Impact of smoke screens on the fire safety level of shelters

Shakhov Stanislav

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9161-1696

Melnychenko Andrii

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7229-6926

Saveliev Dmytro

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4310-0437

Dement Maksym

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4975-384X

Artem Huz

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8869-2423

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52363/2524-0226-2025-42-20

Keywords: smoke screens, shelters, fire safety, fire modeling, Fire Dynamics Simulator

Аnnotation

The object of the study is the impact of smoke screens on the fire safety level of shelters. The main hypothesis is that the presence of smoke screens along evacuation routes increases the time before evacuation paths are blocked by hazardous fire factors, thereby enhancing the fire safety level of shelters. The problem addressed was to obtain scientifically substantiated data on the impact of smoke screens on the fire safety of shelters. The results provided data on the dynamics of hazardous fire factors with and without smoke screens. Comparative analysis showed that with smoke screens, the time to reach critical visibility loss at sensor №1 was 33 % slower. Thus, the smoke screen kept the evacuation exit viable for an additional 31 seconds, which is a significant margin for evacuation. Additionally, over 300 seconds, the smoke screen prevented exceeding the permissible limits for factors such as temperature and partial oxygen density. At sensor № 2, the time to reach critical visibility loss was 5 % slower with smoke screens, which is not a significant margin for evacuation. At sensor №3, located near the fire outbreak room, the time to reach critical visibility loss was identical with and without smoke screens, amounting to 37 seconds. Thus, the analysis of the modeling results confirms the appropriateness of smoke screens in enhancing the fire safety level of shelters. Smoke screens extend the time during which evacuation routes remain viable for evacuation. These findings can be used as compensatory measures in cases where evacuation routes in shelters (lacking forced smoke extraction systems) become blocked by hazardous fire factors faster than the duration of evacuation. However, the obtained results require validation through a full-scale experiment using a model evacuation route (corridor) for final confirmation.

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Investigation of the influence of fire protection systems on individual fire risk

Savchenko Olesia

Institute for Scientific Research on Civil Protection

of the National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4140-3055

Nizhnyk Vadym

Institute for Scientific Research on Civil Protection

of the National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3370-9027

Koval Roman

Institute for Scientific Research on Civil Protection

of the National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8970-2831

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52363/2524-0226-2025-42-18

Keywords: fire protection, risk, activation efficiency, alarm, fire extinguishing, smoke protection

Аnnotation

The paper presents the results of experimental studies on the impact of fire protection systems on individual fire risk in buildings. It is shown that the current state of the issue is determined by the lack of scientifically grounded patterns that would quantitatively describe the influence of effective operation of fire protection systems on the parameters of hazardous fire factors and, accordingly, on the calculated values of individual fire risk. A contradiction has been identified between practical approaches to ensuring fire safety and risk assessment methods that do not take into account the effectiveness of technical systems. A program and methodology for an experimental study have been proposed to verify theoretical provisions regarding the influence of fire protection systems on the dynamics of fire development as a derivative of individual fire risk. Criteria and controlled conditions have been defined, namely: temperature, smoke level, response time of the fire protection system, and the time to reach critical values of these criteria for human life. The obtained results made it possible to determine the probability coefficients of effective operation of fire protection systems and to validate the theoretical research. It has been established that the integrated functioning of fire protection systems provides a synergistic effect, reducing the rate of development of hazardous fire factors, extending the time to reach critical values such as temperature and smoke level, and thereby increasing the level of human safety during evacuation, which ultimately affects the value of individual fire risk. The research results were used to improve the methodology for assessing individual fire risk and can be applied in the development of regulatory requirements for equipping facilities with fire protection systems.

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Assessment of soil contamination in areas affected by rocket-artillery strikes

Rashkevich Nina

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5124-6068

Melezhyk Roman

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6425-4147

Alina Perehin

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2062-5537

Krasnov Viacheslav

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8445-6843

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52363/2524-0226-2025-42-19

Keywords: electrical conductivity, conductometry, explosion, soil aqueous extract, contamination, spatial–depth analysis, monitoring

Аnnotation

The article examines methodological approaches to assessing soil contamination in areas affected by rocket and artillery systems based on electrical conductivity indicators. The relevance of the study is driven by the need for rapid assessment of territorial conditions after explosive impacts, when traditional chemical analysis methods are too time-consuming or resource-intensive. The electrical conductivity of the aqueous extract is proposed as an indicator of the total content of dissolved ions, including metals and products of explosive reactions, which makes it possible to evaluate the potential toxicity of the soil and local environmental risks. To collect experimental data, soil samples were taken using a spatial–depth grid covering various distances from the explosion epicenter and different soil layers, ensuring the representativeness of the assessment of technogenic impact. Electrical conductivity measurements provided a basis for the mathematical description of the spatial–depth distribution of ionic load and enabled the proposal of an exponential attenuation model of the concentration effect. The model makes it possible to predict changes in contamination levels at intermediate points, assess the scale of explosion impacts, and trace the spread of soluble components within the soil profile, taking into account hydrogeological and terrain conditions. The results form a foundation for rapid assessment of technogenic load, operational zoning of territories, planning of civil protection measures, and forecasting long-term changes in soil conditions. The proposed approach combines experimental measurements and mathematical modeling to develop an adaptive monitoring system. Index-based data generalization ensures the comparison of contamination levels between sites, the identification of priority restoration zones, and the support of decision-making pro-cesses in post-conflict regions, as well as facilitating prompt responses to potential environmental emergencies.

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2. Rashkevich, N., Shevchenko, R., Yeremenko, S. (2025). Development of an Organizational and Technical Method of Emergency Prevention of Technological Character оn the Territory Which Was Attacked by Rocket and Artillery Impacts. In: Babak, V., Zaporozhets, A. (eds) Systems, Decision and Control in Energy VII. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 595, 717–747. Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-90466-0_33
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Dependence of the fire resistance limit of a steel column on the load level

Sidnei Stanislav

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7664-6620

Ishchenko Ivan

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

http://orcid.org/0009-0000-5050-4926

Kostenko Tetiana

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9426-8320

Motrichuk Roman

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5670-6788

Shkoliar Ievgenii

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7304-1677

Koloskov Volodymyr

National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9844-1845

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52363/2524-0226-2025-42-17

Keywords: fire resistance, finite element method, computer modeling, loss of load-bearing capacity, fire

Аnnotation

The object of the study is the stress–strain state of an unprotected steel column under the combined action of thermal and mechanical loading. The research problem lies in the absence of a simplified approach in modern engineering practice for assessing the fire resistance of steel columns that would provide an acceptable level of accuracy comparable to the results obtained through advanced numerical modeling methods. The application of such advanced methods requires significant computational resources, specialized software, and a high level of technical expertise. This makes them difficult to use during time-constrained design processes or for real-time risk assessments in practical conditions. Therefore, there is a need for a more accessible engineering tool capable of predicting the loss of load-bearing capacity of steel structures under fire exposure with sufficient accuracy, without relying on complex calculation schemes. As part of the research, calculations were performed to assess the fire resistance of an I-section steel column (section № 24) subjected to standard fire conditions in accordance with ISO 834, taking into account different levels of applied mechanical loading. The mathematical modeling was conducted in the ANSYS Workbench software environment, which made it possible to incorporate temperature-dependent material properties, the spatial geometry of the element, and the combined effect of thermal and mechanical loads. These calculations provided the basis for developing an analytical dependence of the fire resistance limit on the level of applied load. The proposed relationship ensures high accuracy, comparable to that of detailed numerical methods, while enabling a rapid assessment of the fire resistance of similar structural elements without the need for complex simulations, which typically require substantial computational capacity and specialized personnel. Thus, the results of the study formed the foundation for a practically oriented approach to the preliminary determination of the fire resistance limit of steel columns based on a known load level.

References

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