What does thermal dose equal?

Thermal dose is a measure of the amount of thermal energy absorbed by a material, and it takes into account both the intensity of heat (flux) and the duration of exposure to that heat (exposure time). The correct relationship is represented by the product of flux and exposure time.

When discussing heat exposure, flux represents the heat transfer rate per unit area, typically measured in watts per square meter (W/m²), while exposure time is measured in seconds. By multiplying these two quantities together, the resulting thermal dose reflects the total energy deposited into the material during that time. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of how much thermal energy a material experiences, enabling better assessments of potential fire hazards.

Thus, the multiplication of flux by exposure time accurately quantifies the total thermal impact, making it the appropriate formula for calculating thermal dose.