A RESPONSE-SURFACE APPROXIMATION FOR THE BENCH-SCALE PEAK HEAT RELEASE RATE FROM UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE EXPOSED TO A RADIANT-HEAT

This work investigates the initial stages of a residential fire scenar io: specifically the peak heat release rate (kW/m(2)) from an item ign ited by exposure to a radiant heat source. Parameters which may define a scenario include the material properties of the furniture and the i gnition source. The emphasis is on the uncertainties in these paramete rs and their impact on the peak heat release rate (kW/m(2)). A respons e surface analysis is performed to determine the equivalent bench-scal e heat release as a function of fabric, padding, oxygen concentration, and imposed radiant heat flux A response surface is a polynomial whic h approximates the computer code and it may be used to predict heat re lease values, as well as the uncertainties in these values due to unce rtainties in the model input variables.