176 - The Myth of Panic with Daniel Nilsson

Fire Science Show

#Science #Tech #Physics #Wojciech Wegrzynski #Fire #Smoking #Wildfires #Cfd #Safety #Risk #Civil Engineering

33:58

On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still holds. Then they play it. Just the song, and the truth behind it." Find Open Folk on Instagram: @openfolkla Find Gaby on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0K9pSmFx0kWESA9jqx8aCW?si=Wz4RUP88Qlm_RKs7QTLvWQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gaby-moreno/472697737 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_moreno/ Find Lily on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0p0ksmwMDQlAM24TWKu4Ua?si=Bmdg-uIUTHu-zRUc_dqL3g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lily-kershaw/526884610 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilykershaw/ Find James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3u50TPoLvMBXNT1KrLa3iT?si=OoLoq7ZTRZyUiytQcz0FsQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-spaite/905076868 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesspaite/ Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus , where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

about a year ago 1:00:45

MP3•Episode home

You are not supposed to use the word 'panic' in the context of human behaviour in fires, yet this episode contains 196 instances of it. Why? because we try to get to the bottom of the thing! Can panic be both a myth and a reality?
Join us as we challenge the age-old narratives of panic in emergencies with our distinguished guest, Professor Daniel Nilsson, from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. We unravel the misconceptions surrounding human behaviour during fires, spotlighting the harmful effects of outdated myths perpetuated by media and literature. By debunking these myths, we aim to reshape fire safety engineering, focusing on realistic human reactions and informed decision-making.
Our conversation takes you across cultural landscapes, from the Western world to the Soviet Union, questioning national claims of panic susceptibility and the portrayal of panic as a contagious force. Challenging the historical context, we try to figure out what panic is once you apply the scientific method to understand it.
We also try to assess historical events like the Victoria Tower evacuation and the Love Parade tragedy, we underscore how engineering failures, not irrational behaviour, often lead to crowd disasters. Professor Nilsson and I delve into the psychology of decision-making during evacuations, emphasising the power of clear communication to prevent chaos and save lives.
Finally, we reflect on the profound research of Quarantelli, who redefined panic through thousands of disaster case studies, revealing the complexity of human responses in crises. We explore how cultural contexts influence perceived panic behaviour by differentiating between non-rational and irrational actions. We aim to enlighten fire safety professionals and the broader audience on the importance of replacing the myth of panic with empathy and evidence-based strategies, fostering a safer and more understanding approach to emergency responses.
Further reading?
Sure.
Daniel's paper in SFPE Europe magazine - is panic a myth or reality?
Proloux and Sime paper where they challanged the limiting of information (1991)
And if you really got into this, Jonathan Sime's PhD

Also, a ton of material on Human Behaviour and evacuation is waiting for you in the Uncovered Witness project!

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The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.

Chapters

1. Debunking the Myth of Panic (00:00:00)

2. Exploring the Phenomenon of Panic (00:14:20)

3. Challenging Misconceptions About Panic (00:26:01)

4. Effective Communication in Emergency Evacuations (00:29:26)

5. Debunking Panic Behavior Myths (00:34:47)

6. Understanding Panic Behavior in Disasters (00:39:19)

7. Debunking Panic Behavior Myths in Engineering (00:52:04)

8. Fire Science Podcast Preview (00:59:14)

218 episodes

Fire Science Show

176 - The Myth of Panic with Daniel Nilsson

Fire Science Show

0-10 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

----
The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.

Chapters

1. Debunking the Myth of Panic (00:00:00)

2. Exploring the Phenomenon of Panic (00:14:20)

3. Challenging Misconceptions About Panic (00:26:01)

4. Effective Communication in Emergency Evacuations (00:29:26)

5. Debunking Panic Behavior Myths (00:34:47)

6. Understanding Panic Behavior in Disasters (00:39:19)

7. Debunking Panic Behavior Myths in Engineering (00:52:04)

8. Fire Science Podcast Preview (00:59:14)

218 episodes

#Science #Tech #Physics #Wojciech Wegrzynski #Fire #Smoking #Wildfires #Cfd #Safety #Risk #Civil Engineering

All episodes

Fire Science Show

1
210 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 16 - Turbulence with Randy McDermott 58:20

4 days ago58:20

58:20

In the 16th part of the Fire Fundamentals series, we invite Randy McDermott from NIST to join us for a deep dive into turbulence and its critical role in fire dynamics modelling. We explore the physics behind turbulent combustion and how it fundamentally shapes fire behaviour, plume dynamics, and simulation accuracy. In this episode we cover: Defining turbulence as the enhancement of mixing and heat transfer through the creation of eddies and instabilities Understanding length scales in turbulence from the integral scale to the Kolmogorov scale Practical considerations when choosing grid resolutions for different fire engineering applications How turbulence models work in Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and what they represent Limitations of the D* criterion for mesh sizing and why higher resolution may be needed Differences between pre-mixed and diffusion flames in turbulent combustion Time scales in fire and the concept of Damköhler number in determining combustion behaviour Entrainment physics at the base of fire plumes requires centimetre-scale resolution Why turbulence modelling ultimately determines the accuracy of fire simulations ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

1
209 - Updates from the SFPE with Chris Jelenewicz 1:00:35

11 days ago1:00:35

1:00:35

In this podcast episode, I invited Chris Jelenewicz, the CEO of SFPE, to bring me up to date on the society. The SFPE Handbook on Fire Protection Engineering is undergoing a major revision with the sixth edition expected by summer's end, expanding to five volumes with significant new content on emerging topics like wildland fires and lithium-ion batteries. In this episode, we cover how the handbook is written, edited and when it will be released to the public. Some highlights from the episode include: • The new handbook will feature 11 sections, 104 chapters, and contributions from over 200 authors • New innovative "living document" approach allowing updates without waiting for full revision cycles • First-ever introductory chapter on the history and evolution of fire protection engineering • Expanded content on wildland-urban interface fires, growing from one chapter to seven • New chapters addressing lithium-ion batteries, fire safety during construction, and fire extinguishment fundamentals • Multiple access options: print volumes, online subscription, and individual chapter purchases • Available through university libraries via SpringerLink • More global perspective with international contributions We have also discussed the incoming SFPE events, including the Annual Conference in Vancouver (October 2025), celebrating SFPE's 75th anniversary, a Storage Symposium at UL in Chicago (August 2025), and a Battery Symposium in Lisbon (November 2025). ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

1
208 - The basics of fire water supply with Szymon Kokot 56:55

17 days ago56:55

56:55

Water might seem like the simplest part of firefighting – just point and spray, right? Well, as you can imagine, the reality is a bit more complex. In this conversation with veteran firefighter and CFBT instructor Szymon Kokot, we pull back the curtain on firefighting's most critical resource to reveal the intricate science and logistics behind effective fire suppression. Did you know a standard fire truck carries just 10 minutes' worth of water for a typical residential fire? Or that a water-filled fire hose can weigh up to 45 kilograms per 20-meter section? These physical realities shape every aspect of firefighting operations and explain why building water supply systems are absolutely vital for effective emergency response. Szymon walks us through essential concepts that every fire engineer should understand – from critical flow rates (2 liters per minute per square meter of fire area) to tactical flow rates (4 liters per minute per square meter) that provide both effectiveness and safety margin. We explore how water's cooling capacity works primarily during evaporation, why cooling burning materials is more important than extinguishing visible flames, and how different water application techniques serve different tactical purposes. The conversation demystifies hydrants versus standpipes, dry versus wet systems, and the specialised requirements for different building types – especially the unique challenges of high-rise structures where external water supply is virtually impossible. We also confront the all-too-common reliability issues that plague these systems, from maintenance problems to vandalism. Whether you're a fire engineer looking to design more effective systems, a firefighter interested in the science behind your craft, or simply curious about this intersection of physics, engineering and emergency operations, this episode delivers valuable insights into how water – our oldest firefighting tool – continues to shape modern fire safety design and operations. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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207 - Fire Safety of Balconies with Mike Spearpoint and Konstantinos Chotzoglou 1:00:05

25 days ago1:00:05

1:00:05

As a consequence of the Grenfell Tower disaster, some strong legislation was proposed, such as a combustible ban on building walls. This, however, affected more than just the building facades, as it excluded materials such as laminated glass used as balcony balustrades. Today, the path forward demands evidence that could inform decisions on the future of laminated glass in this use. In this conversation with Mike Spearpoint and Konstantinos Chotzoglou from OFR Consultants, we dive deep into their groundbreaking experimental research on balcony fire safety that emerged in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. Through experiments involving three-story balcony setups and multiple configurations, the team quantified how different materials and designs affect external fire spread between floors. What makes this research particularly valuable is how it transforms gut feelings into measurable facts. The researchers tested various combinations of balustrade materials, decking options, and balcony contents to create a comprehensive picture of fire behaviour. Their findings confirmed some expectations while providing surprising insights into flame dynamics around balconies. Most importantly, they established a clear ranking of safety performance: from non-combustible systems and laminated glass (which performed remarkably well) to the dangerous combination of HPL panels with timber decking (which produced fires so intense they had to terminate testing). The implications extend beyond regulatory compliance. This research empowers architects, engineers, and manufacturers to make evidence-based decisions about balcony design while maintaining the essential outdoor spaces people value in high-rise living. It demonstrates that with appropriate material selections and protective measures like non-combustible soffits, balconies can remain both safe and functional. You can read the balcony survey paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10694-023-01467-8 A paper summarising three balcony fire incidents: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10694-021-01154-6 As more research is published, I will try to keep this up to date. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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206 - Fire Engineering Infrastructural Projects with Mukesh Tomar 1:02:42

5 weeks ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Today I'm taking you for a sightseeing trip to see what fire safety looks like beyond our usual office, residential buildings and car parks. Fire engineering takes on an entirely different dimension when applied to massive infrastructure projects where conventional building codes provide minimal guidance and engineers must forge their own path. Dr. Mukesh Tomar from Jacobs takes us deep into the world of "non-real estate fire engineering" – the complex realm of cable tunnels stretching dozens of kilometres, nuclear facilities requiring marathon-like design processes, and mega-airports that function as entire cities. These projects demand fundamentally different approaches from traditional buildings, with engineers often working without clear objectives while balancing multiple stakeholders' requirements. The challenges are as fascinating as they are daunting. How do you establish evacuation strategies for maintenance workers in remote utility tunnels? What happens when nuclear safety requirements from different global standards conflict with each other? And how do you integrate new fire safety systems with decades-old infrastructure during airport expansions? We explore these questions while uncovering the frustrations and rewards of engineering at this scale. Perhaps most thought-provoking is how these specialised challenges are increasingly relevant to everyday buildings. As electric vehicle charging brings industrial-scale electrical systems into residential buildings, the line between conventional and infrastructure fire safety grows increasingly blurred. Without clear objectives and specialised expertise, are we adequately addressing these emerging risks? Whether you're a seasoned infrastructure engineer or working primarily in traditional buildings, this episode offers valuable insights into the outer boundaries of fire safety engineering and the critical importance of establishing clear objectives before attempting solutions. Follow the Fire Science Show for more deep dives into the fascinating world where fire science meets real-world engineering challenges. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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205 - FDS maintenance and development with Randy McDermott 1:00:03

6 weeks ago1:00:03

1:00:03

Dr Randy McDermott takes us behind the scenes of fire science's most critical software tool in this conversation about the Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) developed at NIST. As one of the developers, Randy offers valuable insights into how this essential modelling tool is maintained, improved, and adapted to meet the evolving challenges of the fire safety community. The conversation begins with a look at the development process itself, based on a greater picture roadmap and also addressing practical issues reported by users. This balance between vision and responsiveness has helped FDS maintain its position as the gold standard in fire modelling. Randy unpacks the massive validation guide (over 1,200 pages) and explains how users should approach it to understand model capabilities and uncertainties. The guide, along with all the validation cases, is available at Github repository here: https://github.com/firemodels/fds Rather than blindly applying FDS to any problem, he emphasises the importance of identifying similar validated cases and understanding the limitations of the software for specific applications. The discussion tackles emerging challenges like battery fires and mass timber construction – areas where traditional fire modelling approaches face significant hurdles. Randy addresses the limitations of current models while outlining pathways for future development, including potential integration with external specialised models and improvements in chemistry modelling. Finally, we also get to talk about computational costs and efficiency. As Randy explains the implementation of GPU acceleration and the challenges of incorporating detailed chemistry, listeners gain a deeper appreciation of the tradeoffs involved in advanced fire modelling. Whether you're an FDS user, fire safety engineer, or simply curious about computational modelling, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the past, present and future of the tool that underpins modern fire safety science. Oh, and Randy is not just an FDS developer - he is also a prolific researcher. You can find more about his scientific works here: https://www.nist.gov/people/randall-j-mcdermott As always, MASSIVE THANKS TO THE NIST GROUP AND THEIR COLLABORATORS FOR BUILDING AND MAINTAINING THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF SOFTWARE WE HAVE!!! You guys are not thanked enough! ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

1
204 - 4th Birthday of the Podcast. Some stories about the past and the future 43:28

7 weeks ago43:28

43:28

Four years ago, what began as a mission to preserve valuable fire safety engineering conversations has grown into a fairly large platform connecting professionals across 170+ countries. The journey to 200 episodes and nearly 200,000 downloads has been both challenging and deeply rewarding – in this episode, I share a bit about my journey, the state of things and the near future of the podcast. *** Important notice: at the end of the show notes is a survey , and I would be thrilled if you participated in it. Back to the news post *** Behind every weekly episode lies 10-12 hours of preparation, recording, and editing. From coordinating with international guests across time zones to balancing out the technical depth and accessibility, producing the Fire Science Show has become a finely-tuned process. Some recordings happen at 5 AM, some late at night, all to bring the most valuable fire science conversations to your ears. This special anniversary episode pulls back the curtain on what makes the podcast work. You'll discover how episodes are created from concept to publication, learn about memorable moments (like the great LEGO collapse catastrophe during an interview with my podcasting idol Pat Flynn), and hear about challenges faced along the way. The most popular episodes – including fundamentals with Rory (2,500 listens) and timber fire safety with Danny Hopkin (1,800 listens) reveal what resonates most with our community of listeners. But all episodes are important, as they together create a space where complex fire science becomes accessible and engaging for professionals worldwide. As we look toward the future, your input is essential. What topics should we cover? What format works best for you? The listener survey linked in our show notes is your chance to help shape the Fire Science Show's next chapter. Join us as we continue bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application in fire safety engineering. >>>> LINK TO THE SURVEY <<<< Lastly, but also very important. Massive shout out to the OFR for making this journey possible. If not you, we would not be celebrating this anniversary. Thank you so much for your support to the concept of freely accessible high-quality CPD delivered to any part of the world, any time someone feels like it! ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

1
203 - The lessons from repeating Jin's experiment on visibility in smoke 42:30

8 weeks ago42:30

42:30

I've finally done it. We've repeated Jin's experiment! I thought I knew-it-all about that experiment, but boy... knowing and doing it are two different things. I can say, I've finally cleared my mind on some thoughts after this, which I am finally happy to share with all of you! First things first, massive thanks to my partner in crime Wai-Kit Wilson Cheung, from the group of prof. Xinyan Huang, who was the man on the ground doing the experiments with me. Together we went further into this model, than ever before. The revelations are far-reaching. We found that Jin used extraordinary lighting conditions—180 lux background brightness and impossibly bright signage—far from realistic building emergency conditions. Background brightness emerges as perhaps the most critical factor in determining what can be seen through smoke, with dramatic differences between light-emitting and light-reflecting signs. Most significantly, the experiment's careful constraint of sign size (using proportionally larger signs at greater distances) created elegant mathematics but removed a crucial real-world variable from the model. These insights have profound implications. Engineers likely overestimate visibility in many scenarios, particularly with reflective signage. The widely used K-values (3 for reflective signs, 8 for light-emitting signs) appear reasonably conservative for typical building conditions, though higher values might be warranted in darker environments. Most provocatively, simply increasing sign size would almost certainly improve evacuation safety, yet our current models provide no mechanism to quantify this benefit. Fire safety practitioners will find this episode transformative, offering both practical guidance and theoretical understanding. Should we stick with visibility distance or shift to smoke density as our primary metric? How can we balance lighting conditions to optimize visibility of both obstacles and signage? And most critically, how might next-generation visibility models better serve real-world building safety? These are things we currently work on. If you look for reading, check the paper on the extinction coefficient by the German colleagues: https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.16182 If you strive for more podcast episodes: this one covers historical Jin's experiment: https://www.firescienceshow.com/162-experiments-that-changed-fire-science-pt-9-jins-experiment-on-visibility-in-smoke/ this one is on soot and smoke: https://www.firescienceshow.com/163-fire-fundamentals-pt-11-soot-in-fire-safety-engineering/ and this one our general thoughts about modelling visibility and new pathways we see forward: https://www.firescienceshow.com/030-visibility-prediction-framework-with-lukas-arnold/ The research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, based on a contract for the implementation and financing of a research project OPUS LAP No 2020/39/I/ST8/03159 and by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under the project number 465392452 , for the joint project: “Visibility Prediction Framework – a next-generation model for visibility in smoke in built environment”. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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202 - Designing fire safety with firefighters in mind 51:29

9 weeks ago51:29

51:29

The gap between fire safety engineering and firefighting operations creates a profound challenge that affects building safety worldwide. Even experienced fire safety engineers - myself included - face uncertainty when designing for firefighters without being firefighters themselves. Yet many building codes explicitly require engineers to account for firefighting operations in their designs. This examination dives into the timeline analysis essential for effective firefighter support, from notification (when firefighters learn about the fire) to arrival at the building to actual intervention. Each phase contains complexities often overlooked: fire alarm systems might be delayed by human verification, architectural complexity can significantly slow down firefighters reaching the fire, and building conditions upon arrival dramatically affect intervention capabilities. The assessment of design fires represents one of the most challenging aspects of this engineering work. At what fire size will firefighters begin their intervention? The fire might be growing, steady-state, limited by compartmentation, or controlled by active systems. This crucial but uncertain consideration fundamentally shapes how we design for firefighter safety. Through computational fluid dynamics modelling, we can evaluate the building conditions firefighters will face. Rather than using simple pass/fail criteria, experienced engineers look for smoke layer behaviour and clear access paths. The gold standard is providing smoke-free routes from the building entry to the fire vicinity. When this isn't possible, we must carefully evaluate the conditions through which firefighters must navigate. Fire safety systems - from sprinklers to smoke control, information displays to architectural layouts - all dramatically influence firefighter effectiveness. Yet perhaps the most important principle is creating systems firefighters trust. Overly complex designs may be disabled by firefighters who don't understand them or don't trust them with their lives. The most effective approach combines rigorous engineering analysis with direct input from firefighters themselves. By understanding their actual needs, which might surprise you - we can design buildings that truly support those willing to risk everything to save others. What would your building design look like if you asked firefighters what they really need? Listen to the entire episode with Szymon Kokot here: https://www.firescienceshow.com/051-fire-science-in-eyes-of-a-firefighter-with-szymon-kokot/ Want to know what happens in the building after a fire alarm? Find out here: https://www.firescienceshow.com/136-fire-fundamentals-pt-6-the-fire-automation-in-a-building/ ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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201 - The last fire - a novel set in industrial fire engineering with Joaquim Casal 48:59

10 weeks ago48:59

48:59

What happens when a lifetime of studying industrial fire hazards meets the creative mind of a novelist? In this conversation with Professor Joaquim Casal, we explore the unique intersection of fire safety engineering and science fiction through his novel "The Last Fire." Professor Casal, a retired academic from Universitat Politécnica Catalunya and founder of their fire research group, has crafted something unique – a novel where the protagonists are fire researchers and the plot revolves around fire phenomena, fire research and fire testing. Beyond the novel on its own, our discussion also takes us deep into the world of industrial fire hazards, exploring phenomena that many building-focused fire engineers rarely encounter. From the extreme temperatures of jet fires that can trigger catastrophic "domino effects" in industrial facilities to the deadly "boil-over" phenomenon that has claimed numerous firefighters' lives. We examine the behaviours of jet-fires, pool fires, flash fires, and the spectacular but devastating fireballs created by BLEVEs (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosions). And finally, I think the greatest imminent value of this novel is in the communication - it is a brilliant example of how you can communicate difficult technical concepts of fire to lay people. I believe many fire engineers could be inspired by this example. If you would like to read the novel, it is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Fire-Joaquim-Casal-ebook/dp/B0F4QYLYSV ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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200 - Façade flammability across scales and standards with Guillermo Rein and Matt Bonner 1:07:02

11 weeks ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Episode 200! And for this special episode, I've travelled to London to interview Prof. Guillermo Rein and Dr Matt Bonner on a piece of research carried out at Imperial College London, with the experiments performed in our laboratory at the ITB. In this episode, we discuss the concept of flammability of the building facades and how this flammability is assessed with different testing methods available in the world. You could argue that every country has their own method, and in some cases, they use those methods even with varying criteria of acceptance. Even though the methods are as different as they can be, they all claim they test for fire safety of the external façade and are used as the basis for local regulatory regimes. Knowing that so many methods exist, we approached this with a question: Will they agree on ranking different facades? Will they show us the same results, or will each show us something else? And this question is inspired by Prof. Howard Emmons, who in 1968 went into a similar endeavour with building materials. Back then, Emmons said: “Such profound disagreement between serious attempts to measure combustibility points out better than any argument that we really don’t know what we are talking about when we say, ‘this is more combustible than that’; ‘this is a more safe building material than that’”. In this podcast episode, we discuss a series of 25 experiments: testing five facades, two ETICS and three rainscreen facades with a varying degree of use of combustible materials. All the material combinations were built by us in the same way, and then assessed using five test standards: The Polish method PN-B-02867, The international screening method ISO 13785-1 (smaller corner configuration), The German method DIN 4102-20, The American method NFPA 285, also used globally and the British BS 8414, also highly influential over the world and the basis for the new harmonised EU approach. We go into the background and rationale of the experiments, an overview of the testing methods as well as into qualitative and quantitative findings of the study. Once the paper is published, I will update the shownotes with a link here :) For now, you may also want to revisit previous episodes of Fire Science Show discussing the fire safety of facades – It all started with episode 4 with Matt Bonner: https://www.firescienceshow.com/004-facade-fires-and-ai-with-matt-bonner/ An overview of current Issues with Eleni Asimakopoulou: https://www.firescienceshow.com/124-advancements-in-fire-safety-of-facades-with-eleni-asimakopoulou/ And some interesting facts about SBI method with Rudolf van Mierlo (and their development of façade testing method): https://www.firescienceshow.com/140-development-and-implementation-of-the-sbi-test-with-rudolf-van-mierlo/ This research was funded by The Berkeley Group. The experimental part was performed at the Building Research Institute ITB, with a group of tests with the Polish method performed as part of our statutory research NZP-130. Thank you for being with the Fire Science Show for 200 episodes! Huge shoutout to the OFR for enabling this project and allowing me to share insights like this with all of you in an open-access repository!!! ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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199 - Commercial Timber Guidebook with Danny Hopkin and Luis Gonzalez Avila 1:01:07

12 weeks ago1:01:07

1:01:07

We know a whole lot more about mass timber in fire than we did a few years ago (even when I’ve just started the podcast 199 episodes back …). But is this knowledge widely used in engineering practice? Is it used in the same way by different stakeholders? Definitely not. This is why to move timber into something we would consider “new normal”, we need more than research. We need a consensus on how to apply the outcomes of our research in practice. And this is this podcast episode. Built by Nature, with a group of investors, property owners, and managers, funded a grant led by Elliot Wood to write a “consensus” guideline on using mass timber in office buildings. A large part of the book covers fire, which we also cover in this podcast episode. I’ve invited prof Danny Hopkin and Luis Gonzalez Avila from OFR to walk me through the story of the guidebook, its contents of it and we also jump deep into the design philosophy of the book. https://builtbn.org/knowledge/resources/commercial-timber-guidebook/ In this podcast episode, we try to stay away from explaining how timber burns (sorry!). But if you want to know more about physics, the Fire Science Show has you covered. Check out the timber section of the podcast! Look here: https://www.firescienceshow.com/categories/timber/ ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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198 - Waste and recycling fires and how to fight them with Ryan Fogelman 59:22

13 weeks ago59:22

59:22

The devastating impact of waste and recycling industry fires costs approximately $2.5 billion annually in the US and Canada alone, with lithium-ion batteries causing roughly 50% of these incidents. In this episode with Ryan Fogelman from Fire Rover, we discuss: • Understanding the scale of waste facility fires and why traditional fire protection methods often fail in these environments • How lithium-ion batteries have created a "hockey stick" rise in fire incidents since 2015 • The "vape effect" - how 1.2 billion single-use vapes with no proper disposal options are contributing to the fire crisis • Why remote monitoring and response systems can detect and fight fires faster than traditional sprinkler systems • The importance of early intervention - FireRover's systems respond in seconds rather than minutes, and targeted suppression uses 88% less water than traditional methods while providing more effective control, reducing the contaminated water spill • Why waste and recycling operators are victims of consumer disposal habits and regulatory gaps • The need for more convenient battery drop-off locations to prevent improper disposal • How innovative fire solutions are changing the approach from "water, water, water" to targeted remote response Visit firerover.com to learn more about remote fire suppression solutions for waste facilities or contact Ryan Fogelman on lnkd for a free PDF copy of the latest "Waste & Recycling Facility Fire Annual Report" ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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197 - Fire spread through external walls pt. 2 with FSRI 1:05:33

14 weeks ago1:05:33

1:05:33

When wildfire threatens neighbourhoods with closely-spaced homes, what determines whether flames leap from one structure to the next? The FSRI research team - Rebekah Schrader, Joseph Willi, Daniel Gorham and Gavin Horn - joins us to unveil their experimental series that methodically dissects the pathways through which fire spreads between buildings. The team walks us through their massive outdoor experimental setup, where they created controlled compartment fires and measured their impact on adjacent walls and windows at various separation distances. They discovered that even non-combustible exterior cladding like fiber cement board won't necessarily protect a home when the underlying sheathing is combustible—especially at close distances where heat fluxes reach a staggering 75-125 kW/m². Windows emerge as perhaps the most vulnerable component, with their research revealing dramatic differences in performance between glass types. Double-pane tempered glass significantly outperforms plain glass configurations, but the surprising finding was how much window frame materials matter. In one experiment, vinyl frames completely failed while the glass was still intact, causing entire window assemblies to drop from the wall. Another aspect of their research are the measurements of the heat transfer through intact windows. Using specialized measurements, they found that significant radiant heat penetrates even unbroken windows, potentially igniting curtains or furniture inside before the window itself fails. Low-emissivity coatings proved remarkably effective at reducing this heat transfer. This research offers crucial insights for homeowners, fire safety engineers, and policymakers working to create more resilient communities. The findings extend beyond wildland fire applications, providing valuable data for urban fire safety engineering across multiple contexts. Find the research papers at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fam.3278 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10694-024-01685-8 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10694-024-01656-z And additional resources at: https://fsri.org/research-update/journal-article-reports-heat-transfer-through-different-window-constructions https://fsri.org/research-update/journal-article-investigates-role-residential-siding-materials-spread-exterior ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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196 - Fire spread through external walls pt. 1 with FSRI 48:36

15 weeks ago48:36

48:36

In this podcast episode, we host Rebekah Schrader, Joseph Willi, Daniel Gorham and Gavin Horn, all from the FSRI, to cover their recent experimental research on fire spread through external walls. This is part 1 of the interview - the background, rationale and context. In part 2, we cover the experiments themselves, findings and actionable guidance from the experiments. This research is conducted within the context of structure-to-structure fire spread, potentially in urban conflagration scenarios. The subject is most relevant, as when wildfires meet urban areas, they transform into something far more destructive – "wildfire-initiated urban conflagrations." These events devastate entire communities as fire spreads rapidly from structure to structure, overwhelming firefighting resources and leaving widespread destruction in their wake. The Fire Safety Research Institute has embarked on a comprehensive research initiative examining exactly how these conflagrations develop and spread. What started as a response to their advisory board's call to action in 2018 has evolved into a groundbreaking exploration of the complex interactions between wildland fires and the built environment. We break down the three primary mechanisms of fire spread – radiant heat, direct flame contact, and firebrands – while highlighting specific vulnerabilities in modern construction, particularly windows and cladding systems. What makes this research particularly valuable is how it bridges traditionally separate disciplines: wildfire science and structural fire engineering. The team explains how they've translated complex wildfire scenarios into controlled laboratory experiments that yield actionable data for improving building codes and community design. Whether you're a fire safety professional, community planner, or homeowner in a wildfire-prone region, this conversation offers crucial insights into how we can create more resilient communities in the face of this growing threat. In the next episode, we will cover in depth the details of three experiments mentioned today. Find the research papers at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fam.3278 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10694-024-01685-8 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10694-024-01656-z And additional resources at: https://fsri.org/research-update/journal-article-reports-heat-transfer-through-different-window-constructions https://fsri.org/research-update/journal-article-investigates-role-residential-siding-materials-spread-exterior ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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195 - Fire Safety Cases with Chris Mayfield and Martyn Ramsden 59:41

16 weeks ago59:41

59:41

The UK's Building Safety Act requires high-risk buildings to maintain comprehensive fire safety cases - living documents that identify hazards, mitigate risks, and establish clear accountability for building safety. This is the subject of my discussion with Chris Mayfield and Martyn Ramsden from OFR. • Safety cases differ from fire strategies by being owned by the building's accountable person rather than consultants • The Principal Accountable Person must take responsibility for preventing fire spread and structural failure • Safety cases must document hazards, protective measures, and management systems • The approach draws from lessons in high-hazard industries following disasters like Piper Alpha • Safety cases should follow a logical structure: building description, safety management, hazard identification, safety measures, emergency procedures, and conclusions • Bow tie diagrams help visualise threats, consequences, and barriers in a way all stakeholders can understand • For new buildings, safety cases integrate with the "gateway" approval system • Existing high-risk buildings (over 18m/7 stories with 2+ dwellings) must have safety cases ready for inspection • When properly implemented, safety cases create cultural change by helping everyone understand their role in safety ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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194 - Playing with batteries with Xinyan Huang 51:22

17 weeks ago51:22

51:22

Professor Xinyan Huang from Hong Kong Polytechnic University shares his expertise on battery fires and the various experimental methods researchers use to trigger thermal runaway events under controlled conditions. • Terminology matters - "thermal runaway" more accurately describes battery failure than "ignition" as the critical reactions occur inside the cell • Nail penetration testing is widely used but contains surprising complexities, including nail material, penetration depth, velocity and battery orientation • Mechanical abuse tests (crushing, dropping, squeezing) simulate real-world accidents but often lack repeatability • Thermal abuse via heating typically targets 200°C surface temperature using methods including flame exposure, electrical coils, and laser heating • Electrical abuse through overcharging (150-200% SOC) significantly increases risk, while poor-quality charging equipment creates additional hazards • State of charge plays a crucial role in how batteries respond to abuse tests • New research aims to bridge the gap between micro-scale material testing and cell-level testing Professor Huang is organising the 4th International Symposium on Lithium Battery Fire Safety (ISLBFS 2025) in Hong Kong from October 30th to November 2nd - the largest battery fire safety conference in the world. I intended to link Xinyan's papers on batteries, but there is 19 of them!?! Let me link the most recent ones: Dynamic thermal runaway evolution of Li-ion battery during nail penetration Modeling liquid immersion-cooling battery thermal management system and optimization via machine learning Laser-induced thermal runaway dynamics of cylindrical lithium-ion battery Effect of thermal impact on the onset and propagation of thermal runaway over cylindrical Li-ion batteries A Review of Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles Alleviation on battery thermal runaway propagation: Effects of oxygen level and dilution gas Cover image source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.111337 ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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193 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 15 - Extinguishing systems with Bogdan Racięga 53:09

18 weeks ago53:09

53:09

Welcome to another Fire Fundamentals. This time the episode is focused on various extinguishing technologies. Invited guest - Bogdan Racięga, Director at Baltic Fire Laboratory and expert in fire protection systems breaks down the fundamental differences between suppression and extinction technologies and how they work in real-world applications. Clear distinction between suppression systems (control fires while meeting temperature criteria) and extinction systems (must completely extinguish fires) Types of fire protection systems including water-based (sprinkler, water mist), foam, aerosol, and gas systems (no fire-balls :)) Technical parameters affecting performance: K-value, nominal working pressure, RTI, discharge areas Areas of application, eg. why water mist systems can often be preferred for high-rise buildings due to smaller piping and reduced weight How temperature ratings and RTI affect sprinkler activation timing and performance Challenges with concealed sprinklers including maintenance issues and delayed activation Testing procedures for water distribution patterns and certification processes Differences between high-pressure and low-pressure systems in various applications nuances related to the role of an accredited laboratory (ISO 17025) and a certification body (ISO 17065) ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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192 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 14 - Jet fan systems for car parks 42:01

19 weeks ago42:01

42:01

Jet-fan systems effectively control smoke in car parks by creating directed airflows that transport smoke from one point to another, similar to how longitudinal ventilation works in tunnels. These systems offer cost-effectiveness and simplicity by eliminating ductwork while providing powerful smoke management capabilities when properly designed and understood. • Jet Fans create momentum transfer through air entrainment rather than directly moving smoke • Two distinct operational modes exist: smoke clearance (reducing thermal stress) and smoke control (maintaining clear firefighter access) • Systems require careful balancing of extraction capacity with Jet Fan thrust force • Optimal design typically requires CFD modeling followed by hot smoke testing for verification • Jet Fan activation timing presents challenges for evacuation - usually delayed until occupants exit • Systems excel in tunnel-like geometries but struggle with complex layouts (the "Tetris rule") • Particularly effective against heavier-than-air gases like LPG or EV battery fire emissions • European standards now available through EN 12101 family for design guidance If you need design assistance with Jet Fan systems for your projects, email me directly at w.wegrzynski@itb.pl. Further reading: - Jet-Fan Systems in Car Parks Design Methods: an Overview and Assessment of Performance - Our in-depth multiparametric study on car park ventilation - A. Król and M. Król, Study on numerical modeling of jet fans - Thunderhead's guide to modelling jet-fans in FDS ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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191 - Committee participation with Birgitte Messerschmidt and Kees Both 57:23

20 weeks ago57:23

57:23

This episode explores the invaluable contributions of community participation in fire safety technical committees. Joining committees is not just about sharing expertise; it’s a journey that transforms careers and fosters growth. Our guests, Birgitte Messerschmidt and Kees Both, reveal how their experiences in various committees, including the NFPA, ISO, ASTM and CEN, have shaped their professional paths. As we dive deeper into the intricacies of committee politics, our guests candidly share the challenges and rewards of engaging in this important work. They emphasize how participating in committees enhances one's career and contributes to the greater good by improving fire safety standards. This is an essential discussion for any engineer, especially those starting their careers, as they navigate the complexities of working with diverse stakeholders. If you just felt inspired to join a committee, please look here: https://www.sfpe.org/membership-communities/standingcommittees https://www.nfpa.org/for-professionals/codes-and-standards/standards-development/technical-committees/committees-seeking-members https://www.cencenelec.eu/get-involved/small-and-medium-enterprises-smes/tools-for-smes/getting-involved/ Or just shoot us an email, or reach out at LinkedIn. We will help you out! ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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190 - Car park fires review with Zahir 51:40

21 weeks ago51:40

51:40

With the emergence of electric vehicles, fire safety and dynamics have entered a new domain, raising crucial questions about existing protocols, design fires and data gaps. Today, our Wojciech Wegrzyński welcomes Zahir, Associate Prof. at University Putra Malaysia, to discuss the findings from their latest papers, compare methodologies, and highlight the differences between traditional combustion engines and electric vehicles. The conversation covers various topics, from the nuances of fire dynamics to the importance of context in risk assessment. Zahir shares his extensive experience studying vehicle fires, including the evolution of electric vehicle dynamics that users should never ignore. With thought-provoking insights, this episode emphasises the increasing need for robust, comprehensive data regarding car fires and the unique challenges posed by electric vehicles. Join us in this engaging exploration of fire safety science, and don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review! Papers! PAPERS: Miechówka & Węgrzyński: Systematic Literature Review on Passenger Car Fire Experiments for Car Park Safety Design Zahir & César Martín-Gómez: Evaluating Fire Severity in Electric Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles: A Statistical Approach to Heat Release Rates Podcast episode 135 - Contemplating a car park design fire (and the paper by J. Hodges from last year is here ) --- Badania przedstawione w odcinku podcastu omawiane przez dr Wojciecha Węgrzyńskiego przeprowadzono w projekcie realizowanym an podstawie umowy UMO-2020/37/B/ST8/03839 do projektu badawczego nr 2020/37/B/ST8/03839 pt. Skutki oddziaływania wiatru na pożary budynków w wieloparametrycznej ocenie ryzyka z wykorzystaniem metod numerycznych. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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189 - Simple things that work 42:20

22 weeks ago42:20

42:20

This episode emphasises the value of focusing on simple things in fire safety engineering, something we somehow miss when we go too deep into the technical details of our projects. I've looked at eight different aspects of fire safety - inspired by the CPR requirements, and I've added resiliency, redundancy and suppression to them. By promoting straightforward guidelines like evaluating material combustibility, ensuring effective egress routes, and engaging with rescue services, architects and engineers can significantly enhance building safety practices. In this episode, we talk about: • Simple methods yield effective fire safety solutions • Importance of adhering to foundational fire safety principles • CPR’s five essential requirements for construction safety • Load-bearing capacity and material combustibility considerations • Strategies for minimising fire spread between structures • Importance of clear egress pathways for building occupants • Opportunities for enhancing rescue team safety via communication • Emphasis on redundancy and resiliency in fire safety systems Each foundational principle allows fire safety practitioners to implement effective strategies that can lead to safer buildings and improved occupant outcomes. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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188 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 13 - Porous solid fuels 57:06

23 weeks ago57:06

57:06

In this episode of Fire Fundamentals, together with Dr Sara McAllister, we dwell on how stuff burns... And it is far from an easy question. While the general theme of the episodes is porous fuels, we discuss them from different angles, highlighting the similarities and differences between foamed and permeable materials. In this episode, we cover: role of permeability, entrainment and forced flows through porous fuel beds; differences in physical properties between porous materials and their bulk forms; ignition (flaming and smouldering) of porous fuels; natural and artificial fuels, open and closed cell fuels; hazards specific to porous fuels in wildfires and in building fires; And also a bit of discussion on future research of Dr McAllister along with the need for canonical tests to characterize their flammabaility. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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187 - Smouldering of preserved timber with Wenxuan Wu 54:32

24 weeks ago54:32

54:32

Can a tiny amount of bio-protective coating completely change the fire behaviour of mass timber logs? If you asked me that some time ago, I would say it would probably be neutral. Can a 0.5 x 0.5 m free-standing log of timber smoulder through without any external exposure to fire? If you asked me that some time ago, I would say no, and base that on observations of dozens of logs like this. Yet, in Australia they’ve burned. And the hypothesis was that it has something to do with the preservative treatment. My guest today, Wenxuan Wu from The University of Queensland was tasked with researching this problem and showed us the workshop used for this. In this podcast episode, we dive deep into measurements carried out in fire laboratories on the material scale and how use of different methods gradually increases our understanding of the problem. Their pursuit also opened new questsions - for example, why if timber would be subject to a very strong heat flux, the smouldering would not work anymore? This was also answered in the discussion. If you would like to learn more about Wenxuan’s research, please refer to the published papers: Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood Deactivation of chromated copper arsenate as a catalyst in smouldering of wood Also, this talk summarises the best poster at ITB-FRISSBE Summer School. What an event that was. Once again, we would like to thank our sponsors for that! https://www.itb.pl/2024-summer-school/ ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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186 - Egressibility: a paradigm shift in evacuation research with Enrico Ronchi 1:01:58

25 weeks ago1:01:58

1:01:58

If we truly want to account for the population at a disadvantage in evacuation, there is only this much we can do with the current approach... Pre-evacuation time distributions, walking speeds, and so on only tell us a part of the story - the story of your average person within an average population, with an average walking speed and average response. While these models are undoubtedly useful in engineering, there is perhaps a better way. My friend and guest Enrico Ronchi is trying to find this way through his new ERC Consolidator grant, "Egressibility: a paradigm shift in evacuation research". In this grant, instead of following the main path, he is focusing on stuff we do not know - how to characterise disabilities and understand them better (also through the lens of health and medicine), how to quantify the disadvantages at large, and how to solve potential issues for those who those at the largest risk. In this episode, you will learn about Enrico's ideas and the edge of the knowledge we have today. Some key points covered are: • Insights on paradigm shifts in evacuation science • Introduction of the concept of "egressibility" • Importance of understanding functional limitations in emergencies • Shift from agent-based models to inclusive data-driven models • Use of technology, like VR, for immersive research experiences • Need for changes in regulations for better evacuation safety You may also like to read the paper by Guylène Proulx, which introduced egressibility as a concept - available here. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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185 - Recap on wildfire science 1:05:09

26 weeks ago1:05:09

1:05:09

In the aftermath of the LA Pacific Palisades Fire, I've decided that instead of inviting one expert to discuss the event, I will give a voice back to those who already participated in the Fire Science Show and explained this fire (months and years before it happened). In this episode, we recap Wildland-Urban Interface fires, with a focus on the "urban" part. We cover conditions in which such fires may happen and factors that contribute. We discuss the role of community preparedness and pathways in how those fires "attack" individual households. We talk a lot about embers and some ideas on how to mitigate them. Finally, we discuss the evacuation from WUI fires. Some politics, a lot of science, decent amount of answers to most urgent questions. I hope you will enjoy! Episodes and speakers featured in this podcast: 069 - Challenging fires at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) with Michael Gollner 117 - Global wildfire emergency and the key role of FSEs with Albert Simeoni 156 - Trigger Boundaries with Harry Mitchell and Nick Kalogeropoulos 159 - The WUI Problem with Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt 161 - Community evacuation with Enrico Ronchi and Max Kinateder You can always find current episodes on wildfires at https://www.firescienceshow.com/category/wildfires-wui-and-wind/ The history of Japanese urban fires is covered in the paper Large Urban Fires in Japan: History and Management by Yoshioka H. et al. Cover image credit: By Toastt21 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=157682430 From the Wikipedia summary of the LA Palisades Fire at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisades_Fire ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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184 - Cost-benefit analysis in structural fire safety with Thomas Gernay and Chenzi Ma 1:00:52

27 weeks ago1:00:52

1:00:52

This episode delves into the financial aspects of fire safety in building design, highlighting the balance between cost and effectiveness. My guests - prof. Thomas Gernay and Chenzi Ma from Johns Hopkins University share insights from their NIST-sponsored research project on cost-benefit analysis and loss estimation for structural fire safety. In the discussion, we explore the differences between prescriptive and performance-based approaches, discussing insights from a comprehensive analysis of over 130 structures and how to better allocate resources for passive fire protection measures. In this episode, we cover: • Understanding fire safety costs in construction • Insights on prescriptive vs. performance-based design • The importance of maintenance and lifecycle cost assessments • Analyzing fragility functions for predicting fire damage • Cost dynamics across different building occupancy types • Future developments for implementing this analytical framework in practice Please find here useful links about the project: Paper 1 on the costs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143974X24000671? Paper 2 on the numerical model of the NIST tests on composite floors: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037971122400095X Paper 3 on the fragility curves (freshly accepted): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0951832025000237 Github: https://github.com/Chenzhi-Ma/web_v2 ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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183 - Innovation and fire safety with Vincent Brannigan 1:00:25

28 weeks ago1:00:25

1:00:25

History repeats itself. A new thing is invented. We learn about it, understand it, and apply measures to capture its behaviour and regulate it. And then another new thing is invented. The measures we used start failing us, and the cycle repeats all over again. It is not a story of fire safety; it is a story of humanity. Similar cycles can be observed in all aspects of technology. One could call them Innovation Blind Spots after Prof. Rein; in science, you could call them paradigm shifts after Prof. Kuhn. Regardless, these cycles are the frame we work in, and we need to learn to handle them. In fire safety, they are often a cause of major disasters. In this podcast episode, I once again interview prof. Vincent Brannigan. Vincent has spent a large part of his career studying the limiting factors of innovation in fire science and its regulation. This podcast is framed after a lecture Vincent delivered 15 years ago, which can be accessed here: https://www.fireseat.eng.ed.ac.uk/sites/fireseat.eng.ed.ac.uk/files/images/02-Brannigan.pdf It is an engaging read, I recommend going through it after the podcast episode! ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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182 - Bias in fire research 45:04

31 weeks ago45:04

45:04

Fire is a highly contextualized problem; therefore, there is no such thing as an unbiased or "objective" fire experiment. It is a thing that many researchers would understand but is very rarely pointed out. Where it is not a problem for fire science (more like a 'feature'), it may become one when the results of scientific experiments are directly applied to real-world engineering cases. In this episode, I cover biases in research, from general ones to highly specific fire safety engineering biases. The list is long, we cover: selection bias confirmation bias measurement/instrumentation bias publication bias observer bias sampling/data analysis bias conflicts of interests We also discuss the contextual nature of fire and fire science related to architecture, fuel, ignition, and environmental conditions. We cover experimental design and measurement techniques. While showcasing all those possible sources of uncertainty and error, it is important to highlight that the science is generally very reliable—you just need to know how to use it. This is the final episode of 2024, so thank you very much for being here with the Fire Science Show and see you back on the Jan 8th 2025!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you! ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.…

Fire Science Show

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181 - Regulatory regimes with Vincent Brannigan 57:20

32 weeks ago57:20