Performance Based Fire Safety Regulation Under Intentional Uncertainty.
Performance Based Fire Safety Regulation Under
Intentional Uncertainty.
(742 K)
Brannigan, V. M.; Smidts, C.
Human Behavior in Fire. International Symposium, 1st.
Proceedings. August 31-September 2, 1998, Belfast,
Northern Ireland, Textflow Ltd., Northern Ireland,
Shields, J., Editor(s), 411-420 pp, 1999.
Fire and Materials, Vol. 23, No. 6, 341-347,
November/December 1999.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Keywords:
human behavior; performance based codes; fire safety;
regulations; fire risk; decision making; fire models;
uncertainty
Abstract:
Many predictive fire risk models use as inputs the
results of complex human decisions. These human
decisions can take many forms, with widely varying
degrees of predictability. Many performance based
analyses interpret or express the output of these
decisions as technical phenomena, as if they were
physical variables in a well defined natural system,
rather then human decisions. However human decision
making does not follow the same kind of well understood
rules that control the physical science variables used
in models. Human decisions represent intentional
uncertainty, which requires a separate treatment from
traditional model and data uncertainty. Regulating in
this environment requires a careful understanding of the
limitations and capabilities of both regulators and
engineers.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899