This is a continuation of the first part of our blog on performance-based design.
If you have not already read it, click here to read more about this topic.
How Performance-Based Design Works
Fire and life safety experts assess a buildings or property’s unique characteristics, such as its size, layout, materials, and occupancy. Then, they would have the ability to use computer simulations and fire modeling to predict how a fire might spread and how people would escape. Based on these predictions, safety measures are tailored to the building. For example, location of fire exits, fire-resistant materials, and sprinkler systems. Regular testing and evaluation ensure that the safety measures work as intended. This approach can allow for smarter and more effective fire safety solutions, making buildings and spaces safer for the people who use them. Performance-Based Design can provide a customized plan to keep everyone safe in a specific building, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Overview of the Performance-Based Design Process, along with explanations in further detail of the different steps.
Step 1: Defining Project Scope
The first step in a Performance-Based Design is to define the scope of the project.
Defining the scope consists of identifying and documenting the following:
Constraints on the design and project schedule
The stakeholders associated with the project
The proposed building construction as well as the features desired by the owner or tenant.
Occupant and building characteristics
The intended use and occupancy of the building
Applicable codes and regulations.
It is necessary to understand these items to ensure that a Performance-Based Design meets the stakeholders’ needs.
Step 2: Identifying Goals
Once the scope of the project is defined, the next step in the Performance-Base Design Process is the identification and documentation of the fire safety goals of various stakeholders. The stakeholders are the ones who should decide which goals are most important in the project. All stakeholders should be aware of and agree to the goals before moving forward with the Performance-Base Design Process. This is done in order to avoid problems later in the design process.
Step 3: Defining Stakeholder and Design Objectives
The third step in the design process is the development of objectives. The objectives are essentially the design goals that have been further refined into values that can be quantified in engineering terms.
Step 4: Developing Performance Criteria
The fourth step in the design process is the development of performance criteria to be met by the design. These criteria are a further refinement of the design objectives, and they are numeric values to which the expected performance of the trial designs can be compared.
Step 5: Developing Design Fire Scenarios
Once the performance criteria have been established, the engineer will develop and analyze design alternatives to meet performance criteria. The first part of this process is the identification of possible fire scenarios and design fire scenarios. Fire scenarios are descriptions of possible fire events, which consist of fire characteristics, building characteristics, and occupant characteristics. The fire scenarios identified will subsequently be filtered, which means they will be combined or eliminated into a subset of design fire scenarios against which trial designs will be evaluated.
Step 6: Developing Design Fire Scenarios
Once the project scope, performance criteria, and design fire scenarios are established, the engineer develops preliminary designs. This is referred to as trial designs, which are intended to meet the project requirements. The trial designs include proposed fire protection systems, construction features, and operations that are provided in order for a design to meet the performance criteria when evaluated using the design fire scenarios. At this point, the evaluation method is determined. The evaluation methods used must be appropriate for the situation, but also agreeable to the stakeholders.
Step 7: Developing a Fire Protection Engineering Design Brief
At this point in the process, a Fire Protection Engineering Design Brief should be prepared and provided to all stakeholders for their approval and review. This design brief should document the project scope, goals, objectives, trial designs, performance criteria, design fire scenarios, and analysis methods.
Step 8: Evaluating Trial Designs
Each trial design is then evaluated using each design fire scenario. The evaluation results indicate whether the trial design will meet the performance criteria. Only trial designs that meet the performance criteria can be considered as final design proposals. However, the performance criteria may be revised with the stakeholders’ approval.
Step 9: Selecting the Final Design
Once an acceptable trial design is identified by the evaluation, it can be considered for the final project design. If multiple trial designs are evaluated, further analysis will be needed to select a final design.
Step 10: Design Documentation
Once the final design is identified, then the design documents need to be prepared. Proper documentation will ensure that all stakeholders understand what is necessary for the design implementation, maintenance, and the progression of the fire protection design. The documentation should include the Fire Protection Engineering Design Brief, a performance design report, detailed specifications and drawings, as well as a building operations and maintenance manual.
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