Prediction of Horizontal Ceiling Jet Temperatures in Corridor Fires: Experiment Versus Theory

In this study, we experimentally evaluated existing correlations for predicting horizontal ceiling jet temperatures in corridor fires, where wall effects influence fire-induced flow behavior. The correlations of Alpert, Heskestad, and Delichatsios, which are widely used in performance-based fire safety engineering, were used as reference models and compared with data from a full-scale corridor experiment designed to create wall-restricted, confined flow with thermal accumulation. The results showed that these established correlations inaccurately predicted temperatures in such confined spaces. These findings demonstrate the need for a new predictive method applicable to circulation spaces in large buildings, where wall-induced flow confinement is prevalent.