TABLE OF CONTENTS This guide, which is applicable to new and existing buildings, can be used for the design of fire protection measures to achieve stated fire and life safety objectives, to support the development of alternatives to prescriptive-based code requirements, or to evaluate the building fire safety design as a whole.
Performance-based fire protection analysis and design is one element in the process of building design, construction, and operation.
The performance-based design process most appropriately begins during the feasibility or conceptual design phase when key decisions are being made (see Section 1.4). The earlier the engineer becomes involved in the building design and construction process, the greater the benefits that can be realized. These benefits include the following:
Design flexibility
Innovation in design, construction, and materials
Equal or better fire safety
Maximization of the benefit/cost ratio
A representative basic building design and construction process is outlined in Figure 3-1.
During the design development and construction documentation phases, the conceptual designs evolve into detailed system designs and the plans and specifications that will be used for bidding on and constructing the building. The design development and construction documentation phases are not described in this guide. However, the coordination of design documentation is described in Chapter 12. Coordination between disciplines is critical during these phases in...
