. 30
3 û METHODOLOGY ..................................... 36
Research Design ................................. 36
Research Questions and Hypotheses ............... 37
Variables and Operational Definitions ........... 38
Data Collection Procedures ...................... 39
Data Analysis ................................... 40
4 û FINDINGS ........................................ 42
Results of Testing hypothesis One ............... 42
Results of Testing hypothesis Two ............... 44
5 û SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ......................... 47
Summary of the Results .......................... 47
Conclusions ..................................... 48
REFERENCES .............................................. 50
A relatively large proportion of deaths in fires result from the inhalation of smoke from combustion products away from the combustion sites. The generation rate of the harmful gases found in smoke depends on the temperature reached in the combustion. Safety, therefore, is dependent on the accurate prediction of maximum temperature reached, the determination of the types and volume of harmful gasses generated, the accurate determination of smoke movement away from the combustion source, and the timely detection of smoke in areas distant from combustion sources.
The issue of smoke detection assumes even greater importance when smoke detection and automatic sprinkler systems are integrated so that smoke detection activates the fire safety sprinkler systems. Detector sensitivity becomes both more problematic and more difficult the greater the distance the smoke detectors are from the sources of combustion (Whittbecker, 1996).
The prediction of smoke movement away from combustion sites and the detection of smoke at sites distant from combustion sites are more difficult tasks in high spaces. High spaces may be high-rise buildings, atriums, or hig...