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\ Contents
Why am I here? Ove Arup and Total Architecture Total Fire Engineering Examples
Image |. Sir Ove Arup © Arup
Fire Engineers only help in design
\ The status-quo
Paucity of understanding responsibility and liability of fire safety designs
Legal case prevalence faulty fire safety design/construction
Perception of fire engineers as ‘cost cutters’
Accountability
\ Fire Engineering Project Management
Who is competent?
Responsibility- Legal & PI Approvals / Self-Certification
Codes vs ‘Engineering’ Perceptions and Practice
‘We need a fire engineer to get rid of
sprinklers’
Perceptions – a design is either prescriptive or fire engineered?
OR
Its all fire engineering – competence Code compliance is no safety guarantee
Required for ethical practice of fire engineering project management
\ Competency “What qualification/experience does a
fire engineer actually need?”
Conflicts of interest in assessing competency of solutions – Designer vs
Approver Design, specification, construction,
handover, operation
“It’s okay because it has been signed off
by Building Control”
\ Responsibility “We’ve done this previously and it was
okay”
“The product brochure says it’s got the
right performance” Legal responsibility for adequacy of
design rests with the designer, not the approver.
\ My reasons
I am proud of my profession
I am not a cost-cutter
I enable design
I achieve goals for my clients
I take my job seriously
I will not compromise rigor when money is tight I take my responsibility seriously
Total Fire Engineering - Papers
#1 – Competency in Fire Engineering – January 14 #2 – Code vs Engineering – April 14 #3 – Shouldering Responsibility – July 14 #4 – Have you got time? – October 14
The domain Fire Engineers operate present serious challenges to competent and ethical practice that cannot
be ignored.
Image | The Shard © Arup
We have to identify, debate, and respond to challenges that face our fire engineering profession
Image | Castle Donnington © M&S Logistics
“The magic numbers embodied in regulations are accepted without any question whilst any engineering solution is subjected to a
disproportionately high standard of proof”
“…. Any rules need to have an engineering basis and be goal related: the purpose of which needs to be understood by both
researchers and regulators….”
Image |. Margaret Law© Arup
“…. The fire engineer needs a certain toughness – and I am referring to intellectual toughness. The engineer must be able to be
tested, challenged and deal with matters in a rigorous, analytical and above all honest way. He must be aware of the rules but not
use them as a shield.”
What is a Fire Engineer Margaret Law MBE, 1990
‘…all relevant design decisions have been considered together and have been integrated into a whole by a well organised team.’
The Key Speech Sir Ove Arup, 1970
‘…all relevant fire design, construction and operation decisions have been considered together and have been integrated into a whole by a well organised team.’
Total Fire Engineering - Definition
Simplicity, quality, rigor, knowledge, site implementation and COMPETENCE
Social
Goal Social
People Life safety
Quality of Asset Quality of space
Quality of Operation Functionality of space
Protection of Asset Continuity of asset
Protection of Operation Continuity of function
Goals beyond life safety
Economic Environmental
Total Cost = Cost of Prevention + Cost of Protection
Goal Social Economic
People Life safety
Quality of Asset Quality of space Cost and value of asset
Quality of Operation Functionality of space Operational costs
Protection of Asset Continuity of asset Property Protection
Protection of Operation Continuity of function
Business Continuity
Goals beyond life safety
Environmental Environmental
Goal Social Economic Environmental
People Life safety
Quality of Asset Quality of space Cost and value of asset Construction impact
Quality of Operation Functionality of space Operational costs Operational impact
Protection of Asset Environmental continuity of asset
Property Protection Prevention of fire damage to the environment
Protection of Operation Continuity of function
Business Continuity
Total Cost = Cost of Prevention + Cost of Protection + Cost of Occurrence
Goals beyond life safety
Leeds Arena – partial roof protection to improve the structural robustness of the arena & change of facade to omit combustible materials and reduce the overall risk
Brief & Framework
1. Stakeholder
Engagement
2. Performance Goals
3. Design Constraints
Design
1. Trial Solution
2. Design Review
3. Solution Testing / Assessment
Execution
1. Specification
2. Construction
3. Commission-ing
4. Handover
\ Implementing Total Fire Engineering
Image | © Herzog & de Meuron and Hayes Davidson
Total Fire Engineering = Good design, specification, construction & handover
The Shard – enabling signature architecture from conception through to operations
Arup involved from developing the concept, design, construction and handover of the building A perfect example of a building that cannot comply with the ‘code’ but one
where competency in construction and handover was critical to deliver the concept of Total Fire Engineering
A great example of Total Fire Engineering
Competency in Design & Specification
Evolution of Facades
Significant changes in the facade design driven by thermal performance, improved solar control and visual appearance
Key issue with facades is – Material specification. Competence required in understanding what the code is trying to achieve. Number of legal cases arising where this lack of understanding, interpretation and application is being directly challenged.
Competency in Design & Specification
Evolution of Facades
Evidence is needed for performance of the material in it’s end use. This evidence needs to be reviewed and accepted by those competent to do so. Responsibility and liability needs to be understood and communicated
Competency in Design & Specification
Evolution of Facades
Competency in understanding standardised tests on façade materials (especially combustible insulation) Competency reviewing test certification and product specification Competency in detailing façade interfaces Who in the design team is competent enough in this domain? Fire engineering needs to expand significantly within the domain of designing, specifying of facades.
Why timber?
Sustainability
Aesthetics + Innovation
Technology & Prefabrication
Image | Sky Believe in Better Building © Arup Image | © Jeff Martin
Image | l-dsk.ru
Huge push for Timber: Sustainability, Aesthetics, demand for pre-fabrication
Key Issues requiring thought and understanding
Amount of exposed timber – fundamentally changes
effective fuel load within buildings
Increasing reliance on structural timber forms for preventing fire spread and
structural integrity
Image |. Metropol Parasol © Arup
Image |. © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Image | cecobois.com
Changes in fire behaviour – Test evidence indicates
charring rate increases with increased fire severity
Impact on fire fighting - even if the fire has burnt out,
timber construction smouldering fires can
transition back to a flashover fire event.
Delamination of engineered timber during fires
Design ‘knowingly’
Be competent in: Design, Specification, Construction and Handover
Understand codes and standards
Sell on value not cost
Lead the construction industry
Shoulder appropriate responsibility
Be proud
Grow
We should;