Fire performance and regulatory considerations with modern methods of construction

Meacham, Brian J.

doi:10.5334/bc.201

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Meacham went one step beyond just comparing prescriptive regulations with performance-based; he added market-based into the mix (Meacham, 2022). Another unique note is that this paper was geared toward the influences of different types of regulations on buildings formed with modern methods of construction (MMC).…”

Section: Comparisons Of Alternativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A primer and success stories on performance-based fire design of structures

Craig

Naser

2023

JSFE

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PurposeThe extreme nature of fire makes structural fire engineering unique in that the load actions dictating design are intense and neither geographically nor seasonally bound. Simply, fire can break out anywhere, at any time and for any number of reasons. Despite the apparent need, the fire design of structures still relies on expensive fire tests, complex finite element simulations and outdated procedures with little room for innovation. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned issues.Design/methodology/approachThis primer highlights the latest state of the art in this area with regard to performance-based design in fire structural engineering. In addition, this short review also presents a series of examples of successful implementation of performance-based fire design of structures from around the world.FindingsA comparison between global efforts clearly shows the advances put forth by European and Oceanian efforts as opposed to the rest of the world. In addition, it can be clearly seen that most performance-based fire designs are related to steel and composite structures.Originality/valueIn one study, this paper presents a concise and global view to performance-based fire design of structures from success stories from around the world.

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Section: Comparisons Of Alternativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A primer and success stories on performance-based fire design of structures

Craig

Naser

2023

JSFE

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“…Therefore, rapid fire spread in a vertical direction risks the lives of those on upper floors [27,43]. Similarly, modern construction methods, especially void spaces in modular constructions, provide a clear path to spreading fire and smoke [44]. Further, if the structural connections within these cavity spaces used to connect building components are unprotected, significant fire penetration can lead to catastrophic structural failures [44].…”

Section: Fire Entering Upper and Adjacent Compartmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, modern construction methods, especially void spaces in modular constructions, provide a clear path to spreading fire and smoke [44]. Further, if the structural connections within these cavity spaces used to connect building components are unprotected, significant fire penetration can lead to catastrophic structural failures [44]. Contrary to a non-combustible cavity, combustible materials inside the cavity allow for downwards fire spread [2].…”

Section: Fire Entering Upper and Adjacent Compartmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using non-combustible cavity barriers/fire stops in horizontal and vertical directions to prevent the fire/flame spread and reduce the fire input inside the cavity was identified as a fire protection strategy against cavity fire spread in rainscreen façades and wall cavities [15,44,58]. The usage of cavity barriers showed the ability to prevent rapid vertical fire spread [59].…”

Section: Usage Of Non-combustible Cavity Barriers/fire Stopsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An excellent initiative for such research was proposed by Littlewood et al [58], who highlighted the importance of a non-destructive building performance test to correctly identify smoke leakage paths using smoke generation to simulate buoyancy conditions. Further, if there are uncertainties in sealing the cavity spaces, new fire tests [44] or design guidance to restrict or resist cavity fire spread is needed.…”

Section: Performance Assurance Through Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Review on Cavity Fires in Buildings: Flame Spread Characteristics, Fire Risks, and Safety Measures

Godakandage,

Weerasinghe,

Gamage

et al. 2023

Fire

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Fire spread scenarios associated with concealed cavity spaces have been relatively less discussed. The variation in studies with respect to geometry, influential parameters, and protection strategies has been an obstacle to deriving more generalized solutions in terms of cavity fire in buildings. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA method to identify the conclusive fire behaviour, safety risks, and protection strategies to enable future researchers to address cavity fire scenarios effectively, avoiding catastrophic disasters. This study identified that relative to open-fire scenarios, cavity fires could result in up to 10 times higher flame spread, up to 14 times higher heat exposure, and temperature conditions 13 times higher. Increased toxicity and smoke velocity are also found with cavity fires. Fire protection strategies and their efficiency were identified for a range of cavity geometries. Altogether, cavity spaces, especially narrow ones, cannot be neglected during fire safety, and proper risk identification is required to ensure the safety of the buildings and the occupants in a fire scenario.

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Conceptual Basis for a Sustainable and Fire Resilient Built Environment

McNamee,

Meacham

2023

Fire Technol

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Fire has the potential to create significant impacts on the built environment. Managing this impact is sometimes pursued without consideration of the interface between the natural and technological worlds. However, as society has recognized the impacts of technological development on environmental sustainability, the need for sustainable and resilient development has emerged. To facilitate sustainable and resilient development, technological choices should embrace a sociotechnical systems approach that considers the interactions of society, technology and institutions, and their interactions with the environment. Failure to do so can result in unintended consequences. Society’s technological choices aimed at increasing sustainability of buildings, such as the desire to reduce building carbon footprints or improve the use of renewable energy systems, can have significant impacts on fire resilience if not considered holistically. To better understand and comprehensively address and mitigate intolerable fire risk associated with choices driven by sustainability objectives, a balanced and holistic systems approach is needed. To this end, a framework to foster a systems-oriented approach to improving both sustainability and fire resilience, in tandem, to create a Sustainable and Fire Resilient Built Environment (SAFR-BE) is presented.

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Fire performance and regulatory considerations with modern methods of construction

Cited by 8 publications

References 38 publications

A primer and success stories on performance-based fire design of structures

A primer and success stories on performance-based fire design of structures

A Systematic Review on Cavity Fires in Buildings: Flame Spread Characteristics, Fire Risks, and Safety Measures

Conceptual Basis for a Sustainable and Fire Resilient Built Environment

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