Introduction to Holistic Fire Engineering

I was first introduced to the work of Paul Bryant through his book, Fire Strategies-Strategic Thinking. It was in this book that he first introduced the idea of holistic fire strategies. Through our interactions I was afforded the privilege to contribute to his most recent book, Holistic Fire Strategies: The Search for a Global Methodology. 

 

“This book explores the concept of holistic fire strategies - an idea developed by the author to provide a more inclusive and global approach to fire safety engineering and the preparation of fire strategies…It is suggested that fire strategies can be formulated and evaluated in a globally consistent manner. He suggests that the whole process can be controlled online which will improve consistency, reduce wasted resources and provide a much needed audit trail. The book includes some "soft" calculus to offer an alternative method to analyze fire risk as well as a novel method to assess actual fire strategies against a baseline version.”

 

The fire industry has seen a broad shift from prescriptive based to performance-based codes. However,  there are still issues to be addressed. These issues require a new evolution in fire engineering methodology.

• A performance based approach can potentially allow for a spectrum of solutions. However, what determines that the solution put forward is the most optimal in terms of efficiency, logistics and economics?

• There remains confusion and mistrust regarding a performance-based approach. Those with the responsibility for approvals ask if the design solution is “code compliant” which is probably not the correct terminology given the flexibility in application.

• A number of national regulations still do not adequately embrace performance-based solutions.

• “This fire strategy does not consider extreme events”. What may have been once an extreme event may now be more commonplace. Should not a strategy consider everything that could realistically lead to a fire?

• There is still insufficient buy-in from stakeholders. Project meetings can end up as a tussle between the fire engineer, architect, client, project managers, or enforcers.

 

Holistic fire engineering embraces the following principles:

1. To ensure that a fire engineered solution properly accounts for the real and perceived threats affecting the building, its occupancy and processes. Extreme events may or may not be included based upon a risk evaluation.

2. That we consider, fully, all objectives, and not just those applicable to national regulations. Note that comparison with national regulations will need to be included within the process.

3. We use all recognized means to develop holistic fire strategies.

4. Critical to holistic fire engineering is that the analysis and design process is controlled by a measurement system to allow full auditability and comparison at any stage of the process. Consequently, third parties can be provided with greater assurance that the solution is compliant with “holistic fire engineering” metrics.

5. The process and metrics must be transferable globally such that they will be the same wherever they are applied.

 

Recently Paul and I met to discuss developing a cross continental online platform to allow the formulation and verification of fire strategies for all complex building profiles, wherever they are. As the development continues, we will keep those interested up to date. For those who would like to be more involved, please go to www.igni.online and register your interest. 

Want to change the world? You might have to change a code or standard first. Learn how with this free guide, Affecting Change Through Codes and Standards.

Have questions, issues, or concerns? Schedule a free consultation with me.

Contact me through my website at, www.aaronj.org.

 

Why is London Burning?

In the early hours of Wednesday, June 14, 2017, forty fire engines and 200 firefighters responded to a fire in Grenfell Tower.  The fire started on the fourth floor of the apartment complex, and within fifteen minutes had scaled the exterior of the structure burning through the building’s 24 floors.  As of this writing, the death toll has reached seventy-nine with others still unaccounted for.

The rapid spread and magnitude of this incident can be attributed to the combustible cladding used in the exterior construction of the tower. The void space between the aluminum panels and building fabric can create a “chimney effect” allowing fire to rapidly move up the side of a structure.

Within the last year, UK fire officials and experts, issued a report warning of the dangers of buildings being wrapped with combustible materials. The report noted an increase in the use of these combustible materials due to the desire for increased building efficiency, improved thermal effectiveness, and a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

WHITE PAPER: Building Exterior Wall Assembly Flammability: Have We Forgotten the Past 40Years?

Why is this type and magnitude of fire destruction not happening in the United States? Many years past, the fire engineering community noticed a trend in the increased use of combustible components in exterior construction.  Predicting the fire and life safety issues that this use of construction would present, research was conducted and a test method was developed, NFPA 285, StandardFire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of ExteriorNon-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components. This standard outlines the requirements and test procedures to determine if a given wall assembly could support a self-accelerating or self-spreading fire up an exterior wall, or spread fire to interior floors above the fire floor.  Through application and enforcement of this standard, America has been spared the costs and loss of these specific fire incidents.

The future prevention of these incidents, however, seems uncertain.  “Green building” and energy conservation interests have been pushing for reductions to, or elimination of, NFPA 285 testing requirements. The goal of these efforts is to allow “unfettered latitude in the use of plastics in exterior walls”.  Attempts to modify these fire safety requirements in the model codes have been unsuccessful. In Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Indiana, and Minnesota NFPA 285 testing requirements have been successfully eliminated or reduced, however, through the local code adoption process.

By examining exterior wall fires around the world, understanding the history and development of NFPA 285, and reviewing the test method, Building Exterior Wall Assembly Flammability: Have We Forgotten the Past 40 Years?, demonstrates how the continued use and enforcement of NFPA 285 is essential in preserving a fire safe America.

WHITE PAPER: Building Exterior Wall Assembly Flammability: Have We Forgotten the Past 40Years?

Holistic Fire Engineering

The fire industry has seen a broad shift from prescriptive based to performance-based codes. However,  there are still a issues to be addressed.

• A performance based approach can potentially allow for a spectrum of solutions. However, what determines that the solution put forward is the most optimal in terms of efficiency, logistics and economics?
• There remains confusion and mistrust regarding a performance-based approach. Those with the responsibility for approvals ask if the design solution is “code compliant” which is probably not the correct terminology given the flexibility in application.
• A number of national regulations still do not adequately embrace performance-based solutions.
• “This fire strategy does not consider extreme events”. What may have been once an extreme event may now be more commonplace. Should not a strategy consider everything that could realistically lead to a fire?
• There is still insufficient buy-in from stakeholders. Project meetings can end up as a tussle between the fire engineer, architect, client, project managers, or enforcers.

These issues require the next evolution in fire protection engineering and design.  Paul Bryant, FireCubed LLP, has coined the term, “holistic fire engineering”, to describe this next evolution in fire engineering methodology.

An Introduction to Holistic Fire Engineering

Holistic fire engineering embraces the following principles:

1. To ensure that a fire engineered solution properly accounts for the real and perceived threats affecting the building, its occupancy and processes. Extreme events may or may not be included based upon a risk evaluation.

2. That we consider, fully, all objectives, and not just those applicable to national regulations. Note that comparison with national regulations will need to be included within the process.

3. We use all recognized means to develop holistic fire strategies.

4. Critical to holistic fire engineering is that the analysis and design process is controlled by a measurement system to allow full auditability and comparison at any stage of the process. Consequently, third parties can be provided with greater assurance that the solution is compliant with “holistic fire engineering” metrics.

5. The process and metrics must be transferable globally such that they will be the same wherever they are applied.