The current procedures in assessing fire performance designs are costly and inefficient,
as they require the preparation and analysis of several scenario models, which may change at every
design iteration. To address this, this paper presents a way to leverage BIM model data using OWL
ontology tools to integrate, automate and provide feedback to the design decision-making process.
The paper introduces methodologies from research which are relevant to the presented concept, then
expands on a problem identification section, arguing why crowd simulation analysis might also
benefit the ontology-based approach. The core emphasis of the paper is the framework required to
achieve the process where ontology rules, reasoning and inference are leveraged from existing IFC
models, with minimal user input. The framework consists of several components which are
described independently, based on a system currently under development. A use case presents the
practical flow of the process and some of its requirements and limitations
