ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN METHODS OFASSESSING THE SPREAD OF FIRE THROUGH BUILDING FACADES

Abstract

Introduction. The spread of fires on building facades is one of the most dangerous types of fires. Ensuring the limitation of the spread of fires on the facades of buildings and structures is one of the main requirements of fire safety,  which is provided for by current building regulations. A preliminary analysis of the main existing methods for assessing the spread of fire on the facades of buildings showed some shortcomings that can significantly affect the accuracy of
assessing the fire safety of facades. The analysis of the identified shortcomings and their systematisation will allow us to create an improved stand for a more accurate assessment of the limitation of the spread of fire along the facades of buildings. These studies will become a prerequisite for improving the fire safety of buildings and structures of various functional purposes, and will also allow assessing the effectiveness of preventive fire-fighting measures Purpose. identifying the shortcomings of the existing methods of assessing the spread of fire on the facades of buildings, as a prerequisite for the development of improved equipment for assessing the fire hazard of facade systems of buildings.
Methods. The work was performed using an analytical method of research by collecting, summarising, systematising and synthesising data on the main existing methods and stands that are used during the assessment of the fire hazard of facade systems of buildings.
Results. The article analyses and systematises the main existing methods of assessing the spread of fire on building facades. The advantages and disadvantages of existing methods and relevant stands of Europe and other countries regarding the evaluation of the effectiveness of measures to limit the spread of facade fires have been revealed. The main technical parameters of experimental stands are described and their design characteristics are given. Potential directions of research on improving the constructive implementation of the research stand for a more accurate assessment of the possibility of fire spreading along the facades of buildings have been determined. Constructive solutions are proposed that will make it possible to assess the limitation
of the spread of fire on the facades of buildings when fire barriers are used.
Conclusions. Studies have shown that to date there are no criteria and dependencies that would predict measures to limit the spread of fire by external vertical structures. For the first time, design features for types of facade systems that may affect the limitation of the spread of fire on vertical structures are systematised and generalised. It is determined that further research should be aimed at revealing the patterns of limiting the spread of fire on the facades of buildings of various types and determining the parameters of additional fire-fighting structural elements as one of the most rational types of passive external fire barriers.