Evaluation of zone models is proposed by checking the relationship between input heat release rate of a steady burning fire and the outflowing rates of smoke through the vertical openings. Two zone models, CFAST developed at the NIST, U.S.A., and one-room hot layer model of FIRECALC developed at CSIRO, Australia, were tested by carrying out numerical studies in a small com partment. It is found that for preflashover fires with a heat release rate less than the flashover value, results predicted by both models are reasonable. However, care must be taken in using the models when the heat release rate of the fire ex ceeds the flashover value.
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