Mathematical modelling is used extensively in fire behaviour studies. These models can range from simple hand calculations based on equations derived from experiment, to extremely detailed treatments of the fire affected environment using state of the art computer based techniques providing approximations of complicated phenomena such as turbulence and radiation.

 

Computing processing power is constantly increasing. As short as a decade ago, the processing power needed for a relatively simple high end fire analysis could only be performed on super computers. Nowadays, the same processing power may be found in a typical desk top machine.

Although the computer will never be a substitute for laboratory investigations, this massive increase in speed allows the machine to become a 'virtual laboratory'. Scenarios may be investigated within a relatively short period of time, and recommendations made on the design having regard to the models output