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Degree Regulations & Programmes of Study 2010/2011
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Engineering : Civil

Undergraduate Course: Quantitative Methods in Fire Safety Engineering 5 (CIVE11022)

Course Outline
School School of Engineering College College of Science and Engineering
Course type Standard Availability Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken) SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) Credits 10
Home subject area Civil Other subject area None
Course website None
Course description This module provides the principles of performance-based design of structures for fire safety. It focuses on the use of analytical and numerical tools in the estimation of performance of fire safety systems. Fire investigation and reconstruction (i.e. Forensics) is introduced. Advanced systems are introduced to establish modern approaches to fire safety engineering. A significant portion of this module is dedicated to industrial fire safety. This section will be introduced on the basis of different industrial accidents and the application of fire safety principles to their analysis, to the lessons learned and to alternative design approaches. This module will present the different analytical, empirical models and numerical models used for quantitative performance assessment of fire safety systems. Emphasis is given to the use of numerical tools. A series of laboratories will introduce the student to modern numerical tools and to their application in the design of fire safety systems. This course will familiarize the student with the use of different quantitative methodologies for fire safety calculations. Thus, after this course the student should be able to use computer based fire models, evaluate results from these tools and assess uncertainty related to the output from these tools. The student after this module should be able to apply the tools learned in previous modules towards performance-based design, quantitative risk assessment, equivalence analysis and fire reconstruction.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Fire Science and Fire Dynamics 4 (CIVE10011)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Prospectus website http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/courses
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 11:10 - 13:00
First Class Week 1, Wednesday, 11:10 - 13:00, Zone: King's Buildings. Classroom 1, Sanderson Building
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Understanding of the concept of Performance Calculations
- The establishment of project requirements and the concept of equivalent safety.
- Principles of risk analysis.
Familiarity with material selection procedures and fuel load control
- The concept of the design fire
- The use of flammability calculations for the prediction of fire growth
- Separation distances and required heat transfer calculations.
Be able to prediction of the performance of fire detection systems
- Smoke plume and ceiling jet calculations
- Obscuration and smoke detector performance
- Sprinkler activation (RTI) and performance of water suppression systems.
- Alternative detection and suppression technologies, evaluation of relative performance.
Understand advanced mechanisms for smoke management
- Calculations for smoke control: reservoirs, entrainment, flow through fans, pressure calculations.
Understanding of the requirements for the Reporting of Engineering Calculations
- Minimum requirements for reporting, justification and user manuals.

Be able to apply the above Concepts to cases in Industrial Fire Safety
- Examples of different industrial accidents analysed withy performance calculation tools

Be able to apply the above concepts to Fire Investigation and Fire Reconstruction (Forensics)
- The use of fire dynamic calculations to support fire investigation. Reconstruction of the timeline.
- Case studies.
Assessment Information
The assessment will be made on the basis of: Intermittent Assessment 30% (laboratories, tutorials and a final project) and Degree Examination (70%)
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information
Special Arrangements
Not entered
Contacts
Course organiser Dr Stephen Welch
Tel: (0131 6)50 5734
Email: S.Welch@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Mrs Laura Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 5690
Email: laura.smith@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh - 1 September 2010 5:43 am