Quantifying the Effectiveness of a Mesh in Mitigating Burning Capabilities of Firebrand Shower

Article

Sharifian, Ahmad and Du Preez, Matthew. 2022. "Quantifying the Effectiveness of a Mesh in Mitigating Burning Capabilities of Firebrand Shower." Fire. 5 (5), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5050150

Article Title	Quantifying the Effectiveness of a Mesh in Mitigating Burning Capabilities of Firebrand Shower
ERA Journal ID	212512
Article Category	Article
Authors	Sharifian, Ahmad (Author) and Du Preez, Matthew (Author)
Journal Title	Fire
Journal Citation	5 (5), pp. 1-18
Article Number	150
Number of Pages	18
Year	2022
Publisher	MDPI AG
Place of Publication	Switzerland
ISSN	2571-6255
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5050150
Web Address (URL)	https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/5/5/150
Abstract	The broad aim of this research is to quantify the effectiveness of fences made of metal mesh around buildings in mitigating risks associated with firebrand showers created in wildland fires. This paper aims to (1) quantify the effectiveness of a mesh complying with Australian Standard 3959:2018 against firebrand showers and (2) identify behaviors of firebrands interacting with the mesh. The study was conducted using Red Gum and Cypress Pinewood firebrands inside a wind tunnel at 40 km/h with and without a mesh present for a total of 50 experiments. Two types of effectiveness were defined using the number of holes and their area burnt by the firebrand. The results show the mesh was highly effective against both large and small firebrands except for some long needle shape firebrands. The results are aligned with AS 3959:2018 and show an effectiveness ratio of the mesh in the range 93.2–98.8% for Red Gum and Cypress Pine firebrands at a wind speed of 40 km/h. It was documented that firebrands in interaction with the mesh show one or a combination of eight different mechanisms: passing, stopping, splitting, shattering, pausing, bouncing, slipping and wandering.
Keywords	wildfire; mesh; firebrand; red gum; cypress pine; wind tunnel
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020	300706. Forestry fire management
	401199. Environmental engineering not elsewhere classified
	330308. Fire safety design
	410199. Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified
	419999. Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified
	401799. Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified
	400507. Fire safety engineering
Byline Affiliations	School of Engineering
Institution of Origin	University of Southern Queensland

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