Minutes of the first user group meeting.

1. Minutes of the First user group meeting of the SBO-project
06/02/2009
13h30: Start of the meeting
Present:
Emmanuel Annerel (UGent) – Benoit de Quick (KMS) – Istvan Horvath (VKI) – Mehdi
Jangi (UGent) – Bart Merci (UGent) – Fermin Pasqualina (KMS) – Bart Sette (WFR
Gent) – Luc Taerwe (UGent) – Nele Tilley (UGent) – Filip Van den Schoor (KUL) –
Paul Vandevelde (UGent) – Jeroen van Beeck (VKI) – John Vantomme (KMS)
Marc Bonheure (Promat NV) - Xavier Deckers (IFSET) – Caroline Deleu
(WarringtonFire) – Koen Demaeght (Brakel Aero) – Jean-Claude De Smedt
(CEN/TC191/SC1/WG9) – Dominique Du Tré (Agoria) – Christian Gryspeert
(Brandweer Roeselare) – Patrick Janssens (Colt België) – Stefaan Maekelberg (FOD
Binnenlandse Zaken) – Lieven Schoonbaert (Technum - Tractebel) – Erwin Theuns (VK
Engineering) – Bart Vanbever (Vinçotte) – Koen Van Herpe (FireTec) – Gerard van
Oosteren (Colt Nederland)
13h45 – 13h50: Short introduction of all people present
13h50 – 16h10: Presentations
- prof. Bart Merci (UGent): presentation of the SBO-project
- ir. Nele Tilley (UGent): preliminary CFD calculations
- dr.ir. Filip Van den Schoor (KULeuven): planned activities at KULeuven
- prof. Jeroen van Beeck (VKI): experimental facilities and planned activities at VKI
- prof. John Vantomme (RMA): experimental facilities and planned activities at
RMA
- prof. Luc Taerwe (UGent): planned activities on structural aspects at UGent
- prof. Paul Vandevelde (UGent / WFRGent NV): role of WFRGent in the project
16h10 – 17h: Discussion
There is very active participation from the user group members.
Some specific remarks are made, with requests for more research:
- effect of obstructions (e.g. staircases) on SHC (‘Smoke and Heat Control’): very
relevant for fire services;
- is the location of the fire source in the middle the worst case? Can this be tested in
the wind tunnel?
- What could be the effect of active fire protection with sprinklers/watermist and
what would be the effect of combination with ventilation? What about detection?
Water systems might be very valuable for existing car parks (reduced extraction
rates required?). VKI can perform tests in wind tunnels, but these have not been
retained in the present project.
- A global risk analysis will be an interesting starting point for the definition of
scenarios. The risk analysis will help in the decision where more time or less time
will be devoted. The effects (of fire or explosion) will be investigated. It is

2. remarked that a risk analysis has been performed concerning LPG and results are
available at FOD Binnenlandse Zaken. It is mentioned that there are also (limited)
data sets in The Netherlands and at the University of Mons.
- It is remarked that CNG is also interesting for consideration in the project.
- Is there a difference between accident / terrorist attack? Terrorist attacks have not
been included in the present proposal yet.
- It is remarked that BRE recently completed their research project on car park fires.
Attention will be paid to the results as soon as they become publically available. It
is an important general remark that all members are invited to share knowledge /
research results that might be of relevance for the project.
- Explosion of partially burnt smoke gases is mentioned as a possible and serious
hazard.
Bart Merci explains that most of the requested additional research points had been
included in the original (4 year) project proposal. However, due to budget limitations,
some aspects had to be withdrawn, in order to be able to stick within the budget. There is
general enthusiasm that a follow-up project proposal will be submitted, covering the
mentioned aspects. It is also stated that already many issues will be tackled with the
present budget.
Some members of the user group offer equipment for the experiments.
Guide lines for protection and fire service intervention important, not only for new car
parks, but also for existing car parks. Consultancy bureaus are also strongly interested in
the project results. FOD Binnenlandse Zaken also confirms their interest. This is
promising for the valorization of the project results. It is mentioned that IWT sees this in
a 10 year time window.
Bart Merci announces that the web site (under construction), dedicated to the project, will
be a very important communication channel. Newsletters and a blog will be included, so
that interesting technical discussions can be pursued.
The date of the next meeting is 29 June 2009. The location will be either WFRGent NV
or Labo Magnel (UGent).
17h: Visit to future test site (dr.ir. Bart Sette, WFRGent NV)