This page contains answers to common questions that you may find useful.

What is BRANZFIRE?

BRANZFIRE is a zone model including flame spread options on walls and ceilings and is used to calculate the time dependent distribution of smoke, fire gases and heat throughout a collection of connected compartments during a fire. In BRANZFIRE, each compartment is divided into two layers. The modeling equations used in BRANZFIRE take the mathematical form of an initial value problem for a system of ordinary differential equations (ODE). These equations are derived using the conservation of mass, the conservation of energy, the ideal gas law and relations for density and internal energy. These equations predict as functions of time quantities such as pressure, layer heights and temperatures given the accumulation of mass and enthalpy in each of the two layers. The BRANZFIRE model then solves a set of ODE's to compute the environment in each compartment and a collection of algorithms to compute the mass and enthalpy source terms. The model incorporates the evolution of species, such as carbon monoxide, which are important to the safety of individuals subjected to a fire environment.

What type of computer do I need?

BRANZFIRE requires a PC running Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, ME or XP. Pentium II CPU or faster recommended. Since BRANZFIRE simulations are computationally intensive, use the fastest processor you can afford.

Can I run BRANZFIRE on a MacIntosh?

We have not been able to successfully install the software on a MacIntosh running virtual PC. Feel free to try and let us know if you succeed.

The trial period has expired, can I get it extended?

If you need additional time to evaluate the software, contact branzfire@branz.co.nz for assistance.

I have upgraded to a newer version of BRANZFIRE. How do I find out what the changes are?

From version 2002.7 onward, the version release history can be viewed from the help menu within the program.

If I install a newer version, will I lose my current licensing information?

To avoid this happening it is recommended that you briefly access your current BRANZFIRE program (open and close it ), just prior to installing the new version. if you wish you can uninstall your current version first. If you find that your licenced copy has been changed to a demo copy then email us for assistance at branzfire@branz.co.nz.

Program freezes up when I try to access a T-squared fire in the fire database

This occurs in version 2003.1 when attempting to access a fire database file from an earlier version. The location of the database is stored in the .MOD file, so needs to be updated to the latest version. Use the File menu, Load Fire Database command to browse to the fire.mdb file in the C:\programfiles\BRANZFIRE2003 folder.

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