Postgraduate Course: Quantitative Methods in Fire Safety Engineering (European Masters) (PGEE11070)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 12 |
| Home subject area | Postgrad (School of Engineering) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course provides the principles of performance-based design of structures for fire safety. It focuses on the use of analytical and numerical tools in the estimation of performance of fire safety systems. Fire investigation and reconstruction (i.e. Forensics) is introduced. Advanced systems are introduced to establish modern approaches to fire safety engineering. A significant portion of this course is dedicated to industrial fire safety. This section will be introduced on the basis of different industrial accidents and the application of fire safety principles to their analysis, to the lessons learned and to alternative design approaches. This course will present the different analytical, empirical models and numerical models used for quantitative performance assessment of fire safety systems. Emphasis is given to the use of numerical tools. A series of laboratories will introduce the student to modern numerical tools and to their application in the design of fire safety systems. This course will familiarize the student with the use of different quantitative methodologies for fire safety calculations. Thus, after this course the student should be able to use computer based fire models, evaluate results from these tools and assess uncertainty related to the output from these tools. The student after this course should be able to apply the tools learned in previous course towards performance-based design, quantitative risk assessment, equivalence analysis and fire reconstruction. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Fire Science and Fire Dynamics 4 (CIVE10011)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | 0 |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Understanding of the concept of Performance Calculations
- The establishment of project requirements and the concept of equivalent safety.
- Principles of risk analysis.
Familiarity with material selection procedures and fuel load control
- The concept of the design fire
- The use of flammability calculations for the prediction of fire growth
- Separation distances and required heat transfer calculations.
Be able to predict the performance of fire detection systems
- Smoke plume and ceiling jet calculations
- Obscuration and smoke detector performance
- Sprinkler activation (RTI) and performance of water suppression systems.
- Alternative detection and suppression technologies, evaluation of relative performance.
Understand advanced mechanisms for smoke management
- Calculations for smoke control; reservoirs, entrainment, flow through fans, pressure calculations.
Understanding of the requirements for the Reporting of Engineering Calculations
- Minimum requirements for reporting, justification and user manuals.
Be able to apply the above Concepts to cases in Industrial Fire Safety
- Examples of different industrial accidents analysed with performance calculation tools
Be able to apply the above concepts to Fire Investigation and Fire Reconstruction (Forensics)
- The use of fire dynamic calculation to support fire investigation. Reconstruction of the timeline.
- Case studies |
Assessment Information
Coursework: 50%
Degree Exam: 50% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Lectures:
Lecture 1-2:
- Understanding of the concept of performance calculations
- The establishment of project requirements and the concept of equivalent safety
- Principles of risk analysis
Lectures 3-4:
- Evacuation calculations
- Basic principles of evacuation
- - Simple hand calculations
Numerical egress calculations
Lectures 5-6:
- Fire growth calculations
- Ignition, flame spread and smoke production
- The process of ignition
- Flame spread theory
- Plume theory
- Familiarity with material selection procedures and fuel load control
Lectures 7-8
- The concept of the design fire
- The use of flammability calculations for the prediction of fire growth
- Separation distances and required heat transfer calculations.
- Smoke management
- Smoke control
- Reservoirs, entrainment, flow through vents and fans, simple calculations
- Analytical calculations
Lectures 9-1 :
- Principles of CFD
Lectures 11-12
- Physical and numerical models
- Comparison of analytical and CFD techniques
Lectures 13-14:
- Prediction of the performance of fire detection & suppression systems
- Smoke plume and ceiling jet calculations
- Obscuration and smoke detector performance
- Sprinkler activation (RTI) and performance of water suppression systems.
- Alternative detection and suppression technologies, evaluation of relative performance
Lecture 15-16:
- Heat transfer calculations for structural elements
- Analytical methods for unprotected steel
- Analytical methods for protected steel
- Analytical methods for concrete
Lecture 17-18:
- Requirements for the reporting of engineering calculations
- Minimum requirements for reporting, justification and user manuals
- Overview and consolidation.
Lecture 19:
- Review
Tutorials:
Tutorial 1: Evacuation (10%)
Tutorial 2: Fire Growth (10%)
Tutorial 3: Smoke control (10 %)
Tutorial 4: Suppression & Detection (10%)
Tutorial 5: Structural heat transfer (10%)
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Fire Safety Engineering |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Richard Carvel
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Louise Harkins
Tel: (0131 6)51 7185
Email: |
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