Citation

Knight I. Fire Technol. 1988; 24(4): 312-332.

Affiliation

National Bushfire Research Unit, CSIRO, Queen Victoria Terrace, P.O. Box 4008, 2600 Canberra, ACT, Australia

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF01040047

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A model predicting the thermal conditions to be endured by a person using a reflective shelter in a forest fire is described. The thermal parameters used in the model were quantified by laboratory experiments, by use of existing relationships, and by comparison with field data obtained for an empty instrumented tent. A refinement to allow for the energy absorbed by the occupants was included and the model was run using the temperatures recorded in highintensity experimental fires. Human survival criteria of 100 degrees C for the maximum air temperature and 2 degrees C for the rise in body temperature were applied to the model's predictions. A maximum survivable intensity of 5.6 MW per lineal meter of fire edge was predicted.