C-FAST

Fire and smoke simulation software

C-FAST (Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport) is a computational tool used for modeling the spread of fire and smoke in buildings. It is designed to simulate the environment within a structure during a fire, providing valuable data for fire safety analysis and design.

Overview

C-FAST is a zone model, which means it divides a building into a series of interconnected zones or compartments. Each zone is assumed to be uniform in terms of temperature, pressure, and smoke concentration. This approach simplifies the complex physics of fire dynamics, making it computationally efficient while still providing useful insights into fire behavior.

Development

C-FAST was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. It is part of a suite of tools aimed at improving fire safety through better understanding and prediction of fire dynamics. The software is continually updated to incorporate the latest research findings and technological advancements.

Functionality

C-FAST models the transport of heat and smoke from a fire, predicting the conditions in each zone over time. It takes into account factors such as:

• Fire growth and decay
• Heat transfer between zones
• Smoke movement and stratification
• Activation of fire protection systems

The software can simulate a wide range of scenarios, from small residential fires to large industrial blazes, making it a versatile tool for fire safety engineers.

Applications

C-FAST is used by fire protection engineers, researchers, and safety officials to:

• Design fire safety systems
• Evaluate building designs for fire safety
• Conduct post-fire analyses
• Develop fire safety regulations and standards

Limitations

While C-FAST is a powerful tool, it has limitations due to its zone model approach. It assumes uniform conditions within each zone, which may not accurately represent complex fire scenarios with significant spatial variations. For more detailed analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models like Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) may be used.

Related pages

• Fire Dynamics Simulator
• Fire protection engineering
• Smoke control
• National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gallery

A demonstration of a fire safety device