Non-dimensional heat of gasification measurements in the intermediate scale rate of heat release apparatus

Wall-fire spread models require heat of gasification or non-dimensional heat of gasification to calculate mass loss rate or rate of heat release from the wall material. An intermediate scale rate of heat release apparatus was used to measure all the parameters needed to calculate non-dimensional heat of gasification for wood materials. An infra-red pyrometer was used to measure surface temperature. The results of measurements on six wood materials indicate that non-dimensional heat of gasification, if plotted against mass remaining, does not change significantly with external heat flux, but is material dependent.