A review of modelling and simulation methods for flashover prediction in confined space fires

Abstract

Confined space fires are common emergencies in our society. Enclosure size, ventilation, or type and quantity of fuel involved are factors that determine the fire evolution in these situations. In some cases, favourable conditions may give rise to a flashover phenomenon. However, the difficulty of handling this complicated emergency through fire services can have fatal consequences for their staff. Therefore, there is a huge demand for new methods and technologies to tackle this life-threatening emergency. Modelling and simulation techniques have been adopted to conduct research due to the complexity of obtaining a real cases database related to this phenomenon. In this paper, a review of the literature related to the modelling and simulation of enclosure fires with respect to the flashover phenomenon is carried out. Furthermore, the related literature for comparing images from thermal cameras with computed images is reviewed. Finally, the suitability of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for flashover prediction in enclosed spaces is also surveyed.