CFD fire and smoke simulation in the Netherlands
Some buildings fall outside the standard rules. In large atria, warehouses, car parks and buildings with open connections between floors, the Building Decree (Bbl) and the standard calculation methods often give no clear answer, or an answer that is far stricter than necessary. A CFD simulation shows what actually happens in a fire: how smoke spreads, how hot it gets and whether people can still escape safely.
What is CFD?
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculates how smoke and heat move through a building in three dimensions. We use FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), the fire model developed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and used by fire engineers worldwide.
When is CFD useful?
- Atria and voids that connect several floors
- Large industrial halls, warehouses and distribution centres
- Car parks and covered shopping streets
- Equivalent solutions (gelijkwaardige maatregel) where the standard Bbl requirements cannot be met
- Designing and verifying smoke and heat exhaust systems (RWA)
- Fire resistance based on a natural fire instead of the standard fire curve
CFD and the Dutch Building Decree (Bbl)
The Building Decree (Bbl) sets fire safety requirements for every building in the Netherlands. If your design cannot meet a requirement, or meeting it would be disproportionate, you may use an equivalent solution (gelijkwaardige maatregel). You then have to show that your solution offers at least the same level of safety. The competent authority, usually the municipality advised by the fire service, decides whether it agrees. A CFD simulation is a widely used way to provide that evidence, because it shows how smoke and heat actually behave in your building.
Questions a CFD study can answer
- Can people leave the building before smoke reaches them?
- Is the smoke and heat exhaust system large enough, and are the inlets in the right place?
- Does an atrium or void need extra measures, or does the design work as it is?
- How does a structure behave in a realistic fire instead of the standard fire curve?
Sectors
We carry out CFD studies for logistics and distribution centres, industrial halls, data centres, offices with atria, car parks, healthcare and education buildings.
What you get
- A 3D model of your building, with fire scenarios agreed in advance
- Results over time: smoke layer height, visibility, temperature and heat radiation
- A clear report in English, with images and videos of the simulations
- Substantiation that the municipality and the fire service can assess
How we work
- Scope — we define the questions, fire scenarios and assessment criteria, and agree them with the authorities.
- Model — we build the 3D model of the building, including openings, ventilation and smoke extraction.
- Simulate and assess — we run the simulations and test the results against the agreed criteria.
- Report and support — you receive a clear report, and we explain the results to the municipality and the fire service.
Why Munnik Brandadvies?
CFD is a tool, not a goal. As fire safety consultants, we first check whether a simulation is needed at all. If it is, we use it to find a solution that is safe, compliant and cost-effective, and we link the results directly to the Bbl requirements for your building.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CFD simulation required by Dutch law?
No. The Bbl does not require CFD. It becomes useful when the standard requirements do not fit your building, or when you want to substantiate an equivalent solution.
Which software do you use?
We use FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), the fire model developed by NIST and used by fire engineers worldwide.
Will the municipality and fire service accept the results?
We agree the fire scenarios and assessment criteria with the authorities before we start modelling. That way the results answer the questions they will ask.
How long does a CFD study take?
That depends on the size of the building and the number of scenarios. Our proposal includes a timeline.
What do you need from us?
Floor plans and sections, a description of the intended use and number of occupants, the construction materials of walls, floors and roofs, and the design of ventilation and smoke extraction, if available. We need the materials to include their thermal properties, such as heat capacity, in the model.
Related services
- Building plan assessment & fire safety plan — fire safety in every phase of the build, in line with BRL-5019.
- Fire safety consultancy — independent advice focused on the real risks in your building.
- Installation fire safety — fire detection, alarm systems, suppression, smoke extraction and emergency lighting.
Would you like to know whether CFD can help your project?
Send us your drawings and questions, and we will tell you whether a simulation makes sense and what it involves.