Fire accident report verification using fire dynamics simulator: a case study from Chiayi City, Taiwan

A fire dynamics simulator (FDS) and Smokeview 3D (SMV) were used to recreate a fire disaster that occurred in Chiayi City, Taiwan, on May 02, 2012. The two buildings involved were traditional wooden constructions; however, one was repaired, and the roof was rebuilt with asbestos shingles and iron sheets. This study sought to verify the existing fire accident report and witness statements. A summary of relevant literature on the topic was provided to determine the optimal settings for the simulation and shortlist other influential factors from the current relevant reports. Furthermore, relevant parameters, such as the total heat release rate was 3000 kW of the fire source, the fire growing factor was 0.188 kW s⁻², the mesh size parameters were 0.0–2.0 m on the x-axis, 0.0–5.0 m on the y-axis, and 0.0–5.0 m on the z-axis. Meanwhile, four different nominal sizes, namely 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.25, were also tested in the simulation to find the suitable simulation result when other parameter data were fixed and D* was divided by the nominal size, 0.1, with 14.62 yielded at least. The simulation results were compared with the fire accident report and witness statements. The area presumed as the initial ignition place in which the fire commenced to advance between the two buildings was not considered in the original fire accident report, and the simulation showed that this was fair and reasonable.