Fire Behavior in a Hermetic Pressurization Building for Reducing the Effects of High Altitude: A Case Study

Hermetic pressurized buildings have been developed to reduce the effects of high altitude. The behavior and effect of fire in this new type of building have not been studied before. Unlike common buildings, the inside pressure in this new type of building is maintained at around standard atmospheric pressure, which is significantly higher than the outside environment pressure in high altitude regions. In addition, at the early stage of a fire, the oxygen required to maintain combustion in the sealed building is supplied by mechanical vents (if in operation) instead of opening windows or doors as in common buildings. This paper presents a case study on the behavior of fire in a sealed pressurized hotel building located in Tibet. Fire dynamics simulator (FDS) is used to study fire behavior under different design fire scenarios. Available evacuation time under different fire scenarios are obtained by analyzing oxygen concentration, gas content, temperature, visibility and other indicators. Based on this, a fire protection design scheme is suggested.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the behavior and effects of fire in hermetic pressurized buildings. Unlike common buildings, the internal pressure in these buildings is maintained at standard atmospheric pressure, which is higher than the outside environment pressure in high altitude regions. Mechanical vents are used to supply the oxygen required for combustion in the sealed building during the early stage of a fire. A case study of a sealed pressurized hotel building in Tibet is conducted using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to study fire behavior under different design fire scenarios. The study provides information on evacuation time and suggests a fire protection design scheme based on analysis of oxygen concentration, gas content, temperature, visibility, and other indicators.