Performance Based VS Specification Based Codes for Fire Fighting

Abstract

This research paper is about fire prevention, inspection and code enforcement. The main focus of the paper is the comparison of performance based codes with specification based codes. These codes are designed for the safety measures and prevention of fire accidents in buildings.

Performance Based VS Specification Based Codes for Fire Fighting

Introduction

Fire protection engineering is a young engineering, where there is still much to learn and explore. However, the incredible growth of this young engineering technology has allowed fire protection engineers today use modeling programs and empirical formulas, working as daily tools. There are hydraulic calculation programs and more sophisticated programs that calculate the production and development of smoke in a fire, the process of evacuating people in a building, the fire resistance of a structure, Industrial structure design considering the impact of radiation on a nearby facility, or for determining when (in seconds after initiation of fire) operate a system of detection or automatic sprinkler. (Watts, 2009)

So today, in the 21st century, the analysis and design of fire safety in buildings could be implemented almost exclusively using these criteria based on the performance or effectiveness (specifications). This methodology uses a targeted approach to the design and evaluates fire safety in a building. This methodology is intended only for fire protection engineers competent, who have knowledge of fire dynamics, with experience in scientific principles and prescriptive methods of fire protection. Fire protection engineers are qualified by their education, training and experience. It also requires a team design process, where several fires engineers with various skills, participate in the analysis and design process. That is its application should be limited to the big names in fire protection engineering. This methodology is very appropriate for our technical environment.

Discussion

There are many people who are spreading these new technologies to unexplored areas, which are very positive, but in some cases without these researchers have much practical experience in fire protection. The main problem of performance design, and is that the problem is not understanding the algorithms or the computer program, but have the professional maturity, the experience to know what values to take and how to interpret the results. That is, it is very easy to lose the north and that is why only fire protection engineers qualified by training, experience and learning should develop this kind of designs. It requires a team design process, where several fire protection engineers with various skills, participate in the process of analysis, design and review. This, unfortunately, so soon escapes from the ability of many of the practitioners of fire protection consulting. (Kandola, 2011)

Efforts should be made to focus on securing modern fire protection codes and human security, which in a way is prescriptive; establish minimum levels of fire safety.

The fire engineering comes from a great deal of research on a global scale. The methods, of safety in case of fire called engineering, are able to solve the design of fire safety in a more targeted way according to the ...