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Panel session - discussion on the use of fire safety engineering to
meet the requirements of the Building Code of Australia
Panel session – discussion on the use of fire safety
engineering to meet the requirements of the Building
Code of Australia
Thomas, R.
ORAL-549
ABCB CONFERENCE
PANEL SESSION
Title:
Discussion on the use of fire safety engineering to meet the requirements of the Building Code of Australia.
Date:
17
thSeptember 2003
Time:
11:00 – 12:30 (90 minutes duration)
Panel Chairman:
Dr Russ Thomas (Director - Fire Risk Management Program - National Research Council, Canada)
Objective:
The objective of the panel session is to discuss 3 topics (which are outlined below). The issues raised during the
discussion will be considered in the development of Part 0 of the International Fire Safety Engineering Guidelines.
Discussion will be between the panel members, and between the panel members and the audience.
Timing:
5 minutes opening, 25 minutes for each topic and 10 minutes for closing (summary of outcomes).
Panel members:
Ron de Veer (QLD Administration)
Stephen
Durnford
(NSW
Administration)
Paul England (Society of Fire Safety)
John
Barwick
(Commonwealth Department of Defence)
John
Rakic
(Fire
Protection Association Australia)
Ray Loveridge (Housing Industry Association)
Graham Thom (Australasian Fire Authorities Council)
Geoff Mitchell (Australian Institute of Building Surveyors)
Audience:
Panel members should note that the conference audience will primarily consist of building surveyors (not fire safety
engineers),
hence
we
encourage
discussion at an appropriate level.
Topics:
Topic Description
Design fire selection What design fires should we use in our design, worst possible, worst credible, or expected? What about arson?
The purpose of this topic is to outline the importance of design fire selection. Performance based approaches to fire safety involve the definition of design basis fire events, against which the performance of the structure or system can be assessed. Design basis fire events tend be based on assumed credible worst-case fire scenarios. However, this approach can sometimes lead to unbalanced solutions with too much weight being given to remotely unlikely scenarios.
Issues for consideration
- A high proportion of fires are caused by arson in certain occupancies.
- The design fires selected must be in the public interest, and selected in consideration of the expectations of the community. Needs of building owner Is fire safety engineering meeting the needs of the building owners, or is it providing an inflexible design?
Fire safety engineering of buildings, produces a specific design for a specific purpose. If the needs of the building owner changes during the building life, changes with be required to the design.
Issues for consideration
- Fire safety engineer should clearly explain limitations of design to building owner.
- Building owner should brief fire safety engineer on the current and future needs of the facility. - Influence of a fire safety engineering design to the cost of insurance cover.
Peer-review Should a peer-review be undertaken for all, some or not any fire safety engineering designs?
Fire safety engineering is a young and emerging engineering discipline. Issues for consideration
- The need for peer-review should be related to the potential risk to life and the complexity of design.
- Peer-review should be seen as adding value to the design, not as an impediment to the design or unnecessary cost.
- Peer-review could be limited to areas of the design which have a high sensitivity to the outcome or have the greatest uncertainty, e.g. human factors.
