Introduction

In the critical domain of building design, Fire Safety Engineering in Structural Design is paramount, ensuring that structures not only withstand the devastating forces of fire but also safeguard occupants, minimize property damage, and facilitate effective emergency response. Moving beyond prescriptive code compliance, this specialized field integrates advanced scientific principles to understand fire phenomena, predict structural behavior at elevated temperatures, and engineer innovative solutions that enhance the inherent fire resistance and resilience of buildings. This training course is meticulously designed to equip civil and structural engineers, architects, fire safety consultants, building code officials, developers, and researchers with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills in understanding fire dynamics, mastering the thermal and mechanical properties of materials at high temperatures, applying performance-based fire design principles, exploring fire resistance of various structural elements (concrete, steel, timber), navigating fire protection systems, and leveraging specialized software for fire modeling and structural analysis. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to conceptualize, analyze, and design fire-safe structures that protect lives, preserve assets, and ensure operational continuity.

Target Audience

• Civil Engineers (Structural Design Focus)
• Structural Engineers
• Architects (with a focus on fire safety)
• Fire Safety Consultants & Engineers
• Building Code Officials & Regulators
• Fire Protection System Designers
• Developers & Building Owners
• Researchers in Fire Engineering
• Advanced Engineering Students

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental principles of fire dynamics and fire behavior in buildings.
• Master the thermal and mechanical properties of common structural materials at elevated temperatures.
• Learn about the principles of prescriptive and performance-based fire design.
• Develop proficiency in assessing the fire resistance of concrete, steel, timber, and composite structures.
• Understand the interaction between active and passive fire protection systems.
• Explore advanced analytical and numerical methods for fire structural analysis.
• Learn about egress design, smoke control, and fire compartmentation strategies.
• Develop skills in using specialized software for fire modeling and structural response.
• Understand relevant international codes, standards, and guidelines for fire safety in design.
• Explore forensic analysis of fire-damaged structures and rehabilitation techniques.
• Formulate comprehensive fire safety engineering solutions for various building types.

Course Content

Module 1. Fundamentals of Fire Dynamics and Fire Behavior

• Fire Chemistry: Combustion, heat release rate, fire growth
• Fire Stages: Ignition, growth, flashover, fully developed, decay
• Heat Transfer Mechanisms: Conduction, convection, radiation in fires
• Smoke movement and control in buildings
• Fire plumes, flame spread, and compartment fires

Module 2. Fire Codes, Standards, and Design Philosophies

• Prescriptive-Based Design: Code requirements, fire resistance ratings
• Performance-Based Design (PBD): Objectives, methodologies, advantages
• International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards
• Eurocodes (e.g., Eurocode 1 Part 1-2, Eurocode 2 Part 1-2, Eurocode 3 Part 1-2) for fire design
• Role of regulatory bodies and fire marshals

Module 3. Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Materials at Elevated Temperatures

• Concrete: Degradation of strength, stiffness, thermal expansion, spalling
• Steel: Loss of strength and stiffness, thermal expansion, buckling
• Timber: Charring rate, residual strength, insulation properties
• Composite Materials: Behavior of steel-concrete composites in fire
• Effect of temperature on material ductility and stress-strain curves

Module 4. Fire Resistance of Reinforced Concrete Structures

• Behavior of RC Elements: Columns, beams, slabs in fire
• Design for Fire Resistance: Cover requirements, member dimensions
• Effect of axial load on column fire resistance
• Spalling prevention and detailing for fire
• Fire resistance calculation methods (simplified, advanced)

Module 5. Fire Resistance of Steel Structures

• Behavior of Steel Elements: Beams, columns, trusses in fire
• Fire Protection Methods: Intumescent coatings, spray-applied materials, encasement
• Critical temperature of steel and load ratio
• Design for fire resistance using tabular data and analytical methods
• Progressive collapse considerations in steel structures under fire

Module 6. Fire Resistance of Timber and Mass Timber Structures

• Charring Rate of Timber: Factors affecting charring
• Residual Strength of Timber: Designing based on reduced cross-section
• Mass Timber (CLT, Glulam): Enhanced fire performance due to mass
• Encapsulation and protection strategies for timber elements
• Fire stopping and compartmentation in timber buildings

Module 7. Fire Resistance of Composite Structures and Connections

• Steel-Concrete Composite Beams and Slabs: Behavior in fire
• Connections: Fire resistance of bolted and welded connections
• Design of composite columns in fire
• Ensuring composite action at elevated temperatures
• Detailing for robustness and ductility

Module 8. Fire Compartmentation and Passive Fire Protection

• Fire Compartmentation: Principles and objectives (fire walls, fire floors)
• Fire Resistance Ratings (FRR) of walls, floors, doors
• Passive Fire Protection Materials: Fire stopping, fire barriers, sealants
• Penetrations and their sealing
• Importance of proper installation and inspection

Module 9. Egress Design and Life Safety in Fire

• Occupant Evacuation: Time-dependent factors, pre-movement time
• Egress Components: Exits, stairs, corridors, doors
• Capacity of egress components and travel distances
• Areas of Refuge: Design and requirements
• Emergency lighting and signage

Module 10. Smoke Management and Control Systems

• Principles of Smoke Control: Dilution, pressurization, exhaust
• Mechanical Smoke Control Systems: Fans, ducts, dampers
• Natural Smoke Venting Systems
• Atriums and large volume spaces: Smoke control strategies
• Design and testing of smoke control systems

Module 11. Active Fire Protection Systems and Their Interaction

• Sprinkler Systems: Types, design, effectiveness
• Fire Detection Systems: Smoke detectors, heat detectors, flame detectors
• Fire Alarms: Notification and communication systems
• Standpipes and hose systems
• Interaction between active and passive fire protection

Module 12. Advanced Fire Structural Analysis Methods

• Thermal Analysis: Temperature distribution in structural elements
• Mechanical Analysis: Stress-strain response at elevated temperatures
• Coupled Thermo-Mechanical Analysis: Finite element methods (FEM)
• Performance-based design tools and software (e.g., SAFIR, Abaqus, ANSYS)
• Fire curve selection: Standard fire, natural fire, parametric fire curves

Module 13. Forensic Analysis of Fire-Damaged Structures

• Assessment of Fire Damage: Visual inspection, NDT techniques
• Material Properties After Fire: Residual strength, stiffness
• Rebar condition and concrete spalling assessment
• Repair and Rehabilitation Techniques: For fire-damaged concrete and steel
• Lessons learned from fire incidents and structural failures

Module 14. Human Behavior in Fire and Evacuation Modeling

• Human Response to Fire Cues: Smoke, heat, alarm
• Evacuation Dynamics: Movement speed, merging behavior, congestion
• Evacuation Modeling Software: EXODUS, FDS+EVAC
• Design for human factors in fire safety
• Role of training and drills

Module 15. Future Trends and Sustainability in Fire Safety Engineering

• Resilience-Based Fire Design: Beyond life safety, ensuring business continuity
• Smart Buildings: Integration of IoT for fire detection and response
• Sustainable Materials: Fire performance of bio-based and recycled materials
• Performance of structural systems in extreme events (e.g., combined fire and blast)
• AI and Machine Learning in fire risk assessment and predictive modeling.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.