Our team includes individuals who regularly publish research articles in academic journals and industry magazines, conduct funded research projects with our clients, and possess a comprehensive background in fire testing.
Not only are we dedicated to providing high-quality fire safety solutions to our clients, but we also believe in giving back to the industry as a whole. Our team members are encouraged to pursue their areas of interest and are given opportunities to explore new research topics, collaborate with peers, and share their findings with colleagues in the industry. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, we are helping to drive the field of fire safety forward and improve the safety of people and property everywhere.
Mental simulation of people movement during evacuations
Mental simulation of occupant movement in buildings was examined to understand how practitioners estimate evacuation patterns without using computer models. Research showed that while practitioners can reasonably predict simple scenarios, their accuracy and confidence decrease as building layouts and occupant behaviours become more complex.
Design fires in sprinkler-protected residential buildings
This research investigated the estimation of fire sizes in sprinkler-controlled residential buildings. Using probabilistic modelling rather than traditional fixed approaches demonstrated that common engineering assumptions are likely conservative, though appropriate design values could be selected based on the specific building requirements and consequences.
Probabilistic distribution functions for use in the design of residential buildings
Ashton Fire provided funding for the PhD of our colleague Charlie Hopkin with the University of Manchester. The thesis explores probabilistic distribution functions for use in the fire safety design of residential buildings, with a focus on the design of multi-apartment buildings in the UK. These functions have then been used to evaluate the safety level achieved by existing fire safety practices.
Compressed timeline for smoke control modelling using initial conditions
In this work, an alternative approach to the established timeline method of assessing the performance of residential corridor smoke control systems in the UK is proposed. The proposed method uses uniform initial condition parameters in the apartment of origin, reducing the wall-clock time for simulations and providing greater flexibility. The paper suggests prospective correlations for initial condition parameters, providing engineers with a method for consistent and efficient residential corridor smoke control modelling.
Probabilistic modelling of residential corridor smoke control design
The study investigates the derivation and representativeness of deterministic assumptions in modelling guidance for smoke control systems in residential buildings. Through the use of probabilistic simulations, the study finds that modelling guidance assumptions tend to result in a scenario severity beyond the 99th percentile of possible outcomes. The study also identifies the sensitivity of various input parameters, emphasizing the importance of occupant behavioural and fire parameter assumptions in evaluating scenario sensitivity.
Conceptual arguments on “flappy” door smoke control systems
This article examines the use of unlatched, reverse swing flappy doors in residential common corridor smoke control systems. Industry experience and relevant literature are used to identify four common concerns regarding compartmentation, reliability, depressurisation, and modelling practices. The article suggests that alternative smoke control options be considered instead of flappy door systems due to several potential issues.
Replicating the activation of electronically controlled watermist systems using zone models
This paper presents experimental results on the activation time of electronically controlled watermist system nozzles and concealed sprinklers in enclosure fires. The activation characteristics of the systems were simulated using a zone fire model, and representative activation characteristics were determined.
Probabilistic thermal radiation analysis of cooking hob fires
Probabilistic thermal radiation analysis is used to evaluate separation distances between cooking appliances and escape routes in residential flats with open plan kitchens. The study employs input parameters obtained from statistical data of cooking oil usage and assesses occupant exposure times using demographic-based walking speeds.
Estimating the suppression performance of residential water mist systems
This paper presents fire tests for an electronically controlled water mist system to British Standard for residential water mist systems, along with zone modelling to estimate suppression performance. The study examines whether traditional suppression assumptions derived from sprinkler experimental data can be applied to water mist systems. The results suggest that applying these assumptions remains reasonable, but the test methods have limitations in representing a limited number of fire scenarios.
Fire safety design of internal flat arrangements
The article presents a brief overview of international fire safety guidance for the internal planning of residential flats. It highlights the UK’s distinctive emphasis on the internal layout of flats compared to other jurisdictions worldwide, offering insights into the potential reasons behind this disparity in the context of fire incident data.
“We’ve been very happy with Ashton Fire, with work issued on time and to a high standard. Harry and Daniel were very accommodating with questions and comments, which was of great benefit to the whole design team.”
Thomas Kershaw
“Ashton Fire provided a responsive and comprehensive service to us as part of the wider partnership we have with them on our schools’ framework projects.”
Edwin Sutton
“I have found the service provided by Ashton Fire to be of a high quality, providing valuable technically focused advice and engineering judgements to suit a range of issues.”
