Prediction of the Fire Curtain Effect through a Numerical Simulation of a Reduced Scale Model for Fires in Theaters

Although a fire curtain plays an important role in preventing smoke from spreading to the auditorium in a theater fire, there has been insufficient research on fire curtains. In this study, to check the accuracy of numerical simulation, for previous experiments using a reduced scale model, a numerical simulation was carried out, and the results were compared with previous experimental data. The fire curtain effect was then predicted numerically. A Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) was used, and the natural exhaust vent sizes were set to ∼10%, ∼5%, and ∼1% of the stage floor area. The smoke movement was visualized, and the mass flow rates and temperatures were measured and analyzed. In addition, the law of similarity was used to examine the influence of a fire curtain in a real scale theater fire. Without the fire curtain, the present numerical simulation results were in agreement with the previous experimental data within reasonable accuracy. Meanwhile, the fire curtain affects the mass flow rates through the natural exhaust vent and proscenium opening, as well as the start time of soot outflow to the auditorium. Overall, the present results can be used to develop a fire curtain system.