Validity, utility, reliability of current computer models. Applications of models in risk assessment, underwriting, loss prediction, hazard analysis. Development and validation of specific application models.

The development of fire protection solutions can involve methods to comply with prescriptive requirements in codes or may incorporate some aspects which follow a performance-based approach. Following a description of the codes and standards process in the U.S., a review of the requirements for structural fire protection are discussed as an example, beginning with prescriptive approaches and ending with performance-based alternatives. The latter half of the course describes the methodology and motivation for performance-based design solutions. Case studies are presented to illustrate the design solutions achieved following the two approaches.