Podcast summary
252 - Substantiating Fire Models with Craig Hofmeister and Bryan Klein
Justify fire models by question, accuracy, constraints
The guideline replaces “use CFD because it’s standard” with a substantiation process: define model-use questions, select candidate tools by required outputs/resources/inputs/accuracy, then verify, validate, quantify uncertainty, and document rationale.
Stakeholder requirements can force technically weaker models
Model choice isn’t purely technical: the framework adds a last-pass constraint check (cost/schedule/AHJ preferences). This explains cases where the “best” tool is replaced, even when simpler physics could answer the same quantity.
Complex tools shift uncertainty toward user error
As model complexity rises, the number of inputs and configuration decisions grows, increasing “user uncertainty” and making errors more likely. The guide treats this as part of uncertainty evaluation via bounding/sensitivity and sanity checks.
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