HRR-Based Calibration of an FDS Model for Office Fire Simulations Using Full-Scale Wood Crib Experiments

This study deals with the simulation of office fires by combining large-scale experiments with nine wooden cribs and a carefully calibrated computer model. It shows how real fire conditions, reaching up to 800–1000 °C, could be reproduced experimentally. The numerical model was validated by comparing HRR and temperature data with real measurements. Accuracy was assessed using error metrics to ensure that the simulation closely approximates real fire behavior. The method of determining HRR through mass loss has been used in prior studies, but those typically involved small-scale setups and limited fire loads. Unlike most approaches in the field, this research is based on a full-scale experiment involving nine wooden cribs, offering superior realism and thermal intensity. The experimental data—temperature evolution, HRR, and observed destructive effects—were used to calibrate the FDS model. The strength of the study lies in the repeatability and accuracy of the simulation, its practical relevance, and its potential to improve fire safety evaluations for office spaces.