URBAN FUTURES
Adaptive Design for Resilient Structures ( ADRS )
Enabling the accurate engineering design of vulnerabilities of buildings and critical structures to natural hazards and man-made disasters
Research Group
Sustainable building materials , like structural insulated panels and mass timber construction , are increasingly adopted in new construction projects . While these materials offer numerous benefits , their use can increase the overall fire load and promote fire spread within a building . Careful consideration must be given to their integration into building design , including the type of products used , relevant performance certifications , and the overall fire protection solution .
Solar roof panels add another ignition source and contribute to the overall fire load . Plus , with the growing adoption of electric vehicles , many new ‘ green ’ buildings now include charging stations . However , the lithium-ion batteries in these vehicles also pose risks , as fires involving these batteries are difficult to extinguish once thermal runaway occurs .
Key capabilities
> Balancing fire safety with net zero
> Fire safety and sustainability of the built environment
> Mitigating modern fire risks
Key customers
> Construction industry > Local governments > Building material manufacturers
Sustainable development goals
> Industry , innovation and infrastructure
> Sustainable cities and communities > Climate action
unsw . to / adaptive-designresilient-structures
ADRS addresses these challenges by exploring fire safety in innovative and green building materials , creating technical guidance papers , and providing loss prevention learnings and training .
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