“Sustainability: Improving the quality
of human life while living within the
carrying capacity of supporting eco-
systems”IUCN/UNEP/WWF (1991). "Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable
Living." Gland, Switzerland.
This is not one
Nor is this one
Or this one
Or this one
Or this one
The structure has to be seen! – I wanted to leave the steel
structure exposed but Fire Safety regulations did not allow me to
do so – we had to attach fake stained bronze structural
elements to approach what I was looking for – every time I think
about it I feel like crying! Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Seagram
Building, NY, 1958
Fire Safety – Sustainable Infrastructure and
Communities
José L. ToreroBRE Centre for Fire Safety EngineeringThe University of EdinburghUnited Kingdom
Fire Safety & Sustainability
Is Fire Safety part of the “concept of sustainability”?What are the drivers?What are the issues?How can we address them?
What are the Drivers
Minimize general environmental impactMinimize green house emissionsEnergy conservationIndoor air quality“Green” Material SelectionRecyclabilityEfficient waste management , etc.
Urban Planners, Architects and Engineers consider these variablesSpace, geometry & orientationMaterials/FabricServices (lightning, HVAC, etc.)Sensors & ControlManagement (waste, energy, etc.)
Do they consider Fire Safety? NO!
How is Fire Safety Addressed?
In a reactive mannerWhen possible by meeting codes
and regulationsWhen not, by means of
engineering solutionsAlways an add on to the
“sustainable solution”Limits optimized solutionsAdds a cost
Why?Fire Problem is very complicatedProfessionals and authorities are
not always educated to make correct choices
There is an erroneous perception that the problem is being managed
Fire Safety is thus not a main driverFire Safety does not contribute to
the “Green” agenda
What does it take to make a building fire safe?
We have “rules,” “tools” and “professionals”
We can make a building safeBut we work in isolation!
How can we integrate fire safety to sustainable development?
Requires an understanding of the specific problem
Requires an understanding of where we fit in the design process
Requires an understanding of the main drivers
Requires achieving recognition that our best practises support sustainable development
Fire as Part of SustainabilityFire Safety needs to be included in the
“Green” building certification processFire is a potential “life cycle” path of a
building – thus preventing a negative outcome should be accounted as a measure towards sustainability
The problem is that we do not know how to transmit this message!
We respond to the challenges of sustainability – we are not proactive, thus we generally get to the train station when the train has already left!
What goes wrong?The sustainable agenda
sets the challengesWe then try to solve the
problemBy the time we learn
what is necessary...The challenge is a new
one ... We have now a new problem!
Example: Material RequirementsTo achieve energy conservation
requirements insulation has to be introduced
Flammability requirements imply use of fire retardants
Fire retardants change the molecular structure of plasticsInduce charringIntumesceInhibit combustion chemistry
No Fire Retardants
Fire Retardants
Environmental ConcernsLeaching, Mobility, Bio-accumulation, Recycling
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
Penta/Octa/Deca brominated diphenyl ethersHexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) Organophosphate esterschloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) Tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) Halogens
Fire RetardantsFire Engineers made fire retardants an
integral part of their strategyWe ignored their environmental
impactWe were called to replace themWe had no available technologyThey were banned without us being
able to reactThe train left the station before we got
there!...Plastic manufacturers responded for
us
“Green Solutions”:Nano-Clays Nano-clays migrate
to the surface when melting, preventing gaseous fuel generation
x
x=0
YO,YFYO(0)
YF(0)
Pilot
To
x=O x=F x=CH
x=T
x=P
x=L
T(0)
P(0)=1 CH=CH(0)
VR
VP
VCH
VT
)0(qCv
)0(qSR
)L(qL
pm
Om
eq
Heat Release Rate
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Time [sec]
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350U-1
U-2
U-3
U-4
Ed-50(1)
Ed-50(2)
Ed-30(1)
Ed-50(A)
Kashiwagi et al., Nature, 2003
Test Dependency
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Time (s)
HR
R (
kW/m
2)
NF_01 (50kW/m2, ins)NF_03 (30kW/m2, ins)NF_04 (30kW/m2, alu)NF_05 (50kW/m2, alu)
The Outcome
Fire safety is being challenged
The solution proposed is inadequate
...we do not have a better solution!
SummaryFire is an integral part of sustainabilityWe do not have resources to respond to the
challengeWe do not train people to think of fire safety as
part of the design of sustainable infrastructureThe result:
We are not considered part of the sustainability agenda – there is no incentive!
We can only respond with limited resources – the train leaves before we get to the station!
We have less and less control over the outcome – fire safety is controlled by others!
The FutureWe need to jump into the sustainability
train – provides an incentive for Fire Safety
We need to change the way in which we see our profession – from imposing safety to delivering a better/more sustainable infrastructure
We need to invest to put us ahead of the curve!
Thankyou!www.see.ed.ac.uk/fire