Undergraduate Course: Fire Safety Engineering 4 (CIVE10028)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course provides a training in engineering approaches to applied problems. The student is introduced to the principles of design for the fire safety engineering of various infrastructures, with an emphasis in the built environment. A variety of different aspects of design are discussed (including: flammability, detection & alarm, smoke management, fire suppression, fire resistance, egress, etc.), with particular attention to systems of classification and design applications. The course distinguishes 'prescriptive' and 'performance-based' approaches to design, with an emphasis on understanding the philosophy of design guidance; references are made to more advanced methods and opportunities to use engineering analysis approaches, as well as the interface with structural engineering. The overall aim is to build confidence in tackling simple fire safety engineering design with due consideration to any limitations, uncertainties or conservatisms which may be present. |
| Course description |
Lecture 1 Introduction to Fire Safety Engineering (wks1,2)
Principles of codes and standards, lessons from failures, prescriptive and performance-based design methodologies
- Some historical context
- Overview of relevant codes and standards (Approved Document B, BS9999, BS7974, Eurocode 1)
Lecture 2 Flammability (wk3)
Concept of 'Flammability' and associated principles of storage, hazard classification
- Standard methods for establishing flammability of different materials.
- Classification and implications related to storage.
- Combustible/Flammable liquids
- Buncefield case study
Codes: NFPA 30, ASTM D56-02 etc
Lecture 3 Fire Detection and Alarm (wk4)
Principles of 'Fire Detection and Alarm'
- System categories, life and property protection
- Alarm and detection zones
- Alarm systems and response
- Detector technologies
- Advanced systems (FireGrid)
Code: BS5839-1
Lecture 4 Smoke Management (wk5)
Principles of 'Smoke Management'
- Fundamentals aspects of smoke movement in buildings (BRE No smoke with fire video)
- Strategies for smoke control
- Active and passive systems; compartmentation requirements and specification of pressurised spaces
Codes: BS EN12101-6
Lecture 5 Fire Suppression (wk6)
Principles of 'Fire Suppression'
- Introduction to suppression systems
- Design of sprinkler systems
- Design of gaseous fire suppression systems
- Dry chemical fire suppression
Code: BS EN 12845:2004; Bryan ch. 7; BS ISO 15004-1/6:2008; Ewing et al. - Fire Technology 'Flame extinguishment properties of dry chemicals'
Lectures 6a,b Fire Resistance (wks7,8)
Understand current methods to establish 'Fire Resistance'
- Fire resistance requirements
- Compartmentation
- Methods for specifying fire resistance of structural elements
- Steel, concrete, timber, etc.
Codes: BS476-20, BS9999, BS5950-8, BS8110-2, BS5268-4, Structural Eurocodes
Lecture 7a,b Egress (wks9,10)
Understand the principles of 'Egress'
- Prescriptive calculations for egress: travel distances, sizing of corridors and stairways
- Human behaviour aspects
- ASET & RSET
- Risk profiles
Code: ADB, BS9999, BS7974:6
Lectures 11 Revision (wk11)
There is a single assessed tutorial encompassing one or more of the above topics. A formative tutorial will also be completed, with feedback provided before the assessed tutorial.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | No |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 18,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
73 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The assessment will be made on the basis of: Intermittent Assessment 20% and Degree Examination 80% |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback on practice tutorial; Mid-semester "Start, Stop, Continue"; Exam post-mortem |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Appreciate the role and importance of fire safety engineering in the design of modern infrastructures;
- Describe the range of approaches adopted, with an awareness of distinctions and limitations;
- Justify fire design specifications with reference to appropriate codes and standards, with appropriate consideration of information that may be incomplete or uncertain;
- Demonstrate awareness of potentially conflicting demands, i.e. commercial, safety, environmental, ethical, etc.
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Reading List
| None beyond provided materials. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
CHARACTERISTIC 3: GENERIC COGNITIVE SKILLS
* Critically identify, define, conceptualise and analyse complex/professional problems and issues.
* Offer professional insights, interpretations and solutions to problems and issues.
* Make judgements where data/information is limited or comes from a range of sources.
CHARACTERISTIC 5: AUTONOMY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND WORKING WITH OTHERS
* Exercise autonomy and initiative in professional/equivalent activities.
* Manage complex ethical and professional issues in accordance with current professional and/or ethical codes or practices.
* Recognise the limits of these codes and seek guidance where appropriate.
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| Keywords | Fire Safety Engineering,Codes and Standards. Prescriptive design,performance based design. |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stephen Welch
Tel: (0131 6)50 5734
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Craig Hovell
Tel: (0131 6)51 7080
Email: |
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