CHAPTER 2.

PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

COMPARTMENT WITH THERMALLY THICK/THIN BOUNDARIES

The following calculations estimate the hot gas layer temperature and smoke layer height in enclosure fire.
Parameters in YELLOW CELLS are Entered by the User.
Parameters in GREEN CELLS are Automatically Selected from the DROP DOWN MENU for the Material Selected.
All subsequent output values are calculated by the spreadsheet and based on values specified in the input parameters. This spreadsheet is protected
and secure to avoid errors due to a wrong entry in a cell(s). The chapter in the NUREG should be read before an analysis is made.

Project / Inspection
Title:

INPUT PARAMETERS
COMPARTMENT INFORMATION
Compartment Width (wc)

12.00 ft

Compartment Length (lc)

10.00 ft

3.048 m

Compartment Height (hc)

8.00 ft

2.4384 m

Vent Width (wv)

3.00 ft

0.914 m

Vent Height (hv)

4.00 ft

1.219 m

Top of Vent from Floor (VT)

4.00 ft

1.219 m

Interior Lining Thickness ()

6.00 in

0.1524 m

77.00 F

25.00 C
298.00 K

3.6576 m

AMBIENT CONDITIONS
Ambient Air Temperature (Ta)
Specific Heat of Air (ca)
Ambient Air Density (a)

1.00 kJ/kg-K
1.18 kg/m3

Note: Ambient Air Density (a) will automatically correct with Ambient Air Temperature (Ta) Input

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF COMPARTMENT ENCLOSING SURFACES FOR

Interior Lining Thermal Inertia (kc)
Interior Lining Thermal Conductivity (k)
Interior Lining Specific Heat (cp)
Interior Lining Density ()

299016346.xls

0.18 (kW/m2-K)2-sec
0.00017 kW/m-K
1.1 kJ/kg-K
960 kg/m3

Page 1 of 8

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

THERMAL PROPERTIES FOR COMMON INTERIOR LINING MATERIALS

kc

(kW/m2-K)2-sec

(kW/m-K)

(kJ/kg-K)

(kg/m3)

Aluminum (pure)
Steel (0.5% Carbon)
Concrete
Brick

500
197
2.9
1.7

0.206
0.054
0.0016
0.0008

0.895
0.465
0.75
0.8

2710
7850
2400
2600

Glass, Plate
Brick/Concrete Block
Gypsum Board
Plywood
Fiber Insulation Board

1.6
1.2
0.18
0.16
0.16

0.00076
0.00073
0.00017
0.00012
0.00053

0.8
0.84
1.1
2.5
1.25

2710
1900
960
540
240

Material

Chipboard

0.15

0.00015

1.25

800

Aerated Concrete
Plasterboard
Calcium Silicate Board

0.12
0.12
0.098

0.00026
0.00016
0.00013

0.96
0.84
1.12

500
950
700

Alumina Silicate Block

Glass Fiber Insulation

0.036
0.0018

0.00014
0.000037

1
0.8

260
60

Expanded Polystyrene
0.001
0.000034
1.5
User Specified Value
Enter Value
Enter Value
Enter Value
Reference: Klote, J., J. Milke, Principles of Smoke Management, 2002, Page 270.

Select Material
Scroll to desired material
Click the selection

20
Enter Value

FIRE SPECIFICATIONS
Fire Heat Release Rate (Q)

300.00 kW

Calculate

299016346.xls

Page 2 of 8

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

METHOD OF McCAFFREY, QUINTIERE, AND HARKLEROAD (MQH)

Reference: SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3 rd Edition, 2002, Page 3-175.

Tg = 6.85 [Q2/((Av(hv)1/2) (AThk))]1/3

Where,
Tg = Tg - Ta = upper layer gas temperature rise above ambient (K)
Q = heat release rate of the fire (kW)
Av = area of ventilation opening (m2)
hv = height of ventilation opening (m)
hk = convective heat transfer coefficient (kW/m2-K)
AT = total area of the compartment enclosing surface2
boundaries excluding area of vent openings (m )

Area of Ventilation Opening Calculation

Av = (wv) (hv)
Where,
Av = area of ventilation
opening (m2)
wv = vent width (m)
hv = vent height (m)

Av =

1.11

m2

Thermal Penetration Time Calculation

tp = (cp/k) (/2)2
Where,
tp = thermal penetration time (sec)
= interior lining density (kg/m3)
cp = interior lining specific heat (kJ/kg-K)
k = interior lining thermal conductivity (kW/m-K)
= interior lining thickness (m)

tp =

299016346.xls

36068.24

Page 3 of 8

sec

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

Heat Transfer Coefficient Calculation

hk = (kc/t) for t < tp

or

(k/) for t > tp

Where,
hk = heat transfer
coefficient (kW/m2-K)
kc = interior construction thermal inertia (kW/m2-K)2-sec
(a thermal property of material responsible for the rate of
temperature rise)
t=

time after ignition

(sec)
See table below for results (column 3)

Area of Compartment Enclosing Surface

Boundaries

AT = [2(wc x lc) + 2(hc x wc) + 2(hc x lc)] - Av

Where,
AT = total area of the compartment enclosing surface boundaries excluding area of vent openings (m 2)
wc = compartment width (m)
lc = compartment length (m)
hc = compartment height (m)
Av = area of ventilation opening (m2)

AT =

299016346.xls

53.88

Page 4 of 8

m2

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

COMPARTMENT HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE WITH NATURAL

VENTILATION
2
1/2
1/3
Tg = 6.85 [Q /((Av(hv) ) (AThk))]
Tg = Tg - Ta
Tg = Tg + Ta
Results

299016346.xls

Time After Ignition (t)

(min)
(sec)
0
0.00
1
60

hk

Tg

Tg

Tg

Tg

(kW/m2-K)
0.05

(K)
199.69

(K)
298.00
497.69

(C)
25.00
224.69

(F)
77.00
436.44

2
3

120
180

0.04
0.03

224.14
239.81

522.14
537.81

249.14
264.81

480.45
508.66

4
5
10

240
300
600

0.03
0.02
0.02

251.59
261.12
293.10

549.59
559.12
591.10

276.59
286.12
318.10

529.86
547.02
604.58

15
20

900
1200

0.01
0.01

313.59
328.99

611.59
626.99

338.59
353.99

641.46
669.19

25
30
35

1500
1800
2100

0.01
0.01
0.01

341.46
351.99
361.16

639.46
649.99
659.16

366.46
376.99
386.16

691.63
710.59
727.08

40
45

2400
2700

0.01
0.01

369.28
376.60

667.28
674.60

394.28
401.60

741.71
754.89

50
55
60

3000
3300
3600

0.01
0.01
0.01

383.28
389.41
395.10

681.28
687.41
693.10

408.28
414.41
420.10

766.90
777.94
788.18

Page 5 of 8

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

ESTIMATING SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT

METHOD OF YAMANA AND TANAKA
z = ((2kQ1/3t/(3Ac)) + (1/hc2/3))-3/2
Where,
z=
Q=
t=
hc =
Ac =

smoke layer height (m)

heat release rate of the fire (kW)
time after ignition (sec)
compartment height (m)
compartment floor area (m2)
k = k = a constant given by k = 0.076/g
g = hot gas layer density (kg/m3)
gis given by g = 353/Tg
Tg = hot gas layer temperature (K)

Compartment Area Calculation

Ac = (wc) (lc)
Where,
floor
Ac = compartment
area (m2)
wc = compartment width
(m)
lc = compartment length
(m)

Ac =

11.15

m2

Hot Gas Layer Density Calculation

g = 353/Tg
Calculation for Constant K
k = 0.076/ g

299016346.xls

Page 6 of 8

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

SMOKE GAS LAYER HEIGHT WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

z = [(2kQ1/3t/(3Ac)] + (1/hc2/3)-3/2
Results

Caution! The smoke layer height is a conservative estimate and is only intended to provide an indication where
the hot gas layer is located. Calculated smoke layer height below the vent height are not creditable since the
calculation is not accounting for the smoke exiting the vent.

299016346.xls

Time

Constant (k)

Smoke Layer
Height

Smoke Layer
Height

(min)

(kg/m3)

(kW/m-K)

z (m)

z (ft)

1.18

0.064

2.44

8.00

0.71

0.107

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

0.68

0.112

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

0.66

0.116

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

0.64

0.118

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

0.63

0.120

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

10

0.60

0.127

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

15

0.58

0.132

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

20

0.56

0.135

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

25

0.55

0.138

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

30

0.54

0.140

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

35

0.54

0.142

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

40

0.53

0.144

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

45

0.52

0.145

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

50

0.52

0.147

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

55

0.51

0.148

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

60

0.51

0.149

1.22

4.00

CAUTION: SMOKE IS EXITING OUT VENT

Page 7 of 8

12/22/2015 07:55:42

CHAPTER 2. PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE

AND SMOKE LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

Version 1805.1
(English Units)

Temperature (F)

Summary of
Results

Hot Gas Layer Temperature

Natural Ventilation (MQH Method)

900.00
800.00
700.00
600.00
500.00
400.00
300.00
200.00

H e ig ht fro m F lo o r (ft)

100.00
0.00
0

10.00

10

20

Time 30
(min)

40

50

60

50

60

Smoke Layer Height

Natural Ventilation (Method of Yamana and Tanaka)

8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
0

10

20

30

40

Time (min)
NOTE:
The above calculations are based on principles developed in the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3rd Edition, 2002. Calculations are based on
certain assumptions and have inherent limitations. The results of such calculations may or may not have reasonable predictive capabilities for a given situation
and should only be interpreted by an informed user. Although each calculation in the spreadsheet has been verified with the results of hand calculation, there is
no absolute guarantee of the accuracy of these calculations. Any questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions, or to report an error(s) in the spreadsheet,
please send an email to David.Stroup@nrc.gov or Naeem.Iqbal@nrc.gov.

Prepared by:
Checked by:
Additional Information:

299016346.xls

Date:

Organization:

Date:

Organization:

Page 8 of 8

12/22/2015 07:55:42