tulupotentsiaal

Tulupotensiaal is a concept used primarily in fire science and safety engineering to quantify the inherent ability of a material or mixture to produce fire or combustion. The term originates from the Finnish words *tulu* (fire) and *potensiaali* (potential) and has been adopted in Estonian and other Nordic languages in both academic and regulatory contexts. In practice, tulupotensiaal is expressed as an energy value, typically joules per kilogram, derived from the higher heating value of the material when completely oxidised. The value is also influenced by the substance’s ignition temperature, the availability of oxygen, and its physical state (solid, liquid, or gas).

Fire‑hazard assessment procedures often incorporate tulupotensiaal alongside other indices such as flammability limits and autoignition temperatures. In forest fire management, a tulupotensiaal map may be produced by combining vegetation type, moisture content, and climatic variables to indicate areas of elevated ignition risk. In industrial risk analyses, tulupotensiaal informs the design of ventilation systems, the placement of fire suppression devices, and the classification of hazard sections in regulatory documents such as the OSHA or EU Fire Safety Directive.

The calculation of tulupotensiaal can be performed experimentally, via bomb calorimetry or by using chemical kinetic models that simulate the heat release rate of a flame. Computational models may also integrate tulupotensiaal into larger-scale simulations of emergency scenarios, such as chemical leaks or thermal explosions. While the term is not widely used outside Nordic regions, its conceptual equivalents, including “heat of combustion” and “ignition potential,” appear frequently in international fire‑extinction literature.