Prescriptive versus Performance-Based Design

An example of a performance-based design for fire protection is a stated objective that  

The designer has the option to meet this objective in a variety of ways. For example, it can be accomplished through inherently safer design, providing fire protection mitigation systems, emergency response, or a combination of all three. 

A fire protection strategy is a systematic approach to identifying, reducing, and managing fire hazards. The objective of a fire protection strategy is to ensure that  

A common aspect of any fire protection strategy is defining how hazards are managed and describing the order of priority for managing those fire hazards. Table 3-1 identifies the priority of how hazards should be managed. 

A fire protection strategy serves as a bridge between the company s perceptions of fire-related risks and the details of howto manage specific risks. The fire protection strategy should be considered as the tool that defines when certain protection levels are required for a facility. The fire protection strategy should attempt to define general performance requirements or controls for specific situations. Below are examples of the types of statements that could be used in the fire protection strategy. 

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Three key issues for codes and standards include better synchronization of codes and standards development with RD D, performance- versus design-based (or prescriptive) standards, and coordinating national codes and standards development with international standards development. For all the three issues, the critical need is to establish a scientific foundation for requirements incorporated in codes and standards. If the science underlying these requirements can be established, harmonization of requirements and consensus among international experts can be more readily achieved, and the DOE can focus on the critical RD D needs as identified in the Roadmap to facilitate harmonization and consensus. 

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