Citation

Berlin GN. Fire Safety J. 1980; 2(3): 181-189.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Building Firesafety Model serves as an efficient tool for systematically evaluating complete building designs or specific elements of a fire code, such as those standards regarding the flame spread rating of wall coverings and the location of exits. This model enables the evaluation of fire safety implied by compliance with codes such as the HUD/MPS, NFPA 101, and the model building codes used throughout the United States. Furthermore, the model provides the flexibility to evaluate the use of new materials, while ensuring an acceptable level of fire safety without causing undue or unnecessary costs.Both the designer and code official may use this tool, once it has been perfected, as a guide to predict the building's fire safety performance before it is constructed. By using the model, these professionals may jointly assess the trade-off in a variety of architectural and engineering designs incorporating the use of innovative materials. Projects involving, for example, low-cost housing, new community development, structural rehabilitation, and energy conservation systems could also be analyzed. Thus far, the Building Firesafety Model has been used to evaluate: 1. (1) full-scale fire tests;2. (2) alternative single-family dwelling designs;3. (3) fire door in a multifamily dwelling;4. (4) smoke control procedures in a care-type facility;5. (5) stove hoods in mobile homes;6. (6) escape potential in the Beverly Hills Supper Club;7. (7) the effect of room size on fire safety.These applications have illustrated the importance of considering the complex interactions among factors related to the occupant capabilities; building and room dimensions; barriers; variations in fuel loading, ignitability, and flame spread rating; and environment characteristics such as wind conditions and humidity.The Building Firesafety Model also provides a framework for evaluating the trade-off between individual and community fire detection and suppression capabilities. Such innovation could, in the short run, increase construction costs; but, in the long run, decrease the cost of building ownership by reducing the losses due to fire. This will eventually lead to a reduction in insurance costs and, perhaps, taxes due to decreased reliance on community fire suppression services.