Fire Modeling

Fire models can test how temperature, smoke, gas conditions, and heat transfer evolve under a defined fire scenario. Heat-release history, ventilation, compartment geometry, material properties, suppression conditions, and other variables may be specified or represented as model inputs. A fire modeling expert witness with relevant fire-science and modeling expertise may build or assess simulations by examining those inputs, software settings, computational resolution, building geometry, test data, incident records, and assumptions used to represent the fire.

In litigation, the model itself can become part of the disputed evidence. The analysis may compare alternative scenarios, evaluate sensitivity to uncertain inputs, consider the model's verification and validation history, and compare simulated outputs with available physical or experimental evidence. This can help attorneys identify which conclusions are supported by the modeling method and which depend heavily on assumptions or extend beyond its demonstrated capabilities.

Review of Case Materials

Reviews records, documents, testimony, data, and other relevant materials and consults with counsel regarding technical issues related to the matter.

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Applies specialized knowledge and experience to evaluate the technical or professional issues involved.

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Develops independent, supportable opinions based on the available evidence and relevant standards.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can computer fire modeling show in a disputed incident?

Computer fire modeling can simulate how fire-related conditions may change over time under a defined scenario, including temperatures, smoke movement, gas concentrations, and heat transfer. In many applications, important characteristics such as the fire’s heat-release-rate history are prescribed or otherwise represented as model inputs rather than independently predicted. The usefulness of the results depends on the model selected, the quality of the inputs, the assumptions used, and the available evidence. A simulation represents the modeled scenario and is not a direct recording of what occurred during the actual fire.

Why are model inputs important in fire litigation?

Changes in heat release rate, ventilation openings, compartment geometry, material properties, fire location, suppression conditions, and other model inputs can affect predicted fire conditions. An expert can evaluate whether important input values are supported by testing, incident records, measurements, published data, or reasonable technical assumptions. Sensitivity analysis can also be used to determine whether conclusions change materially when uncertain or variable inputs are modified.

How can an expert assess whether a fire model is technically suitable for the question being asked?

The analysis can consider the model’s intended applications, underlying methodology, verification and validation documentation, input quality, computational resolution, assumptions, and comparison with relevant experimental or physical evidence. Verification evaluates whether the model’s equations and numerical methods are being implemented and solved correctly, while validation evaluates how well model predictions agree with experimental measurements for the physical conditions being studied. Case-specific sensitivity analysis can further determine whether uncertain inputs or modeling choices materially affect the conclusions.