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Fire Engineering
Office
Buro Happold
The highly competitive commercial office sector places particular demands on the fire engineer, to
maximise the efficiency of the floor plate, and to accelerate construction, where a smooth approval
process and careful selection of cost effective fire safety measures can save significant time on site.
Developing a coherent fire safety strategy for a
commercial office building requires the application of
established regulations and codes of practice, together
with a fundamental understanding of the dynamics
of fire as applied to the structure, service systems and
functional architectural planning of the building. It is
here that Buro Happold Fire Engineering can contribute
within the design process by supplying integrated,
creative solutions that reflect characteristics of each
building and the needs of its users.
Projects benefit from our fire engineers involvement in
their conceptual design stages. Early identification of
areas of potential added value leads to a more efficient
design process and elimination of abortive design.
Case Study : 5 Broadgate
Image: Make
Areas of added value may include evacuation and
fire-fighting assessments to reduce the floor space
required for stair cores. We work closely with the design
team to ensure that these are detailed carefully and
efficiently. Services strategies such as smoke ventilation
and suppression also form part of the integrated fire
strategy.
Structural fire engineering is increasingly being used to
reduce fire protection needed to primary and secondary
steel structure, producing significant cost savings.
Our integrated fire strategy for this landmark
office development has produced several
cost efficiencies, most notably in the area of
the structural fire protection. Complex finite
element analysis has been carried out to assess
the behaviour of the structural frame in fire and
other collapse modes, with the result of being
able to reduce or omit much of the structural fire
resistance to the structural frame.
KAFD Plot 2.07, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Architect: Foster+ Partners
Image: Foster + Partners
National Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait
Architect: Foster + Partners
Image: Foster + Partners
East Renfrewshire Council Offices
Barhead, Scotland
Architect: Reiach & Hall
Image: Reiach & Hall
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