31. Closing data gaps and paving the way for pan-European fire safety efforts : Part IMartina Manes, Mohamad El Houssami, Richard Campbell, Ana Sauca, David Rush, Anja Hofmann, Petra Andersson, Peter Wagner, Sergei Sokolov, Johanna Veeneklaas, Margrethe Kobes, Dirk Oberhagemann, Nicola Rupp, Grunde Jomaas, Friedrich Grone, Patrick van Hees, Eric Guillaume, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The analysis of the current state of fire statistics and data collection in Europe and other countries is needed to increase awareness of how fire incidents affect buildings and to support pan-European fire prevention and fire mitigation mea- sures. The terminology and data collected regarding fire incidents in buildings in the EU Member States were mapped to obtain meaningful datasets to determine common terminology, collection methodology, and data interpretation system. An extensive literature review showed that fire data collection systems have been instrumental in informing firefighting strategies, evidence-based planning, prevention, and educational programmes. Differences and similarities between fire data collection systems were also investigated. The amount and quality of the information in fire statistical recording systems appear to be influenced by the complexity and structure with which the data are collected. The analysis also examined the existing fire statistics in the EU Member States and a few other countries. Finally, a detailed investigation of the number of fires, fire deaths, and injuries from 2009 to 2018 in several countries was examined based on data from a report by CTIF. The trends showed differences attributable to the existing fire statistical practices in terms of terminology and data collection, and interpretation. Part II proposes a common terminology for selected fire statistical variables. The results provide relevant information regarding fire safety at the European level and should be used to guide the development of more uniform fire statistics across Europe.
Keywords: fire statistics, fire incidents, fire statistical variable, terminology, data collection, data interpretation
Published in DiRROS: 13.11.2023; Views: 473; Downloads: 141
 Link to file |
32. Flame spread behaviour of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes in 1 g and µg environmentsWilson Ulises Rojas Alva, Frederik Møller-Poulsen, Sze Lok Man, Cameron Creamer, David Hanna, Grunde Jomaas, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Diffusion flame behaviour and silica ash (SiO2) production were experimentally studied for various Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane thicknesses (0.125 mm to 1.0 mm) in normal gravity and during microgravity flight experiments. The flames were established on vertical samples (300 mm in length) and subjected to either opposed or concurrent forced flows (both laminar and turbulent), assimilating the NASA Test 1 that is in use for spacecraft material selection. The opposed flame spread rate was observed to be steady and could be estimated using classical theory. Under concurrent flow, the flame spread rate was only steady for very high forced flows. The opposed flame-spread rate ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 mm/s, while the concurrent case ranged between 0.1 and 12 mm/s. The transport of silica ash (SiO2) was found to affect the heat balance of the concurrent flame spread in a manner that resulted in unsteady flame spread. For opposed flame spread, on the other hand, the transport of silica ash showed to be irrelevant. The extinction behaviour for the concurrent flame spread was heavily dominated by the transport of silica-ash, while for opposed flames, extinction was due to kinetics (at high forced flows). In microgravity environments, the transport and deposition of silica ash is anticipated to dominate flame spread and near-limit as well. These results suggest that silica-based products might be less flammable in microgravity than other similar materials such as common thermoplastics (PP or PE) used as wire jackets.
Keywords: silicone burning, spacecraft fire safety, flame spread, near-limit, silica-ash
Published in DiRROS: 13.11.2023; Views: 411; Downloads: 121
 Full text (1,61 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
33. |
34. Cost-benefit analysis in fire safety engineering : state-of-the-art and reference methodologyRuben Van Coile, Andrea Lucherini, Ranjit Kumar Chaudhary, Shuna Ni, David Unobe, Thomas Gernay, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Cost-effectiveness is a key consideration within fire safety engineering. Currently, different approaches are being applied in literature. These approaches differ in how cost-effectiveness is evaluated, which costs are considered, and how the preferred design solution is defined. Recognizing this issue, the Fire Protection Research Foundation enrolled an international team of researchers, supported by a broad stakeholder panel, to develop a reference methodology. In this paper, this reference methodology for cost-benefit analysis in fire safety engineering is presented following an extensive literature review. The methodology clarifies the minimum requirements for assessing cost-effectiveness, and highlights that only a present net value evaluation can be used to compare design alternatives. Commonly used cost-benefit ratios should only be used when deciding on the effectiveness of a single package of fire safety measures. An illustrative case study demonstrates the application of the meth- odology and shows how designs based on cost-benefit ratios can be sub-optimal when evaluating multiple possible fire safety measures.
Keywords: cost-benefit analysis, fire safety, investment, maintenance, loss, statistics, reliability
Published in DiRROS: 23.10.2023; Views: 432; Downloads: 103
Link to file
This document has many files! More... |
35. |
36. Social innovation to address sustainability challenges and enlarge the opportunities provided by forests for a green and just transition of marginalised mountain areasMaria Nijnik, Simo Sarkki, Mariana Melnykovych, David Miller, 2023, published scientific conference contribution (invited lecture) Keywords: natural capital, ecosystem services, woodlands, communities, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, resilience
Published in DiRROS: 04.10.2023; Views: 435; Downloads: 124
Full text (539,85 KB) |
37. Developing and assessing surveillance methodologies for Agrilus beetles : EuphrescoDavid Williams, Abigail Enston, Joseph A. Francese, Damon Crook, Gernot Hoch, Maarten De Groot, 2023, final research report Keywords: Agrilus, beetles, developing surveillance, assessing surveillance
Published in DiRROS: 18.09.2023; Views: 511; Downloads: 175
Full text (2,92 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
38. Chemical recycling of flexible polyurethane foams by aminolysis to recover high-quality polyolsMaja Grdadolnik, Blaž Zdovc, Ana Drinčić, Özgün Can Önder, Petra Utroša, Susana Garcia Ramos, Enrique Dominguez Ramos, David Pahovnik, Ema Žagar, 2023, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 28.08.2023; Views: 431; Downloads: 189
Full text (1,37 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
39. |
40. Sustainable biocarbon/tung oil coatings with hydrophobic and UV-shielding properties for outdoor wood substratesLaetitia Sarah Jennifer Marrot, Mariem Zouari, Matthew Schwarzkopf, David Brian DeVallance, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: With wood regaining substantial interest as a construction material due to sustainability concerns and aesthetics trends, efficient and safe protection methods are needed to prevent the discouloration and the loss of mechanical properties of this renewable and UV-sensitive material. In this study, sustainable coatings comprising 0 to 20 wt % biocarbon (BC) dispersed in tung oil were developed for wood protection. BC particles were added as ultraviolet (UV) absorbers and were produced by various carbonization routes. The BC powders were characterized in terms of particle size and surface functional groups by Fourier-Transform infrared, and the UV and visible absorbance of dispersed BC powders in water solutions were related to these characteristics.
Two wooden substrates (beech and oak) were coated with the developed coatings and the samples underwent six months of onsite weathering. While the total colour change of uncoated samples and tung oil-coated substrates without BC kept increasing over time and resulted in a clear alteration of the wood surface aesthetics, an increased BC content in the coatings led to enhanced colour stability, with alteration of the colour close to 2 for both wood species after six months of weathering for 10 and 20 wt% BC.
Coating with tung oil made the wooden substrates, initially hydrophilic, become hydrophobic, and the further introduction of biocarbon increased hydrophobicity. However, the increase in BC content was not correlated with an increase in water repellence, the highest water contact angle being observed for 5 % BC, and no further improvement in hydrophobicity was observed with higher BC content. The weathering negatively affected the water repellence of all the samples (i.e., reference samples and coated samples with various BC content). However, the introduction of 20 % BC best protected the decrease in water repellence induced by the onsite weathering.
Keywords: biocarbon, biochar, coating, wood protection, hydrophobic coating, wettability
Published in DiRROS: 30.05.2023; Views: 408; Downloads: 461
Full text (6,19 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
