As promised, here is a blog about our projects for the third semester at Ghent University. As I understand, the curriculum has changed for the new cohort, so upcoming semester projects might be a bit different from what we had. Nonetheless, I think it will be informative to have a general overview of the projects.
As I mentioned before, this semester was heavily loaded as it was a content-saturated and project-intensive semester. We not only learned new content from lectures but also got to apply whatever we learned in the group projects.
Active Fire Protection I (Detection and suppression):
The group of 2-3 students to work on a project that consisted of two parts: an investigation of detection times for different types of detectors on FDS and research about detection and suppression systems for a tobacco barn. For Part-I, FDS was used to see how different parameters like fire sizes, location of the fire, and type of detector influence detection times. Then manual calculation was performed to compare with FDS simulation results. For Part-II, a building with “challenging” characteristics is given, as in our case, it was a tobacco barn. The speciality of such structure makes it challenging to choose the detection and suppression systems, which trains students for attentiveness for the particular uses of detection and suppression systems and building geometry.
Active Fire Protection II (Smoke and heat control systems):
The group work that consists of 4-5 students to work on a two-part project: Smoke and Heat Control System for an underground car park and industrial building. First, the horizontal extraction system is designed according to a Belgian Standard for Smoke and Heat Control Systems. It was done by dividing the car park into zones that would get activated when the fire is happening in a specific zone. This design had to be validated with CFD simulation. If the model did not work, then possible improvements to the design needed to be implemented and verified. Of course, it was essential to keep in mind the cost-effectiveness of the system when choosing the number and location of extraction points, quantity and type of smoke curtains to divide into zones. The second part was a design of natural ventilation system in an industrial building also based on Belgian prescriptive codes. Then the validation was done with Smartfire with subsequent optimizations if necessary.
Passive Fire Protection:
The group work with 4-5 students on a building of our preference from an architectural journal. In my group’s case, we chose a six-storey hospital building. Based on the occupational and structural specialities of our structure, we had to do compartmentation of the building and identify REI (Resistance, Integrity, and Insulation) of components of the buildings. If a particular part of the building did not comply with the code, then optimized the design and explained the solution. Then performed manual calculations for mechanical resistances of building components (column, slab, beam) according to Eurocodes.
Performance-Based Design:
Also a group work with 4-5 students on a performance-based design project on a building of your choosing. We chose to use the same hospital building from the previous project but focused on one part of the building (because the building was too big to focus on the whole building). We got to apply SFPE Methodology for Performance-Based Design in this hospital building with the focus on life safety. First, design objectives and performance criteria were identified for the project. Then based on hazard analysis, worst cases in terms of magnitude and frequency design fires were established. After that, Pathfinder was used to evaluating RSET times for different situations. FDS simulations were performed to identify ASET times. If the criteria of RSET<ASET is not fulfilled, different solutions are implemented to optimize the design and fulfil the requirements. Our solutions included the implementation of sprinkler systems and smoke and heat control systems and rechecking the results with FDS.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Group work with 2-3 students. Professor gave a business plan of a company which we had to evaluate for strong and weak points in terms of legal, strategic, and financial aspects. Then we had to select ten elements that were most needed to be improved and implemented them in the financial plan. Then, we had a business game where groups were divided into entrepreneurs, managers, and investors. Depending on our positions, negotiated with different teams on our business plan and signed an appealing contract. Obviously, this course has little to do with fire safety. However, here you will learn beginning steps of creating your business plan and establishing a small entrepreneurial company (maybe a fire safety consultancy company?! 😉)
I think I covered five major projects we had during our semester in Ghent. There were also presentations for two of the projects, one business game, and a few small assignments.
Are you intrigued yet, or maybe intimidated? DON’T BE intimidated. These are all important and essential, as well as exciting content. You will learn a lot about different aspects of Fire Safety Engineering, essentially what is applied in the industry. Moreover, you will become a confident FDS user, will learn a few new software, and refresh knowledge of the few software that you already know.
Good luck! and Have fun! ❤
IMFSE 