ASTM Role in Performance-Based Fire Codes and Standards

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S T P 3 7 7

A STM s Role in Per f orm ance-B ased

F i r e Codes an d Standards

John R. Hall editor

ASTM Stock Number: STP 1377

100 Barr Harbor Drive

West Conshohocken PA 19428-2959

Printed in the U.S.A.


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L i b r a ry o f C o n g r e s s C a t a l o g i n g - in - P u b l i c a t i o n D a t a

A S T M ' s r o l e i n p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d f i r e c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s / J o h n R . H a l l , e d i t o r .

( S T P ; 1 3 7 7 )

" A S T M s t o c k n u m b e r : S T P 1 3 7 7 . "

P a p e r s p r e s e n t e d a t a s y m p o s i u m D e c . 8 , 1 9 9 8 , N a s h v i l l e , T e n n .

I n c l u d e s b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l r e f e r e n c e s .

I S B N 0 - 8 0 3 1 - 2 6 2 0 - 4

1 . A m e r i c a n S o c i e t y f o r T e s t i n g a n d M a t e r i a l s - - C o n g r e s s e s . 2 . F ir e

p r e v e n t i o n - - S t a n d a r d s - - U n i t e d S t a t e s - - C o n g r e s s e s . I. H a l l, J o h n R ., 1 9 4 8 - I1. A S T M

s p e c i a l t e c h n i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n ; 1 3 7 7 .

T H 9 2 0 1 . A 7 8 1 9 9 9

6 2 8 . 9 ' 2 2 ' 0 2 1 8 7 3 - - d c 2 1

9 9 - 0 4 7 2 1 3

C I P

C o p y r i g h t 9 1 9 9 9 A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y F O R T E S T I N G A N D M A T E R I A L S , W e s t C o ns h oh o ck e n,

PA. Al l r ights reserved. This matedal may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in par t , in any

pr in ted, mechanica l , e lec tronic , f i lm, or o the r d is t r ibut ion and s torage media, w i thou t the wr i t ten conse nt

o f t he pub l isher .

P h o t o c o p y R i g h t s

A u t h o r i z a t io n t o p h o t o c o p y i t e m s fo r in t e rn a l, p e r s o n a l , o r e d u c a t i o n a l c l a s s r o o m u s e , o r t h e

i n t e r n a l , p e r s o n a l , o r e d u c a t i o n a l c l a s s r o o m u s e o f s p e c i fi c c l ie n t s , is g r a n t e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n

S o c i e t y f o r T e s t i n g a n d M a t e r i a l s A S T M ) p r o v id e d t h a t th e a p p r o p r i a t e f e e i s p a i d t o t h e

C o p y r i g h t C l e a r a n c e C e n t e r , 2 2 2 R o s e w o o d D r i v e , D e n v e r s, M A 0 1 9 2 3 ; T e l: 5 0 8 ) 7 5 0 - 8 4 0 0 ; o n -

l i n e : h t t p : / / w w w . c o p y r i g h t . c o m / .

P e e r R e v i e w P o l ic y

E a c h p a p e r p u b l is h e d i n t h i s v o lu m e w a s e v a l u a te d b y t w o p e e r r e v i e w e r s a n d a t l e a s t o n e e d i to r.

Th e au thors a ddressed a i r o f t he reviewers ' comm ents t o t he sa t i s fac t ion o f bo th t he t echn ica l ed it or (s )

and the AS TM Commi t tee on Pub l i ca t ions .

To make te chn ica l in format ion ava i lab le as quick ly as poss ib le , the peer- reviewed pap ers in th is pub-

l icat ion we re prepared "camera-ready" as submi t ted by the authors .

The qua l i ty o f the papers in t h i s pub l i ca t ion re f lec ts no t on ly t he o bv ious e f fo r ts o f t he au thors an d the

techn ica l ed itor(s ), bu t a lso the work of thes e pee r rev iewers . In keeping w i th long s tanding pu bl icat ion

pract ices , AS TM ma in ta ins t he an onym i t y o f t he peer rev iewers. T he A ST M Com mi tt ee on P ub l i ca t ions

ackno w ledg es w i t h apprec ia tion t he i r ded ica t ion and con t r ibu t ion o f t ime and e f fo r t on beha l f o f AST M .

Printed n M ayfield,PA

November 1999


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oreword

This publication

AS TM s Role in Per formance-Based Fire Codes an d S tandards ,

contains papers

presented at the symposium of the same name held in Nashville Tennessee. on 8 December 1998.

The symposium was sponsored by ASTM Committee E5 on Fire Standards. The symposium chair-

man was John R. Hall Jr. National Fire Protection Association.


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ontents

Overview

GENER AL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES

Options for ASTM s Role: Ideas for Pianning--J. R. HALL,JR.

ISO Quality Standards for Participants in Performance-Based Regulation--

V BRANNIGAN AND S SPIVAK

The Role of ASTM Subcommittee E5.33, Fire Safety Engineering, in

Performance-Based Fire Codes--R. L. ALPERT

What I Have Learned While Writing Draft Fire Hazard Assessment Standards

and Guides for ASTM E5--M. M. HIRSCHLER

SPECIFIC METHODS AND T OOLS

Fire Test Data for Design Fires: A Perspective from One Practitioner--D. F. GEMENY

AND N B WITTASEK

Adaptation of Cone Calorimeter (ASTM E1354) Data for Use in Performance-Based

Fire Protection Analysis--B. Y. LATTIMER

Computer Fire Model Selection and Data Sources--M. L. JANSSENS

ALLIANCES AND ACTIVITIES OF OT HER GROUPS

SFPE s Fire Model Evaluation Initiative: How ASTM Has Helped and Can Help--

M J HURLEY

The SFPE Design Guide for Performance-Based Design: A Key Element in

Performance-Based Fire Codes and Standards--E. R. ROSENBAUM

The Role of ASTM Standards in NFPA Performance-Based Codes--J. M. WATTS,JR.

The ICC Performance Code Effort and its Relationship to ASTMmB. A. TuBas

vii

14

23

28

47

58

74

89

96

105

115


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verview

The o bjec t ive of th i s sympo sium w as to d i scuss poss ib l e ro l es tha t AST M might p l ay in the m ove

toward g rea ter use of per form ance-b ased f ire codes and s t andards in the Uni t ed S ta t es and Can ada .

Thi s m ove i s a g lobal phenom enon tha t has been ga ther ing speed and s t rength for at leas t a decade .

Perform ance-ba sed f ire code s a re now es t ab l i shed in use f rom the U ni t ed Kingdom to Au st ra l i a and

New Zealan d , and f rom Japan to the Nordic count r i es of Europe . A STM i s a suppl i e r of s t andards to

the wor ld so even i f th i s movem ent had n ot reached Nor th Am erica , and i t most cer t a in ly has , AS TM

would h ave a s t rong in t eres t in ident i fy ing and respo nding to the cha l l enge and the oppor tuni ty pre-

sen t ed by p e r fo rm ance -based codes and s t andards .

P e r f o r m a n c e B a s e d C o d e s a n d S ta n d a r d s

Performance-based codes and s t andards a re document s tha t s t a t e goal s and objec t ives , t oge ther

wi th ru l es and procedures , usua l ly involv ing t es t ing and model ing , for de termining when perfor-

mance i s achieved . Such docu me nt s a l low des igne rs grea ter f l ex ib i l i ty , which can be used to achieve

cos t sav ings , g rea ter safe ty , o r grea ter qual i ty . Performan ce-based codes and s t andards can b e w r i t-

t en on anyth ing f rom product s , mater i a l s and assemb l i es , t o equipme nt , t o whole bui ld ings and com -

plexes , to proced ures and program s.

W hen poor ly executed , per form ance-ba sed codes and s t andards permi t des igners too m uch f l ex i -

b i l i ty , lead ing to reduced safe ty , o r requi re bew i lder ing and unm anageable s t andards of proof , o r i n -

adver t en t ly comprom ise the de l i ca t e ba lance be tw een sc i ence and va lues or be tween the l eg i t imate in-

t e res ts of d i f fe ren t par ts o f t he comm uni ty . I t i s no t enough to be in t e res t ed in p er formance -based codes

and s t andards and in t r igued by the i r po ten t ia l . They must be a pproach ed wi th care and knowledge .

Do we h ave enough kno wled ge? W hat i s a prudent pa th forwa rd tha t st i ll o f fers us the prospec t of

success in a timely fash ion? These w ere am ong the sw eeping ques t ions ad dressed in the symposium ,

but a lways w i th a focus on the ro le AS TM E5 has p l ayed and the ro l es it could (and should) p l ay in

the future.

The in t en t was to g ive a d iverse audience an aw areness of re l evant concept s and ac t iv i t i es , i ns ide

and ou t s i de A S T M , i n o rde r t o p rov i de a sound and com prehens i ve bas is fo r p l ann ing by A S T M E 5 ,

pos s ib ly by S ubcom mi t t ee E5.91 , w hich has resp onsib i l i t y for p lanning; poss ib ly by S ubcom mi t t ee

E5.33 , who se scope i s most near ly a l igned wi th tha t of per form ance-b ased codes and s t andards ; pos-

s ib ly by Subco mm i t t ee E5.90 , t he execu t ive subcomm i t tee ; and poss ib ly by a l l these and o thers as

wel l .

The s ym posium fea tured 12 papers , o rganized in three groups of four papers each .

S e s s i o n I G e n e r a l C o n c e p t s a n d P r i n c ip l e s

The f i rs t four papers addressed genera l conce pt s and pr inc ip les .

A s t he sym p os i um cha i rm an and o rgan i ze r , I spoke f i rs t, o f f e ri ng a s e t o f op t ions fo r A S T M s ro l e

and ideas for p l anning , wi th assoc ia t ed pros and cons . AST M E5 was one o f the f i r st o rganiza t ions to

offer s t andards re l evant to p er form ance-b ased ac t iv i ty , bu t i n many ways , t he in i t ia t ive has m oved

pas t A S T M E 5 in t he l a s t f ew yea r s . T h i s m ay have occu r red because t he s tage o f deve l opm en t o f

pe r fo rm ance -based f i re codes and s t anda rds now em phas i ze s e l em en t s fo r w h i ch o t he r o rgan iza t ions

vii


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v ASTM SROLE IN PERFORMANCE-BASEDFIRE CODES AND STANDARDS

a re m ore app rop r i a t e , o r i t m ay have occu r red because A S T M E 5 i s no t su re w he re t o go nex t , hav -

i ng com pl e t ed t he t a sks i ts m em bers de f i ned fo r t hem se l ves w hen t hey f i r s t en t e red t h i s a rena . T he

f i rs t poss i b i l i t y i s a ccep t ab l e and app rop r i a te , w h i l e t he s econ d poss i b i l it y i s w or r i som e and cou l d be

t h rea ten i ng t o t he l ong - t e rm hea l t h o f A S T M E S . D e t e rm i n i ng w h i ch i s t rue and w ha t cou r se t o fo l -

l ow i s t he e s sence o f p l ann ing .

T h e s e c o n d p a p e r w a s b y V i n c e n t B r a n n ig a n a n d S t e v e n S p i v a k o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f

M a r y l a n d , w h o d i s c u s s e d q u a l i ty s t a n d a r d s f o r t h e p a r t ic i p a n t s in p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d r e g u l a ti o n .

P r o f e s s o r s B r a n n i g a n a n d S p i v a k h a v e d e g r e e s i n b o t h f i r e p r o t e c t i o n e n g i n e e r i n g a n d l a w ,

w h i c h g i v e t h e m a u n i q u e p e r s p e c t i v e o n t h e in t e r a c t io n o f t h e s e t w o d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g s y s te m s ,

b o t h o f w h i c h h a v e r e l e v a n c e to p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s . O n e o f th e r e c u r r i n g

c o n c e r n s i n d e v e l o p i n g p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s i s h o w t o a s s u r e th a t th e i n d i -

v i d u a l s d e s i g n i n g t o th e s e d o c u m e n t s a r e u p to t h e j o b . T h i s p a p e r p r o p o s e d c o n c e p t s a n d a p -

p roaches t o t h i s i s sue , w h i l e unde r sco r i ng t ha t t h i s i s no t an i n t e rna l m a t t e r fo r t he eng i nee r i ng

f i e ld .

R ona l d A l pe r t o f F ac t o ry M u t ua l R esea rch C orpo ra t i on , t he cu r r en t cha i r o f S ubco m m i t tee E 5 . 33

on F i r e S a fe t y E ng i nee r i ng , p rov i ded t he t h ird pape r , w h i ch r ev i ew ed t he h i s t o ry , a c ti v i ti e s , and p l ans

o f t h is subcom m i t t ee . S ubcom m i t t ee E 5 . 33 and i t s t w o p redecesso r s , S ubcom m i t t ee E 5 . 35 on F i r e

R i sk and H aza rd A sses sm en t and S ubcom m i t t ee E 5 . 39 on F i r e M ode l i ng , have been t he hom e fo r

m o s t o f A S T M E 5 ' s w o r k r e l a t e d t o p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s t o t h i s p o i n t .

S ubcom m i t t ee E 5 .33 now faces a num ber o f cho i ce s . T hey can m a i n t a in t he ir gu ides . T hey can t ake

an ac t i ve ro l e i n educa t i ng cons t i tuen t s in t he u se o f t hose gu i des . T hey can p l ay a pa r t i n app l y i ng

t he gu i des t o t he dev e l opm e n t o f f i re r i sk and haza rd a s se s sm en t s fo r pa r t i cu la r p roduc t s o r t o the r e -

v i ew o f pa r t i cu l a r f i r e m ode l s . O r t hey can de fe r t o r e l a t i ve new com ers l i ke t he S oc i e t y o f F i r e

Pro tec t ion Engineers , o r seek to par tner wi th them.

C o m p l e t i n g t h e s e s s i o n o n g e n e r a l c o n c e p t s a n d p r i n c i p l e s w a s M a r c e l o H i r s c h l e r o f G B H

I n t e rn a t io n a l , w h o p r o v i d e d a h i g h l y p e r s o n a l (a t th e o r g a n i z e r ' s r e q u e st ) r e v i e w - - b u t w i t h v e r y

g e n e r a l i m p l i c a t i o n s - - o f h i s e f f o r ts to w r i t e A S T M E 5 f i r e h a z a r d a s s e s s m e n t s t a n d a r d s a n d

gu i des . P rob ab l y no one h as spen t m ore t i m e and e f fo r t a t t em p t i ng t o de f i ne , i n de t a i l , w ha t a pe r -

f o r m a n c e - b a s e d , f i r e - h a z a r d - a n a l y s i s - b a s e dp r o d u c t s ta n d a r d w o u l d l o o k l i k e i n th e A S T M E 5 s y s -

t em . D r . H i r sch l e r ' s r ev i ew o f t he se e f fo r t s and o f t he t h i nk i ng beh i nd t hem i s an i nva l uab l e s t a r t -

i n g p o i n t fo r a n y o n e e l s e s e e k i n g t h e s a m e o b j e c t iv e , n o m a t t e r h o w m u c h t h e y m a y d i f f e r on t h e

pa r t i cu l a r s .

S e s s i o n I I S p e c i f ic M e t h o d s a n d T o o l s

F rom gene ra l concep t s and p r i nc i p l e s , t he sym p os i um nex t m oved t o fou r pape r s on spec i f i c m e t h -

ods and tool s .

T he f i rs t o f t he se pape r s w as g i ven by D an i e l G em eny o f R o l f J ensen A ssoc i a t e s , w ho spok e on

the pre para t ion of f i re t es t da t a for use in spec i fy ing des ign f i res . Thi s essen t i a l s t ep l i nks t rad i t iona l

f i r e t e s ti ng and t he m any a s soc i a t ed s t anda rds w i th w h i ch A S T M has m ade i ts r epu t a ti on and i t s con -

t r ibu t i on ove r t he yea r s w i t h t he o f t en -d i f fe r en t needs o f m o de l s and ca l cu la t i on m e t hods fo r i npu t

da t a on p roduc t pe r fo rm ance i n a w i de va r i e ty o f f ir e env i ronm en t s . H av i ng conduc t ed a num ber o f

pe r fo rm ance -based des i gn p ro j ec t s fo r a com pany t ha t i s am ong t he w or l d ' s l e ade r s in t h i s a r ea , M r .

Ge me ny was ab le to provid e subs tan t i a l i ns ight in to the s t eps requi red for th is i n t e r face and the i s -

sues tha t a r i se a long the w ay.

T he second o f t he se pape r s i s a lso t he on l y pape r no t i nc l uded i n t h i s p roceed ings . G ordon H ar t ze l l

o f H a r t ze l l C onsu l t ing spoke on r ecen t p roposa l s fo r new app roaches t o sm oke t ox i c i t y a sse s sm en t ,

cu r r en t ly unde r cons i de ra t i on in bo t h A S T M E 5 and t he In t e rna t i ona l S t anda rd iza t i on O rgan i za t i on


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O V R V I W i x

(ISO), as an example of a new type of ASTM E5 standard, illustrating the incorporation of fire haz-

ard analysis concepts. Because Dr. Hartzell s work in this area is of far-ranging interest, he presented

the same paper to the First International Symposium on Human Behavior in Fire, held in Ulster,

Northern Ireland, earlier in 1998. ASTM s policies rightly preclude publication of a paper already

published, and Dr. Hartze ll s paper is available in the proceedings of that conference. Readers of this

volume are encouraged to seek this paper out, because it is a rare and important example of the evo-

lution of fire test methods to support more comprehensive fire hazard assessments rather than to pro-

duce evaluative data by themselves.

The third of the specific method and tool papers was by Brian Lattimer of Hughes Associates. A

project of his required the adaptation of fire test data from the cone calorimeter (ASTM E 1354) for

use in a performance-based fire protection analysis. As with the other two papers, the conversion pro-

cess tends to be anything but straightforward or simple, but it is essential if the calculations support-

ing performance-based design are to be based on valid data appropriate to the structures and as-

sumptions of the models.

Completing the session on specific methods and tools was Marc Janssens of Southwest Research

Institute, who spoke on computer fire model selection and data sources. Dr. Janssens paper drew on

both his own work and the work of ASTM E5.39, for which Dr. Janssens was the last chairman. The

four modeling-related guides produced by ASTM E5.39 include some of the first guidance in print

on the selection of data for computer fire models.

S e s s i o n I I I m l l ia n c e s a n d c t iv i ti e s o f O t h e r G r o u p s

The last session of the symposium broadened out from methods and tools to kindred organizations

and their activities, with emphasis on opportunities for alliances and partnerships that would advance

the cause of performance-based codes and standards and the interests of ASTM.

The first two of these papers addressed initiatives of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Morgan J. Hurley of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers spoke on SFPE s task groups to evalu-

ate specific types of fire models, and Eric Rosenbaum of Hughes Associates spoke on SFPE s pro-

jec t to develop a design guide for performance-based design, the latter due to be published late in

1999. Both authors noted the value of ASTM s guides related to fire modeling as starting points for

the SFPE exercises.

The last two papers addressed performance-based code initiatives of the National Fire Protection

Association and the International Code Council. John Watts of the Fire Safety Institute described

NFPA s proposal for a performance-based option within the Life Safety Code, and Beth Tubbs of the

International Conference of Building Officials described ICC s proposal for a performance-based

version of their building and fire codes. By focusing on codes, as distinct from the standards ASTM

publishes, the two authors offered two initiatives that could create demand for supporting standards

from ASTM.

C l o si n g T h o u g h t s m i d s t t h e O p e n i n g R e m a r k s

After you have read these papers, you may be frustrated that you cannot immediately do a specific

job better or identify a new skill you have acquired. The benefit and relevance of these papers is in

another form.

If you are an active volunteer within ASTM E5, you should learn a great deal about new ways in

which the standards you write will be used. You may even have some new thoughts on whether you

are working on the most important issues in the most appropriate way.

If your interest is more in performance-based design, codes, or standards, and only secondarily

in ASTM s role, you may discover a resource in ASTM that you had not previously recognized.


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X ASTM SROLE IN PERFORMANCE-BASED FIRE CODES AND STANDARDS

Y o u m a y w i s h t o e x p l o re th e a b i li t y o f A S T M E 5 s t a n d a rd s e x i s t i n g a n d p r o s p ec t i v e t o s u p p o rt

y o u r i n t e re s t s .

N o ma t t e r h o w y o u c a m e t o t h i s v o l u m e t h e s e p ap e r s s h o u l d g i v e y o u a b e tt e r s e n s e o f c o n t e x t a n d

o f p o s s i b i l it y a n d a l o t to t h i n k a b o u t . B u t a p a s s i v e r ea c t i o n to t h i s ma t e r i a l i s n o t w h a t w e a r e l o o k -

ing for .

T h i s v o l u m e is me a n t t o mo t i v a t e e v e n mo r e t h a n e d u c at e . It i s me a n t to g a l v a n i z e e v e n m o r e t h a n

i n f o rm . W e a r e i n t h e m i d s t o f a d e f i n i n g m o m e n t f o r th e w a y s i n w h i c h w e m a k e d e c i s i o n s a b o u t th e

f i re s a fe t y o f e v e r y t h i n g . I f y o u h a v e a n y t h o u g h t s o r a n y p r e f e r en c e s f o r h o w t h i s o u g h t t o p r o c e e d

y o u o w e i t to y o u r s e l f a n d to y o u r c o l l e a g u e s a n d p r o g e n y t o b e c o m e a p a r t o f t h e d e b a t e a n d c o n -

t r ibu te a pa r t o f the so lu t ion .

W h e n e v e r y o u f i n d t h i s v o l u m e i t is l i k e l y t h a t e v e r y a u t h o r r e p r e s e n t e d h e r e is s t i ll w o r k i n g o n

t h e s u b j e c t a n d w o u l d l i k e to h e a r fr o m y o u . I t i s c e r t ai n th a t A S T M e s p e c i a l l y C o m mi t t e e E 5 i s s ti l l

w o r k i n g o n t h i s s u b j e c t a n d w o u l d l i k e to h e a r f r o m y o u . S o g e t i n v o l v e d a n d g e t i n t o u c h .

John R Hall

National Fire Protection Association

Quincy MA

Symposium Chairman and Editor


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General oncepts

and

Principles


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John R . Hal l, J r ]

O p t i o n s f o r A S T M s R o l e - - I d e a s fo r P la n n i n g

R e f e r e n c e :

H a l l, J . R ., J r., O p t i o n s f o r A S T M ' s R o l e q I d e a s f o r P l a n n i n g ,

AS TM s Role in Per formance-Based Fire Codes and Standards, A ST M STP 1377, J . R .

Hal l , J r. , Ed., Am er ican So cie ty for Tes t ing and M ater ia l s , West C onshoh ocken, PA ,

1999.

A b s t r a c t : Perform ance-base d codes and s tandards are a grow ing real i ty around the wor ld.

W ith s ta te-of -the-ar t guides fo r f i re mod el ing and guides to the w r i ting o f fi re haz ard

assess m ent standards and f i re r isk assessm ent standards , AS TM E-5 has played an

essent ia l role and has been one of the ear l ies t major players in thi s ac t ivi ty . But now the

l andscape has changed . Group s f rom SFPE to NFPA to ICC, f rom ISO to IEC to CIB ,

and others are al l act ive, and eac h brings a sp ecial focus and a spec ial skil l to the act ivi ty.

AS TM E-5 needs to decide w hat i ts specia l role can and shou ld be . This pape r wi ll

di scuss so m e o f the opt ions , bas ed on the t radi tional scop e and areas o f tradi tional

s t reng th and emp has i s fo r AST M .

K e y w o r d s :

f i re r i sk , f i re hazard, f i re per form ance, f i re tes t method, p er forma nce-ba sed

fire standard, fire scenario, index.

F ive yea r s ago , A ST M 's E -5 Com mi t t ee on F ir e S tandards was a rguab ly the m os t

advan ced and the mo st vi s ible source o f mater ia l s re la ted to per form ance-b ased f ire safe ty

desig n in the U.S.A.

The AS TM Guide fo r Dev e lopm ent o f F i re -Hazard-Assessm ent S tandards (E 1546)

prov ided a com plete guide to the s teps requi red to wr i te a f i re-per form ance-b ased produ ct

s tandard us ing f i re hazard ana lys i s as the m easure o f per form ance, and a com panion guide,

t he ASTM Guide fo r Deve lop me nt o f F i r e -R i sk-Assessm ent S t andards (E 1776) , based

on f i re r i sk analys i s was fas t near ing f inal approval . A ST M 's Su bcom mit tee E-5.39 had

cons t ruc t ed a com prehens ive se t o f comp lemen ta ry gu ides fo r f ir e mode l use r s who

wished t o m ake sure t he i r mode l usage m et t he mo s t demanding c r i te r ia fo r p roper and

approp r ia te mo del usage. The se guides addressed val idat ion and ver i f ica t ion, uses and

limitat ions, data, and documentat ion.

Tha t was then, bu t wha t about now? At the end of 1998 , A ST M 's pos i ti on is

vi r tual ly unchanged f rom f ive years ago. But sev eral other U.S . organizat ions that

~Assistant V ice President -- Fire An aly sis and Research, National Fire Protection

Associa t ion, 1 Bat terym arch Park, P .O. B ox 9101, Quincy , MA 02269-9101.

C o p y r i g h t 9 1 9 9 9 b y A S T M I n t e r n a t io n a l

3

w w w . a s t m . o r g


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4 ASTM SROLE IN FIRE CODES AND STANDARDS

a rguab ly had li tt le o f subs t ance t o o f f e r bac k t hen have s ince m ove d s t rong ly and

ef f ec t i ve ly t o pu t t he i r s t amp on t he sub j ec t o f pe r fo rma nce-ba sed fi re codes and

standards .

Both t he Na t iona l F i r e P ro t ec t ion Assoc i a t i on (NFP A) and t he In t e rna t i ona l Code

C o m m i s s i o n ( I C C ) h a v e p r o d u c e d m a j o r p r o p o s a ls f o r p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d fi re c o d e s t h at

a r e l ike ly t o be ava i l ab le by t he yea r 2000 . Ca nad a s Na t iona l Resea rch Counc i l is

p roduc ing a C anad i an coun te rpa r t, cov er ing eve ry th ing f rom ob j ec t ives and c r i te r i a to

wh a t i s a rguab ly t he wo r ld s m os t compreh ens ive r i sk -based fi re pe r fo rman ce ana lys is

m odel ing packa ge. The S ocie ty o f F i re Protect ion Engineers (SFPE), havin g a l ready

produced two ed i t ions o f a de t a il ed hand book on eng inee r ing methods and t oo l s , has

r ecen t ly sponsored an i n t roduc tory boo k on pe r form ance-b ased concep t s and wi l l soon

produc e a des ign guide for use in per fo rm ance -base d des ign. [ 1 ,2] SFPE has e ven taken

the o ld AST M E5.39 gu ides and be gun app ly ing t hem to the eva lua t i on o f pa r ti cu l a r f ir e -

re la ted models .

A l l o f th e s e o r g a n iz a ti o n s h a v e m a d e u s e o f A S T M E - 5 s m a te r ia ls a n d h a v e

publ i c ly acknow ledged t he va lue o f these ma te r i a l s . But wi th eve ry pass ing yea r , t he

app roach es used by these organ izat ions are increas ingly thei r own, ref lec t ing the ideas and

concep t s t hey added t o t he AST M E-5 m ate r ia l s m ore t han t hey r e fl ec t t hose source

mater ia l s themselves .

W h a t N e x t f or A S T M E 5 ?

A n d w h a t a b o u t A S T M E - 5 ? T h a t p io n e e r i n g b o d y r e m a i n s c o m m i tt e d , i n w r i ti n g

in it s s t ra tegic plan, to the pursui t of f i re haz ard a ssessm ent and f i re r isk asses sm ent as

nex t -genera t ion ap proaches t o t he f i re s t andards t ha t have been a source o f va lue and

v i s ib i li ty fo r A S T M f o r s o m a n y d e c a d es . T h e a c t iv e m e m b e r s h i p o f A S T M E - 5

inc ludes nea r ly a l l o f t he sam e people who produced t hose o r ig ina l ma te ri a ls . An d ye t ,

there seem s to be l it tl e consen sus on w hat shou ld com e next .

I bel iev e AS TM E-5 i s a t a crossroad s in i ts hi s tory, a def ining m om en t that wi l l

d i c ta t e wha t ro l e i t w i l l p l ay and wha t con t r ibu t i on i t w i l l make t o t he shape o f

per fo rm anc e-ba sed code s and s tandards that wi l l, I a l so bel ieve, def ine f i re safe ty des ign

in the U .S . fo r t he nex t mi l l enn ium. There a r e a numb er o f ind iv idual s i n AS TM E-5 wh o

h a v e i d e a s t o p r o p o s e o n w h a t t h a t r o le s h o u l d b e . M a n y o f th e m a r e o n t o d a y s

program , and o the rs a r e in t oda y s aud i ence . So a r e r epresen t a ti ves o f t he g roundbreak ing

wo rk be ing done b y k indred o rgan i za t ions l i ke NFPA , ICC , and SFPE .

I f th i s sy m po sium is successful , i t wi l l in i tia te a subs tant ive dia logue on a l ternat ive

ph i losophies and pr inc ip l es by which A ST M E-5 can de f ine i ts ro l e . Those on t od ay s

program wh o a re ac ti ve i n the pe r fo rmanc e-based f ir e code and s t andard ac t iv i t ie s o f

k indred o rgan i za t ions m ay have add i t iona l i deas on ro l es ASTM could p l ay . The y wi ll a t

l eas t p rov ide a c l ea r p i c tu re o f how the fu tu re wi l l be d e f ined i f AS TM i s no t i nvo lved ,

beca use i t wi ll be these other organ izat ions that then w i ll invent the future for Am er ica .

I ca n i m a g i n e a n u m b e r o f d i ff e re n t r o le s A S T M c o u l d p la y a n d - - g i v e n A S T M s

h i s to r i c s t reng ths and proven capab i l i ti e s - - cou ld p l ay we l l and e f f ec t ive ly . I w i ll t ry t o


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HALL ON OPTION S FOR ASTM S ROLE --IDEAS FOR PLANNING 5

descr ibe the pr inc ipa l a l te rna t ives I see in th is paper . So m e a l te rna t ives 1 f ind exc i t ing ,

wh i l e o the r s s eem mo re r i sky and r equ ir e mo re l uck fo r succes s .

I c an even ima g ine AS TM E-5 mak ing a p ruden t dec i s ion t o p l ay no l a rge r o r

con t inu ing ro l e , ba sed on an exp l i c i t and wide ly sha red ca l cu l a t i on t ha t A ST M s i n te r e st s

do n o t r equ ir e it s a c ti ve i nvo lvem en t and t ha t the needs o f pe r fo rmance -ba sed f i r e codes

and s t anda rds i n t he U .S . a r e be ing me t by o the r o rgan i za t i ons be tt e r equ ipped t han

A ST M to add re s s each a spec t. I wou ld be su rp r is ed by such a j udgm en t , bu t I cou ld

imag ine a sp i r it ed and we l l - t hough t -ou t p l ann ing d i scus s ion end ing i n such a

de terminat ion .

T h e o n l y o u t c o m e I c o u ld n o t re s p e c t - - a n d t h a t n o o n e i n t hi s r o o m s h o u l d

r e s p ec t - - w o u l d b e a s id e li n e r o le f o r A S T M E - 5 re s u lt in g s o l e l y fr o m A S T M s i n a bi li ty

o r unwi l l ingnes s t o dec ide w ha t r o l e t o pu rsue . I r r e levance based o n i ndec i s ion o r t he

ine rt ia o f t he s t a tu s quo is no t a r ea soned o r r e spec t ab l e cho i ce . A nd ye t , one cou ld l oo k

a t t he l andscape a t A ST M E-5 t oday and li st en t o the d i s cus s ions su r round ing t h is t op i c ,

and on e cou ld we l l conc lude t ha t t h is one unaccep t ab l e o u t com e is t oday t he mos t l i ke ly

ou tcom e o f a ll .

Tha t i s w hy I r ega rd th i s a s a de fin ing m om en t fo r A ST M E-5 . Pe r fo rm ance -based

f ir e codes and s t anda rds a r e on t he m ove w or ldwide , and t he pace i n the U .S . i s

acce lera t ing a t an of ten d izzyin g speed . Ha ving p lay ed a c ri t ica l ro le in s ta r t ing the car

fo rward , AS TM E-5 has y i e lded t he d r ive r s s ea t t o o the r g roups - - l a rge ly w i thou t an

exp l ic i t cho i ce - - and is i n dange r o f l o s ing al l i n fl uence and com mu nica t i on wi th t hose

g r o u p s e n ti re ly . I f A S T M E - 5 d o e s n o t c a r e w h e r e t h e c a r it s ta r te d e n d s u p - - o r w h e n

and w heth er i t reach es i t s goa l - - then th is sh i f t i s o f no im por tance . Bu t i f th i s i s not the

case , t hen now, t oday , is t he time to beg in r ede f in ing and r ea s se r t ing A ST M E-5 s i deas

abou t th is fu ture we wi l l a l l share .

Hav ing , I hope , m ade t he ca se t ha t t he s takes fo r t oda y s sym pos ium a re ve ry h igh ,

I wou ld no w l ike t o chang e t o t he t op i c s ta t ed i n t he ti tle o f m y pape r , nam e ly de f in ing

som e o f t he a l t erna t ive ro l e s A ST M E-5 migh t p lay .

W h a t A r e P e r f o rm a n c e B a s e d F i re C o d e s a n d S t a n d a rd s ?

Per fo rm ance -bas ed f i re codes and s tanda rds a r e t he means by w h ich a soc i e ty

con t ro l s de s ign dec i s ions so a s t o ach i eve accep t ab l e s a f e ty wh i l e a l so p rov id ing g r ea t e r

f lex ib i l i ty on how tha t safe ty i s achieved .

I t is no s ec r e t t ha t f ir e s a f e ty - - o r s a f e ty in gene ra l - - is no t t he p rinc ipa l

cons ide ra t i on i n the des ign and i nven t ive r edes ign o f p roduc t s . I n s tead , p roduc t s a r e

des igne d fo r cer ta in funct ional , aes the t ic , o r a f fordabi l i ty objec t ives , wi th safe ty regarded

as a cons t ra in t .

W i t h m o r e e x p l ic i t s ta t em e n t s o f h o w m u c h s a f e t y i n w h a t f o r m t h e p u b l ic

d e m a n d s , c o m b i n e d w i th a g r e e d p r o c ed u r e s f o r m e a s u r in g a n d a s se s s in g h o w m u c h s a f e ty

a p roduc t de l i ve r s , a de s igne r o r manu fac tu r e r i s in a be t te r pos i t i on t o innova t e . Pe rhaps

as impor tant , bar r ie rs to in te rna t ional t rade may be lowered as manufac turers a re ab le to

p r o v i d e t he l e v el s a n d t y p e s o f s a f e ty d e m a n d e d b y o t h e r c o u n t ri e s - - a n d p r o v e t h a t


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p e r f o r m a n c e i n t h e f o r m d e m a n d e d b y t h o se c o u n t r ie s - - w i t h o u t b e i n g n e e d l e s s l y

c o n s t r a in e d b y l o c al a c c i d e n ts o f h i st o r y r e g a r d in g h o w e x a c t l y s a f e t y is d e s i g n e d i n to

p r o d u c t s .

W h a t D o e s P e r f o r m a n c e B a s e d E v a l u a t io n M e a n f o r t h e K i n d s o f S t a n d a r d s

T r a d i t io n a l ly W r i tt e n b y A S T M E 5 ?

H o w d o e s t h i s i n te n t t r an s l a te i n to c h a n g e s i n th e f o r m o f th e k i n d s o f p r o d u c t

s t a n d a r d s t ra d i t io n a l l y w r i t te n b y A S T M E - 5 ? C a n ' t w e s i m p l y s a y t h a t t h e r e s u lt s o f

p r o d u c t t e st s a r e m e a s u r e s o f p r o d u c t f i r e p e r f o r m a n c e a n d l e t it g o a t th a t ?

P e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d m e a n s r u l es b a s e d o n a n ex p l ic i t s e t o f g o a l s a n d o b j e c t i v e s,

c o m b i n e d w i th a d e f i n e d m e t h o d o f m e a s u r i n g w h e t h e r t h e g o a ls a n d o b j e c t iv e s h a v e b e e n

m e t . Y o u c a n h a v e p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d e v a l u a t i o n o f a p ro d u c t , m a t e r ia l , o r a s s e m b l y ; a

s t ru c t u r e , v e h i c l e , o r s p a c e ; a p r o c e s s , p r o g r a m , o r a c ti v i ty ; a n i n d i v i d u a l o r g r o u p ; o r a n y

o t h e r s u b je c t f o r w h i c h g o a l s a n d o b j e c t i v e s a r e m e a n i n g f u l . P e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d f ir e c o d e s

a n d s t a n d a r d s a r e t h o s e f o r w h i c h t h e g o a l s a n d o b j e c t i v e s r e l a t e to f i r e ri s k , f ir e l o s s, o r

s o m e o t h e r m e a s u r e o f fi re s af e ty . I f y o u c a n n o t d r a w a n e x p l ic i t c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n th e

m e a s u r e m e n t o f th e p r o d u c t ' s b e h a v i o r r e la t i v e to f i re a n d a s e t o f s p e c i fi c g o a l s a n d

o b j e c t i v e s t h a t d e s c ri b e a d e s i r e d l e v el o f f ir e s a fe t y , th e n y o u d o n o t h a v e p e r f o r m a n c e -

b a s e d e v a l u a t io n o f th a t p r o du c t. Y o u m a y h a v e m e a s u r e m e n t r e l e v a n t t o p e r f o r m a n c e ,

b u t y o u d o n o t h a v e p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d e v a l u a ti o n .

B u t s a f e t y a n d r is k a r e n o t i n h e r e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t ic s o f p r o d u c t s . R a t h e r , s a f e t y a n d

r i sk a r e e x p e r i e n c e d b y p e o p l e w h o u s e p ro d u c t s i n e n v i r o n m e n t s . T h e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f

t h o s e p e o p l e a n d t h o s e e n v i r o n m e n t s m u s t b e u n d e r s to o d a n d q u a n t i fi e d b e f o r e i t i s

p o s s i b l e t o c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e s a f e ty a n d r i s k c o n s e q u e n c e s o f u s i n g p a r t i c u l a r p r o d u c t s.

M a t t r e s s e s p o s e l it tl e ri s k o f f i re l o s s i n n o r m a l u s e . B u t m a t t r e s s e s i n h o t e l s a r e

u s e d b y p e o p l e w i t h s i g n i f ic a n t r i sk o f d r i n k i n g a n d s m o k i n g , l e a d i n g t o u n i n t e n t i o n a l

c i g a r e tt e e x p o s u r e . M a t t re s s e s i n h o m e s h a v e t h e a d d e d r i sk o f e x p o s u r e t o u n s u p e r v i s e d

c h i l d r e n p l a y i n g w i t h m a t c h e s o r li g h t e rs . A n d m a t t r e s s e s in c o r r e c t i o n a l f a c i l it i e s a r e

u s e d b y p o p u l a t i o n s i n w h i c h v a n d a l i s m o f t h e p r o d u c t i s n o t j u s t p o s s i b l e b u t l i k el y . I t

i s u n f a i r , i n a p h i l o s o p h i c a l s e n s e , t o b l a m e t h e p o o r m a t t r e s s f o r t h e f i r e s t h a t r e s u l t

w h e n u n s a f e b e h a v i o r o r m i s u s e o c c u r s i n i t s v i c i n i t y , b u t a s a p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r , t h e s a f e t y

a n d r is k e x p e r i e n c e o f re a l p e o p l e w i t h m a t t re s s e s w i l l b e l a r g e ly d e f i n e d b y t h e a b i l it y o f

t h e p r o d u c t s t o p e r f o r m w e l l i n t h e f a c e o f m i s b e h a v i o r o r m i s u s e .

T h i s m e a n s w e c a n n o t a s s e ss t h e f ir e p e r f o r m a n c e o f a p r o d u c t w i t h o u t m a k i n g

s o m e j u d g m e n t s , n o t o n l y a b o u t w h a t l e v e l o f p e r f o r m a n c e i s c o n s i d e r e d u n a c c e p t a b l y

d a n g e r o u s b u t a l s o a b o u t w h a t l e v e l o f i n su l t - - t h a t i s, w h a t t y p e s a n d m a g n i t u d e s o f

f i re - s ta r t in g e v e n t s - - m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a n d w h a t o t h e r e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s m a y

r e d u c e o r i n c r e a s e t h e ri s k c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a m a t t r e s s fi re .

I f m o s t h o m e s h a v e s m o k e a l a r m s , th e n p e r h a p s w e c a n t o le r at e m o r e s e v e r i ty i n

m a t t r e s s f ir e s , g i v e n a n in c r e a s e d a b i l i ty o f o c c u p a n t s t o r e a c t q u i c k l y a n d e s c a p e . I f

m o s t c o r r e c ti o n a l f a c il it ie s r e st ri c t o c c u p a n t m o v e m e n t - - a s t h e y d o b y d e f i n i ti o n - -


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HALL ON OPTIONS FOR ASTM S ROLE-- IDEAS FOR PLANNING 7

t h e n w e c a n n o t p e r m i t m a t t re s s f ir e s e v e r it y o n th e b a s i s o f s o m e a s s u m e d o c c u p a n t

a b i l i ty t o e s c a p e , b e c a u s e n o s u c h a b i l i ty e x i s ts .

I f y o u l o o k a t A S T M S t a n d a r d s E 1 5 4 6 a n d E 1 7 7 6 , o n f i re h a z a r d a n d f i re r i s k

a s s e s s m e n t , y o u w i l l s e e th a t t h e y c o n t a i n a n u m b e r o f s t e p s t o f o l lo w t o d e f i n e t h e s e

o c c u p a n t c h a r a c t e r is t ic s , f i re sc e n a r i o s , a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s . B e c a u s e t h e y a r e s o

i m p o r t a n t t o t h e r e s u lt i n g r i s k a n d s a f e t y , th e s e f a c t o r s m u s t b e d e f i n e d b y t h e a f f e c t e d

p u b l i c , t h r o u g h c o d e s , a n d n o t s o le l y b y d e s i g n e r s a n d m a n u f a c t u r e r s . B u t t h e n e t r e s u l t

i s t h a t A S T M s t w o g u i d e s t o p r o d u c t f i re p e r f o r m a n c e s t a n d a r d s r e q u i r e t h e u s e r t o

d e s c r i b e t h e w h o l e b u i l d i n g o n t h e w a y t o a s s e s s in g t h e p r o d u c t .

T h a t i s a lo t o f w o r k t o d o i n o r d e r to e v a l u a t e s o m e p r o d u c t s . I n m y d i s c u s s i o n s

w i t h A S T M E - 5 m e m b e r s , 1 k n o w t h a t m a n y b e l i e v e s u c h a p r o c e s s is n e e d le s s l y a n d

u n a c c e p t a b l y c u m b e r s o m e . B u t th i s i s a d e f i n i n g i ss u e . I f y o u e s t a b l i sh th e w h o l e -

b u i l d i n g c o n t e x t , t h e n y o u c a n l e g i t i m a t e l y c l a i m t o b e e v a l u a t i n g p r o d u c t s o n t h e b a s i s o f

t h e r e al e f f e c t t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e w i ll h a v e o n t h e f ir e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a l p e o p l e . I f y o u

a t t e m p t t o e v a l u a t e t h e p r o d u c t s o n l y o n t h e b a s i s o f s m a l l - s c a l e te s t s a n d a s s o c i a t e d

c r i te r i a , y o u s i m p l y c a n n o t k n o w h o w t h o s e a r ti f ic i a l l a b o r a t o r y m e a s u r e s o f p r o d u c t f i r e

p e r f o r m a n c e w i l l t r a n sl a t e i n t o re a l f i re e x p e r i e n c e f o r re a l p e o p l e . T e s t r e s u lt s a r e

m e a s u r e s re l ted t o p r o d u c t f i r e p e r f o r m a n c e , b u t t h e y a r e n o t m e a s u r e s o f p r o d u c t f i r e

p e r f o r m a n c e .

B u t i f y o u a c c e p t t h is a r g u m e n t a n d e v a l u a t e p r o d u c t s o n l y i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e i r

a p p l i c a t i o n a n d e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e n t h e s tr u c t u re o f t h e a n a l y s i s in e v i t a b l y m a k e s i t

a w k w a r d t o t r e a t t h e p r o d u c t a s t h e s u b j e c t o f th e a n a l y s is . Y o u a r e n o t re a l l y e v a l u a t i n g

t h e p r o d u c t b u t r a t h e r t h e b u i l d i n g a n d i t s o c c u p a n t s i n c l u d i n g t h e p ro d u c t . I t i s t h e

d e s i g n o f t h e b u i ld i n g t h a t is m o r e n a t u r a l l y t h e fo c u s o f t h e a s s e s s m e n t . D o e s t h a t m e a n

t h a t p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d e v a l u a ti o n d o e s n o t m a k e s e n s e a t t h e p r o d u c t l e v e l?

A S T M i s t r a d i ti o n a l l y a p o w e r h o u s e s o u r c e o f p r o d u c t s t a n d a r d s , b u t i t l e a v e s t h e

s p e c i f i c a t io n o f c o d e s f o r w h o l e b u i l d in g s t o o th e r o r g a n i z a ti o n s . C o m m i t t e e E - 5 is

t ra d i ti o n a ll y a s t e p f u r th e r b a c k w i t h i n A S T M , d e f i n i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t t o o l s b y w h i c h

a p r o d u c t m a y b e e v a l u a t e d b u t l e a v i n g i t t o o t h e rs t o d e f in e t h e a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l o f

p e r f o r m a n c e .

T h e f o c u s o n p ro d u c t s r a t h e r th a n b u i l d in g s is a m a j o r f a c to r c o m p l i c a t i n g A S T M s

a b i l i ty t o p l a y a l e a d r o le i n p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d f i r e c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s . I t i s a t l e a st

h a r d a n d p o s s i b l y i m p o s s i b l e t o d o p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d e v a l u a t i o n v a l i d l y a n d s t il l

m a i n t a i n a f o c u s o n p r o d u c t s r a t h e r t h a n b u i l d i n g s .

T h e f o c u s o n m e a s u r e m e n t t o o l s ra t h e r th a n c o m p l e t e a s s e s s m e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s i s a

f u r th e r c o m p l i c a t i o n f o r C o m m i t t e e E - 5 w i th i n A S T M . I t i s n o s m a l l l e a p f o r a g r o u p

t h a t u n d e r s t a n d s f i re t e st s t o e x p a n d i ts i n t e re s t s a n d t r a n s f o r m i ts w a y o f d o i n g b u s i n e s s

t o e m b r a c e c a l c u l a t i o n a n d t h e o t h e r e l e m e n t s r e q u i r e d b y m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e e v a l u a t i o n

m e t h o d s .

Opt ion 1 : Pr ov ide S t andar d Te s t M e t hods That Yie ld Dat a Su i t ab le f or

P e r f o r m a n c e B a s e d E v a l u a t io n


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8 ASTM S ROLE IN FIRE CODES AND STANDARDS

O n e p o s s i b l e r o l e f o r A S T M E - 5 i s t o c o n t i n u e t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n t e s t m e t h o d s a s

m e a s u r e m e n t t o o l s. T h e e x i s ti n g t es t m e t h o d s w e r e d e s i g n e d t o b e u s e d f o r d i re c t c o n t ro l

o f p r o d u c t s . T h e y r e q u ir e o n l y a n a c c e p t a b i l i ty t h r e s h o l d f o r t h is p u r p o s e . T h e r e f o r e ,

O p t i o n 1 m a y r e q u i r e s o m e w o r k , i .e . d e v e l o p i n g n e w s t a n d a r d f i r e t e s ts t h a t p r o v i d e

q u a n t i ta t iv e m e a s u r e m e n t s o f p r o d u c t f i re p e r f o r m a n c e i n a f o r m c o m p a t i b l e w i t h a n d

v a l i d f o r u s e i n m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e p r o d u c t a n d b u i l d i n g r i sk a n d h a z a r d a s s e s s m e n t s

t h at w o u l d b e d e fi n e d b y o t h er s. S u c h a r o le w o u l d m a k e m a x i m u m u s e o f A S T M s

p r o v e n S t re n g t hs i n i ts u n i v e r s a l l y r e c o g n i z e d a r e a o f g r e a t e s t r e l a t iv e e x p e r t i s e .

H o w e v e r , s u c h a r o le w o u l d a l s o b e s e v e r e l y c o n s t ra i n in g . T h e a u t h o r s o f t h e l a rg e r

p r o d u c t a n d b u i l d in g a s s e s s m e n t f r a m e w o r k s w o u l d b e i n th e p o s i t io n t o d i c ta t e t h e ir

n e e d s f o r t e st s i n e v e r g re a t e r d e ta il . T h e s m a l l h a n d f u l o f A S T M E - 5 c u s t o m e r s w h o w i ll

e m e r g e a s p r i m a r y s o u r c e s a n d o v e r s e e r s o f fi r e s a f e t y e n g i n e e r i n g m e t h o d s , i n c l u d i n g f i r e

h a z a r d a n d r i s k a s s e s s m e n t p a c k a g e s , w o u l d a s s u m e d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e i m p o r t a n c e i n

d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r A S T M E - 5 s ta n d a r d s a r e u s e d . T h e i r n e e d s m i g h t b e s o d e t a il e d a n d s o

u n a v o i d a b l e t h a t A S T M E - 5 w o u l d l o s e m u c h o f i ts c u r r e n t in d e p e n d e n c e a n d

p r o m i n e n c e , b e c o m i n g i n st e ad a s p e c i a li z e d c o n s u l ti n g g r o u p t o c o d e w r i t in g

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d e n g i n e e r i n g s o c ie t ie s .

A n o t h e r p r o b l e m w i t h th i s o p t i o n i n v o l v e s te c h n i c a l e x p e r t is e . V a l i d f ir e sa f e ty

e n g i n e e r i n g c a l c u l a t io n s r e q u i r e s c e n a r i o - s p e c i f i c d a t a , a n d i t i s in c r e a s i n g l y r e c o g n i z e d

t h a t su c h d a t a m a y n o t e m e r g e f r o m a s m a l l - s c a l e te s t w i t h n o c a l c u l a ti o n a p p l i e d t o it s

o u t p u t . F u l l - s c a l e te s t s a r e v e r y e x p e n s i v e , b u t s c a l i n g e f f e c t s a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y r e c o g n i z e d

a s im p o r t a n t . M o s t f i r e l o s s in t h e U . S . o c c u r s i n s e v e r e f ir e s , s u c h a s p o s t - f l a s h o v e r

f i re s , t h a t c a n n o t b e r e p r o d u c e d i n le s s th a n f u l l - s c a l e t e s ts a n d a r e d i f fi c u l t to m e a s u r e i n

r e p r o d u c i b l e f a s h i o n e v e n i n fu l l - s c a le t e st s . A d d t o th i s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t d i f fe r e n t f ir e

s c e n a r i o s p o s e d i f fe r e n t k i n d s o f c h a l l e n g e s t o p r o d u c t s a n d d i f f e re n t k i n d s o f t h re a t s t o

o c c u p a n t s , s o i t is i n c r e a s i n g l y i n d e f e n s i b l e t o s e l e c t a s i n g l e s c e n a r i o a s a b a s i s f o r t e s t

s p e c i f ic a t i o n o r a s s e s s m e n t . T h a t m e a n s m u l t ip l e te s t s - - e v e n m u l t ip l e te s t m e t h o d s - -

o r a n o t h e r r e a s o n t o u s e c a l c u l a t i o n .

T h e b o t t o m l in e i s t h a t w r i ti n g t h e t e st s fo r a n e w w o r l d o f p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d f i r e

s a f e t y d e s i g n w o u l d b e a n a t u r a l ro l e f o r A S T M E - 5 , b u t i t s ti ll m i g h t r e q u i r e u s to

r e i n v e n t t h e w a y w e t h i n k o f f i re te s ts . I f t a k e n s e r i o u s l y , O p t i o n 1 i s n o t a

r e c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e s t at u s q u o ; i t i n v o l v e s s i g n if ic a n t c h a n g e a n d e x p e r ti s e g o i n g b e y o n d

t ra d i ti o n a l a r e a s o f s t re n g t h f o r A S T M E - 5 .

O p t i o n 2 : P r o v i d e A ll t h e S t a n d a r d M e t h o d s R e q u i r e d f o r P e r fo r m a n c e B a s e d

E v a l u a t i o n

A s e c o n d r o l e f o r A S T M E - 5 w o u l d b e t o p r o v i d e g u i d a n c e o n a ll t h e to o l s

e m p l o y e d i n d e s i g n i n g t o p e r f o m l a n c e - b a s e d f ir e c o d e s a n d s t an d a r d s , n o t j u s t t e st

m e t h o d s .

F o r f ir e t e st s, A S T M E - 5 w o u l d d e f i n e e x a c t l y h o w t h e y s h o u l d b e d o n e . F o r o t h e r

t o o ls , li k e f ir e m o d e l s o r p r o d u c t f i re p e r f o r m a n c e a s s e s s m e n t f r a m e w o r k s , A S T M E - 5

c o u l d p r o v i d e s t a n d a r d s o r c o u l d l i m i t i t s r o l e t o g u i d e s , w h i c h w o u l d i d e n t i f y q u e s t i o n s


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HALL ON OPTIONS FOR ASTM S ROLE--IDEAS FOR PLANNING 9

t o b e a s k e d a n d w a y s i n w h i c h g o o d v s . b a d to o l s c a n b e r ec o g n i z e d . T h i s p a t h w o u l d b e

a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e w o r k d o n e b y E - 5 . 3 9 i n i ts d e v e l o p m e n t o f g u i d e s f o r m o d e l i n g . A s

n o t e d , t h e q u a l it y o f t h e s e g u i d e s i s u n i v e r s a l l y r e c o g n i z e d , a n d t h e y h a v e b e e n a d o p t e d

a s a s t a r ti n g p o i n t b y e v e r y o t h e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o p e r a t i n g i n t h is f i e ld i n t h e U . S .

H a v i n g s a i d t h is , i t m u s t a l s o b e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t th i s r o le i s i n c r e a si n g l y b e i n g

c l a i m e d b y t h e S o c i e t y o f F ir e P r o t e c t io n E n g i n e e r s a s t h e d o m a i n o f e n g i n e e r s d e f in i n g

g o o d p r a c t i c e f o r e a c h o t h e r . I n th e l a s t f i v e y e a r s , S F P E h a s s e e n e n o r m o u s s u c c e s s w i t h

i ts h a n d b o o k o n f i r e p r o t e c t i o n e n g i n e e r i n g , p u b l i sh e d b y N F P A , a n d i s n e a r i n g

c o m p l e t i o n o f a U . S . d e s i g n g u i d e , p a t t e rn e d a f t e r th e d e s i g n g u i d e s i n u s e in o t h e r

c o u n t r i e s w h e r e p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d f i r e c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s a r e f a r m o r e e s t a b l i sh e d t h a n

t h e y a re h e re . S F P E c o m m i t t e e s a re n e a r i n g c o m p l e t i o n o n t h e i r f i rs t t w o e v a l u a t i o n s o f

m o d e l i n g t e c h n i q u e s f o r s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s , w h i c h t h e y h o p e w i l l f o r m a t e m p l a t e f o r a

c o m p r e h e n s i v e s e r i e s o f s u c h e v a l u a t i o n s , p r o v i d i n g m o d e l u s e r s w i t h th e i n f o r m a t i o n

t h e y n e e d f o r a p p r o p r i a t e u s e w i t h p r o p e r c a u t i o n s a n d c a v e a t s .

W h e n A S T M E - 5 . 3 9 c r e a t e d i t s o r i g in a l g u i d e s , i t o c c u p i e d t u r f t h a t n o o n e e l s e

c l a i m e d , a n d i t d i d a m a g n i f i c e n t j o b . B u t f r o m h e r e o n o u t, A S T M E - 5 w i lt f a c e a n

i n c r e a s i n g l y u p h i l l b a t t l e in a s s e r t i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s o f i ts r o l e i n t h i s a r e n a . I t w i l l

n e e d a ra t i o n a l e b a s e d o n t h e d i st i n c t iv e s t r e n g t h s o r i n te r e s ts o f A S T M E - 5 t h a t w i l l

e x p l a i n t o o t h e r g r o u p s w h y i t m a k e s s e n s e f o r A S T M E - 5 t o p l a y a ro l e a n d t o b e

d e f e r r e d t o in th a t ro l e . S u c h a r a t i o n a l e h a s y e t t o b e c l e a r l y o r p u b l i c l y e n u n c i a t e d .

O p t i o n 3: P r o v i d e P e r f o r m a n c e B a s e d P r o d u c t A s s e s s m e n t S t a n d a r d s

A t h ir d r o l e A S T M c o u l d p l a y i s to c r e a te r e a l p r o d u c t f i re p e r f o r m a n c e a s s e s s m e n t

s t a n d a r d s b a s e d o n it s e s t a b l is h e d g u i d e s . T h e s e w o u l d b e m o d e l p r o d u c t re q u i r e m e n t s ,

m o r e l i k e c o d e s t h a n s t a n d a r d s , a n d t h e y w o u l d b e b o t h p r o d u c t - a n d o c c u p a n c y - s p e c i f i c .

S t e p s i n th is d i r ec t io n h a v e b e e n a t t e m p t e d b y s o m e o f t o d a y s s p e a k e r s , m o s t n o t a b l y

M a r c e l o H i r s c h l e r , a l t h o u g h s o f a r , t h e p r o p o s e d d o c u m e n t s h a v e b e e n p u t f o r w a r d a s

e x a m p l e s o r a s g u i d e s , n o t a s b i n d i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s . E v e n s o , t h e y h a v e e n c o u n t e r e d

s i g n i f ic a n t r e s is t a n c e , a n d n o s u c h d o c u m e n t h a s y e t b e e n a d o p t e d .

B e f o r e g o i n g d o w n t h i s p at h , A S T M n e e d s t o b e c l e a r o n w h a t k i n d o f o rg a n i z a ti o n

i t is a n d w h a t k in d s o f d o c u m e n t s i t s e e k s to p re p a r e . A S T M c o m m i t t e e s a r e b a l a n c e d ,

b u t t h e y a re b a l a n c e d p r i m a r i l y b e t w e e n s u b g r o u p s o f in d u s tr y . O n l y a t in y m i n o r i t y o f

m e m b e r s a r e d r aw n f r o m t h e e n f o r c e r c o m m u n i t y o r e v e n f r o m t h e c o l le c t io n o f

c o m m u n i t i e s n o t a s s o c i a t e d d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y w i t h c o m p a n i e s t h a t m a k e o r p u r c h a s e

p r o d u c ts . A S T M m a n a g e m e n t d e s c r i b e s it s m i s s i o n a s p r o v i d i n g i n d u s tr y w i th t h e

s t a n d a r d s i t n e e d s . T h i s i s a c le a r a n d h i s t o r i c a ll y tr u e m i s s i o n , w h i c h A S T M c o m m i t t e e s

a r e w e l t - d e s ig n e d t o p u r s u e .

H o w e v e r , m o d e l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r p r o d u c t s w o u l d b e b u i l t a r o u n d g o a l s d e f in i n g

a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l s o f s a f e t y a n d r i sk . T h e y w o u l d b e b u i l t a r o u n d f ir e s c e n a r i o s d e f in i n g

w h i c h f i re c h a l le n g e s w e r e t o o s e v e r e t o b e u s e d t o e v a l u a t e a p r o d u c t a n d w h i c h w e r e s o

l i k e ly t h a t t h e y m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d . S u c h r e q u i r e m e n t s w o u l d n e e d t o a d d r e s s o c c u p a n t

c h a r a c t e r is t ic s , w h i c h c a n b e a n i m p l i c i t w a y o f s a y i n g w h o n e e d s t o b e p r o t e c t e d a n d


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10 AST M S ROLE IN F IRE CODES AND STANDARDS

wh o need no t be p ro t ec t ed . A l l o f these e l ement s a r e the l eg it ima te dom ain o f t he whole

soc i e ty .

A f f e c t e d p e o p l e - - a n d t h a t m e a n s e v e r y o n e in t h is c o u n t r y - - h a v e a r ig h t to b e

represen t ed in dec i s ions abo ut how sa fe i s s a f e enough . AS TM i s no t o rgan i zed to

prov ide t ha t r epresen t a t i on a t p r esen t and cou ld no t qu i ck ly o r eas i ly becom e so . AS TM

should no t pu t i t s e l f i n the po s i ti on o f c la iming so c i e ty consensus fo r v i ew s t ha t a re on ly

know n to r e f l ec t an i ndus t ry consensus , no m at t e r how p ubl i c - sp i r it ed , r e spons ib le , and

c o n s c ie n t io u s t h e m e m b e r s o f A S T M m a y b e.

O p t i o n : P r o v i d e S t a n d a r d s T h a t P e r m i t U s e r s t o C o n s t r u c t In d e x e s o r O t h e r

S u m m a r y M e a s u r es o f P e r fo r m a n c e f r om A v a i la b l e P r o d u c t T e s t D a t a

A f o u r th ro l e A S T M c o u l d p l a y w o u l d b e t o d e v e l o p q u i c k a n d d i r ty p r o d u c t

assessm ent guides , us ing the ava i lable prod uct tes t s and the i r resul ting data as f ixed, then

prov id ing gu idance on ho w to sum mar i ze and eva lua t e overa ll p roduc t f i re pe r fo rmance

f rom tha t wea l t h o f da t a. W e ha ve a va r i e ty o f p roduc t f i re pe r fo rma nce t e st s a lr eady

es tab l ished , and t hey i nd i ca te be t t e r vs . wor se p e r fo rm ance on a n um ber o f sca l es, such as

f l ame spread , i n t ens i ty o f burn ing , sm oke genera t i on , tox i c po t ency o vera l l and b y

species , igni tabi l i ty by var iou s sm older ing or f lam ing or radiant heat sources , and so for th .

M any produc t s a r e sub j ec t t o te s t ing and eva lua t i on on m ul t ip l e sca l es o r under mul t i p l e

t e s t spec i fi ca ti ons , bu t u se r s a r e o n t he i r own wh en i t com es t o syn thes i z ing a l l the

ind iv idua l r e su l ts and com par i sons i n to appropr i a te sum m ary conc lus ions about which

produc t s a r e sa f e enough an d w hich a r e no t.

AS TM E-5 cou ld deve lop ana ly ti ca l f r amew orks by which use r s cou ld cha rac t e r ize

overa l l p roduc t f i r e pe r fo rmanc e based on a p rof i le o f da t a f rom ex i s t ing o r p ropo sed

t est s . Th i s would l ay the g ro undw ork fo r we l l -r easoned t r ade -of f s o f one p roduc t f i re

character i s t ic ve rsus ano ther .

I f t h is op t i on were t o be pur sued based on fundam enta l s , it would f i r st m ean

deve lop ing or adopt ing a f ir e haza rd o r r i sk ana lys is mod e l ing packa ge , such as t he

HA ZA RD f i re haza rd ana lys i s mo de l dev e loped by t he Na t iona l Ins ti tu t e o f S tandards

a n d T e c h n o l o g y ( N I S T ) o r F I R E C A M , t h e f ir e ri s k a n a l y si s a n d c o s t e v a lu a t io n m o d e l

dev elop ed a t the Na t ional Researc h Counci l of Canada. [3 ,4] Second, i t wo uld requi re the

deve lop me nt o f s t andards fo r use rs t o fo l l ow in conver t i ng t e s t -based da ta i n to

param ete r s and va r i ab l es fo r use by t he f ir e haza rd o r r i sk ana lys i s mo de l .

Those l a rge mod e l ing su i te s emp has i zed t he com pon ent mode l s and soug ht to f i t t he

ava i l ab l e da t a t o t he da t a r equ ir ement s o f t hose mode l s . AS TM could p rov ide a un ique

cont r i bu ti on by em phas i z ing t he t e s t da t a and f i t ti ng t he mo de l s t o t he da t a, where

poss ible .

The o the r ex t r eme in pur su ing O pt ion 4 wou ld be t o l is t r e levan t te s t s and ex i s t ing

thresholds fo r them , leaving a l l o the r deta i l s of assessm ent , evaluat ion and interpre ta t ion

up t o t he use r. Som ewh ere i n be tween , bu t c lose r to t h is p rof i l e approach , i s t he work o f

A S T M C o m m i t t e e E -6 . 6 6 t h a t w a s s c h e d u l e d f o r th i s s y m p o s i u m b u t h a s s in c e b e e n

wi thdrawn.


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HALL ON OPTIONS FOR ASTM S ROLE-- IDEAS FOR PLANNING 1 1

O p t i o n 4 i n v o l v e s A S T M E - 5 p r o v i d i n g p a r t o r a ll o f th e s t a n d a rd i z a ti o n o f ru l e s

- - p o s s i b l y r u le s o f t h u m b , p o s s i b l y f u n d a m e n t a l ly g r o u n d e d p r i n c ip l e s - - f o r p u l l in g

t o g e t h e r t h e a v a i l a b l e d a ta , p a r t i c u l a rl y d a t a f r o m A S T M E - 5 t e st s , a n d e v a l u a t i n g

p r o d u c t s i n s o m e o v e r a l l f i re p e r f o r m a n c e s e n s e . B y s t a r ti n g w i t h A S T M E - 5 t e s t d a t a ,

t h is o p t io n w o u l d b u i l d o n w h a t A S T M h a s a l re a d y d o n e .

T h e s t a n d a r d m e t h o d s d e v e l o p e d b y A S T M E - 5 u n d e r th i s o p t i o n sh o u l d a l l o w t he

u s e r t o d e f i n e a n y l e v e l s o f a c c e p t a b l e s a f e t y o r r is k , a n y s p e c i f i c f ir e s c e n a r io s , a n d a n y

o t h e r a ss u m p t i o n s , l e a v i n g t h e A S T M p a c k a g e t o p r o v i d e d e ta i le d g u i d a n c e o n l y o n h o w

t o c a l c u l a t e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r p a r t i c u l a r p r o d u c t s . B u t t h is w o u l d r e q u i r e a

r e m a r k a b l y f l e x i b le c a l c u l a t io n m e t h o d . P r o d u c i n g s u c h a m e t h o d a n d m a k i n g it p r o v a b l y

v a l i d m i g h t b e b e y o n d o u r t e c h n ic a l c a p a b i li ti e s . A n d u l t i m a t e l y , t h e m o r e g u i d a n c e t h i s

p a c k a g e p r o v i d e s , t h e m o r e O p t i o n 4 r e s e m b l e s O p t io n 2 , in w h i c h A S T M E - 5 p r o v i d e s

t h e st a n d ar d m e t h o d s n e e d e d f o r p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d e v a lu a t io n . B u i l d in g o n A S T M E - 5

t e s ts a n d a c c e p t i n g h e u r i s t i c c a l c u l a ti o n m e t h o d s m a y n o t b e e n o u g h t o m a k e t h i s a s i m p l e

j o b .

O ption 5: Co ntrib ute Experts No t Standards to the Performance-Based

Standardiza t ion Wor k o f Other Organiza t ions

A f i ft h r o l e f o r A S T M c o u l d b e t o se r v e a s a r e s o u r c e f o r o r g a n i z i n g p e o p l e t o

p a r t ic i p a t e i n t h e w o r k o f o t h e r o rg a n i z a t i o n s , r a n g i n g f r o m e n g i n e e r i n g s o c i e ti e s t o c o d e -

w r i t i n g b o d i e s l i k e N F P A a n d I C C t o m u l t i- n a t i o n a l v e n u e s s u c h a s th e I n t e r n a ti o n a l

S t a n d a r d i z a t io n O r g a n i z a t i o n I S O ) a n d t h e I n t e rn a t i o n a l E l e c t r o t e c h n i c a l C o m m i s s i o n

I E C ) . A S T M , a n d s p e c i fi c a l ly C o m m i t t e e E - 5 , a lr e a d y p l a y th is k i n d o f ro l e in I S O a n d

I E C c o m m i t t e e s , s o th i s o p t i o n m i g h t n o t i n v o l v e a n y a d d i t io n a l w o r k .

I f p r o d u c t s ta n d a r d s a r e t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d c o d e s a n d

s ta n d a r d s f o r i n te r n a ti o n a l t r ad e - - a n d I b e l i e v e t h e y a re - - t h e n A S T M E - 5 m i g h t u s e

i ts r e c o g n i z e d e x p e r t i s e i n p r o d u c t s t a n d a r d s t o s h a p e , s t a t e , a n d a s s e r t a U .S . p o s i t i o n o n

t h e s h a p e o f p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d p r o d u c t f i r e s t a n d a r d s i n th e d e l i b e r a t io n s o f g r o u p s l i k e

I S O a n d I E C .

B u t h o w w o u l d t h is r e a ll y w o r k in p r a c t ic e ? N o m a t t e r h o w l a rg e a r o le A S T M E - 5

p l a y e d i n s p o n s o r i n g a U . S . p o s i t i o n a t I S O o r I E C , t h e p o s i t i o n s a r t i c u l a t e d w o u l d n o t

n e c e s s a r i l y b e A S T M E - 5 p o s i t io n s a n d t h e re s u l t i n g s ta n d a r d s i s s u e d b y o t h e r g r o u p s

c o u l d n o t b e s a id to b e A S T M E - 5 st an d a rd s . A S T M E - 5 s t a f f a r e n o t t h e m s e l v e s

t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t s .

I n o r d e r f o r t h is o p t i o n t o b e m o r e t h a n a c h e c k - w r i t in g e x e r c i s e , t h e A S T M E - 5

p r o c e s s w o u l d h a v e to p r o d u c e a U . S . p o s i t io n . T r a d i t i o n a l A S T M E - 5 p r o c e d u r e s f o r

r e a c h i n g c o n s e n s u s t a k e f a r t o o m u c h t i m e t o b e u s e d i n th i s m a n n e r , a n d a u s e fu l p o s i t io n

c a n n o t b e a f ix e d p o s i t io n . I t m u s t b e a b a s is f o r m e a n i n g f u l n e g o t i a t i o n w i t h o t h e r

c o u n t r i e s .

E v e n i f t h is l a r g e l y u n p r e c e d e n t e d p r o c e s s c o u l d b e s u c c e s s f u l l y i m p l e m e n t e d , i t

m i g h t m a k e l it tl e d i f f e r e n c e t o t h e f in a l s t an d a r d . W h i l e n o t e v e r y I S O a n d I E C c o m m i t t e e

i s a c l o s e d s h o p r u n b y t h e n a t i o n s o f E u r o p e a s t h e y s e e f it , t h e c o m m i t t e e s i n v o l v e d i n


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f ir e s a f e ty ce r t a in ly appea r t o be . The re i s no gua ran t ee - - and l it tle r ea so n fo r op t im i sm

- - t ha t A ST M cou ld m ake a s i gn i fi can t d i f f e r ence i n th i s a r ena , even i f it s i deas we re

t echn ica l l y f lawle s s and dev o id o f s e r ious com pe t i t i on .

T h e s e a r e n o t re a s o n s f o r A S T M E - 5 t o w i t h d r a w f r o m I S O , I E C , o r a n y o t h e r

t h i rd - p a r ty g r o u p i n w h i c h A S T M s i n te r es ts a r e s e r v e d b y w o r k i n g w i th o r t h r o u g h

o the r s . Bu t t he se a r e r ea sons fo r no t t rea t i ng Op t ion 5 a s a com ple t e , o r even p r im ary ,

a n s w e r t o th e q u e s t io n o f w h a t A S T M s r o le o u g h t t o b e r e g a r d in g p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d

f i re code s and s t anda rds.

O p t i o n 6 : S e t N o S t r a t e g y b u t O n l y R e a c t A p p r o p r i a t e l y t o R e q u e s t s f r o m O t h e r s

A nd so we c om e to t he s ix th and f ina l ro l e t ha t I have been ab l e t o i den t ify . Tha t

ro l e i s t o r eac t to the r eques t s o f o the r s and do no th in g m ore i n the absen ce o f such

reques t s .

Orga n iza t i ons t ha t wr i te mo de l na t i ona l codes fo r fi re s a f e ty - - such a s t he Na t iona l

F i re P r o t e c ti o n A s s o c i a t i o n a n d t h e I n te r n a ti o n a l C o d e C o u n c i l - - a n d U . S . g o v e r n m e n t

agenc i e s t ha t wr it e requ i r em en t s fo r p rod uc t fi re pe r fo rm ance - - such a s the U .S .

C o n s u m e r P r o d u c t S a f e t y C o m m i s s i o n a n d th e v a r io u s t ra n s p o r t at i o n a g e n c i e s - - a ll a re

in t er e s ted i n sh i ft i ng to a mo re pe r fom aance -based fou nda t io n fo r the i r work , and a l l have

f o u n d b e n e f i t i n r e ly i n g o n A S T M E - 5 f o r h e l p i n t h e p a st .

I f A S T M E - 5 m a n a g e m e n t w e r e t o c o n c l u d e t h a t a n y a p p r o p r i a te r o l e in

p e r f o r m a n c e - b a s e d f ir e c o d e s a n d s t an d a r d s m u s t b e b u i l t a r o u n d d e f e r e n c e t o o t h e r

g rou ps - - g rou ps t ha t s e t leve l s o f accep t ab l e r i sk and sa f e ty , g roups t ha t de f ine bes t

e n g i n e e r i n g p ra c t ic e s - - t h e n p e rh a p s A S T M w o u l d b e b e s t s e r v e d to w a i t f o r p e o p l e t o

a sk fo r he lp and t hen g ive t he m the he lp t hey r eques t .

T e m p e r a m e n t a l l y , I w o u l d b e u n c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h s u c h a ro l e , b u t t h e l o g ic m a y b e

i r re s i st ab le . M ore im por t an t l y , t h is i s t he de fau l t cho i ce . I f no o the r r o l e is exp l i c i t l y

s e le c te d a n d v i g o r o u s ly pu r s ue d b y A S T M a n d C o m m i t t e e E - 5 - - m o r e v i g o r o u s l y t h a n

it c a n n o w b e s a i d to b e p u r s u i n g a n y p a r ti c u la r r o le - - t h e n r e a c t io n a n d d r i ft - - o r , m o r e

p o s i ti v e ly , s e r v ic e a n d h u s b a n d i n g o f r e s o u r c e s - - w i l l b e t h e r o le A S T M p l a y s .

C o n c l u s i o n

T h i s i s th e p o i n t a t w h i c h a n a u t h o r n o r m a l l y d i s c u s se s t h e o p t io n s , t h e a r g u m e n t s

f o r a n d a g a in s t e a c h o n e , a n d t h e c o n c l u s io n s a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s h e o r s h e h a s to o f f e r

on t he cho i ce s f ac ing t he aud i ence .

1 am no t g o ing t o do t ha t he r e , pa r t l y because t ha t d i s cus s ion i s wh a t t h is

s y m p o s i u m i s f or , p a r t l y b e c a u s e t h o s e c o n c l u s i o n s a r e w h a t m y c l o s i n g r e m a r k s a t th e

e n d o f t h e s y m p o s i u m w i ll a d d r es s , a n d p a r t ic u l a r ly b e c a u s e r i g h t n o w I d o n t h a v e a

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n .

The op t ions s eem to me to d iv ide be tween ove r - r each ing and i r re l evance , be twe en a

r eck l e s s bo ldne s s and a t imid co nse rva t i sm, be tween occ upy ing a sh r ink ing t u r f de f ined


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H A L L O N O P T IO N S F O R A S T M S R O L E - - I D E A S F O R P L A N N IN G 1 3

by o the rs o r engag ing i n com pe t i ti on wi th g roup s t ha t AST M has no w i sh t o conf ron t

and that m ay b e be t ter suited to hand le the tasks in ques tion.

Ye t fo r a ll tha t, I be l i eve - - a s I th ink eve ryon e he re be l i eves - - t ha t AST M E-5 has

a s t rong base o f pas t accompl i shment s in t he m arch t oward pe r fo rman ce-based f ir e codes

and s tandards a nd a unique co m binat ion o f s trengths and resources to apply to the

considerable w ork s t il l to be done. F inding the job that most needs doing and bes t f it s

those s t rengths m ay not be easy , but we ow e i t to ou rselves to f ind that job.

By the end o f t his sym pos ium , we m ay hav e s t a r ted a p rocess t ha t w i ll m ake t ha t

bes t cho i ce c l ea re r - - t o me , to a l l o f you , and to t he cons t it uen ts o f AST M and o f

Co m mit tee E-5.

e f e r e n c e s

[ i ] SFP E Handbook o f Fire Protection Engineering P. J . DiNe nno e t al ., Eds. , Soc iety

o f F i re Protect ion En gineers and Nat iona l F i re Protect ion A ssocia t ion, Q uincy, M A,

1995.

[ 2 ] Custer, R. L. P. and Me ach am , B. J . ,

Introduction to Performance-BasedFire Safety

So ciety of Fire Protect ion Engineers and Natio nal Fire Protect ion Asso ciat ion,

Quincy, MA, 1997.

[ ]

Peacock , R., Jones , W. W . , Bukow ski , R., and F orney, G. L . ,

Technical Reference

Guide fo r the HAZAR D I Fire Hazard Assessment Method Version 1.1

H a n d b o o k

146, Nat ional Ins ti tute o f Standards and T echno logy, Gai thersburg, M D, 1991.

[4]

Yun g, D., Hadj i sophocleous , G. V., and Proulx, G. , M odel l ing Con cepts for the

Ri sk-cos t Assessmen t M ode l F IR EC AM and i ts Appl i ca t ion t o a Canad i an

Go vern me nt Off ice Bui lding,

Proceedings o f the Fifth International Symposium on

Fire Safety Science

International As sociat ion for Fire S afety Science, Melbourne,

Austral ia, 1997, pp. 619-630.


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Vincent M. Brannigan I and S teven M . Spivak 1

ISO Q uality Standards F or Participants In Performance-Based Regulation

Reference: Brannigan, V. M., Spivak S. M ., ISO Qu ality Standards Fo r Participants

In P erformance-Based Regulation, ASTM 's ole in Per formance-Based F ire Codes

and S tandards AS TM STP 1377 J . R. Hal l , J r. , Ed., A me rican S ocie ty for Tes t ing and

Materia ls , W est Co nshoh ocken , PA , 1999

Abstract

Performance -based codes impo se nove l burdens o n regu la tors . Ins tead o f one- t ime

approv al based on s ta tutory cr iter ia , perform ance-b ased analyses a ttemp t to describe and

control hazards on a bui lding specif ic bas is . As a resul t i t wi l l be necess ary to control

m an y aspects o f bui lding operat ions for the li fe t ime o f the bui lding. On e approach to the

i ssues o f comp lex i ty and c rad le to g rave regu la tion cou ld be th i rd pa r ty ce r ti f ica t ion of

com pl iance wi th an appropr ia te s a fe ty managem ent p lan . ISO 9000 and 14000 prov ide

poss ib le mode ls fo r such a th ird pa r ty ce r t if i ca tion of comp l iance . These programs a re

recognized a round the wo r ld fo r qua l i ty con t ro l and envi ronmenta l manage men t systems .

Und er appropr ia te con tro l s they m ay e ven be used for o r ig ina l pe r formance-based

approvals.

Keywords

per formance-based regu la t ion , code enforcem ent , ISO 9000, ISO 14000 , s a fe ty

man agem ent , thi rd party regula t ion, regis trars , volu ntary s tandards organizat ions

Introduction

The deve lopm ent o f pe rformance-based regu la t ion wi l l requ i re a ma jor overhau l

o f the code enfo rcem ent s tructures in jur isdic t ions enforcing such codes. Lo cal

Author i t ie s Having Jur i sd ic t ion (AH J) wi l l be a sked to eva lua te com plex proposa l s on the

front ier of f i re engineering, of ten with subs tantial uncerta int ies and deb atable

assumptions . In man y cases the needed exp ert ise wil l go far bey on d that found in

tradi t ional f i re safe ty regula tors. Th e problem is not m erely a ques t ion o f acquir ing the

needed exper t i se , the p robabi l is t ic na ture o f f i re hazards ma y m ean a long feedback loop

befo re regula tors can acquire the neede d understanding, wh i le technologica l change

cont inu es to create new hazards . In addit ion, perfo rma nce-b ased code s require a level o f

' Profe ssor and Profe ssor & Chair , respect ively,

Depar tment o f F i re P ro tec t ion Enginee r ing , Unive rs i ty o f Mary land , Col lege

Park , MD , 20742-3031 vb l5@ um ai l .umd.edu , s [email protected]

C o p y r i g h t 9 1 9 9 9 b y A S T M I n t e r n a t io n a l

14

w w w . a s t m . o r g


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BR NNIG N ND SPIV K ON ISO QU LITY ST ND RDS

5

cradle to grave regula t ion with m uch m ore sophist ica ted mo nitor ing of f ire hazards than

has previo usly bee n required. One approach to this problem m ay be re l iance on third

party evaluators o f prop osed engineering solutions, and ma nag em ent operations.

Na tional and international exp erienc e with standards fo r qua lity ma nag em ent and

process con trol give AST M and the consensus s tandards com mu nity a plaus ible approach

to these prob lems . W e prop ose evaluating quality standards for organizations

proposing, review ing, managing and enforcing per formance-based engineer ing solut ions .

An analog y can be draw n f rom the successful ex per ience o f certain voluntary

international standards promu lgated b y the International Organization for Standardization

(ISO), and co nco rdan t national standards based thereon. In particu lar the mod el of ISO

9000 qu al i ty man agem ent sys tem s tandards and the even more per t inent the ISO 14000

environm ental ma nagem ent sys tem standards c ould be uti lized. Such s tandards p rovide

for outside evaluatio n and certif ication using independent o r third party registrars (or

certifyin g bod ies) em ploy ing independent auditors. Th e entire system operates un der

nation ally recog nize d authorizing bod ies who accredit these registrars.

Standards for the perform ance -based engineering techniques them selves can be

integrated into the larger con cep t o f management control system standards. Th is pap er

presents some o f the m ore obvious issues in the developm ent o f qual i ty s tandards and

som e analogous s tandards w hich may be useful in resolving such problems. A proposed

role for A ST M in this new sys tem is of fered.

P e r f o r m a n c e B a s e d C o d e s : C r a d l e T o G r a v e R e g u l a ti o n

Performa nce-based analyses o f ten re ly on com plex assumptions about the

con dition of the building or its systems. E ngineering tools such as mathematical models

canno t predic t m any o f the key var iables needed fo r safe ty regulat ion. For example,

consider the prob lem o f tables and chairs rem ove d f rom a m ult ipurpose hote l ball room.

Th e f i re problem represented by tho se tables and chairs changes dramatical ly depending

on how and wh ere they are stacked and placed. No engineering technique supports any

predic t ion of their location. Bu t regula tory and man agem ent sys tem can be used to keep

them wh ere they are supposed to be . Per formance-based codes wil l require a continuous

mo nitor ing o f the hazard to m ake sure i t i s kept within the parameters o f the

per forma nce-based analys is .

W e hav e used the term cradle to grave regulation to describe the need ed

perm anent m onitor ing o f compliance:

A ny r isk m odel w hich purpor ts to descr ibe the react ion of a technical system in a

future env ironm ent that includes unpredictable hum an action m ust be

accom panied by a regula tory sys tem capable o f keeping the environm ent within

the

onditions

o f the m odel or s imulat ion.

A techn ical system supporting cradle to grave supervision can not be sim ply grafted

onto a regula tory sys tem des igned for one t ime approvals. I t requires developm ent of a

sa f e ty manag ement sys tem,


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Safety Management Systems

In par t icular ef fect iv e per form ance-ba sed regula t ion wil l require :

1) a regu la tory agenc y or indepen dent autho r i ty w ith the cap abi l i ty of evaluating

and appro ving com plex des igns wh ich represent the s tate o f the ar t of f i re safe ty

engineer ing, and

2) an on going m anagemen t sys tem wi th the t echnica l ab i li ty to m ake sure tha t

the bu i ld ing des ign and execu t ion s tay wi th in the condi t ions and es t ima tes o f the

app roved per forman ce-based analys is , an d

3) a regula tor5, sys tem that can sup ervise the man agem ent sys tem

Th ird Party Regulation In A Standardized Environment

The new demands on the r egu la tory func t ion ma y r equi re a whole new approach

to r egu la t ion . W e be l ieve tha t th ird pa r ty r egu la tion has a po ten t ia l f o r so lv ing m any of

the com plex prob lems in pe r formance-based codes . Ho wev er , to p r ese rve bo th publ ic

con f iden ce and assure prop er technical analys is o f such third par ty regula t ions , i t is

necessa ry to have a sys tem in p lace for ensuring tha t bo th the r egu la ted pa r ty and the

th i rd p a r ty r egu la tor a re pe r formance cor r ec tly . Some mode ls fo r such sys tems a r e

cur r en t ly be ing accep ted on a w or ldwide bas is .

M any a reas o f sa f e ty and publ ic co ncerns have used th i rd pa r ty r egu la tor s for

years . Profess ionals such as physic ians , lawy ers and engineers are con trol led by s ta te

sanct ioned or orga nized third par ty regulators . Un ivers i t ies in the United S ta tes are

acc red i ted by th i rd pa r ty r egu la tors and the pr ivacy of comp ute r sys tems in E urope i s

wid e ly managed b y a sys tem of th i rd pa r ty regulator s. The ro le o f th i rd pa r ty p roduc t

approvin g agenc ies such as Underw r i ters Labo rator ies is we l l know n and accepted.

1SO 14 Standards For Environmental M anagement Systems

One o f the m os t use fu l mode ls fo r examin ing

Documents

ASTM Role in Performance-Based Fire Codes and Standards