Fire Dynamics and Evacuation Simulation Study on the Library Adapting BIPV Based on the Experimental Data of a Cone Calorimeter

Abstract

A building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system can function as a solar cell and as a building exterior material. As some of its components are made of combustible materials, it is necessary to evaluate the risk of fire. In this study, the risk of fire before and after BIPV installation was compared through fire simulation using the PyroSim program. Prior to the simulation, a BIPV combustion characteristic database was established via a cone calorimeter experiment with a BIPV system panel, and the results were analyzed through a fire simulation using these experimental values as input values. The fire risk evaluation confirmed that when BIPV was installed, the fire propagation due to vertical diffusion was fast. Additionally, the amount of heat and smoke emitted increased, resulting in an increase in the risk of fire by 54.94% based on the center of the building at 805 s. Therefore, it is expected that the results of this study will contribute to securing the reliability of evacuation and manual measures for people in BIPV-installed buildings as well as improve fire safety.