Introduction

Tragic incidents, like the devastating 2022 fire at Delhi’s Batra Hospital and the Rajkot gaming zone blaze, have cast a harsh light on the critical need for fire safety measures in India. It was discovered that insufficient ventilation caused smoke to spread quickly and hampered evacuation attempts.

In such cases, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can predict fire and smoke movement by conducting CFD simulations in the virtual environment and adding conditions and parameters that deliver specific values. This is called CFD fire and smoke modeling.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has improved CFD fire and smoke modeling and developed the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), which can model fire-driven fluid flow with an accuracy of within 20% of experimental data.

The use of CFD fire and smoke modeling by engineers to contain fire and smoke in such circumstances will be covered in this article.

CFD Fire and Smoke Modeling Compliance with Regulations

Let’s break down the need for compliance with safety protocols:

Result of Negligence and Lack of Safety Measures

The Delhi hospital fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit, exacerbated by illegal oxygen cylinder refilling in the basement. The lack of basic safety measures, such as fire exit points, trapped people and made evacuation impossible.

Preventable Tragedies

The Rajkot gaming zone fire, caused by sparks from a welder’s machine, was fueled by highly flammable construction materials (tin, wood, gasoline, rubber, and plastic) and a lack of fire safety precautions. The local fire department had not even issued a no-objection certificate for the gaming zone.

Inconsistent Implementation of Fire Safety Measures

These incidents expose the inconsistency, negligence, and lack of implementation of fire safety measures across India, highlighting the need for proper safety models, rules, and regulations that incorporate CFD simulations.

The Role of CFD Fire and Smoke Modeling

CFD fire and smoke modeling could have prevented these disasters. Virtual simulations provide visual evidence that proposed smoke management strategies meet safety standards and regulations, allowing building owners and officials to verify the adequacy of smoke control systems.

Regulatory Framework and Compliance Challenges

However, poor implementation of norms in urban areas remains a challenge, especially in informal settlements.

• The National Building Code (NBC) outlines guidelines for construction, maintenance, and fire safety protocols. At the same time, the “Model Building Bye Laws 2016” offers guidance to states and Union Territories (UTs) in formulating building bylaws addressing fire protection requirements.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also mandates fire safety criteria for public structures, including hospitals, emphasizing open safety spaces, evacuation procedures, and dedicated staircases.

Despite these regulations, compliance challenges remain as they are. Local authorities often fail to conduct regular fire safety audits or inspections and also overlook mandatory certifications.

Benefits of CFD Fire and Smoke Modeling

CFD fire and smoke modeling, particularly when compared to prescriptive building design, offers the following advantages:

1. Customization and Precision

   • Prescriptive Design: Traditional code enforcement addresses general fire safety guidelines but needs to be more specific for individual buildings.

   • CFD Approach: The CFD models simulate the flow, heat transfer, and heating related to the specific structure geometry. This, when combined with optimization, provides accurate prediction of fire behavior, smoke velocity, and heat distribution.

2. Complex Geometry Handling:

   • Prescriptive Design: Codes often assume simple geometries, ignoring complexities like irregular shapes, atria, or open spaces.

   • CFD Approach: CFD deals with complex geometry effortlessly. Large atrium or connecting rooms anticipate ventilation, heat transfer, and heating.

3. Dynamic Fire Behavior Prediction:

   • Prescriptive Design: Codes prescribe fixed fire scenarios (e.g., design fires) without accounting for real-world variations.

   • CFD Approach: CFD captures dynamic fire behavior, considering factors like fire growth, smoke production, and ventilation changes. It predicts how fires evolve, aiding evacuation planning and firefighting strategies.

4. Smoke Movement and Tenability Assessment:

   • Prescriptive Design: Codes often lack detailed guidance on smoke movement and occupant tenability.

   • CFD Approach: CFD simulates smoke movement, identifying areas of smoke accumulation, visibility impairment, and toxic gas concentrations. This informs evacuation routes and helps design effective smoke control systems.

5. Optimization of Safety Measures:

   • Prescriptive Design: Codes prescribe minimum requirements, but they don’t optimize safety features.

   • CFD Approach: Engineers can use CFD to optimize safety measures (e.g., sprinkler placement, smoke extraction rates, fire-resistant materials) based on specific building conditions. This ensures efficient use of resources while maintaining safety.

6. Fire Spread Prediction in Compartmentalized Spaces:

   • Prescriptive Design: Codes focus on individual compartments, but fire can spread across interconnected spaces..

   • CFD Approach: CFD models account for fire spread between compartments, considering factors like door openings, ventilation, and heat transfer. This aids in designing effective fire barriers and escape routes.

7. Early Design Iterations and Cost Savings:

   • Prescriptive Design: Changes after construction can be costly.

   • CFD Approach: Early CFD simulations allow iterative design improvements. Catching issues before construction reduces rework costs and enhances safety.

How Mechartes Can Help with CFD Fire and Smoke Modeling

At  Mechartes, we specialize in offering innovative engineering solutions, including CFD fire and smoke modeling, to contribute to safety and performance across various industries. With a team of experienced engineers and advanced simulation tools, we provide our clients with detailed and accurate insights into fire dynamics and smoke behavior.

With fire and smoke modeling technology, we can simulate real-world scenarios with safety measures such as:

• Fire sprinklers

• Smoke control systems and

• Ventilation strategies

Our approach goes beyond traditional prescriptive codes by offering customized and dynamic solutions tailored to the specific geometry and conditions of each building.

End Note

CFD fire and smoke modeling can ensure greater fire safety by providing detailed insights into fire behavior and smoke movement. This advanced system helps engineers design and implement effective fire safety measures, ensuring compliance with regulations and protecting building occupants.

At Mechartes, we are committed to enhancing fire safety and ensuring the protection of building occupants. Since 2005, we have been tackling complex engineering challenges (ventilation, structures, noise) across industries. We leverage cutting-edge simulations (CFD & FEA) to empower businesses with data-driven decision-making, boasting over 10,000 successful projects.

For more insights into our services and expertise in CFD fire and smoke modeling, visit our website.

If you have further queries, feel free to reach out.

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