| Sponsored by AEI Cables Ltd, UK, an international conference was recently held at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London, highlighting some of the latest engineering design safety issues, based on the lessons learned for future systems design out of the World Trade Centre tragedy (11 September 2001). Intitled �Shaping the Future of Fire Safety�, this major conference attracted an audience of building service engineers, fire safety officers and consultants in the field of fire safety engineering across the private and public sectors.
Professor Galea, director of fire safety engineering at the University of Greenwich, told delegates how he has been tasked by the Government to examine some of the engineering design safety issues of the twin towers in a range of studies. An expert in mathematical modelling and co-director of the university�s centre for numerical modelling and process analysis, Prof. Galea highlighted risk and how performance-based risk assessment should be used against the backdrop of an increasingly sophisticated technological world, the challenges of modern building systems design and increased security threats. He commented: �How can you assess whether your building, aircraft or ship layout is safe and efficient during the design phase, through life time modifications? Increasingly, computer-based simulation techniques enable the designer to investigate more designs in less time to reach the optimal solution and visually demonstrate the solution. The past 20 years has seen a dramatic increase in fundamental scientific understanding of how fire, and people subjected to fire, behave�.
Professor Galea referred to major progress in the development of a range of sophisticated computer-based models for fire engineering applications, and the development of a deeper understanding for fire safety analysis. In terms of shifting legislation, Dr David Peace, Head of the fire statistics and research division at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, highlighted the shift in the new reform order onto risk assessment and the onus on prevention for the fire safety engineering industry. Summing up, chairman Mike Wood, of the Fire Safety Development Group, said the conference emphasised the rapid, sweeping change happening across the industry and the need to share information and expertise wherever possible. He also thanked AEI Cables for making the conference possible and providing a focus for a range of issues in the fire safety engineering sector.
Part of the TT Electronics group of companies, AEI Cables serves markets world-wide including mining and quarrying, oil, gas and offshore industries, defence, railways, telecommunications and power, commercial, construction and military shipping. Offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of cables, the company has bases at three sites in the UK and one in the USA. AEI Cables designs and manufactures cables for both land and submarine applications, from low-voltage equipment wires to super-tension cables.
Photo: Shaping the future of fire safety: from the left are conference chairman Mike Wood, Ron Bell, Dr David Peace, Andy Marles and Prof Ed Galea. |
