A Study on the Application of ASET About Fire Simulation to Hydrogen Cyanide Gas Generated from Nitrogen-Based Combustible Fires in Apartment Complexes

doi:10.15683/kosdi.2026.6.30.662

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2026 Vol.22, Issue 2 Preview Page Next Page

Original Article

A Study on the Application of ASET About Fire Simulation to Hydrogen Cyanide Gas Generated from Nitrogen-Based Combustible Fires in Apartment Complexes 주거시설 질소계 가연물 화재에서 발생되는 시안화수소 가스에 대한 화재시뮬레이션 ASET 적용 연구: 고민혁¹ㆍ양이광²ㆍ최영진³*
Minhyeok Ko¹, Leekwang Yang², Youngjin Choi³*; ¹Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Urban Disaster Management, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
²Professor, Division of Fire Protection and Safety Engineering, Korea Cyber University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
³Associate Professor, Department of Architectural Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Republic of Korea

30 June 2026. pp. 662-674

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Abstract

Purpose: HCN is a deadly toxic gas, yet it is not being reflected in the domestic ASET. Method: To perform the fire simulation, a residential facility of approximately 500 pyeong was used, and a polyurethane combustible mattress was applied. HCN yields of 0.005 (Case 1) and 0.012 (Case 2) were compared. Result: At all measurement points, HCN reached the reference concentration before CO, and the time to reach 80ppm of HCN in Case 2 was shortened by 13.9–27.2% compared to Case 1. Conclusion: In this study, an analysis of the time to reach the ASET threshold for CO and HCN when HCN yield is taken into account confirms that HCN reaches it relatively faster. It is expected that this research will serve as foundational data for developing toxic gas-based ASET evaluation techniques that reflect the characteristics of nitrogen-based combustibles in future domestic performance-based design practices and related guidelines.

Keywords

ASET

Toxic Gas

HCN

Polyurethane

FDS

연구목적: HCN은 치명적인 독성가스로, 국내 ASET에선 반영되지 않고 있는 상황이다. 연구방법: 화재시뮬레이션 수행을 위하여 약 500평 규모의 주거시설로 화재 시뮬레이션을 수행하였으며 폴리우레탄 가연물인 매트리스를 적용하였다. HCN yield 0.005(Case 1)와 0.012(Case 2)를 비교하였다. 연구결과: 모든 측정지점에서 HCN이 CO보다 먼저 기준농도에 도달하였고, Case 2의 HCN 80ppm 도달시간은 Case 1보다 13.9~27.2% 단축되었다. 결론: 본 연구에서는 HCN yield를 반영하였을 때 CO와 HCN의 ASET 기준 도달 시간을 분석해보면 상대적으로 HCN이 빨리 도달하는 것으로 확인할 수 있다. 본 연구를 통해 향후 국내 성능위주설계 실무와 관련 가이드라인에서 질소계 가연물의 특성을 반영한 독성가스 기반 ASET 평가기법을 발전시키는 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

키워드

ASET

Toxic Gas

HCN

Polyurethane

FDS

References

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Bonsall, J.L. (1984). “Survival without sequelae following exposure to 500 mg/m3 of hydrogen cyanide.” Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 57-60. 10.1177/0960327184003001081
Hartzell, G.E., Emmons, H.W. (1988). “The fractional effective dose model for assessment of toxic hazards in fires.” Journal of Fire Sciences, Vol. 6, pp. 356-362. 10.1177/073490418800600504
Hostikka, S., Linna, A. (2025). “On the use of surrogate gases in fire toxicity calculations.” Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 156, 104435. 10.1016/j.firesaf.2025.104435
International Organization for Standardization (2016). Life-threatening Components of Fire - Part 2: Methodology and Examples of Tenability Assessment, ISO/TR 13571-2, International Organization for Standardization, Switzerland, pp. 3-4.
Kimmerle, G. (1974). “Aspects and methodology for the evaluation of toxicological parameters during fire exposure.” Journal of Combustion Toxicology, Vol. 1, 4.
Kwon, O.S., Han, H.S., Hwang, C.H. (2024). “Risk assessment of hydrogen cyanide for available safe egress time in fire simulation.” Applied Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 16, 6890. 10.3390/app14166890
Kwon, O.S., Han, H.S., Lee, J.O., Hwang, C.H. (2022). “Effect of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on available safe egress time (ASET) in fire simulation for PBD.” Proceedings of 2022 KIFSE Annual Fall Conference, Jecheon, p. 42.
Liu, Z., He, H., Chen, Y., Zheng, J., Zhuang, H. (2023). “Experimental investigation and numerical modelling of CO and HCN release during the combustion of flexible polyurethane foam.” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Vol. 174, 106141. 10.1016/j.jaap.2023.106141
McGrattan, K., Hostikka, S., Floyd, J., McDermott, R., Vanella, M. (2025). Fire Dynamics Simulator Technical Reference Guide Volume 2: Verification (Sixth Edition). NIST Special Publication 1018-2, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, USA.
McGrattan, K., Hostikka, S., Floyd, J., McDermott, R., Vanella, M. (2025). Fire Dynamics Simulator User’s Guide (Sixth Edition). NIST Special Publication 1019, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, USA.
McNamara, B.P. (1976). Estimates of the Toxicity of Hydrocyanic Acid Vapors in Man. Technical Report, Edgewood Arsenal, ADA028501, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA. 10.21236/ADA028501
National Fire Agency (2017). Performance Based Design Methods and Standards on Fire-Fighting System Design Installation Act, National Standard, National Fire Agency, Sejong, Annex 1.
National Fire Agency (2025). Standard Guidelines for Performance-Based Design Evaluation and Operation of Firefighting Facilities, Technical Report, National Fire Agency, Sejong.
Purser, D.A., Grimshaw, P., Berrill, K.R. (1984). “Intoxication by cyanide in fires: A study in monkeys using polyacrylonitrile.” Archives of Environmental Health, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 394-400. 10.1080/00039896.1984.10545871
Society of Fire Protection Engineers (2016). SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (Fifth Edition), Springer, Gaithersburg.
Society of Fire Protection Engineers (2019). SFPE Guide to Human Behavior in Fire (Second Edition), Springer, Gaithersburg.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (2007). Electric Power Research Institute, Verification and Validation of Selected Fire Models for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, Volume 1: Main Report, NUREG-1824 and EPRI 1011999. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Palo Alto and Rockvile, USA.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Disaster Information
Publisher(Ko) :한국재난정보학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
Journal Title(Ko) :한국재난정보학회논문집
Volume : 22
No :2
Pages :662-674
DOI :https://doi.org/10.15683/kosdi.2026.6.30.662

[1] Barcroft, J. (1931). “The toxicity of atmospheres containing hydrocyanic acid gas.” Journal of Hygiene, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 1-34. 10.1017/S0022172400010664

[2] Bonsall, J.L. (1984). “Survival without sequelae following exposure to 500 mg/m3 of hydrogen cyanide.” Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 57-60. 10.1177/0960327184003001081

[3] Hartzell, G.E., Emmons, H.W. (1988). “The fractional effective dose model for assessment of toxic hazards in fires.” Journal of Fire Sciences, Vol. 6, pp. 356-362. 10.1177/073490418800600504

[4] Hostikka, S., Linna, A. (2025). “On the use of surrogate gases in fire toxicity calculations.” Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 156, 104435. 10.1016/j.firesaf.2025.104435

[5] International Organization for Standardization (2016). Life-threatening Components of Fire - Part 2: Methodology and Examples of Tenability Assessment, ISO/TR 13571-2, International Organization for Standardization, Switzerland, pp. 3-4.

[6] Kimmerle, G. (1974). “Aspects and methodology for the evaluation of toxicological parameters during fire exposure.” Journal of Combustion Toxicology, Vol. 1, 4.

[7] Kwon, O.S., Han, H.S., Hwang, C.H. (2024). “Risk assessment of hydrogen cyanide for available safe egress time in fire simulation.” Applied Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 16, 6890. 10.3390/app14166890

[8] Kwon, O.S., Han, H.S., Lee, J.O., Hwang, C.H. (2022). “Effect of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on available safe egress time (ASET) in fire simulation for PBD.” Proceedings of 2022 KIFSE Annual Fall Conference, Jecheon, p. 42.

[9] Liu, Z., He, H., Chen, Y., Zheng, J., Zhuang, H. (2023). “Experimental investigation and numerical modelling of CO and HCN release during the combustion of flexible polyurethane foam.” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Vol. 174, 106141. 10.1016/j.jaap.2023.106141

[10] McGrattan, K., Hostikka, S., Floyd, J., McDermott, R., Vanella, M. (2025). Fire Dynamics Simulator Technical Reference Guide Volume 2: Verification (Sixth Edition). NIST Special Publication 1018-2, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, USA.

[11] McGrattan, K., Hostikka, S., Floyd, J., McDermott, R., Vanella, M. (2025). Fire Dynamics Simulator User’s Guide (Sixth Edition). NIST Special Publication 1019, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, USA.

[12] McNamara, B.P. (1976). Estimates of the Toxicity of Hydrocyanic Acid Vapors in Man. Technical Report, Edgewood Arsenal, ADA028501, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA. 10.21236/ADA028501

[13] National Fire Agency (2017). Performance Based Design Methods and Standards on Fire-Fighting System Design Installation Act, National Standard, National Fire Agency, Sejong, Annex 1.

[14] National Fire Agency (2025). Standard Guidelines for Performance-Based Design Evaluation and Operation of Firefighting Facilities, Technical Report, National Fire Agency, Sejong.

[15] Purser, D.A., Grimshaw, P., Berrill, K.R. (1984). “Intoxication by cyanide in fires: A study in monkeys using polyacrylonitrile.” Archives of Environmental Health, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 394-400. 10.1080/00039896.1984.10545871

[16] Society of Fire Protection Engineers (2016). SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (Fifth Edition), Springer, Gaithersburg.

[17] Society of Fire Protection Engineers (2019). SFPE Guide to Human Behavior in Fire (Second Edition), Springer, Gaithersburg.

[18] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (2007). Electric Power Research Institute, Verification and Validation of Selected Fire Models for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, Volume 1: Main Report, NUREG-1824 and EPRI 1011999. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Palo Alto and Rockvile, USA.

Journal of the Society of Disaster Information ISSN:1976-2208(Print) 2671-5287(Online) 한국재난정보학회논문집

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