Warehouse & Storage

RAN engineers developed fire modeling using Fire Dynamics Simulator and its companion program Smokeview for an Iron Mountain records storage warehouse. This was to defend an extended egress travel distance that code officials felt was against the prescriptive rules of the International Building Code. In developing this model, four fire scenarios were considered. As inputs to the model, RAN engineers considered the heat release rate of the fuel load, the presence of sprinklers, fire detection systems, and smoke removal systems, the maximum temperature levels an occupant can withstand, and the egress paths available. RAN engineers also considered the limitations of the FDS software with regards to carbon monoxide concentration when determining the maximum carbon monoxide levels an occupant could be expected to withstand. Using these inputs, each of the scenarios were ran through the model to determine the tenability of the space during each fire scenario and the time available safe egress time resulting from this tenability. They then used this tenability and egress information to defend the egress distances present in the catwalk access racking system.