APPLICATION OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS MODELS FOR ASSESSING FIRE SAFETY IN A HISTORIC BUILDING

Resumo

Some buildings, especially those with complex architecture or historical value, face challenges in fully complying with the fire safety requirements established by traditional prescriptive codes, particularly with regard to passive protection measures such as compartmentation, the number and width of emergency exits, and the maximum egress travel distance. In such cases, implementing a performance-based fire engineering design proves to be a feasible alternative, as it allows for the development of customized solutions that meet fire safety objectives while considering the unique characteristics of each building. This article discusses the application of this approach to a heritage-listed mixed-use university building that has only one staircase serving all typical floors, with a egress travel distance exceeding the limit established by the current prescriptive regulations. The analysis was carried out using computational simulations with the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) software, considering different ventilation scenarios and fire ignition locations. Key parameters such as visibility, temperature, and fractional effective dose were assessed along the evacuation route to estimate the available safe egress time. The results indicated that maintaining open windows in rooms, the presence of natural smoke extraction in the corridor, and the compartmentation of spaces significantly contribute to improving the escape conditions. It is concluded that the adoption of performance-based fire engineering design enabled the development of effective fire safety strategies without significant alterations to the building’s original architecture.