FIRE LOAD IN SCHOOL GYMNASIUMS -INVESTIGATION AND IMPLICATION TO FIRE RESISTANT DESIGN

Abstract

Investigation of fire load in 6 school gymnasiums, 2 for each of elementary, junior high and senior high schools in Akita and Fukushima Prefectures, is conducted for the performance oriented fire safety design of school gymnasium buildings under the localized fire concept. It reveals notable insufficiency of storages for exercise equipments which results in the increase of fire load in arenas and may make the localized-fire to achieve. A guideline has been proposed to prepare sufficient storage spaces in school gymnasium buildings.