The fire growth rate index (FIGRA), which is the ratio of the maximum value of the heat release rate (Q_max) and the time (t_max) to reach the maximum heat release rate, is a general method to evaluate a material in the fire-retardant performance in fire technology. The object of this study aims to predict FIGRA of the polyethylene foam pipe insulation in accordance with the scale factor (S_f), the volume fraction of the pipe insulation (VF) and the ignition heat source (Q_ig). The compartments made of fireboard have been mock-up with 1/3, 1/4, and 1/5 reduced scales of the compartment as specified in ISO 20632. The heat release rate data of the pipe insulation with the variation of S_f, VF, and Q_ig are measured from 33 experiments to correlate with FIGRA. Based on a critical analysis of the heat transfer phenomenon from previous research literature, the predictions of Q_max and t_max are presented. It is noticeable that the fire-retardant grade of the polyethylene foam pipe insulation could have Grade B, C, and D in accordance with the test conditions within ±15% deviation of the predicted FIGRA. In case of establishing the database of various types of insulation, the prediction models could apply to evaluate the fire-retardant performance.

In this study, the thermal characteristics of welding spatters were analyzed to predict the risk of fire spread in the shield metal arc welding. The mean diameters and the distribution shapes of the particles were investigated with the variation of the distribution coefficients using the modified gamma distribution function. To quantify the heat source of the welding spatters, the previous empirical equation for the heat transfer coefficient of Ranz and Marshall was analyzed regarding the particle velocity and surface temperature. The order of magnitude for the convection and the radiation were as performed to the particles and the base metal, respectively. The results, which are only valid for T_p,m = 750 K and T_b,s = 2300 K, show that the radiation term is only 10% for a particle but the convective term is only 6% for the base metal. Finally, the simplified model for the temperature of the welding spatters was obtained and the validation results were within ±13%. The variations of electrical power, droplet size, number of particles, and surface temperature were systematically analyzed with the prediction model. The importance of safety conditions to prevent the fires spread by welding spatter was suggested with electrical power, particle velocity, and numerical density of the particles.

To predict the fire risk of spatter generated during shielded metal arc welding, the thermal characteristics of welding spatter were analyzed according to different welding times and electrical powers supplied to the electrode. An experimental apparatus for controlling the contact angle between the electrode and base metal as well as the feed rate was prepared. Moreover, the correlations among the volume, maximum diameter, scattering velocity, maximum number, and maximum temperature of the welding spatter were derived using welding power from 984–2067 W and welding times of 30 s, 50 s, and 70 s. It was found that the volume, maximum diameter, and maximum number of welding spatters increased proportionally as the welding time and electrical power increased, but the scattering velocity decreased as the particle diameter increased regardless of the welding time and electrical power. When the measured maximum temperature of the welding spatter was compared with an empirical formula, the accuracy of the results was confirmed to be within ±7% of the experimental constant $C=112.414\times P_e^{-0.5045}$. Results of this study indicate quantitatively predicting the thermal characteristics of welding spatter is possible for minimizing the risk of fire spread when the electrode type and welding power is known.