Numerical simulation of an informal dwelling fire in the colombian context

Abstract

Informal settlement fires have been recognized as a global problem, affecting thousands of people annually and representing an extensive risk for millions. Informal settlements are characterized by poor infrastructure, lack of access to vital services, and flammable construction materials. This paper presents a simplified numerical simulation of a Colombian informal dwelling built with Guadua. The temperature and heat flux results are compared with respect to an informal timber dwelling. A sensitivity analysis of the mesh, computational domain, and burner configuration is performed. The results show that the properties of Guadua reduce the flashover growth rate, the heat fluxes at the door and window, and the maximum temperature of the enclosure compared to a timber dwelling. These results provide an opportunity to understand Colombia's informal dwelling fire damage and could afford to develop security strategies in the most critical areas.