ASTM E1895-97

Standard Guide for Determining Uses and Limitations of Deterministic Fire Models

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers a methodology for the systematic evaluation of fire models, which may be used in fire hazard analyses.
1.2 This guide provides a means of identifying both general and specific limitations of fire models for specific applications.
1.3 This guide is intended to assist model developers, model users, and authorities having jurisdiction in assuming the responsible use of fire models.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-1997
• ICS: 13.220.01 - Protection against fire in general
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.33 - Fire Safety Engineering

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E1895-04 - Standard Guide for Determining Uses and Limitations of Deterministic Fire Models
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2004

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E 1895 – 97
Standard Guide for
Determining Uses and Limitations of Deterministic Fire
Models
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1895; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Hazard I Fire Hazard Assessment
Technical Reference Guide for FPE Tool, Version 3.2,
1.1 This guide provides a methodology for the systematic
NISTIR 5486
evaluation of fire models, which may be used in fire hazard
The SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 2nd
analyses.
Edition, Section 3, Chapter 15
1.2 This guide provides a means of identifying both general
and specific limitations of fire models for specific applications.
3. Terminology
1.3 This guide is intended to assist model developers, model
3.1 Definitions—Definitions used in this guide are in accor-
users, and authorities having jurisdiction in assuming the
dance with Terminologies in E 176, unless otherwise indicated.
responsible use of fire models.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 This guide provides recommendations for fire model
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
users and authorities having jurisdiction in establishing the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
limitations of fire models in fire risk and fire hazards assess-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ments. The guide also makes recommendations for fire model
developers to identify appropriate uses and limitations of their
2. Referenced Documents
model.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 4.2 This guide is intended to assist in evaluating the
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
appropriate use of fire models in fire assessment. These types
E 603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
of assessments are employed in product development, as well
E 1355 Guide for Evaluating the Predictive Capability of
2 as in design and construction. Further guidance can be found in
Fire Models
Guide E-1546.
E 1472 Guide for Documenting Computer Software for Fire
2 4.3 This guide is not intended to address all or limit any
Models
methods of evaluating proper use of a fire model. It does
E 1474 Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate
address the use of fire models in fire hazard assessment. Other
of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components of
uses of fire models include post-fire analysis, research, educa-
Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption
2 tion, and litigation.
Calorimeter
4.4 The primary emphasis of this guide is on zone models of
E 1546 Guide for Development of Fire-Hazard-Assessment
2 compartment fires. However, other types of mathematical
Standards
2 models need similar evaluations of their prediction capabilities.
E 1591 Guide for Data for Fire Models
2.2 Other Documents:
5. Guidance for Model Users
Survey of Computer Models for Fire and Smoke, Raymond
3 5.1 A model user’s first step should be to define the scope of
Friedman, Factory Mutual
the intended fire risk or fire hazard assessment, or both, and
NIST Handbook 146, Technical Reference Guide for the
then determine if fire modeling is an appropriate tool to provide
information for the decision making process.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-15 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.33 on Fire Safety
Engineering.
Current edition approved July 10, 1997. Published November 1997.
Available from National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.
Available from Factory Mutual Engineering Corporation, 1511 Boston Provi-
Available from National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park,
dence Turnpike, Norwood, MA 02062.
Quincy, MA 02269.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1895
5.2 The user should then determine what models are avail- els, comparison to fire test results, and agreement with actual
able for use. Some are proprietary or not otherwise accessible. fire experience. A method for validation is included in Guide
E 1355.
5.2.1 The ability of the user’s computer hardware, consid-
5.7.7 If validation data is not available, then sensitivity
ering the size and complexity of the assessment, will also limit
analysis must be conducted to determine the impact of change
what fire models can be used.
in the important input variables to the estimation of the fire
5.2.2 A Factory Mutual report entitled “Survey of Computer
hazard and to provide the engineering bounds for the output
Models for Fire and Smoke” provides a listing of fire models
results.
available in 1994.
5.8 The use of fire models in fire risk and fire hazard
5.3 For those models being considered, procure the avail-
assessment must be well documented. Documentation should
able documentation and determine if it adequately addresses
include, as a minimum, all input, all assumptions, all modifi-
the issues described in Guide E 1472.
cations, and supporting information, which validates the spe-
5.4 The user should then determine which model(s) fit the
cific application of the model.
requirements of the assessment. For example, a single com-
6. Guidance for the Model Developer
partment model may or may not be of any use in a multi-
compartment assessment. A list of questions which may be
6.1 The model developer should consider the proper use and
used to consider the suitability of a model for a particular use
possible misuse during validation and documentation of their
is included in the Appendix.
models during the development process. These considerations
need to be reflected in documents that provide guidance to
5.5 If the model(s) do not fit the user’s requirements, then
identify proper use and to make misuse unlikely.
the user must determine the feasibility of appropriately modi-
6.2 The developer should provide documentation accessible
fying the model.
for public review that describes the known numerical and
5.5.1 It is strongly recommended that any modification to
physical limitations and the assumptions inherent to the model.
the code of a fire model be made in collaboration with the
This should follow the guidelines of Guide E 1472.
model developer. Modifications must be well documented.
6.3 The developer should provide documentation accessible
5.5.2 The new code should be extensively validated for the
for public review of the predictive capability of the model. A
application of interest. A methodology for validation can be
process for evaluating fire models is included in Guide E 1355.
found in Guide E 1355.
6.4 The developer should provide documentation accessible
...