Institution of Fire Engineers (SA)Online AGM/Seminar & Workshops

10th & 11th September 2020Fire Behaviour ... can we manage it?

Fire behaviour is commonly defined as the manner in which fuel ignites, flame develops, and fire spreads andexhibits other related phenomena as determined by the interaction of fuels, weather, and topography. It is difficultto predict what a fire may do next, because fires often behave erratically and sometimes dangerously. Researchsuggests that the cause of extreme behaviour is an interaction of the fire with its atmospheric environment.Understanding how fire behaves is the key to controlling it. Fire simulation systems have been developed as partof management support systems and are vital to assessing fire risk to people and property. Dr Richard Walls fromStellenbosch University and his team are developing models to predict fire spread through areas to highlightpotential risks and look at which solutions are most suitable and will present papers to this effect. Dr Wallspresents a paper which gives an overview of the basis of structural fire design, such that fire engineers can learnwhat services structural engineers may be able to offer, and how architectural freedom can be provided withoutbreaking the project budget.

This research methodology and data analysis, common to many other professional disciplines, is largely ignoredin fire education and training and for this reason the national fire statistics in South Africa are questionable. IFESA President Mike Webber presents a paper on exploring different forms of research available to fire servicesand the fire protection industry.

At their worst, fires at the wildland–urban interface cause tragic loss of human lives, homes and environment.Many towns in South Africa are expanding and are incorporating areas that contain environments with which cityfire department personnel are inexperienced. Expanding cities typically incorporate urban and rural areas, andmany firefighters, while experienced in responding to urban emergencies, are unfamiliar with the alternatefirefighting tactics that suburban and rural environmental hazards require. Bruce Varner, International IGAPresident and ex fire chief from the US will present a paper addressing the latest ideas.

Target Audience: This seminar & workshop will appeal to Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Services Engineers, Facilities Managers, Procurement Officers, Project Managers, Construction Managers, Insurers, Architects, Developers, Fire Officers and Fire Fighters who are dealing with fire protection and firefighting.The papers presented at this seminar aim to assist us in having a better understanding of the behaviour of not

only fire but also human behaviour, which both affects and is affected by the fire.

2 ECSA and 8.5 IFE CPD Points

PRESENTER PROFILES

Dr Antonio Cicione PhD, BEng | Stellenbosch UniversityDr Antonio Cicione completed his PhD focussing on full-scale testing and CFD modelling of informalsettlement dwellings in fire. He is currently working as a postdoctoral research associate in structure fire andfire safety engineering at Stellenbosch University, and has published various technical papers on fireengineering topics. He spent 6 month at the University of Edinburgh’s BRE Centre for Fire SafetyEngineering as a research associate, which included large-scale testing at the UL testing facility in Chicago.The majority of his current research is focused on the behaviour of 3D printed concrete in fire, fire dynamics, FDS modellingand informal settlement fires.

Vignesh Narayanan MSc(Fire), BEng (Mechanical) | Stellenbosch UniversityVignesh Narayanan is a mechanical engineer from India whose experience includes working for a fireengineering company in India where he was involved with the supply and installation of various fire protectionsystems. He also worked as a research engineer for the UL-Jain fire Laboratory. He completed his masters infire safety engineering at Ghent University. He is currently undertaking a PhD in fire engineering, focussing onthe behaviour of products in informal settlements, and how to make settlements safer.

Natalia Flores Quiroz MSc(Fire), BScEng(Electrical) | Stellenbosch UniversityNatalia Flores Quiroz is an electrical engineer from Chile who has worked on various fire safety projects,including significant mining work. She completed her masters in fire safety engineering at Ghent University,and is currently undertaking a PhD in forensic fire investigations. Her masters thesis was conducted underProf Ed Galea, a world expert in human behaviour, where she investigated the famous Kiss Nightclubdisaster.

Dr Richard Walls PhD MSc G.D.E. BSc.Eng Pr. Eng BTh | Senior lecturer in structural engineering –Stellenbosch UniversityDr Walls is lead researcher in Fire Engineering Research Unit at Stellenbosch University, especially in terms ofstructural fire design. Various fire related topics are currently being investigated, such as the design of steelstructures in fire, analysis of structures in fire, forensic fire investigations, and informal settlement firebehaviour. Full-scale fire tests on shacks have been conducted in conjunction with the Western Cape LocalGovernment Disaster Management, Fire & Rescue Services and the Breede Valley Fire Training Centre. The behaviour ofdifferent smoke and fire alarms in informal settlements has been carried out. Consulting work has been done for companiesdeveloping rational structural fire design systems, and ascertaining the fire resistance of products. Dr Walls served as areviewer of the fire design annex of the soon to be released SANS 10162-1 steel design code. Previous research hasfocussed on structural optimisation, demolition engineering and steelwork design. During a research project at WitsUniversity a method of optimising structures was developed, called the Virtual Work Optimisation (VWO) method. Methodsfor automated design, optimisation, member grouping, and optimal bracing were developed. He has obtained extensiveskills in fire design, computational analysis, programming, design, international design codes, optimisation, computermodelling and practical design.Software systems used include C++, Matlab, Octave, Prokon, advanced Excel, various firedesign software packages and more.

Mike Webber MIFireE M.Soc.Sci (Psych) Cum Laude, BA Hons (Psych) Cum LaudeMike served as a fireman and officer in the various Fire Department from 1979 to 2001. He left the fireservices in 2001 as the Deputy Chief Fire Officer. Between 1980 and 1983 he completed all of the then SouthAfrican Fire Services Institute qualifications. He also served as a SAESI branch representative, regionalchairperson, council member and executive committee member, and was a member of the SAESIAccreditation Committee that accredited regional fire service training centres to present the Firefighter I & IItraining courses. He was elected as a Fellow of the South African Emergency Services in 1998. He continuedto work in the field of fire and chemical risk management and safety as a consultant to several national and multi-nationalcompanies in the warehousing, logistics, retail and manufacturing industries whilst he pursued his studies in psychology. Hehas also served and still serves on several Hazardous Chemical Substances and Dangerous Goods and SABScommittees. Michael has obtained a BA degree, BA Hons (Psychology) degree Cum Laude and a Master of Social Science(Psychology) degree Cum Laude. Michael has been a member of the IFE (SA) for over 25 years, has served on the BranchCouncil for 6 years and is the outgoing President of IFE (SA) after having served in this capacity for four years.

Bruce Varner Fire Chief (retired),CFIFireE, CFO | International President IFEChief Varner was appointed Fire Chief of Santa Rosa, California in May 2004. He previously served as the FireChief in Carrollton from 1992 to 2004. Having begun his fire service career with the Phoenix (AZ) FireDepartment in 1967, promoting to Deputy Chief in 1985. His fire service experience includes administration,operations, communications, safety, airport operations, training, fire prevention and fire investigations. He hastaught numerous fire service training classes throughout the United States and is recognised for his expertise infire fighter protective clothing and safety issues. He holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science and aBachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is the business manager for the IFE-USA branch and is a CompanionFellow CFIFireE in the Institution of Fire Engineers. He remains an active member of the IAFC Safety and Health Section. In2001 he was Fire Chief Magazine’s Career Fire Chief of the year. Bruce Varner is the principal member of BH Varner &Associates, a training, education and consulting company.

Institution of Fire Engineers (SA)Online AGM/Seminar & Workshops

10th & 11th September 2020Fire Behaviour ... can we manage it?

PROGRAMME

Times Thursday 10th September 2020

Annual General Meeting IFE Members only

11:00 - 13:00 Annual General Meeting IFE Members only1. Apologies 6. Council voting results2. Minutes of the previous AGM 7. Outgoing Presidents Address3. Matters arising from the Minutes 8. Inauguration of new President4. Secretary/Treasurer Report 9. Incoming Presidents Address5. General Assembly Representative Report 10. General / Discussion & Close

Seminar Day 1

14:00 – 15:00 Research – the Orphan of Fire Services Education and Training presented by Mike Webber - MIFireE M.Soc.Sci (Psych) Cum Laude, BA Hons (Psych) Cum LaudeThe field of fire research is often seen as the preserve of fire test laboratories and the applicationof the scientific experiment as high level research in which independent variables are defined andmanipulated to observe the outcome on the dependent variable. This may be one of the reasonswhy research methodology and data analysis, common to many other professional disciplines, islargely ignored in fire education and training.The national fire statistics in South Africa arequestionable, there is no data on firefighter injuries and deaths and there is no idea of how wellthe fire protection industry is doing in their clients’ opinions. This is largely because of the lack oftraining and knowledge about the value of data, and how to properly collect and analyse it due toa lack of training. This paper explores different forms of research available to fire services and thefire protection industry, and ways in which it can bring value to the industry and potential solutionsto this current deficit.

15:00 – 15:15 Interactive discussions on the Orphan of Fire Services Education and Training with Mike Webber

BREAK

15:30 – 16:30 Wildland / Urban Fire Interface presented by Bruce Varner - Fire Chief (retired), CFIFireE, CFO International President IFERecent disasters around the world have revealed that traditional fire protection and emergencyservices responses have been overwhelmed. Losses have been tragic and historically costly. Abetter approach is needed. This paper will present some new case studies, the lessons learnedand suggestion for improved proactive efforts – a fire engineering approach. Delegates will gainan excellent update and insight from a senior USA-based presenter, who will also lead andinteract in discussions relating to problems with historical approaches and the benefits of newapproaches.

16:30 – 17:00 Interactive discussions on Wildland /Urban Fire Interface - Bruce Varner

Seminar Day 2

Friday 11th September 2020

08:30 – 9:15 Understanding and Modelling Human Behaviour in Fire presented by Natalia Flores Quiroz MSc(Fire), BScEng(Electrical) As our buildings get larger and larger we need to make sure people can escape in time. To thisend various computer models have been developed to try predict how long it would take people toleave the building, stadium or high-rise apartment block, when a fire breaks out. This presentationgives an overview of human behaviour including: (a) how to model human behaviour, (b) howpeople behave in fire, (c) factors that influence behaviour, and (d) evacuation models that can beused.

09:15 – 09:30 Interactive discussions on Understanding & Modelling Human Behaviour in Fire. Natalia Flores Quiroz

BREAK

PROGRAMME SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Institution of Fire Engineers (SA)Online AGM/Seminar & Workshops

10th & 11th September 2020Fire Behaviour ... can we manage it?

PROGRAMME

Times Friday 11h September 2020 Continued

09:45 – 10:30 Using Scale Models for Understanding Fire Behaviour presented by Vignesh Narayanan MSc(Fire), BEng (Mechanical)Full-scale fire tests are very expensive and difficult to carry out, meaning that researchers,investigators and product developers may wish to try and conduct scaled-down experiments.However, fire behaviour does not scale down easily, and attention has to be paid regarding whataspect you are trying to scale (heat release rate, ventilation, flame length, etc.) such that theexperiments can give insight into what you are seeking to understand. This presentation gives anoverview of the modelling of fire using reduced scale experiments, including some recent testsconducted.

10:30 – 10:45 Interactive discussions on Using Scale Models for Understanding Fire Behaviour -Vignesh Narayanan

10:45 – 11:30 Fire Modelling – Friend or Foe? presented by Dr Antonio Cicione PhD, BEng Advances in computer power and software have given engineers the tools needed to model fireand smoke behaviour in complex buildings. This can assist in making buildings safer, andhighlight what might happen during a fire incident. However, engineers need to be careful with the“black boxes” that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools often are. This talk gives an overviewof CFD modelling, how it works, assumptions required and where care should be taken.

11:30 – 11:45 Interactive discussions on Fire Modelling – Friend or foe? Dr Antonio Cicione

BREAK

13:00 – 13:45 Can Structural Engineers Learn to Speak Fire? presented by Dr Richard Walls PhD MSc G.D.E. BSc.Eng Pr.Eng BThStructural engineers need to be involved with the fire safety engineering process. The final line ofdefence in fire safety is to ensure that a building remains standing after all other systems havefailed or are no longer effective. Unfortunately most South African structural engineers know verylittle about fire design. This paper gives an overview of the basis of structural fire design, suchthat fire engineers can learn what services structural engineers may be able to offer, and howarchitectural freedom can be provided without breaking the project budget.

13:45 - 14:15 Interactive discussions on Can Structural Engineers Learn to Speak Fire? Dr Richard Walls

14:15 – 15:15 Ethics – a Core Competency in the Technical and Engineering Sciences presented by Mike Webber MIFireE M.Soc.Sci (Psych) Cum Laude, BA Hons (Psych) Cum Laude, BAThe technical and engineering fields are defined not only by technology and science, but byhuman processes of value judgements and ethical decision-making. Professional developmentbegins with technical competence, but which must then be informed by ethical decision-making.As such, the ability to engage in ethical decision-making is core to the application of technical andengineering processes. Engineers are frequently faced with competing demands of technicalexcellence, adherence to “Best Practice”, innovative thinking, cost containment and clientpressures and demands. This paper explores the various ethical systems, the nature of aFiduciary Duty, the “Public Good” and the seven principles underlying ethical decision-making.

BREAK

15:30 – 16:15 Firefighter Safety presented by Bruce Varner - Fire Chief (retired), CFIFireE, CFO International President IFEFrom intelligent aggressive firefighting operations to command, control and accountability, tofirefighter survival, to tactical fire scene leadership and building construction as well as SCBA andrelated technological development and standard establishment, Bruce has been there from dayone. He is also well known in the USA from his countless hours of teaching around the countryand his tireless work with NFPA committees. This paper will highlight some main points fromthese experiences with regard to recent firefighter deaths in South Africa, thus providingdelegates with key points for preventing future tragedies.

16:15– 17:15 Interactive discussions on Firefighter Safety - Bruce Varner

Institution of Fire Engineers (SA)Online AGM/Seminar & Workshops

10th & 11th September 2020Fire Behaviour ... can we manage it?

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AGM (members only) Thursday 10th September 2020 10:30 - 13:00 No Charge

Seminar Thursday 10th September 2020 14:30 - 17:30R4,950 R5,500

Seminar Friday 11th September 2020 09:00 - 17:15

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