Sitowise uses the LUMI supercomputer for performance based fire safety design
The role of fire safety engineering in construction projects has increased due to urbanisation, larger project scales, and the growing use of hybrid construction methods. Fire safety design is particularly important in large-scale developments that may combine several different functions and occupancy types.
Sitowise Ltd is a Nordic expert in technical consulting and digital solutions that helps its clients build functional, sustainable, and safe cities as well as critical societal infrastructure. The company operates primarily in Finland and Sweden and employs approximately 1,700 experts.
Fire safety engineering is also among Sitowise’s services. Structural fire engineering is a critical part of any construction project. Its purpose is to ensure that buildings can withstand fire scenarios in a controlled manner, allowing occupants to evacuate safely while minimising property damage and environmental impacts. Carrying out this work requires extensive and sophisticated computational analysis.
Simulation is essential for predictive analysis
The Fire Engineering Unit at Sitowise develops solutions that ensure the fire safety of buildings both under normal operating conditions and in emergency situations. Advanced computational methods are used in projects where traditional design approaches are insufficient. Examples include shopping centers, sports arenas, large industrial halls, as well as tunnel and underground rock construction projects. As one of Finland’s largest players in the field, Sitowise participates in numerous such projects.
“In fire engineering, we use simulations to understand, for example, how a fire spreads, how smoke behaves, and how temperatures affect structures and evacuation conditions,” explains Valtteri Korventausta, Head of Department. “Simulation requires large amounts of data, which in turn requires significant computing power.”
As the number of demanding projects increased, computational requirements also grew, slowing down the design process. Sitowise began exploring alternative solutions.
A colleague introduced the solution
Korventausta learned about companies’ ability to access high-performance computing resources through the LUMI supercomputer from a partner involved in a joint project.
“We were considering upgrading our own computing hardware when a colleague in fire engineering told us about the possibility of using the LUMI supercomputer,” says Korventausta.
He contacted CSC, which proposed testing the system through the free of charge Try&Buy project. The program allows companies to evaluate whether LUMI is suitable for their needs before making any investment decisions.
“The Try&Buy project includes user accounts for two users, CPU and GPU resources, data storage capacity for testing purposes, and most importantly, free expert support for implementation,” says Jarno J. Laitinen, Account Manager responsible for the Sitowise customer relationship at CSC.
“After the testing period, which typically lasts three to six months, companies can continue using the services through a computing services agreement, or they can simply discontinue use after the free trial phase.”
The decision to adopt LUMI was made quickly, even though neither Korventausta nor his team had previous experience with high-performance computing. Implementation turned out to be surprisingly straightforward.
“Because the colleague who recommended LUMI was using the same software we use, the necessary tools were already available on LUMI, and expert support was readily accessible, allowing us to get started quickly,” Korventausta recalls. “Everything went smoothly.”
Faster and more accurate design process benefits clients too
High-performance computing has had a tangible impact on Sitowise’s fire engineering work. It has brought greater speed, accuracy, and flexibility to the design process. Today, using the system is straightforward.
“We launch the simulations, let them run, and utilise the results. The process is simple and reliable,” says a satisfied Korventausta.
The LUMI supercomputer offers clear advantages. Developers now have access to substantially more computational capacity, enabling them to run multiple simulations simultaneously and use finer mesh resolutions, which improves result accuracy.
“The biggest benefit is speed. Previously, simulations could take more than a week. Now we get results in just a few days,” Korventausta explains. “Within the same schedule, we can also test different alternatives instead of being tied to a single solution. This significantly improves the final outcome.”
The biggest benefit is speed. Previously, simulations could take more than a week. Now we get results in just a few days.
Valtteri Korventausta, Sitowise
Faster computations also enable optimisation of design solutions, earlier identification of errors, and smoother project management. The benefits extend directly to clients.
“When simulations are completed more quickly, the entire project progresses more smoothly. We can deliver results faster and move projects forward without unnecessary delays.”
More accurate simulations also support cost-effective design. Structures can be optimised based on actual temperature conditions; unnecessary overdesign can be avoided, and material use can be refined.
“Simulation provides input data that allows us to reduce structural weight without compromising safety.”
At Sitowise, LUMI supercomputer is seen as a key tool for the future of engineering and design.
“As long as computing power is available this cost-effectively through LUMI, we see no need to invest in our own hardware. It gives us flexibility and allows us to focus on our core design work.”
Towards more efficient design with sustainable solutions
Sitowise’s environmental objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both its own operations and its value chain while promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible construction practices.
“What matters is that we can provide our clients with safe and functional solutions and do so more efficiently while staying true to Sitowise’s environmental goals in all our actions and decisions,” says Korventausta.
The LUMI supercomputer supports these objectives. While the energy consumption of data centers has become a topic of discussion and concern in Finland and elsewhere, LUMI and its data center in Kajaani rank among the most environmentally friendly supercomputing facilities in the world.
LUMI serves as a benchmark for Europe’s ICT sector in achieving the European Union’s ambitious climate protection and green transition goals. Minimal environmental impact, energy-efficient operation that reduces costs for taxpayers, and the utilisation of excess heat from cooling systems in Kajaani’s district heating network make LUMI an outstanding example of a data center that supports climate action and the green transition.
“It is a pleasure to work with companies that share similar environmental values. I would also like to remind people that LUMI is used exclusively for research, development, and innovation activities. It is used, among other things, for climate change modeling, medical research, and the development of European AI applications,” says CSC’s Laitinen.
Research, development and innovation will continue to be invested in, as the successor to the LUMI supercomputer is the LUMI-AI supercomputer. It will almost double the current LUMI high-performance computing capacity and tenfold the artificial intelligence capacity. In addition, the LUMI AI Factory will house the 150-qubit quantum computer LUMI-IQ, ordered from IQM, in CSC’s Kajaani data center. Both are scheduled to be launched at the end of 2027.
Images: Adobe Stock (header image) and Sitowise
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Jarno J. Laitinen
Jarno Laitinen is responsible for industrial simulation, dual‑use, and AI customers.
