Our work informs the whole design team on fire safety matters. We provide design guidance to architects, advise the building services engineers on what systems are required, such as smoke ventilation, fire dampers, fire detection, smoke alarms, emergency lighting, and sprinkler systems, and provide vital information to structural engineers on how long a structure must be protected, and how that is achieved.
The fire strategy is also a key document used by authorities to base their decision on for approving the safety aspects of a building. One of the most important aspects of our work is to liaise with building authorities as a scheme develops to discuss fire safety aspects, demonstrate that the strategy is safe in different scenarios and eventually gain approval for a fire-safe building that also meets its aesthetic, functional and commercial objectives.
Interpreting Fire Safety Regulations and Performance-Based Design
Fire precaution measures can be a large investment in any project due to the capital cost but also due to the potential loss of an efficient building design, such as floor space or staircases. It is also one of the most important investments that can be made in order to protect people and property from the dangers of a fire. Combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, WSP is able to deliver optimal, performance-based designs.
The construction industry worldwide is subject to strict legislation governing fire safety. One of our tasks is to help building owners understand and interpret the complex codes which vary from country to country, and from sector to sector. In healthcare, for example, a project may have to comply with up to three different sets of codes.
For many projects, particularly non-standard developments, which may be large, complex, and with high occupancy levels, standard code requirements may be inadequate, or may present obstacles with respect to a project’s vision, cost, or function. Through the application of performance-based design, we can scientifically demonstrate that alternative solutions will achieve the same performance objectives as the code by calculating the building’s behaviour under realistic fire risk scenarios. This can add significant value to a project.
Fire Protection Engineering for Build Use Changes and New Technologies
As buildings are required to be flexible and reflect potential changes in use, innovative fire protection designs must be adaptable. Research into such designs is a significant part of fire protection engineering as well as new codes, materials, and rapidly evolving technologies. WSP has paired up with universities to research topics such as fire retardants, sustainable materials, fire models for the urban built environment, new fire suppression technologies, and lift evacuation strategies.
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