A Framework for Two-Way Coupled Fire and Egress Modelling in Complex Buildings using Building Information Modelling (BIM)
(2025) In LUTVDG/TVBB VBRM05 20251Division of Fire Safety Engineering
- Abstract
- Fire safety design for complex buildings often relies on the Performance-based Design approach which assesses the margin of safety by comparing Available Safe Egress Time with Required Safe Egress Time. However, most current modelling tools often operate independently or at most with one-way coupling. This potentially reduces the accuracy of fire safety assessments by failing to capture dynamic interactions between fire and occupant behaviour.
As an attempt to fill the gap, this thesis proposes a conceptual framework for two-way coupled fire and egress modelling using Building Information Modelling. Through a comprehensive theoretical review, the framework aims to enable a structured coupled model facilitated by Information Delivery... (More) - Fire safety design for complex buildings often relies on the Performance-based Design approach which assesses the margin of safety by comparing Available Safe Egress Time with Required Safe Egress Time. However, most current modelling tools often operate independently or at most with one-way coupling. This potentially reduces the accuracy of fire safety assessments by failing to capture dynamic interactions between fire and occupant behaviour.
As an attempt to fill the gap, this thesis proposes a conceptual framework for two-way coupled fire and egress modelling using Building Information Modelling. Through a comprehensive theoretical review, the framework aims to enable a structured coupled model facilitated by Information Delivery Specification which define necessary exchange requirements for both fire and egress-domain data. This study also explores the potential use of sensor data from smart buildings to inform inputs for coupled modelling.
The proposed framework includes defining target coupling maturity levels, outlining an achievable implementation pathway, mapping key processes, identifying data exchange requirements, and specifying minimum technical requirements. Afterwards, the framework’s feasibility, limitations, and areas for further work are discussed.
Ultimately, the outcome provides a foundation work for initiating two-way coupled modelling approach, promote the use of BIM for Fire Safety Engineering practices, and supports the implementation of a "Golden Thread of Information” to enable a more transparent and well-documented Fire Safety Engineering workflow in the entire building life cycles. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Modern fire safety design in complex buildings often uses a method called Performance-based Design. This approach checks whether people have enough time to safely escape a building during a fire by comparing how much time is available with how much time is needed for evacuation. However, most current tools used in these calculations do not fully reflect the back-and-forth interaction between how fires behave and how people respond. Instead, they tend to work in isolation or only pass information one way (fire to people only), which can lead to less accurate safety assessments.
This thesis proposes a new idea: a framework that allows fire and evacuation models to talk to each other during the assessment process. It uses Building... (More) - Modern fire safety design in complex buildings often uses a method called Performance-based Design. This approach checks whether people have enough time to safely escape a building during a fire by comparing how much time is available with how much time is needed for evacuation. However, most current tools used in these calculations do not fully reflect the back-and-forth interaction between how fires behave and how people respond. Instead, they tend to work in isolation or only pass information one way (fire to people only), which can lead to less accurate safety assessments.
This thesis proposes a new idea: a framework that allows fire and evacuation models to talk to each other during the assessment process. It uses Building Information Modelling (BIM), a digital representation of a building, to make this idea possible. By establishing clear rules for what information needs to be shared between fire models and evacuation models, the framework aims to bring these two realms together. It also looks at how smart building sensors can provide useful input data for these models, specifically for retrofitting work.
The framework outlines steps for putting this approach into practice, including technical requirements, data flow, and system maturity goals. It also discusses challenges, limitations, and what future research is needed. In the end, this thesis lays the foundation for a more advanced and documented way to design fire safety in buildings, helping fire engineers make better-informed decisions and improving overall safety throughout a building’s cycle. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9192201
- author
- Tantowi, Muhammad Ridha LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- VBRM05 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Building Information Modelling, Coupling, Fire Modelling, Egress Modelling
- publication/series
- LUTVDG/TVBB
- report number
- 5745
- other publication id
- LUTVDG/TVBB--5745--SE
- language
- English
- id
- 9192201
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-03 14:09:31
- date last changed
- 2025-06-03 14:09:31
@misc{9192201,
abstract = {{Fire safety design for complex buildings often relies on the Performance-based Design approach which assesses the margin of safety by comparing Available Safe Egress Time with Required Safe Egress Time. However, most current modelling tools often operate independently or at most with one-way coupling. This potentially reduces the accuracy of fire safety assessments by failing to capture dynamic interactions between fire and occupant behaviour.
As an attempt to fill the gap, this thesis proposes a conceptual framework for two-way coupled fire and egress modelling using Building Information Modelling. Through a comprehensive theoretical review, the framework aims to enable a structured coupled model facilitated by Information Delivery Specification which define necessary exchange requirements for both fire and egress-domain data. This study also explores the potential use of sensor data from smart buildings to inform inputs for coupled modelling.
The proposed framework includes defining target coupling maturity levels, outlining an achievable implementation pathway, mapping key processes, identifying data exchange requirements, and specifying minimum technical requirements. Afterwards, the framework’s feasibility, limitations, and areas for further work are discussed.
Ultimately, the outcome provides a foundation work for initiating two-way coupled modelling approach, promote the use of BIM for Fire Safety Engineering practices, and supports the implementation of a "Golden Thread of Information” to enable a more transparent and well-documented Fire Safety Engineering workflow in the entire building life cycles.}},
author = {{Tantowi, Muhammad Ridha}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{LUTVDG/TVBB}},
title = {{A Framework for Two-Way Coupled Fire and Egress Modelling in Complex Buildings using Building Information Modelling (BIM)}},
year = {{2025}},
}