Fire and Wind Safety of the Burj Dubai

Matt Beyer – Summer 2009

Who am I?

Dubai

Dubai is said to currently have 15-25% of all the world’s cranes

Dubai’s main revenue is from tourism, real estate, and financial services. Petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6%

(2006)

Haven (hey-vuh n)-noun

def. a place offering favorable opportunities or

conditions

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haven

What now?

Video courtesy of YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp2icakoTFE

“…I searched for elements within the existing context and culture of the area to reflect and draw inspiration

from…” – Adrian Smith, 2008

What do you get?

Fire Safety:

1) Ability to control fire and smoke

2) Quick access for public servants

3) Timely Evacuation

4) Good communication with occupants

The fire itself is mainly a threat to those in the immediate vicinity; however, a larger threat is the

smoke and toxic gases

Occupant evacuation poses a special challenge given the height of the building

The tower design includes areas of refuge

approximately every 25 floors for better controlled

evacuation

You have to scale all 162 floors ?!?!

NO

The Burj Dubai plans to yet again impress the world with its maneuverability

One of the Burj Dubai’s service elevators runs over 500 m, making this the tallest elevator shaft in the world

Wind, although sometimes helpful, is dangerous to tall structures

The triangular shape makes for an extremely rigid structure under torsion

Certain concrete types resist heat, hydration, or cracking, while some mixes flow better in pipes so it can be pumped throughout

the building process.

The rebar used in the Burj Dubai, laid end-to-end, would span a quarter of the way around the world

“Curtain walls” work together to permit over 20% of visible light in, while allowing less than 16% of the

ambient temperature

Conclusions

• Performs remarkably well under wind forces

– Can comfortably handle highest expected stresses

• Impressive crisis management plans

• Strong fire safety techniques

“Burj Dubai is more than a tower; it is a global statement that will put Dubai firmly in the minds of the

rest of the world. The tower boosts civic pride by creating an unparalleled landmark that demonstrates

the capability of the UAE people to implement any project regardless of its size or challenges”

- Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Propertieshttp://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/articles/50storeys.html

¿ Questions ?2:http://maps.google.com

3:http://www.condohotelcenter.com/images/dubai-map2.jpg

4:http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm - all pics

5:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jumeirah_Mosque.jpg (mosque)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aeroport_de_dubai_terminal_3_aile.jpg (airport)

6:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dubai_Montage.png

9:http://www.cofc.edu/~everettj/Images,%20Field%20Botany/29%20May%202006/Amaryllidaceae,%20Hymenocallis%20coronaria%20flower%20close,%2029%20May%2006.jpg (flower)

http://pro.corbis.com/images/CB050008.jpg?size=572&uid={2138E4AF-BF01-4950-826B-D8B9689D7F00} (tunnel pic)

10:http://www.dubailuxuryhomes.com/blog/Uploads/Image/dubai_01_598x533.jpg (Burj Dubai with city)

Weismantle, P. A., Smith, G. L., & Sheriff, M. (2007). Burj Dubai: an architectural technical design case study. The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 16(4), 335-360. Retrieved May 27, 2009, from Google Scholar Database. (Cross-section)

11: http://www.pendle.gov.uk/images/photo_firesafety.jpg

12: http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0asf3vZ4RS2zw/610x.jpg

13: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8545/756kr3.jpg

14: Evenson, J. M., & Vanney, A. F. (2008). Burj Dubai: Life Safety and Crisis Response Planning Enhancements. CTBUH 8th World Congress 2008. Retrieved on May 30, 2009 from ProQuestDatabase.

16:Weismantle, P. A., Smith, G. L., & Sherriff, M. (2007) (slide 10)

17:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2168/2374053580_71d6c39edf.jpg

18: http://www.kidwind.org/ktml/images/uploads/600-wind.jpg

19: Baker, W. F., Stanton, D. K., & Novak, L.C. (2007). Burj Dubai: Engineering the world’s tallest building. Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 16(4), 361-375. Retrieved on May 27, 2009, from Compendex Database. (Left pic)

Weismantle, P. A., Smith, G. L., & Sherriff, M. (2007) (Right pic)

20:http://www.putzmeister.de/cps/rde/xchg/pm_online/hs.xsl/940_ENU_HTML.htm

21:Fu, C. C. (2001). The Strut-and-Tie Model of Concrete Structures. Presentation to The Maryland Highway Administration, August 21, 2001. Retrieved on June 9, 2009. <http://best.umd.edu/publications/stm.pdf>

22: Weismantle, P. A., Smith, G. L., & Sherriff, M. (2007)