Fire Performance of Partition Assemblies

INTERFLAM 2004 FIRE PERFORMANCE OF PARTITION *ASSEMBLIES †Samuel L. Manzello , Richard G. Gann, Scott R. Kukuck, Kuldeep Prasad, and Walter W. Jones Building and Fire Research Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8662 USA ABSTRACT A series of real-scale compartment tests were performed to provide information on the phenomenology of partition response, and failure, to guide model development. Two wall assemblies of 2.44 m x 2.44 m were exposed to two intense fires from the time of ignition to beyond flashover. The assemblies were constructed using type X gypsum panels. The stud spacing and stud dimensions were fixed for both assemblies. Heat flux gauges provided time histories of the energy incident on the walls, while thermocouples provided data on the propagation of heat through the walls and on the progress toward perforation. Visual and infrared cameras were used to image partition behavior during the fire exposure. Results obtained from these experiments is presented and discussed. INTRODUCTION For nearly a century, the cornerstone of fire safety in buildings has been the ability to confine a fire for a time sufficient to allow successful evacuation of the occupants. To effect this, the partitions in a building (walls, floors, ceilings) are rated based on their resistance to the passage of heat and smoke. In the U.S., the standard test method for determining these 1ratings is ...