An analysis of cabin exhauster vents and body structure pass-throughs in post-collision vehicle fires
Utgivningsinformation: Borås : RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, 2023Beskrivning: s. 58-67Ämnen: Onlineresurser: I: Proceedings from the Seventh International Conference on Fires in Vehicles, Stavanger, Norway, April 24-25, 2023Abstrakt: This paper analyses real world post-collision vehicle fire incidents which caused serious injuries or death as a result of fire propagating into vehicle interiors through the cabin exhauster vents and body structure pass-throughs. Researchers have noted there is an opportunity to reduce vulnerability to fire penetration by minimizing the area of openings in the body structure [1]. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that penetrations in the barriers surrounding the passenger compartment should be protected [2]. Laboratory testing was utilized to establish the performance of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) exhauster vent and pass-through designs utilized in the case study vehicles, as well as the effectiveness of alternate designs in delaying or preventing the propagation of a post-collision fire into the occupant compartment.This paper analyses real world post-collision vehicle fire incidents which caused serious injuries or death as a result of fire propagating into vehicle interiors through the cabin exhauster vents and body structure pass-throughs. Researchers have noted there is an opportunity to reduce vulnerability to fire penetration by minimizing the area of openings in the body structure [1]. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that penetrations in the barriers surrounding the passenger compartment should be protected [2]. Laboratory testing was utilized to establish the performance of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) exhauster vent and pass-through designs utilized in the case study vehicles, as well as the effectiveness of alternate designs in delaying or preventing the propagation of a post-collision fire into the occupant compartment.