Performance Based Approach (PBA)

The Fire Engineering-Performance Based Approach (PBA) is a methodology for designing, evaluating and assessing fire safety in buildings.

The design relies on the practice of fire engineering principles, calculations and appropriate software modelling tools to satisfy the intentions of the BS 7974:2019- Application of Fire Safety Engineering Principles to the Design of Buildings. Code of practice.

The PBA does NOT cover any 'purpose group' used for bulk storage or processing flammable liquids, industrial chemicals or explosive materials.

The intrinsic risk associated with such buildings will necessitate special consideration. In Malaysia, it is essential to comply with all the clauses stated in the prescriptive building code of Uniform Building By-Law (UBBL) 1984 (amendment 2012) and Sarawak Building Ordinance 1994 (amendment 2008). Still, it is permissible to adopt the PBA approach for noncompliance.

During architectural plan approval, the noncompliance allowed only for compartmentation and travel distance where the development of the project exceeds 150 meters high, covering an area of more than one million square meters, as well as mixed development where such purpose groups are strenuous to comply with the existing standard requirements of compartmentation and travel distance as stipulated in the following UBBL by-Law: -

Seventh Schedule

"Maximum travel distances to exits and dead-end limits shall be specified in the Seventh Schedule of By-Laws. When alternatives are available for shops, limits are 45 meters (sprinkler protected building)".

Ninth Schedule

"Dimensions of Buildings and Compartments Maximum Limits of Dimensions – 4000m² (3700m² under SBO 1994 by Law) or 14000m³ (under sprinkler protected building".

The performance Based Approach has been widely practised in Malaysia since 2003. Therefore, the PBA is applicable if the architectural plan's compartmentation and travel distance limits exceed the seventh and ninth schedules.

Can you imagine big malls such as a hypermarket with little compartments? An airport building with a limited travel distance of 45 meters (non-sprinkler protected) or 60 meters (sprinkler protected)? And so on, for each of those limits, it must be unusual, right?

And don't forget that coupled with the uniqueness of various designs and the variety of functions of large buildings, including skyscrapers, it is clear that it is onerous to comply with the existing prescriptive building code.

The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM) or known as BOMBA, strongly encourages the compliance of the prescriptive building code, that is why only compartmentation and travel distance of fire requirement are allowed as noncompliance and provide alternative means with PBA with an approach of smoke management system compliance with MS 1780: 2017 and AS / NZS 1668-1: 2015 standards.

In Australia and Germany, for example, almost all compliance with the prescriptive building code can be replaced with the PBA, including the fire doors! This was witnessed by the author, who had the opportunity to visit the facilities while attending the EU-sponsored Fire Safety in Nuclear Power Plant course back in 2013-2014.

Now, here comes the role and responsibility of the Fire Safety Consultant to come out with the provision of an engineered smoke management system through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) or other similar software for modelling purposes together with evacuation study (egress). But, first, the Fire Safety Consultant will need to substantiate that the proposed solution will fully meet the intent of the Fire Code using established fire safety engineering methodology to prove to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), which is FRDM representatives, that larger compartment area will not jeopardize critical life safety tenability criteria for anticipated fire loads at compartment area during fire conditions, and therefore occupants have safe egress.

In general, the core principle of the PBA is smoke management with proper evacuation, where the consultants are expected to be very particular in considering the exact perimeters used in simulating the scenario. And it is imperative to verify the boundary proposed accurately and precisely, especially when it comes to simulation, calculation and documentation.

In addition to CFD software for smoke modelling, the consultant also appertains other software, such as SYLVIA, CFAST, LUMP PARAMETER and others. At the same time, software for evacuation studies, such as SIMPLEX and PATHFINDER, was also practised.

Most notably in this study is the compliance with smoke management standards based on MS 1780: 2017 and AS / NZS 1668-1: 2015, according to acceptance criteria. This includes the sprinkler system (MS1910:2017 and NFPA 13), which will be reviewed if necessary, including the Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinkler application for the 'atrium' or large void area.

Do not get astounded if the previous approval following the prescriptive building code will be reviewed again as part of a 'cross check' evaluation by the Fire Safety Officer of FRDM. This is because only the gazette (specific) area is allowed for PBA while the rest still comply with the UBBL-by Law requirement.

Moreover, what we want to observe during the evaluation and testing of this PBA project is the visibility clearance exceeding 10 meters, smoke layer height of 2.5 meters, convective heat of 60°C, radiant heat from 2.1-2.5 meters equal to 183°C-200°C@2.5kW/m2, toxicity compliance and of course all smoke extraction systems function correctly as well as a smoke curtain, alarm and others.

During verification, we can intercept or expropriate together with other functional system testing, such as tests on elevators, fire-rated roller shutters and so on, because the PBA activation is 'zoning' (selected coverage area), more or less like the zoning concept of electrical isolation switch testing.

This is important in ensuring that the PBA testing does perform well accordingly.

Hopefully, in the future, we could fully adopt a performance code (pre-engineered) in line with the changes that take place so that the PBA evaluation and testing will meet the objective Code of Practice and indirectly protect our Malaysian firefighters/women firefighters in the line of duty.