Implications of façade construction sequence for fire safety in high‑rise buildings

Fires during the construction of high-rise buildings occur frequently. This study proposes to improve high-rise building construction fire safety by optimizing the construction sequence of the building façade. Smoke spread simulation of 63 façade construction sequences under ambient wind conditions. Based on seven evenly distributed fire points inside the building, the smoke-affected area was quantified. Results show that the optimal sequence is to complete the windward façade first, then the leeward façade, and finally the lateral façades. This sequence substantially reduces the affected area, mitigates stack-effect-driven smoke spread, and lowers smoke rise height. The optimization showed the strongest effect on visibility, followed by temperature, and the smallest carbon monoxide concentration. This effect varies with fire source location. Moreover, as the number of complete façades increases, the influence shows a decreasing trend. These findings provide a theoretical basis and offer practical guidance for planning façade construction in high-rise buildings.