A survey of 295 fire professionals found that 60% would need assistance to review a performance-based building design. Because of the increasing use of these designs, the United States Fire Academy (USFA) identified a need to train fire professionals to evaluate them, so that they can ensure they incorporate fire safety elements.

"Evaluating Performance-based Designs" is a six-day resident course developed for delivery at the National Fire Academy (NFA). The highly interactive instructor-led course was enriched with actual performance-based design documents for student evaluation, and computer models of actual fires, which demonstrate what science has learned about how fire spreads, and how fire-safe design can mitigate the loss of life and property.

PDRI (PTI) has developed a number of instructor-led courses for the NFA. Other courses include:

• Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) Executive Development Course
• Partnerships in Safe Building Design
• Fire Protection Systems for Incident Commanders