CFD Fire Smoke Modelling

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a numerical modelling technique used to analyse fluid flow, heat transfer, and smoke movement by solving the governing equations of fluid dynamics. In fire safety engineering, CFD is used to predict the behaviour of smoke, hot gases, and ventilation flows under fire conditions, allowing detailed assessment of life safety and system performance.

CFD is typically required when prescriptive design approaches are insufficient or when performance‑based design methodologies are adopted. It is commonly used to validate and optimise smoke control and ventilation systems in complex or large‑volume spaces, such as atria, car parks with jet-fan systems, large retail environments, tunnels, and transport facilities.

CFD modelling supports a wide range of fire life safety applications, including smoke control system design, assessment of tenability conditions for occupant evacuation, evaluation of thermal and visibility conditions within fire compartments, fire scenario analysis, and validation of alternative or innovative fire safety solutions.