Alternative Solutions/Performance Based Designs

Facility/Building owners and operators have a legal responsibility to ensure that their facilities comply with the codes and standards. However, new complex building designs,  designs utilizing new technologies, or renovations to existing buildings, in some cases, cannot comply with the prescriptive requirements of the building and fire code. For these reasons, alternative acceptable solutions exist as a means to demonstrate compliance with the safety objectives of the codes without meeting the prescriptive requirements.

How PLC Can Help

PLC’s engineers are versed in the nuances of creating an acceptable alternative solution to the prescriptive requirement based on meeting the safety objectives of the building and fire codes (objectives and functional statements).  PLC’s engineers can complete technical assessments to illustrate that the proposed alternative solutions achieve the safety objectives of the codes using various tools such as analytical and computer modelling. PLC can then assists clients by preparing Alternative Solution Proposal (ASP) documentation and meeting with authorities to explain the performance level of a proposed alternative solution.