News

The new "Minimum Diameter" setting for movement through narrow geometry (optional), specifies a diameter to which the occupants can squeeze their bodies to pass through a narrow area, such as narrow doors or corridors. Read More...

Pathfinder 2019.1 introduces an additional way to visualize evacuation results through the color of occupants in the model. Occupants can be assigned a dynamic color value based on criteria such as behavior, profile, speed, and more. The video below illustrates many of these options within a single model. Read More...

In real-world pedestrian movement scenarios, different percentages of the population will use stairs or escalators. In addition, some portion of the population will walk on an escalator and others will stand. This example model demonstrates a method within Pathfinder to model these percentages and difference in movement characteristics. Read More...

PyroSim 2019.1 and Pathfinder 2019.1 include linear dimensions and object labels as a tool in Results. This feature has been requested by users in order to provide a better documented report to officials. “Inspectors, when verifying fire risk calculation reports, require the presence of object sizes on the plans so that they can verify the compliance ... Read More...

This release adds dimensioning and labeling tools for results, additional VR hardware support, new analysis options to visualize occupant movement, and bug fixes.  Read More...

Thunderhead Engineering is offering a workshop in London during the week of February 18 to educate users on PyroSim and Pathfinder. The PyroSim/FDS workshops are split into introductory and advanced courses which each last two days. The Pathfinder workshop is presented in a single day. Students will learn applicable skills to use fire and evacuation ... Read More...

This release adds support for BIM model import using the IFC format, more options for occupant models, and support for opening Results visualization in VR headset mode.  Read More...

The next releases of Pathfinder and PyroSim will include the capability to import Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files that describe building data. In Pathfinder, this can significantly speed model creation since it includes automatic extraction of  floors, doors, and stairs. This post demonstrates this feature.  Read More...

A long-term development goal has been to fully couple the PyroSim/FDS fire results with Pathfinder evacuation. A first step toward this goal is the capability to display both fire and evacuation results in the same results viewer. However, full coupling of the two simulations has not been completed. In the interim, it is possible to run the fire simulation, monitor the reduced visibility due to smoke, and then manually use that information to slow and re-direct occupants in response to the fire. This provides an example.  Read More...

The Fire and Evacuation Modeling Technical Conference (FEMTC) 2018 concluded earlier this month as a tremendous success. Moving back to the United States after visiting southern Spain in 2016, this year’s conference was held in Gaithersburg, Maryland just around the corner from the NIST campus. Over 70 individuals were in attendance. Conference members included engineers, ... Read More...