Architects & Fire Safety Engineers; Common Grounds A Holistic Approach to Integrate Fire Safety Requirements within Building Design

Abstract

This thesis aims at researching methods of bridging the gap between the disciplines of architecture and fire safety engineering in the workplace, eventually reaching common grounds. Architects and fire safety engineers almost always find themselves on opposing sides, affecting both of their works’ efficiency and resulting in redundant time spent on amending designs. Generally, a knowledge gap paves the way into trusting those who possess that knowledge without questioning it, just like we trust doctors to know better, as our medical knowledge is limited. Thus, a comprehensive knowledge of both disciplines could prove to be highly effective on reducing controversy and allowing for a knowledgeable debate. Understanding the current system and how it operates is also essential. Thus, the objective is to understand how each professional views the other; architects/ designers on one hand and fire safety engineers on the other. In some cases, the relationship is quite faulty, as each perceives the other as trying to sabotage their work. Moreover, their knowledge levels will be considered based on their education on one hand and their professional experience on the other. Case studies will further help us understand what went wrong, and consequently how it can be fixed. Ideally, the findings should be incorporated in both architectural and fire safety educational systems, eventually saving them both time and money by allowing them to get together and draft “achievable designs” from the initiation of the concept design. This thesis advocates for the presence of a fire engineer throughout all phases of the design and construction of a building, from the very conceptual phase into the post construction control and supervision