Predicting the heating rate

Predicting the heating rate and maximum temperature of the atmosphere inside the fire compartment. This involves assessing the fire load (the quantity and type of combustible material) in the compartment, the ventilation and the thermal characteristics of the compartment linings. These variables can be calculated or obtained from tabulated data. Once known, one can estimate the temperature rise in the compartment with time either as a parametric time-temperature relationship or as a time equivalent (the exposure to a standard BS476 fire that would have the same effect as the natural fire in the compartment under consideration).