IR thermography heat flux measurement in fire safety applications

The paper deals with heat flux measurement possibilities in fire safety applications. The paper presents two methods for radiation heat flux measurement – the thermography source-target measurement method, and the radiation contact target measurement method. Both the methods were used simultaneously for radiation heat flux measurement during a fire experiment on a high-density polyethylene plastic box storage stack. The theoretical background, experimental set-up, application example, and comparison of both methods are presented in this paper. Dependence of heat flux magnitude on a distance and direction from a heat source is evaluated. The possible safety risks ensuing from high temperatures inside the burning stack, and therefore high heat fluxes near the stack, are discussed.

► Radiation heat flux measurement methods in fire safety applications are proposed.
► The thermography source-target method is based on IR camera measurement.
► The contact-target method is based on a probe exposed to the radiation heating.
► The HDPE box stack fire experiment is described and the results are presented.
► A satisfactory agreement between the methods was achieved.