TECHNICAL NOTES
Mar 1, 1997

Fire Loads in Office Buildings

Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 123, Issue 3

Abstract

The results of a fire load survey, carried out in Kanpur, India, are presented. Eight office buildings with a total floor area of about 11,720 m2 were surveyed. The inventory method was used in the present survey. Details of survey methodology and processing are given. Analyses have been made to determine the influence of room use, room floor area, and floor level on fire loads. It is found that room use and room floor area are major parameters affecting the fire loads in a room. An attempt is made to calculate the composition of fire loads in the buildings surveyed. In office buildings wood and paper contribute to a substantial portion of the total fire load. The movable contents contribute to about 88% of the total fire load. The fire loads obtained from the survey have been compared with those of similar surveys in the United States and the United Kingdom.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Structural Engineering
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 123Issue 3March 1997
Pages: 365 - 368

History

Published online: Mar 1, 1997
Published in print: Mar 1997

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Authors

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Sunil Kumar
Lect., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Harcourt Butler Tech. Inst., Kanpur, India.
C. V. S. Kameswara Rao
Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Harcourt Butler Tech. Inst., Kanpur, India.

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