The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and increase in University construction budgets has allowed our engineers to develop significant experience of applying fire engineering techniques to educational sector projects.
Within the BSF program the typical guidance used is Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), and although the guidance is quite prescriptive is does not restrict the use of fire engineering within schools. As well as fire engineering being used to permit deviations from BB100 the guidance itself, when used correctly the guidance can provide effective fire safety school design. Common areas where value can be added by intelligent use of BBB100, are the rationalisation of smoke control systems and reduction or omission of compartment floor provisions. Optimising these elements can reduce capital expenditure significantly.
University and college buildings do not typically have the same specific risks as schools, so more conventional guidance such as Approved Document B and BS 9999 can be used to provide fire safety design. There are many ways in which a fire engineered design can add value to these types of buildings such as; extended travel distances, more flexible evacuation procedures, increased occupancies for specific events, reduction in compartmentation requirements, omission of fire resistant glazing and limiting fire protection to the structural frame.
Omega Fire uses a number of methods to analyse the specific parameters which can permit a reduction in fire resistance rating of the structural elements. The extent to which the reduction can be made, and hence the larger the cost saving, will depend on the geometry of the building, the construction type and also the available ventilation. Ensuring Omega Fire is involved early in the design process can assist in the selection of appropriate construction types and optimum ventilation locations to permit the greatest level of reduction. See the structural fire engineering page for details.
Education