While the risk of fire spread between buildings cannot be eliminated completely, the aim of calculating building separation distances is to ensure that ignition of a building adjacent to a fire is sufficiently delayed to allow the Fire Service to arrive on site and take preventative action.This new edition of BR 187, in support of national building regulations, describes methods for calculating adequate space separation between buildings. Several sections, including flame projection from windows, have been expanded. Specifically, this new edition:
· gives more methods of calculation and more illustrative examples
· updates the theoretical background, including conversions to SI units
· presents detailed analysis to the methods so that users can create their own fire engineering software
· uses more recent experimental data to ensure the assumptions used in the methods are valid for modern buildings
· rigorously defines thermal radiation and associated terminology
· includes background to Methods 1 and 2 in Approved Document B.
In addition, the development of boundary distance requirements in the building regulations since World War II is described due to its relevance to redevelopment of sites containing existing buildings.
Contents:
Preface to the second edition
Acknowledgements
National building regulation guidance
Glossary of terms, and symbols
Executive summaryIntroduction
1 Principles
1.1 Calculation of boundary and separation distances
1.2 Fires in compartments
1.3 Intensity of radiation from compartment fires
1.4 Effect of thermal radiation on a building
1.5 Boundary and separation distances
2 Calculation methods
2.1 General considerations
2.2 Determining the boundary distance
3 Case studies
Case 1 Compartmentation
Case 2 Simple elevation (shop front)
Case 3 Elevation with several unprotected areas (office)
Case 4 Non-uniform unprotected areas
Case 5 Widely spaced unprotected areas
Case 6 Shallow recess
Case 7 Deep recess
Case 8 Recess with unprotected areas on sides
Case 9 Setback
4 Fire engineering approaches
4.1 Simple calculations
4.2 Computer models
Appendix A: Transfer of heat by thermal radiation
Parallel source and receiver: Separation distance calculations
Perpendicular source and receiver: Roofs and return walls
Appendix B: External flaming
Flame projection from compartment openings
Flames from a compartment with no through or forced draught
Flames from a compartment with a through draught
Appendix C: Evolution of ‘simple’ methods in Approved Document B
Origins of the method
Evolution of the method
Checking the methods
References
Tables for calculations
5.1 Interpolation
5.2 Tables
A4, 68pp, 64 drawings, 1 photo