Fire Safety Design when Normal Limits Don't Apply

摘要

Analyses like the one above have been performed for all zones of the building. In addition, fire safety engineering was used to verify code compliance for other performance requirements than life safety. By applying this extended quantitative risk analysis tothef design problem some interesting fire safety features were verified. The open design of each section could be accepted. There should be two emergency exits from each zone. A fire alarm system with a public notification system in combination with a fast response sprinkler system has to be installed in order to allow these design features. The fact is that this design alternative was the only one that complied with the evaluation criteria and the performance requirements in the regulations. The risk analysis also found out that classrooms should have at least two exits to the corridors and certain lecture halls should have an increased number of exits. If a deemed to satisfy solution has been applied the risk level would have been unacceptable. These general recommendations provide the following fire safety measures for this kind of public building. A sprinkler system would not have been installed. Separating distances between building sections with facades of glass would have been allowed unprotected. The distance is great enough for no measures to be undertaken, but the risk of fire spread is still obvious. There would not have been any requirements to install a fire alarm system. Extensive compartmentation, decreased flexibility of design and additional emergency exits would have been optional. The individual risk would have been 1 for the deemed to satisfy solution. This means that each time a fire is allowed to develop a number of people would have been exposed to untenable conditions. But, the most frightening fact is that the authorities, the public and the building owner would have been unaware of the situation if the deemed to satisfy solution had been adopted. This is true as there are no requirements to perform verifying analyses when the general recommendations are followed. Despite the difficulties related to risk based fire safety engineering methods one main advantage overrides them all. The understanding about the capacity of the building in the event of fire increases and a better understanding is the key to improved safety awareness.