The Experts below are selected from a list of 13281 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Antonio Cicione - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a preliminary investigation to develop a semi probabilistic model of Informal Settlement fire spread using b risk
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, Richard Walls, Colleen Wade, Michael Spearpoint, Lesley Gibson, David RushAbstract:Abstract In South Africa alone, there are more than 5000 Informal Settlement fires a year, where a single incident can leave up to 10000 people homeless. The government and local authorities of countries with Informal Settlements, that extend over large areas, have no tools to simulate fires to identify high risk areas, or to quantify the magnitude of an incident to which they may need to respond. It is with this backdrop that the paper seeks to develop a semi-probabilistic method to determine fire spread rates in Informal Settlements. Data from a full-scale fire experiment is used to validate the fire spread rates predicted by B-RISK from which a simplified semi-probabilistic analysis method is developed that can estimate fire spread rates in Informal Settlements. B-RISK simulations are then compared to an actual Informal Settlement fire incident to assess its predictive capabilities. The paper also discusses how the effect of wind has been included and what additional features could be incorporated to obtain more realistic Informal Settlement fire spread predictions. This work provides the first step in a complex problem where it is difficult to accurately define input parameters.
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a full scale experimental study on single dwelling burning behavior of Informal Settlement
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Yu Wang, Mohamed Beshir, Antonio Cicione, Rory Hadden, Michal Krajcovic, David RushAbstract:Abstract Approximately one billion people globally live in Informal Settlements with a large potential fire risk, where a single dwelling fire may result in a very large urban conflagration leaving hundreds, if not thousands, of people homeless. What is not well understood, however, is how fires in Informal Settlement dwellings develop and spread, and what influence the dwelling boundary has on these two areas. In this work, four different real-scale compartments were constructed and ignited under a large fire calorimeter hood. The cases include a typical thin metal-walled dwelling (baseline), a no leakage dwelling, a dwelling lined with cardboard and a dwelling with highly insulated walls. The fuel locations, fuel loads of 25 kg/m2, ignition method and ambient conditions were kept identical in four experiments. Important parameters of compartment fire development, such as heat release rate, gas temperatures, fuel mass loss rate, wall and ceiling temperature were recorded. To investigate the fire spread mechanism between dwellings, the incident radiation heat flux around the dwellings and projection flame length were measured as well. It was found that the boundary conditions in Informal Settlement significantly affect the fire dynamics and fire spread of Informal Settlement, and that current analytical/empirical equations are not capturing accurately experimental observations.
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fire spread analysis for the 2017 imizamo yethu Informal Settlement conflagration in south africa
International journal of disaster risk reduction, 2019Co-Authors: Charles Kahanji, Richard Walls, Antonio CicioneAbstract:Abstract On 11 March 2017, a large fire ravaged through the Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement in Cape Town, South Africa, killing four people. A total of 2194 Informal dwellings were destroyed, and over 9700 people were displaced. This paper presents an analysis of the spread of the fire and factors that contributed to the conflagration. This work is based on interviews with the firefighters that responded to the incident, the disaster management incident log of the day, photographic evidence from various sources, reports in the public domain and site visits. Over 170 firefighters drawn from across the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services battled for over 13.5 h to put out one of the largest fires to have happened in a South African Settlement in recent times. The efforts by firefighters to tackle the fire were hampered by several factors among them, inaccessible or narrow driveways, the absence of sufficient water supply in the area, and certain community interactions. This work is novel as in the literature there is negligible data regarding fire spread analyses in Informal Settlements. This has hampered the development of evidence-based responses and fire safety interventions being developed, as it is sometimes unclear how to reduce fire spread. The rate of spread during the fire is approximately calculated. By understanding fire spread rates, community interactions and suppression challenges firefighting strategies, engineering designs and municipal responses to this problem can be enhanced.
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Fire Dynamics in Informal Settlement “Shacks”: Lessons Learnt and Appraisal of Fire Behavior Based on Full-Scale Testing
The Proceedings of 11th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology, 2019Co-Authors: Richard Walls, Antonio Cicione, Charles Kahanji, Mariska Jansen Van VuurenAbstract:This paper presents discussions regarding Informal Settlement (also known as slums, shantytowns, favelas, etc.) fire dynamics and lessons learnt from full-scale tests on dwellings, typically referred to as “shacks” in South Africa. Smoldering and flaming fire setups are considered, and both timber and representative household contents are used as fuel sources. It is shown that due to the small size of shacks, flashover can be obtained within minutes. Maximum temperatures recorded are typically around, or in excess of, 1000 °C, depending on the fuel and structural configurations. Due to the poor construction methods used for such structures, they can collapse, or walls can open up, meaning that ventilation conditions continuously change and are difficult to accurately define. The presence of flammable wall finishes or drapes has a significant effect on the rate of fire spread and fire behavior, and such flammable finishes are often present in dwellings. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software [Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)] is utilized to analyze certain tests, which generally shows good correlation. However, due to significant variations in fuel contents, ventilation conditions, structural configurations, and wall finishes, there is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in developing models for such environments. From the work, a greater understanding of fire dynamics in low income, temporary structures (comparable with some refugee camps) can be obtained through which better solutions and interventions can be developed. Recommendations are provided for how to simulate shack fire scenarios in experimental testing more effectively.
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Full-Scale Informal Settlement Dwelling Fire Experiments and Development of Numerical Models
Fire Technology, 2019Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, R. S. Walls, Mohamed Beshir, David RushAbstract:While fire-related injuries and deaths decreased in the global north over the past few years, they have increased in the global south. With more than one billion people residing in Informal Settlements (sometimes known as slums, ghettos or shantytowns), it is necessary that greater effort be placed on addressing and developing means for improving fire safety in these areas. As a result of advances made in computer technologies, emerging performance-based regulations and an increase in building complexity in the global north, the use of computer models simulating enclosure fires have increased dramatically. In this work an experimental investigation is presented for (a) a full-scale corrugated steel sheeting clad Informal dwelling experiment and (b) a full-scale timber clad Informal dwelling experiment. The experimental results are then compared to numerical models consisting of both simple two-zone (OZone) and computational fluid dynamic models. Currently, there is negligible literature available on Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) modelling of Informal Settlement dwellings (sometimes known as shacks or shanties) fires. This paper evaluates the plausibility of using FDS v6.7 and zonal models to predict certain fire parameters (i.e. ceiling temperatures, heat fluxes, etc.) for Informal Settlement Dwellings (ISDs) and to study the plausibility of using FDS to estimate the probability of fire spread. In this paper an introduction to ISDs is given with details pertaining to construction materials and considerations needed for numerical modelling of Informal dwellings (i.e. thin permeable boundaries or combustible boundaries). Models are based upon (a) a prescribed heat release rate per unit area in FDS using data obtained from a Fire Propagation Apparatus test, and (b) an empirical two-zone model using OZone. The FDS validation guide was used to quantify the model uncertainties in order to give a critical separation distance at which fire spread between dwellings will not occur. It was found that at 3 m spacing between ISDs there is a 6% chance (based on the model uncertainties) that fire spread can occur. This is an important finding that highlights the danger associated with these closely spaced dwellings and the hope is that it can guide local government and Non-Governmental Organizations in future decision making. Three meters spacing between dwellings, however, may not be possible due to the socio-cultural-political-economic issues associated with Informal Settlements. This is one of the first papers to demonstrate FDS models against full-scale ISD experiments.
Charles Kahanji - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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developing an experimental database of burning characteristics of combustible Informal dwelling materials based on south african Informal Settlement investigation
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Yu Wang, Mohamed Beshir, Richard Walls, Charles Kahanji, Camille Bertrand, David RushAbstract:Abstract Informal Settlements, which have little or no legal status and no official planning remit, such as slums, shacks and favelas, are exposed to an extensive risk of fire. Due to flammable construction materials of the dwellings, the combustibility and flammability of the materials of dwelling furnishings and the proximity and density of these Settlements, fires can readily develop and spread to neighbouring dwellings. To understand the hazards related to fire development and spread, a database of material properties is required, however, the materials found within the Informal Settlement homes vary and are sometimes hard to define. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the common materials found in Informal Settlements, and their comparison to literature data, is required. This paper presents a total of 345 cone calorimeter tests used to develop a database of combustible materials found in Informal Settlements of the Western Cape in South Africa. Thirty-two different typical materials were collected from one South African Informal Settlement and heated by an electronic cone calorimeter. The critical heat flux for ignition was determined by decreasing the incident heat flux until no ignition occurrence. The materials were also heated under different heat fluxes of 30 kW/m2, 50 kW/m2 and 75 kW/m2 to simulate their burning behaviour under different fire conditions. Other important parameters were obtained including ignition time, burning time, maximum heat release rate and flame height. Different materials contribute to fire development/spread/severity in different ways and phases: for the fire development inside the shack, PU foam, carpets and clothing are most important; for fire spread between dwelling: clothing, shade netting and tyre play a key role; meanwhile for fire severity, tyre, PU foam, carpets and Masonite timber need most notice. The experimental results can provide basic data for theoretical and numerical analysis of compartment fire development and spread in Informal Settlements.
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fire spread analysis for the 2017 imizamo yethu Informal Settlement conflagration in south africa
International journal of disaster risk reduction, 2019Co-Authors: Charles Kahanji, Richard Walls, Antonio CicioneAbstract:Abstract On 11 March 2017, a large fire ravaged through the Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement in Cape Town, South Africa, killing four people. A total of 2194 Informal dwellings were destroyed, and over 9700 people were displaced. This paper presents an analysis of the spread of the fire and factors that contributed to the conflagration. This work is based on interviews with the firefighters that responded to the incident, the disaster management incident log of the day, photographic evidence from various sources, reports in the public domain and site visits. Over 170 firefighters drawn from across the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services battled for over 13.5 h to put out one of the largest fires to have happened in a South African Settlement in recent times. The efforts by firefighters to tackle the fire were hampered by several factors among them, inaccessible or narrow driveways, the absence of sufficient water supply in the area, and certain community interactions. This work is novel as in the literature there is negligible data regarding fire spread analyses in Informal Settlements. This has hampered the development of evidence-based responses and fire safety interventions being developed, as it is sometimes unclear how to reduce fire spread. The rate of spread during the fire is approximately calculated. By understanding fire spread rates, community interactions and suppression challenges firefighting strategies, engineering designs and municipal responses to this problem can be enhanced.
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Fire Dynamics in Informal Settlement “Shacks”: Lessons Learnt and Appraisal of Fire Behavior Based on Full-Scale Testing
The Proceedings of 11th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology, 2019Co-Authors: Richard Walls, Antonio Cicione, Charles Kahanji, Mariska Jansen Van VuurenAbstract:This paper presents discussions regarding Informal Settlement (also known as slums, shantytowns, favelas, etc.) fire dynamics and lessons learnt from full-scale tests on dwellings, typically referred to as “shacks” in South Africa. Smoldering and flaming fire setups are considered, and both timber and representative household contents are used as fuel sources. It is shown that due to the small size of shacks, flashover can be obtained within minutes. Maximum temperatures recorded are typically around, or in excess of, 1000 °C, depending on the fuel and structural configurations. Due to the poor construction methods used for such structures, they can collapse, or walls can open up, meaning that ventilation conditions continuously change and are difficult to accurately define. The presence of flammable wall finishes or drapes has a significant effect on the rate of fire spread and fire behavior, and such flammable finishes are often present in dwellings. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software [Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)] is utilized to analyze certain tests, which generally shows good correlation. However, due to significant variations in fuel contents, ventilation conditions, structural configurations, and wall finishes, there is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in developing models for such environments. From the work, a greater understanding of fire dynamics in low income, temporary structures (comparable with some refugee camps) can be obtained through which better solutions and interventions can be developed. Recommendations are provided for how to simulate shack fire scenarios in experimental testing more effectively.
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experimental study of fire spread between multiple full scale Informal Settlement dwellings
Fire Safety Journal, 2019Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, Richard Walls, Charles KahanjiAbstract:Abstract Internationally, Informal Settlements (also known as slums, favelas, shantytowns, ghettos, etc.) are expanding rapidly which have been associated with numerous large fires (where more than 10,000 people can be left homeless in a single disaster [ 1 ]), and an increase in fire related injuries and deaths. As a result of an increase in fire related incidences, various proposed interventions have been funded from governmental or private sources. However, many interventions have been unsuccessful because of technical, political, economic, social or practical issues. It is with the above mentioned in mind that this paper seeks to provide an understanding of fire behavior between multiple Informal Settlement dwellings (ISDs) as a baseline for future research and experiments. The paper starts by defining Informal Settlements in terms of construction and continues to look at the potential causes and hazards associated with Informal Settlement fires. The following two full-scale Informal Settlement dwelling burn experiments were conducted; (a) three ISDs clad with steel sheeting and (b) three ISDs clad with timber. The heat fluxes and temperatures of both experiments are shown and compared to understand the effect of cladding materials (i.e. timber cladding versus steel cladding, which are mostly used in Informal Settlements) on fire spread. Some general behavioral observations made during the full-scale experiments are given and discussed (i.e. how fire spreads, collapse mechanisms, etc.). Fire spread times are reported for both experiments, and range between 4 and 9 min (i.e. from the start of flashover in the first dwelling to the end of flashover in the last dwelling). These experiments are one of the bigger ISD experiments conducted to date and are the first experiments that measured heat fluxes for ISDs, which is crucial to understand fire spread. An important finding in this paper is that there is a critical separation distance of 3.8 m needed to prevent fire spread between dwellings.
Richard Walls - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a preliminary investigation to develop a semi probabilistic model of Informal Settlement fire spread using b risk
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, Richard Walls, Colleen Wade, Michael Spearpoint, Lesley Gibson, David RushAbstract:Abstract In South Africa alone, there are more than 5000 Informal Settlement fires a year, where a single incident can leave up to 10000 people homeless. The government and local authorities of countries with Informal Settlements, that extend over large areas, have no tools to simulate fires to identify high risk areas, or to quantify the magnitude of an incident to which they may need to respond. It is with this backdrop that the paper seeks to develop a semi-probabilistic method to determine fire spread rates in Informal Settlements. Data from a full-scale fire experiment is used to validate the fire spread rates predicted by B-RISK from which a simplified semi-probabilistic analysis method is developed that can estimate fire spread rates in Informal Settlements. B-RISK simulations are then compared to an actual Informal Settlement fire incident to assess its predictive capabilities. The paper also discusses how the effect of wind has been included and what additional features could be incorporated to obtain more realistic Informal Settlement fire spread predictions. This work provides the first step in a complex problem where it is difficult to accurately define input parameters.
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developing an experimental database of burning characteristics of combustible Informal dwelling materials based on south african Informal Settlement investigation
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Yu Wang, Mohamed Beshir, Richard Walls, Charles Kahanji, Camille Bertrand, David RushAbstract:Abstract Informal Settlements, which have little or no legal status and no official planning remit, such as slums, shacks and favelas, are exposed to an extensive risk of fire. Due to flammable construction materials of the dwellings, the combustibility and flammability of the materials of dwelling furnishings and the proximity and density of these Settlements, fires can readily develop and spread to neighbouring dwellings. To understand the hazards related to fire development and spread, a database of material properties is required, however, the materials found within the Informal Settlement homes vary and are sometimes hard to define. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the common materials found in Informal Settlements, and their comparison to literature data, is required. This paper presents a total of 345 cone calorimeter tests used to develop a database of combustible materials found in Informal Settlements of the Western Cape in South Africa. Thirty-two different typical materials were collected from one South African Informal Settlement and heated by an electronic cone calorimeter. The critical heat flux for ignition was determined by decreasing the incident heat flux until no ignition occurrence. The materials were also heated under different heat fluxes of 30 kW/m2, 50 kW/m2 and 75 kW/m2 to simulate their burning behaviour under different fire conditions. Other important parameters were obtained including ignition time, burning time, maximum heat release rate and flame height. Different materials contribute to fire development/spread/severity in different ways and phases: for the fire development inside the shack, PU foam, carpets and clothing are most important; for fire spread between dwelling: clothing, shade netting and tyre play a key role; meanwhile for fire severity, tyre, PU foam, carpets and Masonite timber need most notice. The experimental results can provide basic data for theoretical and numerical analysis of compartment fire development and spread in Informal Settlements.
-
fire spread analysis for the 2017 imizamo yethu Informal Settlement conflagration in south africa
International journal of disaster risk reduction, 2019Co-Authors: Charles Kahanji, Richard Walls, Antonio CicioneAbstract:Abstract On 11 March 2017, a large fire ravaged through the Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement in Cape Town, South Africa, killing four people. A total of 2194 Informal dwellings were destroyed, and over 9700 people were displaced. This paper presents an analysis of the spread of the fire and factors that contributed to the conflagration. This work is based on interviews with the firefighters that responded to the incident, the disaster management incident log of the day, photographic evidence from various sources, reports in the public domain and site visits. Over 170 firefighters drawn from across the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services battled for over 13.5 h to put out one of the largest fires to have happened in a South African Settlement in recent times. The efforts by firefighters to tackle the fire were hampered by several factors among them, inaccessible or narrow driveways, the absence of sufficient water supply in the area, and certain community interactions. This work is novel as in the literature there is negligible data regarding fire spread analyses in Informal Settlements. This has hampered the development of evidence-based responses and fire safety interventions being developed, as it is sometimes unclear how to reduce fire spread. The rate of spread during the fire is approximately calculated. By understanding fire spread rates, community interactions and suppression challenges firefighting strategies, engineering designs and municipal responses to this problem can be enhanced.
-
Fire Dynamics in Informal Settlement “Shacks”: Lessons Learnt and Appraisal of Fire Behavior Based on Full-Scale Testing
The Proceedings of 11th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology, 2019Co-Authors: Richard Walls, Antonio Cicione, Charles Kahanji, Mariska Jansen Van VuurenAbstract:This paper presents discussions regarding Informal Settlement (also known as slums, shantytowns, favelas, etc.) fire dynamics and lessons learnt from full-scale tests on dwellings, typically referred to as “shacks” in South Africa. Smoldering and flaming fire setups are considered, and both timber and representative household contents are used as fuel sources. It is shown that due to the small size of shacks, flashover can be obtained within minutes. Maximum temperatures recorded are typically around, or in excess of, 1000 °C, depending on the fuel and structural configurations. Due to the poor construction methods used for such structures, they can collapse, or walls can open up, meaning that ventilation conditions continuously change and are difficult to accurately define. The presence of flammable wall finishes or drapes has a significant effect on the rate of fire spread and fire behavior, and such flammable finishes are often present in dwellings. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software [Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)] is utilized to analyze certain tests, which generally shows good correlation. However, due to significant variations in fuel contents, ventilation conditions, structural configurations, and wall finishes, there is a high degree of uncertainty inherent in developing models for such environments. From the work, a greater understanding of fire dynamics in low income, temporary structures (comparable with some refugee camps) can be obtained through which better solutions and interventions can be developed. Recommendations are provided for how to simulate shack fire scenarios in experimental testing more effectively.
-
experimental study of fire spread between multiple full scale Informal Settlement dwellings
Fire Safety Journal, 2019Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, Richard Walls, Charles KahanjiAbstract:Abstract Internationally, Informal Settlements (also known as slums, favelas, shantytowns, ghettos, etc.) are expanding rapidly which have been associated with numerous large fires (where more than 10,000 people can be left homeless in a single disaster [ 1 ]), and an increase in fire related injuries and deaths. As a result of an increase in fire related incidences, various proposed interventions have been funded from governmental or private sources. However, many interventions have been unsuccessful because of technical, political, economic, social or practical issues. It is with the above mentioned in mind that this paper seeks to provide an understanding of fire behavior between multiple Informal Settlement dwellings (ISDs) as a baseline for future research and experiments. The paper starts by defining Informal Settlements in terms of construction and continues to look at the potential causes and hazards associated with Informal Settlement fires. The following two full-scale Informal Settlement dwelling burn experiments were conducted; (a) three ISDs clad with steel sheeting and (b) three ISDs clad with timber. The heat fluxes and temperatures of both experiments are shown and compared to understand the effect of cladding materials (i.e. timber cladding versus steel cladding, which are mostly used in Informal Settlements) on fire spread. Some general behavioral observations made during the full-scale experiments are given and discussed (i.e. how fire spreads, collapse mechanisms, etc.). Fire spread times are reported for both experiments, and range between 4 and 9 min (i.e. from the start of flashover in the first dwelling to the end of flashover in the last dwelling). These experiments are one of the bigger ISD experiments conducted to date and are the first experiments that measured heat fluxes for ISDs, which is crucial to understand fire spread. An important finding in this paper is that there is a critical separation distance of 3.8 m needed to prevent fire spread between dwellings.
David Rush - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
a preliminary investigation to develop a semi probabilistic model of Informal Settlement fire spread using b risk
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, Richard Walls, Colleen Wade, Michael Spearpoint, Lesley Gibson, David RushAbstract:Abstract In South Africa alone, there are more than 5000 Informal Settlement fires a year, where a single incident can leave up to 10000 people homeless. The government and local authorities of countries with Informal Settlements, that extend over large areas, have no tools to simulate fires to identify high risk areas, or to quantify the magnitude of an incident to which they may need to respond. It is with this backdrop that the paper seeks to develop a semi-probabilistic method to determine fire spread rates in Informal Settlements. Data from a full-scale fire experiment is used to validate the fire spread rates predicted by B-RISK from which a simplified semi-probabilistic analysis method is developed that can estimate fire spread rates in Informal Settlements. B-RISK simulations are then compared to an actual Informal Settlement fire incident to assess its predictive capabilities. The paper also discusses how the effect of wind has been included and what additional features could be incorporated to obtain more realistic Informal Settlement fire spread predictions. This work provides the first step in a complex problem where it is difficult to accurately define input parameters.
-
a full scale experimental study on single dwelling burning behavior of Informal Settlement
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Yu Wang, Mohamed Beshir, Antonio Cicione, Rory Hadden, Michal Krajcovic, David RushAbstract:Abstract Approximately one billion people globally live in Informal Settlements with a large potential fire risk, where a single dwelling fire may result in a very large urban conflagration leaving hundreds, if not thousands, of people homeless. What is not well understood, however, is how fires in Informal Settlement dwellings develop and spread, and what influence the dwelling boundary has on these two areas. In this work, four different real-scale compartments were constructed and ignited under a large fire calorimeter hood. The cases include a typical thin metal-walled dwelling (baseline), a no leakage dwelling, a dwelling lined with cardboard and a dwelling with highly insulated walls. The fuel locations, fuel loads of 25 kg/m2, ignition method and ambient conditions were kept identical in four experiments. Important parameters of compartment fire development, such as heat release rate, gas temperatures, fuel mass loss rate, wall and ceiling temperature were recorded. To investigate the fire spread mechanism between dwellings, the incident radiation heat flux around the dwellings and projection flame length were measured as well. It was found that the boundary conditions in Informal Settlement significantly affect the fire dynamics and fire spread of Informal Settlement, and that current analytical/empirical equations are not capturing accurately experimental observations.
-
developing an experimental database of burning characteristics of combustible Informal dwelling materials based on south african Informal Settlement investigation
Fire Safety Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Yu Wang, Mohamed Beshir, Richard Walls, Charles Kahanji, Camille Bertrand, David RushAbstract:Abstract Informal Settlements, which have little or no legal status and no official planning remit, such as slums, shacks and favelas, are exposed to an extensive risk of fire. Due to flammable construction materials of the dwellings, the combustibility and flammability of the materials of dwelling furnishings and the proximity and density of these Settlements, fires can readily develop and spread to neighbouring dwellings. To understand the hazards related to fire development and spread, a database of material properties is required, however, the materials found within the Informal Settlement homes vary and are sometimes hard to define. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the common materials found in Informal Settlements, and their comparison to literature data, is required. This paper presents a total of 345 cone calorimeter tests used to develop a database of combustible materials found in Informal Settlements of the Western Cape in South Africa. Thirty-two different typical materials were collected from one South African Informal Settlement and heated by an electronic cone calorimeter. The critical heat flux for ignition was determined by decreasing the incident heat flux until no ignition occurrence. The materials were also heated under different heat fluxes of 30 kW/m2, 50 kW/m2 and 75 kW/m2 to simulate their burning behaviour under different fire conditions. Other important parameters were obtained including ignition time, burning time, maximum heat release rate and flame height. Different materials contribute to fire development/spread/severity in different ways and phases: for the fire development inside the shack, PU foam, carpets and clothing are most important; for fire spread between dwelling: clothing, shade netting and tyre play a key role; meanwhile for fire severity, tyre, PU foam, carpets and Masonite timber need most notice. The experimental results can provide basic data for theoretical and numerical analysis of compartment fire development and spread in Informal Settlements.
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detecting historic Informal Settlement fires with sentinel 1 and 2 satellite data two case studies in cape town
Fire Safety Journal, 2019Co-Authors: Lesley Gibson, Jeanine Engelbrecht, David RushAbstract:Abstract Increasing global urbanisation is leading to a rise in the number of people living in Informal Settlements, challenging our ability to achieve sustainable development goals. As a consequence of high building density, inadequate building methods and flammable building materials, Informal Settlements are highly vulnerable to the devastating impacts of fire. Databases on historic fire occurrence, location and extent are scarce, especially in the Global South. This paper explores the potential for remote sensing technologies to fill this gap. Two case studies in Cape Town representing fire of different extent and build back characteristics, are used to demonstrate that Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data can be used to detect known historic Informal Settlement fire. A pixel based approach applied to Sentinel-2 band 2 reflectance and Sentinel 1 backscatter and interferometry are highlighted. The concept of spatial autocorrelation is explored with both Sentinel-2 and 1 data showing that a 3 x 3 pixel standard deviation kernel and hotspot analysis can complement the pixel approach. Further research is required to test these methods within a time series change detection algorithm to identify unknown historic Informal Settlement fires. .
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Full-Scale Informal Settlement Dwelling Fire Experiments and Development of Numerical Models
Fire Technology, 2019Co-Authors: Antonio Cicione, R. S. Walls, Mohamed Beshir, David RushAbstract:While fire-related injuries and deaths decreased in the global north over the past few years, they have increased in the global south. With more than one billion people residing in Informal Settlements (sometimes known as slums, ghettos or shantytowns), it is necessary that greater effort be placed on addressing and developing means for improving fire safety in these areas. As a result of advances made in computer technologies, emerging performance-based regulations and an increase in building complexity in the global north, the use of computer models simulating enclosure fires have increased dramatically. In this work an experimental investigation is presented for (a) a full-scale corrugated steel sheeting clad Informal dwelling experiment and (b) a full-scale timber clad Informal dwelling experiment. The experimental results are then compared to numerical models consisting of both simple two-zone (OZone) and computational fluid dynamic models. Currently, there is negligible literature available on Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) modelling of Informal Settlement dwellings (sometimes known as shacks or shanties) fires. This paper evaluates the plausibility of using FDS v6.7 and zonal models to predict certain fire parameters (i.e. ceiling temperatures, heat fluxes, etc.) for Informal Settlement Dwellings (ISDs) and to study the plausibility of using FDS to estimate the probability of fire spread. In this paper an introduction to ISDs is given with details pertaining to construction materials and considerations needed for numerical modelling of Informal dwellings (i.e. thin permeable boundaries or combustible boundaries). Models are based upon (a) a prescribed heat release rate per unit area in FDS using data obtained from a Fire Propagation Apparatus test, and (b) an empirical two-zone model using OZone. The FDS validation guide was used to quantify the model uncertainties in order to give a critical separation distance at which fire spread between dwellings will not occur. It was found that at 3 m spacing between ISDs there is a 6% chance (based on the model uncertainties) that fire spread can occur. This is an important finding that highlights the danger associated with these closely spaced dwellings and the hope is that it can guide local government and Non-Governmental Organizations in future decision making. Three meters spacing between dwellings, however, may not be possible due to the socio-cultural-political-economic issues associated with Informal Settlements. This is one of the first papers to demonstrate FDS models against full-scale ISD experiments.
Ruth Massey - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Effect of Informal Settlement Upgrading on Women’s Social Networks: Layout Versus Location
Urban Forum, 2017Co-Authors: Ruth MasseyAbstract:Informal Settlements are prevalent in the South African urban landscape. Part of the attempt by the government to meet housing and infrastructure needs has been the in situ upgrading of these Informal Settlements. This paper explores the effect of in situ Informal Settlement upgrading on women’s social networks. Social networks are important as they allow access to various livelihood assets that are crucial for building sustainable livelihoods and resilient communities. The results of the research undertaken indicate that the newly upgraded Informal Settlements have not been conducive to the preservation or creation of women’s social networks due to poor layout planning and inadequate infrastructure provision. There is an assumption that if the Informal Settlements are upgraded in situ, social networks will not be disrupted. It is anticipated that, because the residents are in the same geographical area, they will be able to maintain their social networks. The paper makes the argument that, when it comes to sustaining social networks, Settlement layout and infrastructure provision are just as important and geographical location.
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competing rationalities and Informal Settlement upgrading in cape town south africa a recipe for failure
Journal of Housing and The Built Environment, 2013Co-Authors: Ruth MasseyAbstract:The South African National Department of Housing’s ‘Breaking New Ground: A Comprehensive Plan for the Creation of Sustainable Human Settlements’ was released in 2004. This policy directive acknowledged that Informal Settlements had grown significantly since 1994. It resulted in the development and implementation of the Informal Settlement upgrading programme across the country. The principle objective of the study discussed in this paper was to investigate the City of Cape Town’s (the City) rationale in the technique of upgrading the Informal Settlements of Makhaza and New Rest in Cape Town and explore the implications of this rationale for women’s social networks in these two Settlements. The research has found that the rationale used by the City to plan and implement the upgrading of Informal Settlements is contradictory to the needs of the residents within these Settlements. The Settlements therefore do not meet the needs of the residents (particularly women) and do not enable or ensure the maintenance of strong social relationships which are crucial for the survival of livelihoods in these areas.