Fire exposure to an office trailer complex

The hazard of fire exposure between adjacent buildings has been a concern within the Department of Energy and at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). We have used many codes, standards and local directives to determine the appropriate fire separation distance for placing new trailers adjacent to our existing facilities. The Fire Science Group secured an office trailer complex that was scheduled for demolition and conducted a full-scale fire test to observe and quantify the fire behavior of trailers at separation distances typical for LLNL. The test series included external fire exposure from pool fires of kerosene and a final full-scale test of one trailer in complete burning condition exposing another trailer at a 15-foot separation distance. This behavior--although not general--may serve as a reference for future fire-protection evaluations at LLNL. It may also serve as a starting point for planning a test program to obtain data needed as a basis for revising or validating trailer standards used at DOE facilities. 3 refs., 30 figs.