Comparison of the Spreading Characters of Fire Products in the Typical Metro Stations of Washington, D.C., and Guangzhou

Abstract Fire is one of the most common disasters that threaten safety crowd in metro stations. Due to variations design stations, hazard posed by spreading products fire can pose different risks. The typical structures stations Guangzhou and Washington, D.C., are very from each other. In “high-dome” structure predominant construction while Guangzhou, have “flat ceiling” structure. this article, a numerical modeling for dynamic simulation used predict compare characters (the smoke height change, temperature distribution visibility change) when fires with 2.5 MW heat release rate occur platform center at end two kinds results show that, same scenario, lowest heights monitored model 0.6 m (fire end) 0.8 center) above safe 360 s after breaks out, it 6.15 6.2 Washington model. increment 23 °C 29 period 8.5 9 center). areas on about 1 no matter or begins, model, 1.5–13.5 mm 4–14 moment. Based results, environment worse happens than While location has fewer impacts height, temperature, high-dome be beneficial evacuation safety; however, cost high. Metro flat ceiling widely more cities lower cost; compensate its weaker abilities under conditions, suggested exhaust systems should carefully fully considered.