Developing AI-Integrated Design Regulations for Sustainable High-Rise Administrative-Commercial Buildings to Mitigate Fire Hazards in District 2 of Tehran

The rapid expansion of urbanization and vertical development in Tehran—particularly in District 2—has led to the rise of high-rise administrative–commercial buildings that face significant fire safety challenges. This study investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) can be integrated into fire safety design regulations to ensure that such buildings are not only environmentally sustainable but also resilient to fire hazards. The central research question asks: How can AI be incorporated into the development of fire safety design regulations for sustainable high-rise administrative–commercial buildings in District 2 of Tehran to mitigate fire risks across design, operational, and emergency stages? Grounded in the hypothesis that AI, when combined with the Internet of Things (IoT) and image-processing algorithms, can act as both a compliance tool in the design phase and a real-time decision-making assistant in building operation and crisis management, the study adopts a qualitative case study methodology. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 stakeholders, regulatory document analysis (Iran’s National Building Code – Part 3, NFPA 72, ISO 7240-1, and LEED v4.1), and field observations of selected projects in District 2. Analytical methods included descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as thematic qualitative coding. The theoretical foundation rests on three pillars: (1) sustainable architecture, where resilience and fire safety are understood as integral to sustainability; (2) AI-driven intelligent systems, including IoT and YOLO algorithms for fire detection, evacuation guidance, and risk prediction; and (3) performance-based design, which evaluates real building performance under emergency conditions rather than relying solely on prescriptive codes. Findings demonstrated strong positive correlations between the use of intelligent systems and improved fire safety and sustainability outcomes. Office towers outperformed commercial and mixed-use buildings in evacuation efficiency and safety compliance due to more stable occupancy patterns and organized layouts. However, a considerable gap remains between local practices and international standards such as SFPE 2023 and LEED v4.1. The lack of localized datasets—particularly on fire incidents, evacuation simulations, and field-based performance—was identified as a critical barrier to developing AI-based models tailored to Tehran’s dense urban fabric. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive framework that: (1) embeds AI into both the design and operational phases of high-rise buildings; (2) defines sustainability as a multidimensional concept encompassing resilience, safety, and environmental performance; and (3) aligns Iranian regulations with international performance-based standards. By addressing these gaps, the research contributes a novel model for integrating AI and sustainable design principles into fire safety regulations, offering a pathway toward safer, smarter, and more resilient administrative–commercial high-rises in Tehran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Design Regulations ، Office-Commercial Buildings ، Artificial Intelligence ، Fire Safety ، Sustainable Architecture