FIRE MODELING

Fire Modeling

Fire Modeling

Introduction

Fire modeling is something which is often found to be mysterious by attorneys. Yet, understanding what it is, what it can do, and what it cannot do can be vital to successful development of some types of fire cases. The purpose of this note is to present the basic ideas so that they are understandable by the non-scientist. Thus, the information should be of value also to fire investigators, claims adjusters, and other individuals involved with fire losses. Most of them are not aware of either the strengths or the limitations of the fire modeling. Thus, in this note the objective is to explain the process in simple terms, so that a clear picture will emerge how fire modeling can and cannot be used. What is a model?

Before we can discuss fire models, we must explain what a scientist means by 'model.' The meaning of this crucial term is essential to understand. A model of anything is, simply, a systematic representation of that thing. Thus, for example, we can have

thought models (or conceptual models)

scale models, and

mathematical models.

The above three examples are probably the main 'representations' which are used by scientists. A thought model is simply a proposed schema explaining how something works. Scale models are often used in structural engineering, fluid dynamics, and have occasionally been used in fire science. Model trains are familiar to all. A scale model in scientific work is simply a reduced-size object on which certain measurements will be made. The category which we want to discuss in this Note is the last type, the mathematical model. In general, a mathematical model will be a series of equations which describe a certain process. If the equations are simple enough, they can be solved on the hand calculator. More commonly, the equations are not so simple. Consequently, a computer is required for their solution. Thus, in the fire field, we would speak of "computer fire models." Nowadays, when one speaks of a "fire model," it is usually understood that one is referring to a "computer fire model." This is unnecessarily restrictive, however, and other types of models (such as scale models) remain legitimate scientific forms of model.

A "computer fire model" is normally realized as a computer program. This again, is most common, but not necessarily always true. A computer fire model, for example, could be realized as only a flowchart. From the above, one can understand why fire modeling is often taken to mean "use of computer programs for predicting fire," although this would be too restrictive a definition.

What do fire models do?

By now, fire modeling has been in use for more than two decades. This author's computer program COMPF was released in 1975 and was the first computer program for predicting room fires to be developed in the U.S. Research in several other countries, however, goes back further. During the subsequent two decades, tremendous progress was made in the field. Today, many persons who have only a limited knowledge ...