R&D Division
Computational Fire Engineering & Modelling
Fire Dynamics Simulator modelling, performance-based fire engineering, egress simulation, and structural fire analysis — quantifying fire safety through computational science.
Research Overview
The Computational Fire Engineering division applies the most rigorous computational methods available to quantify fire behaviour, smoke propagation, occupant egress, and structural response. Our primary simulation tools — Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), PyroSim, CFAST, and Pathfinder — are complemented by custom agent-based models and thermal finite element analysis codes.
Performance-based fire engineering solutions enable building designs that achieve safety outcomes through quantified analysis rather than prescriptive deemed-to-satisfy provisions. This approach is essential for architecturally complex buildings, heritage structures, and high-rise developments where prescriptive codes may be unnecessarily restrictive or technically inapplicable.
Tenability analysis forms a critical component of our work — modelling the available safe egress time (ASET) versus required safe egress time (RSET) by tracking visibility, temperature, and toxic gas concentrations against established human tolerance thresholds. Structural fire analysis couples thermal FEA with mechanical stress models to evaluate fire resistance level adequacy.
Technical Methodology
Our computational fire engineering workflow from scenario definition through structural analysis.
Scenario Definition & Geometry Import
Building geometry is imported from BIM models or CAD drawings, with fire scenarios defined based on occupancy type, fuel load density, ventilation conditions, and design fire curves per International Fire Engineering Guidelines.
Zone Model Screening (CFAST)
Rapid scenario screening using CFAST zone models to evaluate hundreds of fire scenario permutations and identify critical cases requiring detailed CFD analysis — dramatically reducing computational cost.
FDS / PyroSim CFD Simulation
Detailed Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and PyroSim modelling of critical fire scenarios, resolving heat release rate, smoke layer development, visibility degradation, temperature fields, and toxic species concentrations.
Egress Modelling & Tenability Analysis
Agent-based egress simulations in Pathfinder coupled with tenability criteria — visibility (10m corridors, 5m small rooms), temperature (60 deg C), and fractional effective dose (FED) for toxic gas exposure.
Structural Fire Analysis
Thermal finite element analysis (FEA) coupled with mechanical stress models to evaluate structural member performance under fire exposure, informing fire resistance level (FRL) requirements and protection strategies.
Key Research Outcomes
Core capabilities from our computational fire engineering programme.
FDS & PyroSim Modelling
Large-eddy simulation CFD fire modelling with validated combustion, radiation, and smoke transport physics for complex building geometries.
Egress Simulation
Agent-based evacuation modelling with behavioural algorithms accounting for pre-movement time distributions, wayfinding, and counter-flow effects.
Structural Fire Analysis
Coupled thermal-mechanical FEA determining structural member temperatures, load redistribution, and critical failure times under design fire exposure.
Performance-Based Solutions
Alternative fire engineering solutions that demonstrate compliance through analysis rather than deemed-to-satisfy prescriptive requirements, enabling architectural flexibility.
Standards & Publications Referenced
Codes, guidelines, and technical references underpinning our fire engineering analysis.
- AS 1668.1 — The use of ventilation and airconditioning in buildings: fire and smoke control in buildings
- International Fire Engineering Guidelines (IFEG) — ABCB
- NCC / BCA — National Construction Code performance requirements
- NIST Special Publication 1019 — Fire Dynamics Simulator Technical Reference Guide
- BS 7974 — Application of fire safety engineering principles to the design of buildings
- ISO 13571 — Life-threatening components of fire
- EN 1991-1-2 — Eurocode 1: Actions on structures exposed to fire
Commission a Fire Model
Need FDS modelling, egress simulation, or a performance-based fire engineering solution? Our computational fire engineers are ready to assist.
Commission a Fire Model