한국화재감식학회

Sine most of the site identification for fire investigation is carried out through the eyes and judgement of investigators, they might make a mistake in determining the cause of a fire. This study aims to introduce an engineering theory into the site identification to determine the cause of a fire by means of a scientific and empirical method. To be specific, it was used Heskestad's formula and FDS to compare the combustion type and characteristics of combustibles with the flame height whether or not oil combustion improver was used in the inside fire of a compartment. The study result is as follows. First, Heskestad's formula, which calculates a flame height, could be used to derive the minimum heat release rate (Q) from the flame height and the diameter of combustibles when the flame reaches to the ceiling. Then, the ingredients of combustibles on the floor could be understood to determine whether the flame reaches to the ceiling by the heat release rate of combustibles themselves or the third fuel is involved. Second, the diameter of combustibles was classified to compute the heat release rate, and then Heskestad's formula was used to predict the flame height. Third, for gasoline, the flame height was represented as 2.28m when the floor area was 0.22㎡. Therefore, in case of fire, it needs to check the combustion type of the ceiling as well as the floor and determine whether or not oil is used through an ingredient analysis. Finally, problems and implications of this study were discussed.