Investigation of the air flow characteristics of dock gates used as air supply openings in warehouses with smoke and heat ventilation system

Abstract

In our article smoke and heat ventilation characteristics of warehouse loading docks are investigated, which are often used as fresh air inlet sources. The tests are focusing on the air flow characteristics and the fire protection design. The efficiency of air inlet depends on the
geometrical design and the materials of the dock. We used CFD simulations to reach our main goal: to develop a planning method for the calibration of the smoke and heat ventilation system. We collected data to the analysis of the fire protection problems. This covers the legal backgrounds, the ways of developing air-suppliers, the run-down of the logistics related data and the collection of cases of fire evolving near by the docking areas. Based on these surveys the fire safety of the loading docks, trucks and buildings could be improved by the following points:

Symmetrically placed openings with air-supply shutters in the sides of the loading docks should be the air-suppliers, not the gate of the docking area.

A fire detection and alarm system should be installed within the docking area as well, in case a truck takes on fire, the relevant air-supply gate should not open, but the others should.

The building’s built-in fire extinguisher system should be expanded to the loadingdocks.

The spreading of the fire through the docking areas should be prohibited with fire rated structures.