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Fire Safety Engineering and Rational Design for Buildings

Large and complex buildings often cannot meet fire safety by the standard rules alone and need a rational, engineered fire design. This course introduces fire safety engineering and how a rational design demonstrates that occupants can escape and the structure can resist fire. It gives built environment professionals the language and framework to brief, review and coordinate fire engineering on their projects.

What you will be able to do

  • Explain fire development and its effect on people and structures.
  • Distinguish deemed to satisfy rules from rational fire design.
  • Assess means of escape, travel distances and occupancy.
  • Understand compartmentation and structural fire resistance.
  • Coordinate detection, suppression and smoke control provisions.
  • Review a rational fire design report and its assumptions.

Course outline

  1. 01Fire dynamics and behaviour in buildings
  2. 02Regulatory framework and rational design
  3. 03Occupancy, means of escape and travel distance
  4. 04Compartmentation and fire resistance
  5. 05Structural behaviour in fire
  6. 06Detection, suppression and smoke control
  7. 07Reviewing a rational design report
  8. 08Coordination and sign off on site

Who should attend

Architects, building services engineers, plans examiners, facilities managers and project managers on complex buildings.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendar
24 to 26 Aug 2026Online3US$900
31 Aug to 2 Sep 2026Mozambique3US$1,500
7 to 9 Sep 2026Cairo3US$1,500
14 to 16 Sep 2026Accra3US$1,500
21 to 23 Sep 2026Lusaka3US$1,500
28 to 30 Sep 2026Kigali3US$1,500
5 to 7 Oct 2026Nairobi3US$1,500
12 to 14 Oct 2026Durban3R13,000
19 to 21 Oct 2026Johannesburg3R13,000
2 to 4 Nov 2026Mauritius3US$1,500
9 to 11 Nov 2026Dubai3US$1,500
16 to 18 Nov 2026Lagos3US$1,500
23 to 25 Nov 2026Harare3US$1,500
30 Nov to 2 Dec 2026Kampala3US$1,500
7 to 9 Dec 2026Dar es Salaam3US$1,500
14 to 16 Dec 2026Pretoria3R13,000
21 to 23 Dec 2026Cape Town3R13,000

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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