THERMAL AND SMOKE MEASUREMENTS OF VEHICLE FIRES Establishing practical large-scale experiment for vehicle fires

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the hazard risks of vehicle fires. Sensors were strategically placed in passenger cars to determine the temperature, propagation rate and direction of flame. The life safety hazard evaluations such as smoke and gas analysis were included. An important ignition position was performed in the engine compartment. The effects of different ignition positions and the opening of door glasses were also reviewed. The experimental results indicate that the maximum temperature when a vehicle burns varies commonly from 90$0^{\circ}C$ -100$0^{\circ}C$. The flame reaches in the face of a driver about 6-7minutes and the windshield glass breaks about 10 minutes after the ignition in the engine compartment of vehicle. And the smoke and gas concentrations reached the limit of human inhalation after 13-14 minutes. Especially the concentrations of carbon monoxide exceeded the TWA(50 ppm) during short time after ignition in cases of all experiments.