ABSTRACT
The limitations of computer-based fire models are considered in very general terms. The main different kinds of deterministic models are considered, that is “zone models” and CFD-based models. In general, the purpose of such models is to enable better assessment of the fire risk in a given case with particular types of occupants, contents, and building design. Zone models assume the formation of a very small number of “zones.” In particular, this type of model assumes that the smoke forms a homogeneous layer of uniform temperature, smoke density, and gas concentration. Field models do not assume a very small number of zones but a variation of the “field variables” throughout the space of concem. In practice a compartment is divided into a large number of cells uniformity of conditions is assumed within each cell. In this sense, a field model may be thought of as a zone model but with thousands of zones instead of, essentially, two.
