TITLE:
Enhancing Fire Safety in Commercial Vehicles: Assessing the Efficacy and Advantages of Exploding Fire Extinguishing Balls
AUTHORS:
Paul W. Ford
KEYWORDS:
Exploding Fire Extinguishing Balls, Commercial Vehicles, Fire Suppression, Fire Safety Technology, Human Factors, Usability Feasibility Study
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Transportation Technologies,
Vol.14 No.4,
October
8,
2024
ABSTRACT: Fire incidents in commercial vehicles pose significant risks to passengers, drivers, and cargo. Traditional fire extinguishing systems, while effective, may have limitations in terms of response time, coverage, and human intervention [1]. This study investigates the efficacy of a novel fire suppression technology—the Exploding Fire Extinguishing Ball (EFEB) —as an alternative and complementary fire safety solution for commercial vehicles. The research employs a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing engineering, materials science, fire safety, and human factors analysis. A systematic literature review establishes a comprehensive understanding of existing fire suppression technologies, including EFEBs. Subsequently, this study analyzes the unique features of EFEBs, such as automatic activation, as well as manual activation upon exposure to fire, and their potential to provide rapid, localized, and autonomous fire suppression. The study presents original experimental investigations to assess the performance and effectiveness of EFEBs in various fire scenarios representative of commercial vehicles. Experiments include controlled fires in confined spaces and dynamic simulations to emulate real-world fire incidents. Data on activation times, extinguishing capability, and coverage area are collected and analyzed to compare the efficacy of EFEBs with traditional fire extinguishing methods. Furthermore, this research shows the practical aspects of implementing EFEBs in commercial vehicles. A feasibility study examines the integration challenges, cost-benefit analysis, and potential regulatory implications. The study also addresses the impact of EFEBs on vehicle weight, stability, and overall safety. Human factors and user acceptance are crucial elements in adopting new safety technologies. Therefore, this research utilizes an experimental design to assess the performance and effectiveness of EFEBs in various fire scenarios representative of commercial vehicles. This dissertation presents original controlled experiments to emulate real-world fire incidents, including controlled fires in confined spaces and dynamic simulations. The experimental approach ensures rigorous evaluation and objective insights into EFEBs’ potential as an autonomous fire suppression system for commercial vehicles. This includes the perspectives of drivers, passengers, fleet operators, insurance agencies, and regulatory bodies. Factors influencing trust, perceived safety, and willingness to adopt EFEBs are analyzed to provide insights into the successful integration of this technology. The findings of this research will contribute to the knowledge of fire safety technology and expand the understanding of the applicability of EFEBs in commercial vehicles.