Evaluation of Hydraulic Ventilation Effectiveness During Fire Suppression in Small Compartments

Efficient firefighting strategies are essential for ensuring firefighter safety during firefighting operations. In compartment fires, the risk of firefighter accidents, such as backdrafts, may increase depending on the location and timing of ventilation openings. Hydraulic ventilation, which is used to minimize such risks by discharging a high-velocity water stream through an opening to remove heat and smoke from a fire compartment, is a commonly used firefighting method. Therefore, a quantitative analysis of its effectiveness is required. Accordingly, this study examined the effectiveness of hydraulic ventilation compared with that of natural ventilation under compartment fire conditions. A realistic fire scenario was simulated experimentally by configuring a compartment in which firefighter entry was impossible and achieving hydraulic ventilation through an external opening. The results showed that hydraulic ventilation resulted in an earlier onset and a more rapid reduction in smoke obscuration than natural ventilation, thereby leading to a shorter time required to achieve acceptable visibility. In addition, the upper-layer temperature reduction rate under hydraulic ventilation was significantly higher than that under natural ventilation. These findings indicate that hydraulic ventilation can improve working conditions and safety of firefighters during fireground operations.