1. Decree of the Ministry of Interior 3rd august 2015 the so called italian «Fire Prevention Code» S02 – Fire Resistance
Dr. Eng. Luca Ponticelli
Italian Fire and Rescue Service

2. KEY PLAN OF THE S.2 CHAPTER
Prescriptive solutions
Set of one level of performance as a function of the selection criteria
Free selection of
the solution typology
In case of specific rules added to the Fire Code, the standard prescriptive solutions could be updated
Levels of performance
(I, II, III, IV, V for fire resistance)
Indirect check of the level of performance
Alternative solutions
(i.e. FSE methods)
Direct check of the level of performance 2 2 2

3. LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE AND SELECTION CRITERIA
No external consequences in case of structural collapse II
No internal or external consequences for the occupants in case of structural collapse
III
No structural collapse IV
Limited damages V
Fully operational I
Structural separation
External compartmentation
One internal fire managing
No occupants II
Internal and external compartmentation
Few occupants (awake and familiar)
III
Residual cases IV
Special requests (not mandatory) V 3 3 3

4. LEVEL I PRESCRIPTIVE SOLUTIONS
A physical separation distance between the premise
at fire risk and other premises shall be set in order
to limit the «domino» effects in term of mechanical
and thermal impacts in case of structural collapse. 4 4 4

5. LEVEL I: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Using the F.S.E. methodology, the designer will demonstrate that in the worst case scenario the structural collapse will not involve other premises in term of mechanical and thermal impact.
Case study: automated storages 5 5 5

6. LEVEL II: PRESCRIPTIVE SOLUTION
A minimum of 30 minute standard fire class shall be provided 6 6 6

7. LEVEL II: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Using the F.S.E. methodology, the designer will demonstrate that in the worst case scenario the structural collapse will not involve other premises in term of mechanical and thermal impact.
The time at which the failure will occur will at least double the required safe escape time (RSET) with a minimum of 30 minutes.
ASET ≥ 2 RSET (min 30 minutes) 7 7 7

8. LEVEL II FIRE SCENARIOS FOR THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
The alternative solutions shall be found by “mixing” the life safety fire scenarios (maximizing the RSET) with the structural stability fire scenarios (minimizing the structural ASET)
A Life safety
B-C Structural stability 8 8 8

9. LEVEL II TECHNICAL STRATEGIES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
A smart structural fire design can reduce the risk of “domino” effects. Modern F.E.M. tools like Safir, Ansys, ADINA, ABAQUS, can help the designers to check the structural behaviour in case of fire.
Partial protection
Real scale tests in Rouvroy-Les-Merles (F)
2008 9 9 9

10. LEVEL III: PRESCRIPTIVE SOLUTIONS
For each fire compartment the design fire load will be calculated.
The standard fire resistance of the structures is a function of the design fire load.
Design fire load
Fire class 10 10 10

11. Database Cla.Raf 3.0 (www.vigilfuoco.it)
THE DESIGN FIRE LOAD
Database Cla.Raf 3.0 (
First step: 15 minutes
Protected timber 11 11 11

12. REFERENCES 12 12 12