Analysis and Modeling of Results of Standard Façade Fire Propagation Tests

Abstract

Full-scale façade fire spread experiments, due to their limited reproducibility and high resource demand, are not suitable for the detailed analysis of leap-frog fire spread phenomena, while calibrated numerical modeling offers an effective alternative to overcome these limitations. Based on tests conducted according to MSZ 14800-6:2009 and 2020, a characteristic façade flame plume was identified, which can be consistently observed between the 15th and 45th minutes of the experiments; the FDS plume model developed on this basis enables a more precise investigation of the phenomenon. Both experimental and numerical results indicate that the characteristic plume reattaches only at the lintel of the upper opening and, in the absence of external influencing factors, is unlikely to result in fire spread into the upper opening.