Toward the Goal of a Performance Fire Code.
Toward the Goal of a Performance Fire Code.
(475 K)
Bukowski, R. W.; Tanaka, T.
CSIRO. International Fire Safety Engineering
Conference. Concept and the Tools. Presented for FORUM
for International Cooperation on Fire Research.
Supported by SFPE, NFPA, AFPA, AAFA. October 18-20,
1992, Sydney, Australia, 1991.
Fire and Materials, Vol. 15, No. 4, 175-180,
October/December 1991.
Keywords:
fire codes; regulations; fire safety; simulation; safety
factors; heat release rate; fuel load; fire growth
Abstract:
The paper presents a strategy for the development and
implementaion of performance-based fire codes on an
international scale. The process begins with agreement
on a common set of goals which underline the code.
Existing code bodies then decide on an appropriate set
of quantitative prediction tools with which they are
comfortable, and use them to quantify the degree to
which their current code addresses these goals by
establishing a standard design fire for each occupancy.
By applying standard safety criteria and safety factors
appropriate to the choice of predictive methods, the
performance of any building can be quantified against
the stated goals. To allow for an orderly transition
from current codes, an interim code structure under
which currently acceptable methods are 'deemed to
satifsy' the code is presented.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899