ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the fundamental knowledge of fire and fire safety design and introduces characteristics of fire and its development. It also explains the key scenarios that affect the performance of the building members in fire—such as ventilation-controlled or fuel-controlled fire, and long-cool, short-hot fire. Fire conditions depend on many factors such as the building’s function (offices, car parks, etc.) and the materials (such as concrete or steel) used. The complexity of tall buildings can cause different fire scenarios. For determining the design fire, the compartment needs to be characterized first. It comprises two major characterizations: enclosure and opening of the compartment. High-intensity fire exposure effects may cause more severe damages to the structural members. Fire severity is a way to determine the destructive impact of a fire, the temperatures that could cause failure of the structure. Once the compartment is characterized, the designer should identify all the possible routes of fire transmission through the boundary surfaces.
