CFD Fire Modelling

CFD stands for Computational Fluid Dynamics. In relation to fire safety engineering, CFD refers to a type of modelling which uses physical equations to understand how heat and smoke will flow and spread through any given building.

Fire modelling, also often referred to as ‘smoke modelling’, is a type of fire engineered solution to help predict and stop the spread of fires in a building. 

CFD (which stands for Computational Fluid Dynamics) uses fundamental equations to understand and make predictions about heat transfer and fluid flow of fires. These models are used to map how heat, fire or smoke will move around a space, and how quickly they will do so. 

The process of CFD modelling involves creating a to-scale model of a building, and inputting the relevant data to be used to determine how its dimensions, structure, layout and building materials will impact the flow of fluids, gases and heat. 

These reports can then be used to find areas of weakness, and make different buildings more fire-safe.

A CFD model uses numerical equations to study the interaction and flow of fluid-solid, fluid-gas and fluid-fluid in the context of fires and smoke. It uses physics and equations to determine how much and how quickly these substances will flow through a specific building or environment. CFD studies are also used to calculate the rate of heat transfer in the same context. Fire engineers use these models to determine areas of threat in any building as well as design solutions to resolve these.

CFD fire modelling is used by many industries in their development work, as it allows them to analyse and optimise fire engineered solutions properly. 

It is often used as a method in civil and structural engineering, to help those designing and building new structures to test different scenarios on a to-scale version of the proposed work. This can be useful in and outside of fire safety engineering. CFD modelling uses reliable data and equations to simulate various scenarios. Doing this saves time, money and helps to ensure designs are safe. 

In the context of fire engineering solutions, CFD models are most often used to help test and predict the spread of heat, smoke and flames in new and existing buildings. The studies are then used to make decisions on how to build or change buildings so the risk of fires and their spread can be reduced.

CFD fire models have many benefits, including that they allow many designers and engineers to test the performance of their fire safety designs without having to create prototypes and physical tests. 

Another major benefit of choosing to conduct a CFD study is that it can provide highly valuable data. This is because it uses complex algorithms and equations to reach conclusions about the flow and transfer of materials and heat. This can help industry professionals and managers to make smarter decisions about how to design or adjust buildings so that they are more protected against fire and smoke damage. 

Another positive about using CFD studies for fire safety is that CFD models can have an advantage when buildings or structures being assessed have a very complex geometry. 

CFD fire safety modelling also has the advantage of giving a fast answer, or number of answers, when these are needed for quick decision making and designs.

There is a type of CFD created by SOLIDWORKS. This Flow Simulation is embedded in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD and allows those using it to quickly simulate gas and liquid flows through and around designs.