What Does a Performance-Based-Design Brief (PBDB) Mean?

A Performance-Based Design Brief (PBDB) is a formal document developed at the start of a performance-based fire engineering assessment. It sets out the objectives, scope, methodology, assumptions, and acceptance criteria for the design, ensuring that all stakeholders (such as fire engineers, certifiers, building owners, and regulators) agree on how compliance with fire safety performance requirements will be demonstrated.

The PBDB essentially acts as a roadmap for the fire engineering process, defining the fire scenarios to be analysed, the performance standards to be met (e.g., safe evacuation times, structural integrity under fire), and the methods of testing or modelling that will be used. By establishing this upfront, the PBDB provides transparency and reduces disputes later in the project about whether the performance solution adequately meets safety obligations.

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