Use of models in fire protection

A model is a simplified representation of the real world, to explain the behavior of this (natural or built) world, and predict its future behavior. These can be physical models, when a study is carried out on a reduced scale of a real object, or mathematical models, when the description of the real world is mediated through mathematical procedures, embedded or not in computer programs. In fire protection there are models to predict fire behavior, others to describe how people behave in emergency situations, used to simulate building evacuation, and from the analysis of the model results conclusions can be drawn to improve existing situations as far as fire risk is concerned, either during the building design stage or after it has been built. The use of models is essential in the application of performance based fire safety codes, and its knowledge and use must be part of the toolbox of the fire safety engineer. The present communication discusses some typical uses of models in fire safety, and describes an example of the application of one of these models to a specific fire. In the final part, some conclusions are drawn about the use of models.