Analysis of the open or closed conditions of drum windows effect on visibility and temperature propagation with fire dynamics simulation in domed mosque design

Abstract

This study is focusing on the consequences of different scenarios of 750 kW fire in the Type 6 Mevlâna Mosque with a capacity of 750 people, which is one of the domed mosque projects prepared by Presidency of Religious Affairs. These scenarios include 2 types that are Scenario 1 (i.e. dome drum windows closed) and Scenario 2 (i.e. dome drum windows open). In these scenarios, the available safe egress time (ASET) was found by examining the effects of temperature and visibility on people's safety in the first 500-second period from the beginning of the fire. In this study, the simulation program "PyroSim", which is one of the fire dynamics simulations (FDS) is used. Results of the simulation show that, ASET of the ground floor is 200 seconds when the dome windows are closed, when the windows are open, it is 350 seconds. For the ladies' section, ASET is 120 seconds when the windows are closed, when they are open it is 135 seconds. The dome creates a space for storing the smoke, which is reducing the spread of smoke in the main space and hence raising the available safe egress time (ASET). Opening windows that provide natural ventilation in the dome causes increased available safe egress time by exhausting the smoke in a fire.