Simulation on indoor aerodynamics induced by an atrium fire

Indoor aerodynamics induced by a fire in an atrium was simulated with the fire field model CC-EXACT. The package was developed from the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model EXACT designed for studying indoor air flow induced by heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. The results are compared with those predicted by the two-layer fire zone model FIRST. Both EXACT and FIRST are available from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA. Three different types of atria commonly found in Hong Kong of the same space volume of 2000 m3 were studied. The results of the interface height and average temperature of the hot-air layer predicted by the field model CC-EXACT were compared with those predicted by the zone model FIRST. Recommendations on selecting a suitable plume model for zone modeling are made.