FIRE LOADS IN OFFICE BUILDINGS

The results of a fire load survey, carried out in Kanpur, India, are p resented. Eight office buildings with a total floor area of about 11,7 20 m(2) were surveyed. The inventory method was used in the present su rvey. Details of survey methodology and processing are given. Analyses have been made to determine the influence of room use, room floor are a, and floor level on fire loads. It is found that room use and room f loor area are major parameters affecting the fire loads in a room. An attempt is made to calculate the composition of fire loads in the buil dings surveyed. In office buildings wood and paper contribute to a sub stantial portion of the total fire load. The movable contents contribu te to about 88% of the total fire load. The fire loads obtained from t he survey have been compared with those of similar surveys in the Unit ed States and the United Kingdom.