ISO 24678-7:2019

Overview

ISO 24678-7:2019 - Fire safety engineering - Requirements governing algebraic formulae - Part 7: Radiation heat flux received from an open pool fire - defines the requirements for using explicit algebraic formulae to calculate radiation heat flux from an open pool fire. It implements the general verification/validation approach in ISO 16730‑1 and is delivered as a template that ensures formulae are documented, limited and applied consistently in fire dynamics and performance‑based fire safety engineering.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and phenomena: Focuses on radiation heat flux from pool fires (circular or near‑circular) and the physical parameters that control radiative flux (fuel properties, pool geometry, flame height, radiative fraction, atmospheric transmissivity).
• Template requirements: Formula sets must provide:
  • Clear description of the physical phenomena addressed
  • Full documentation of calculation procedures and scientific basis
  • Quantitative limitations and domain of applicability
  • Defined input parameters, valid ranges and SI units
  • Worked examples demonstrating use
• Documentation & traceability: Each algebraic formula must be presented with variable definitions, assumptions, references to peer‑reviewed literature or handbooks, and examples of evaluation.
• Geometry and configuration: Diagrams to describe pool geometry, target location, and any intervening screens are required. Annex B supplies configuration factor formulae (flame‑to‑target).
• Examples and annexes: Annex A provides algebraic formulae for radiation from circular/near‑circular pool fires; Annex B covers configuration factors for a cylindrical flame to a target.

Practical applications

• Rapid estimation of radiation heat flux to assess ignition risk, equipment damage, human injury thresholds, or structural exposure in design fire scenarios.
• Screening and comparison of trial designs in performance‑based fire safety projects where quick, repeatable calculations are needed before detailed numerical modeling.
• Supporting detector placement studies, protection shielding design, and emergency planning by quantifying target heat load from pool fires.
• Useful for project stages where validated, documented algebraic models can guide design decisions or feed into larger fire dynamics calculations.

Who should use ISO 24678‑7:2019

• Fire safety engineers and consultants performing performance‑based design
• Regulatory authorities and reviewers assessing calculation methods
• Researchers developing or validating simplified radiation models
• Designers of industrial installations, ships, vehicles and buildings where pool‑type hydrocarbon fires are a credible hazard

Related standards

• ISO 16730‑1 (verification and validation of calculation methods)
• ISO 23932‑1 (performance‑based fire safety design process)
• ISO 13943 (fire safety vocabulary)
• ISO 16733‑1 and ISO 5725 (scenario selection; precision of test methods)

Keywords: ISO 24678-7:2019, fire safety engineering, radiation heat flux, open pool fire, algebraic formulae, pool fire radiation, configuration factors, radiative fraction.