What Is CFD Modelling in Fire Safety & Why It’s Essential
Bijan Fard
June 26, 2025
FDS Consult UK’s dedicated team of Fire Engineering Consultants provide leading fire engineering solutions to meet our client’s requirements, ensure maximum fire safety and adhere to relevant fire safety regulations.
Our Fire Engineer’s commitment to providing high-quality, efficient fire safety consultancy is what sets us apart. We’re not only good at what we do; we are deeply passionate about it too.
With decades of experience and a vast array of prestigious clients, our fire engineering team are the best in their field. Each of our consultants is qualified and experienced in fire engineering with the ability to offer you the best fire safety solution for your development. At FDS Consult UK, all our fire safety consultants are fully committed to our innovative, ‘out of the box’ approach to fire safety, ensuring that they only deliver the best results for all of our clients.
This can-do approach to the job means that all of our fire safety consultants work tirelessly to build and integrate any fire safety designs into a building, without disturbing the vision of the architect or client. We take this dedicated and bespoke approach to all of our projects because we believe that being safe shouldn’t have to come at a cost. Great designs and practical fire safety solutions can work together in harmony.
Our, hardworking, fire safety consultants will ensure that they know the ins and outs of your building before they start to create a safety solution that’s right for your requirement. We take into consideration aesthetics, physical structure, function, end users and surroundings before designing an appropriate fire strategy.
FDS Consult UK’s Fire Safety Consultant’s will be available to help you every step of the way and can offer guidance and professional, in-depth advice, whenever it is needed.
Whether your building is already standing or is in the planning stage, we will never stop working to make sure it not only meets but exceeds every fire safety regulation relevant to the build.
Call today, to speak with one of our team of Fire Safety Consultants about your project. We’re here to help make your project a success.
After completing 30 years’ service with the London Fire Brigade, which included 8 years with the Fire Engineering Group and head of the London Olympics 2012 Fire Safety Team, Granville joined the commercial fire engineering world in 2013, before joining FDS Consult in 2016.
He is currently the Director of Consultancy at FDS Consult UK with a role which features: –
His specialties include: CFD Modelling, residential and car-park smoke control and clearance systems, Fire Engineering for RIBA Stages 2 – 6, external wall analysis and EWS1 / FRAEWS, mentoring and staff development.
CEng: Chartered Engineer with Institute of Chartered Engineers
MSc Fire and Explosion Engineering: University of Leeds
BEng (Hons) Fire Engineering: University of Central Lancashire
MIFireE: Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers
David joined Nottinghamshire Fire & Resue Service in 1982 where he served as an operational firefighter before being promoted into the fire safety enforcement team. David worked in general fire safety enforcement and also held specialist posts as a licencing officer and fire safety in hospitals.
David studied fire engineering at Southbank University and gained a first class honours degree in 2000.
On leaving the fire service in 2004, David took up a post as a fire safety trainer and technical consultant for the Fire Protection Association (FPA). In that role David worked closely with “InFires” (now the RISCAuthority) developing tools for the UK property insurance industry to reduce insured fire losses. During this time David attended short courses at the University of Greenwich on computational fluid dynamic and human behaviour in fire modelling.
In 2008 David was appointed as the fire safety advisor to the UK’s Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The role involved driving up standards of fire safety across the board with the altruistic intention of improving public safety and the additional intention of improving firefighter safety. In this role David was a member of numerous fire industry bodies and project steering groups and represented the FBU of British Standards Committees including those maintaining BS 9991 and 9999, BS 7974 (fire engineering), BS 8414 (façade fire testing) and the standards that cover reaction to fire and fire resistance testing.
In 2018 David returned to the FPA as manager of the fire testing and research laboratory. As well as managing bespoke fire testing of industrial equipment, military equipment and construction details, David managed the development of a BS 8414 façade testing facility and signed off test reports once the facility was running.
In 2019 David left the FPA to work in private sector fire safety delivery. He spent one year carrying out external wall surveys and producing EWS1 report. Another one year managing a team of fire risk assessor working primarily in hospitals, public sector contracts and the telecommunications industry. In 2012 David started working for Fire Design Solutions.
Initially appointed as a Senior Fire Engineer, David was made Technical Director. As Technical Director, David provides technical advice to a team of Fire Engineers and manages his own projects which mainly involve ‘high risk’ residential developments.
BEng(Hons) Fire Safety Engineering:
South bank University
GIFireE:
Graduate of the Institute of Fire Engineers
Linx started his engineering career as a mechanical engineer in Johannesburg where he spent six years as a senior mechanical engineer for a power generation utility. He started his fire engineering career when he joined Limerick City Fire Brigade for two years as a Fire Officer in their fire engineering division. Thereafter he joined a niche fire consultancy firm providing bespoke solutions for commercial developments. Linx returned to Cape Town for six years in the role of the principal fire engineer for an industrial EPC involved with sub-Saharan power generation and petrochemical projects. He returned to the London to join the FDS team. He has about eight years of experience as a senior fire consultant handling residential, mixed-use and commercial developments across Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Linx is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys camping and hiking. He is a keen volleyball player and competes in his local veteran’s league. When he has free time, he enjoys tinkering on his old Land Rover.
PGDip Fire Safety Engineering:
University of Ulster, Belfast
BTech Mechanical Engineering:
Technikon Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
AIFireE:
Associate Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers
Paul has significant experience in construction, initially in hands on roles and also in the fields of regulatory compliance and consulting.
He is a Charted Engineer, Fellow of the Charted Association of Building Engineers, and Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers. More recently following changes implemented post Grenfell, Paul was one of the first in the country to gain EngC HRB accreditation. This means Paul has been assessed as meeting the UK SPEC HRB competences and is also classed as a Chartered Engineer HRB (High Risk Buildings).
He has a lot of experience in assessing and inspecting complex buildings across many high rise and complex developments, and he is always happy to help and give advice to those around him.
BSc (Hons) CEng C.Build E FCABE MIFireE
Joseph is an engineer on the CFD Team. He graduated from the University of Leicseter with a MEng in Aerospace Engineering, specializing in fluid dynamics and CFD. His role involves simulating and analysing air flows in potential fire scenarios, whether it is for solving unique ventilation challenges or for verifying fire engineered solutions.
Jospeh is an avid F1 fan and aviation enthusiasts, having worked in the light aviation industry before his joining FDS.
MENG Aerospace Engineering;
University of Leicester
An experienced Fire/CFD engineer with computing background. I started in the industry with modelling smoke control systems for residential buildings to simulate the protection of safe zones for evacuation and firefighting operations.
As a consultant, I manage projects and engage with clients to provide the best advice for seeking compliance with the functional requirements of the regulations using the appropriate approaches in the ever-growing industry of construction.
Fire Dynamics & Modelling:
University of Leeds
Xue Er, a part-time CFD Engineer, has experience in numerical modelling, data analysis and High-Performance Computing (HPC). Her educational background has equipped her
with expertise in CFD-related software, including PyroSIM, OpenFOAM, and Pointwise. Meanwhile, she is familiar with programming languages such as FORTRAN and C++. This knowledge, combined with her practical experience, enables Xue Er to make critical judgements and independently solve technical
problems, greatly benefiting the CFD team.
In terms of academic
achievements, her Ph.D. is fully funded by Cranfield University. In her Master’s program, she earned an award from the university for being a runner-up for the International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA). Additionally, Xue Er received the Excellent Student Progression Award during her undergraduate studies. These achievements underscore her dedication to academic studies and her commitment to advancing in the CFD field.
PhD Fluid-Structure Interactions:
Cranfield University (Present)
MEng Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Cranfield University, 1st Class
BEng Mechanical Engineering
Queen’s University Belfast, 1st Class
RAeS
Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Josh is currently a CFD Engineer at FDS Consult. His role includes creating CFD models, assisting a diverse team with technical queries, and interfacing with various clients regarding their smoke control needs. Josh brings nearly a decade of industry experience to the company and can draw on that to support various departments in matters of smoke control.
Josh’s academic background includes studies at both the University of Central Lancashire, where he attained a bachelor’s degree in Fire Engineering, and the South Essex College, where he studied 3D modelling.
Outside of the office, Josh can be found practising his golf swings on the range, or training karate. A former competitor for national placement, he has an array of medals and trophies to show for his efforts.
BEng Fire Engineering:
University of Central Lancashire
Chan is a Graduate Fire Engineer with a strong passion for fire safety, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. He holds a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Brunel University London and has completed the Fire Industry Association (FIA) Foundation Course, enhancing his expertise in fire detection, alarm systems, and industry regulations.
With experience in the smoke control industry and fire safety maintenance, Chanachai has worked on fire risk assessments, smoke control system design, and compliance with Approved Document B and BS 9999. His previous role as a Maintenance Technician involved monthly emergency lighting tests (BS 5266), fire door inspections, extinguisher checks (BS 5306), fire alarm maintenance, and smoke control system oversight.
Committed to continuous learning and professional growth, he stays up to date with emerging fire safety technologies and evolving regulations. His goal is to contribute to safer built environments through innovative fire safety solutions and best practices.
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering:
Brunel University London
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