A research project was undertaken to investigate whether the lifts can be used as an alternate em... more A research project was undertaken to investigate whether the lifts can be used as an alternate emergency evacuation route in apartment buildings. The important parameters in relation to the issues were divided into three categories: human behavioural response, fire hazards and lift operational mechanism. The parameters relating to human behavioural response were modelled and analysed as a stochastic process. The parameters relating to fire hazards were analysed using the concept of fire safety index while the parameters relating to operational mechanism were analysed using probabilistic models. An integrated approach of risk assessment was developed based on the Multi-Objectives Decision Analysis method. The results for lift and stair systems were compared and the feasibility of using lifts with design modifications was analysed. The outcome of the research has shown that lifts as an alternate evacuation facility with enhanced level of safety have potential to improve evacuation efficiency, particularly for aged and disabled persons. Partial evacuation using lifts with a protected lobby is possible. The risk involved in total evacuation using lifts with double protection is comparable with stair-alone evacuation.
Increasing fire accidents in buildings and structures are of major concern these days. The extens... more Increasing fire accidents in buildings and structures are of major concern these days. The extensive use of concrete in buildings as a structural material has led us to study the effect of fire on concrete. Concrete is proven to have a high degree of fire resistance. It is non-combustible and has a high thermal emissivity and low conductivity which significantly slows down the penetration of heat through concrete elements. In most fires, the outer layer of concrete with a thickness of 3-5 cm is damaged. Therefore, many concrete buildings that experienced fire can be simply restored and reused. However concrete remains a complex material, made up of several constituents which show different behaviour when exposed to fire. Several physico-chemical transformations take place in concrete resulting in a decrease of strength and stiffness. Therefore, the fire resistance of concrete structures should not be taken for granted. This can be done by studying the behaviour of different structur...
Fire retardant intumescent coatings based on phosphates, amides, polyols, amino and acrylic binde... more Fire retardant intumescent coatings based on phosphates, amides, polyols, amino and acrylic binders but free from asbestos and halogenated compounds, have been developed for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulated power cables. The fire performance of the coatings has been assessed by employing different procedures as per relevant national and international standards. The cable specimens, with these coatings, did not show any surface spread of flame on exposure to fire. However, the coating swelled to form a spongy, cellular insulating foam, which acted as an effective barrier against the conduction of heat to the surface and to the core of the cable specimen. The coatings were found to be quite effective in reducing the burning behavior of power cables. Significant improvement in circuit failure time is noted in coated cable specimens.
A research project was undertaken to investigate whether the lifts can be used as an alternate em... more A research project was undertaken to investigate whether the lifts can be used as an alternate emergency evacuation route in apartment buildings. The important parameters in relation to the issues were divided into three categories: human behavioural response, fire hazards and lift operational mechanism. The parameters relating to human behavioural response were modelled and analysed as a stochastic process. The parameters relating to fire hazards were analysed using the concept of fire safety index while the parameters relating to operational mechanism were analysed using probabilistic models. An integrated approach of risk assessment was developed based on the Multi-Objectives Decision Analysis method. The results for lift and stair systems were compared and the feasibility of using lifts with design modifications was analysed. The outcome of the research has shown that lifts as an alternate evacuation facility with enhanced level of safety have potential to improve evacuation efficiency, particularly for aged and disabled persons. Partial evacuation using lifts with a protected lobby is possible. The risk involved in total evacuation using lifts with double protection is comparable with stair-alone evacuation.
Increasing fire accidents in buildings and structures are of major concern these days. The extens... more Increasing fire accidents in buildings and structures are of major concern these days. The extensive use of concrete in buildings as a structural material has led us to study the effect of fire on concrete. Concrete is proven to have a high degree of fire resistance. It is non-combustible and has a high thermal emissivity and low conductivity which significantly slows down the penetration of heat through concrete elements. In most fires, the outer layer of concrete with a thickness of 3-5 cm is damaged. Therefore, many concrete buildings that experienced fire can be simply restored and reused. However concrete remains a complex material, made up of several constituents which show different behaviour when exposed to fire. Several physico-chemical transformations take place in concrete resulting in a decrease of strength and stiffness. Therefore, the fire resistance of concrete structures should not be taken for granted. This can be done by studying the behaviour of different structur...
Fire retardant intumescent coatings based on phosphates, amides, polyols, amino and acrylic binde... more Fire retardant intumescent coatings based on phosphates, amides, polyols, amino and acrylic binders but free from asbestos and halogenated compounds, have been developed for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulated power cables. The fire performance of the coatings has been assessed by employing different procedures as per relevant national and international standards. The cable specimens, with these coatings, did not show any surface spread of flame on exposure to fire. However, the coating swelled to form a spongy, cellular insulating foam, which acted as an effective barrier against the conduction of heat to the surface and to the core of the cable specimen. The coatings were found to be quite effective in reducing the burning behavior of power cables. Significant improvement in circuit failure time is noted in coated cable specimens.
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