, only the space over

the first floor is provided with positive exhaust.

While the interstitial spaces do function as "smoke

sinks," their effectiveness could be greatly enhanced

if all the interstitial spaces had positive exhaust.

Further, their effectiveness could be enhanced even

more if the interstitial spaces were provided with

large capacity exhaust fans that could be actuated

either manually or automatically in the event of

fire.

13
8. REFERENCES

1. Fung, F. C. W. , Evaluation of a Pressurized Stairwell

Smoke Control System for a 12-Story Apartment Building,

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), NBSIR 73-277 (June 1973)

2. Fung, F. C. W. , Suchomel, R. M. and Oglesby, P. L. , NBS

Corridor Fire Tests: Energy and Radiation Models,

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 794 (Oct. 1973)

3. Fung. F. C. W. and Zile, R. , Evaluation of Smokeproof Tower

and Smoke Detector Performance, Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.),

NBSIR 75-701, Final Report (Sept. 1975).

USCOMM-NBS-DC

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32
NBS-1 1 4A (REV. 7-73)

U .S. DEPT. Of" COMM.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR RI-PORT NO.

NBSIR 75-903

2. Gov't Accession

N,-). [3. Recipient's Accession No,

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

San Antonio Veterans Administration

Hospital Smoke Movement Study

5. Publication Date November 1975

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AL"THOR(S)

Francis C. W. Fung and Richard H. Zile

8. Performing Organ. Report No. 75-903

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 4928483

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Veterans Administration

Washington, D.C. 20420

13. Type of Report & Period

Covered

Final Report

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLE.MENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

A series of full-scale smoke movement experiments was

conducted using a sulfur hexa-f luoride (SF^) gas tracer,

smoke simulation system. The experiments were designed to

study smoke movement in a hospital building with an interstitial space between floors. The penetration of smoke through

ceiling and interstitial space and the vertical smoke movement

in such a building were investigated.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons) Experiments; full-scale; gas tracer; interstitial

space; penetration through ceiling; smoke movement; smoke simulation;

sulfur hexa-f luoride (SF, Veterans Administration hospital.

18. AVAILABILITY [^Unlimited

i For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. C13

XXOrder From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCL ASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

34

22. Price

$ 3.75

USCOMM-DC 29042-P74
w I.-

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