Fire Growth and Smoke Transport Modeling Based on Risk Assessment in a High-Rise Hospital in Tehran

Ozra  Dargahi-Gharehbagh; Mousa  Jabbari; Ghazaleh Monazami  Tehrani

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i4.21456

Ozra Dargahi-Gharehbagh School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mousa Jabbari Workplace Health Promotion Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ghazaleh Monazami Tehrani Department of Health, Safety and Environment, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i4.21456

Keywords: Fire risk assessment, control strategy, CFAST modeling, hospital management, FRAME.

Abstract

Introduction: Hospitals represent a critical fire safety challenge. The presence of patients with limitedmobility, specialized staff, and invaluable infrastructure makes them seriously vulnerable. Further, toxicsmoke inhalation, as a primary product of fire, is a leading cause of mortality. To address this concern, ourstudy intended to conduct a comprehensive fire safety assessment of a teaching hospital in Tehran (2023-2024) by integrating risk assessment with numerical modeling.

Material and Methods: This study was conducted in a teaching hospital following three consecutivesteps: risk assessment, fire scenario design, and fire and smoke modeling. First, vulnerable zones wereidentified using the FRAME method. Next, fire scenarios and control strategies were designed based onthe identified risk factors and a review of the relevant literature. Ultimately, fire and smoke transport wasmodeled using the CFAST software to ascertain the performance of the proposed strategies.

Results: The risk assessment pinpointed two wards with unacceptably high occupant risk levels: theinpatient ward on the 10th floor, owing to a cluster of unsafe behaviors, and the basement warehouse,owing to improper storage and inadequate emergency exit access. Fire and smoke modeling was performedfor these two zones, comparing the “current situation” against a proposed “risk control strategy.” Themodeling results revealed that the control strategy positively affected key life safety indicators, significantlyameliorating the Fractional Effective Dose (FED) and Heat Release Rate (HRR).

Conclusion: According to this study, a fire risk assessment provides a clear and detailed perspective ona hospital building’s fire safety. Integrating the results of the FRAME assessment with CFAST simulationsresults in a comprehensive understanding of the facility’s safety status. These data can be utilized todesign effective emergency plans and calculate the Required Safe Egress Time (RSET), thereby preventinglife-threatening harm to occupants against toxic gases.