BRE thesis and dissertation collection
The University of Edinburgh has a long tradition in Fire Safety Engineering Research and Education and is recognized internationally for its work over the last thirty years. This has been characterized by innovative research and the education of several of the current leaders in the field. The Centre has been formed in association with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to integrate the resources of both institutions and thus provide a new thrust for Fire Safety Research and Education. It has a new state-of-the-art experimental facility (The Rushbrook Fire Safety Laboratory) and staff whose expertise covers a wide range of subjects in Fire Safety. Please visit the BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering homepage for more information.
The publications in this collection must be cited in line with the usual academic conventions. These articles are protected under full copyright law. You may download it for your own personal use only.
Recent Submissions
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Auto-extinction of engineered timber
(The University of Edinburgh, 2018-07-04)Engineered timber products are becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry due to their attractive aesthetic and sustainability credentials. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is one such engineered timber ... -
Smoke management for modern infrastructure
(The University of Edinburgh, 2017-11-30)Concerning management of smoke following an accidental fire within a building it is desirable to be able to estimate, within some understood, acceptable magnitude of error, the volume of smoke resulting from the combustion ... -
Novel smoke control for tall buildings
(The University of Edinburgh, 2016-11-29)Buildings are evolving in height, construction materials, use, and compartmental composition at staggering pace. The tall buildings of today are a completely different entity to that of a decade ago with the propensity ... -
Experimental analysis of fire-induced flows for the fire-safe design of double-skin facades
(The University of Edinburgh, 2016-11-29)Today, ever changing and advancing techniques of construction are constantly pushing the envelope of structural possibilities in the built environment. Although not new, the concept of Double-Skin Façades (DSF) finds ... -
Development of a numerical and experimental framework to understand and predict the burning dynamics of porous fuel beds
(The University of Edinburgh, 2017-07-10)Understanding the burning behaviour of litter fuels is essential before developing a complete understanding of wildfire spread. The challenge of predicting the fire behaviour of such fuels arises from their porous nature ... -
Development of a numerical and experimental framework to understand and predict the burning dynamics of porous fuel beds
(The University of Edinburgh, 2017-07-10)Understanding the burning behaviour of litter fuels is essential before developing a complete understanding of wildfire spread. The challenge of predicting the fire behaviour of such fuels arises from their porous nature ... -
Development and application of a novel test method for studying the fire behaviour of CFRP prestressed concrete structural elements
(The University of Edinburgh, 2014)A novel type of precast, prestressed concrete structural element is being implemented in load-bearing systems in buildings. These structural elements combine the use of high-performance, self-consolidating concrete (HPSCC) ... -
Novel fire testing frameworks for Phase Change Materials and hemp-lime insulation
(The University of Edinburgh, 2016-06-27)Modern buildings increasingly include the usage of innovative materials aimed at improving sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are one such group of novel ... -
Performance-based methodology for the fire safe design of insulation materials in energy efficient buildings
(The University of Edinburgh, 2015)This thesis presents a methodology to determine failure criteria of building insulation materials in the event of a fire that is specific to each typology of insulation material used. This methodology is based on material ... -
Development of techniques to improve fire dynamics informed loss estimation for cleanrooms in the semiconductor industry
(The University of Edinburgh, 2010-09-14)Our understanding of the behaviour of fire and smoke under common conditions as they occur e.g. in compartment fires has evolved in the last decades. This also took place due to progress made in computing capacity and ... -
Damage patterns caused by the burning of liquids on wood surfaces
(The University of Edinburgh, 1981)Knowledge of the damage caused to timber floors by the burning of liquids is of importance in the investigation of fires where the use of accelerants is suspected. This project has examined the damage caused to a piece of ... -
Educating Engineers for a Holistic Approach to Fire Safety
(The University of Edinburgh, 2013-11-28)Problems can be solved using existing knowledge and methods derived from past experiences; and in building design, where buildings are sufficiently similar to those already built, this process can be optimised by creating ... -
Uncertainty and complexity in pyrolysis modelling
(The University of Edinburgh, 2012-10)The use of numerical tools in fire safety engineering became usual nowadays and this tendency is expected to increase with the evolution of performance based design. Despite the constant development of fire modelling ... -
Application of fire calorimetry to understand factors affecting flammability of cellulosic material: Pine needles, tree leaves and chipboard
(The University of Edinburgh, 2012)Calorimetry, the science of measuring heat from chemical reactions and physical changes, is one to the most valuable tools fire safety engineering have at their disposal. Calorimetric devices such as the cone calorimeter ... -
Thermal buckling of metal oil tanks subject to an adjacent fire
(The University of Edinburgh, 2011)Fire is one of the main hazards associated with storage tanks containing flammable liquids. These tanks are usually closely spaced and in large groups, so where a petroleum fire occurs, adjacent tanks are susceptible to ... -
Smouldering and self-sustaining reactions in solids: an experimental approach
(The University of Edinburgh, 2011)Smouldering combustion governs the burning of many materials in the built and natural environments. Smouldering is flameless, heterogeneous combustion which occurs when oxygen reacts with the surface of a solid fuel. ... -
Travelling Fires for Structural Design
(The University of Edinburgh, 2011-08)Traditional methods for specifying thermal inputs for the structural fire analysis of buildings assume uniform burning and homogeneous temperature conditions throughout a compartment, regardless of its size. This is in ... -
The implications of compartment fire non-uniformity for the membrane action of reinforced concrete slabs
(The University of Edinburgh, 2011)Maintaining structural stability is an integral component of building fire safety. Stability must be ensured to provide adequate time for safe egress of the buildings occupants, fire fighting operations and property ... -
Experimental study of the combustion regimes of a compartment fire under conditions of underventilation
(UNIVERSITÉ de POITIERS, 2007-02-06)Despite advances in the understanding of fire over the past decades [Quintiere 2001] and despite the advances in computing capacity, our ability to predict the behaviour of fires in general and building fires in particular ... -
The Effect of Thermoplastics Melt Flow Behaviour on the Dynamics of Fire Growth
(The University of Edinburgh, 2001-08)The UK Health & Safety Executive are responsible for advising on ways to ensure the safety of employees within the workplace. One of the main areas of concern is the potential problem of unwanted fire, and it has been ...
