What is a Flashover?

Scientific research into fire dynamics has categorized flashover as a key milestone in fire behavior, influencing modern building codes and firefighting tactics.

Flashover is frequently observed in experimental fire testing and real-world structural fires where ventilation and fuel load create the necessary thermal conditions.

Flashover is defined as the near-simultaneous ignition of most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area.

Understanding flashover is essential for fire investigation and structural fire suppression, as it marks the point where the fire becomes untenable for human survival.

As the fire progresses, the hot gas layer thickens and increases in temperature. Once the heat flux at the floor level reaches approximately 20 kW/m², the contents of the room reach their auto-ignition temperature.