Basics of evaluation of thermal radiation effects on humans in industrial fires

Abstract

The issues in evaluating the effects of industrial fires on humans are very complex. One of the major factors posing a danger to humans in a fire is heat flux. There are multiple ways to evaluate these effects and each has its own specifics and drawbacks. The aim of this contribution is to analyze the basic parameters for various types of industrial fires, radiative heat transfer characteristics and the way the heat flux transferred by radiation affects human organism. Further discussed are basic means (models) to describe relationship of heat flux and its effects on exposed individuals.