Seminar

This seminar will cover the theory and practice behind the use of fire modelling and fire engineering principles to address issues in building design. Compartment fire behaviour, as well as design fires and fire test specification will be reviewed. Then a variety of fire modeling and engineering analysis methods that can be used in support of performance based design will be outlined, including a brief introduction to some common fire modelling software. Concepts will be supplemented with examples and case studies throughout the session.

1) A general overview of compartment fires
2) Basic theory, models and formulas for compartment fires
3) Review of design fire selection and criteria
4) Fire test time-temperature curve vs real fire scenarios
5) Sources for design fires, assumptions, occupancies, NRC research
6) Quick overview of principles behind Zone and CFD models,
7) Example to compare results obtained from Zone vs CFD models
8) Limitations of Zone vs CFD models
9) Use of fire modeling and fire engineering to address practical building design issues

Instructors

Dr. Beth Weckman, P.Eng.- Professor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo

Beth Weckman is a member of the UW Fire Research Group and Co-ordinator of the Fire Safety Graduate Program. For over 25 years, Prof. Weckman has been engaged in research, analysis and modeling of fire behaviour, including everything from laboratory-scale to field studies of fire growth and spread through to the use of field data for validation/comparison with detailed computational models of various fire scenarios. She has been involved in many joint research and training exercises, investigating fire growth and smoke movement in residential structures, radiation from fires, gas explosions, fire suppression and ventilation techniques. Prof. Weckman is an active member of the Combustion Institute, as well as technical societies such as SFPE, NFPA, ASTM and IAAI.

Andrew Harmsworth, P.Eng. - Principal, GHL Consultants

Andrew has over 20 years of engineering experience in Building Code and Fire Protection issues and Code compliance problem resolution.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Fire Protection Engineering from UBC. Andrew is a City of Vancouver Certified Professional who is the former Chair of the Building Codes Committee and represents APEGBC on the Building Code Modernization Strategy and Green Building Code task groups.  Andrew is the Certified Professional of Record for the Vancouver Convention Center Expansion project. and was the consultant retained by Building Safety and Policy to review the process and technical risks involved relative to fire safety and to recommend code changes to facilitate 6 storey wood frame. Mr Harmsworth is currently involved in the working design of several 6 storey wood frame residential buildings. He has assisted in developing fire modelling based alternate solutions for a large number of buildings including IKEA in Coquitlam, BC Cancer Research Center, the UBC main library and a number of UBC buildings in Kamloops.

Cancellation Policy

Registered attendees unable to attend the event may designate a substitute, provided APEGBC receives written notification at least one business day prior to the event. Registration information for the substitute attendee should accompany the notice. If notice of cancellation of registration is received:

•  5 business days or more prior to the event, a refund will be processed
•  Less than 5 business days prior to the event, no refunds apply

Substitute registrants are permitted up to the day of the seminar and member/non-member fees will be applied. The organizers reserve the right to cancel the event if less than the minimum required participants have registered. Liability limited to registration fee.

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APEGBC is an AIBC/CES registered provider offering an AIBC-Accredited activity for 6.5 Non-Core Learning Units.