Example—Warehouse Pool Fire Indoor

A 55-gal (208-1) drum of diesel fuel is suddenly ruptured during a warehouse accident. The fuel is released quickly across the concrete slab and is ignited when it comes in contact with a piece of equipment. Physical barriers limit the fuel spill to an area of 40 m. Determine the size of the resulting fire and the potential for damage to adjacent steel structure and personnel. The closest equipment to the edge of the pool is 5 m away at ground level. Assume a steel failure at 500°C (932°F). 

The heat release rate for the fire is calculated using Equation (5-17) as  

Based on the given area of the pool, the effective diameter of the pool, D, is calculated as  

If it is assumed that the fuel spill burns at the maximum rate for the duration of the fire, the burn time, tb [Equation (5-8)] for the fuel spill fire will be  

This predicted burn time of 1.3 minutes is most likely shorter than will actually occur. In reality, there will be additional time associated with the growth period of the fire and the pool fire may take minutes before reaching a steady-state burning rate. This time also does not account for secondary materials igniting and burning. 

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