Modeling of Fire Risk

Recommended Prerequisites

2^nd  cycle.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods of theoretical lessons aim at the global learning of the course. These lessons are taught based on presentations, using audiovisual means. Students are called to discuss concepts, key subjects and of more complexity.

At the end of each subject, which constitutes the program of the course, a synthesis is made and some problems are proposed.

Students throughout the semester must carry out an individual work of fire risk modeling of a building applying different methods taught in the classes with the support of existing computational models. Students may also write small programs or subroutines for calculating parts that constitutes the global models of risk assessment.

Learning Outcomes

In most situations fire safety is accomplished by application of specific legislation on this subject. However, in certain circumstances the application of the legislation is impossible. These situations are usually associated with old buildings or new buildings for which the legislation does not address. In such cases it is necessary to use analytical or simulation models to evaluate the safety conditions and consequently the fire risk.

In this course fundamental theoretical and practical concepts will be transmitted for fire risk modeling. Therefore several subjects related with fire risk assessment will be presented, including decision support systems and cost/benefit analysis.

Another objective is to familiarize students with risk assessment simulation models that integrate different areas of fire safety, in order to assess its potentialities and weaknesses.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction
2. Risk management concepts
3. Qualitative risk assessment
4. Quantitative risk assessment
5. Support decision systems
6. The theory of utility on risk modelling
7. Risk thresholds
8. The uncertainty in risk modelling
9. Cost/benefit analysis in risk modelling
10. Partial models of risk assessment
11. Global models of risk assessment

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Individual work: 100.0%

Bibliography

NFPA; The Fire Protection Handbook, National Fire Protection Association, Boston, 1980.

Brannigan, V. M.; Dardis, R. – Legal and Economic Criteria for Test-Based Fire Risk Assessment.   Fire Risk Assessment.  Castino/Harmathy, Editors, p. 59-73, 1980.

Cohn, B. M. – Formulating Acceptable Levels of Fire Risk. Fire Risk Assessment.  Castino/Harmathy Editors, 1980.

Ling, W. C. T.; Williamson, R. B. – Using Fire Tests for Quantitative Risk Analysis.  Fire Risk Assessment, Castino/Marmathy, Editors, p. 38-58, 1980.

Lundin, J. – Model Uncertainty in Fire Safety Engineering. Universidade de Lund, Report 1020, Lund 1999.

Ramachandran, G. – Utility Theory Fire Protection Handbook, 16.ª ed., FPA, Boston. Section 21, Chapter 5, p. 21-31 a 21-35, 1980.

Ramachandran, G. – Value of Human Life. Fire Protection Handbook, 16.ª ed., FPA, Boston. Section 4, Chapter 8, p. 4-53 a 4-63, 1980.