Fire protection engineering

Fire protection engineering‏‎, also known as fire safety engineering, is a multidisciplinary field that involves the application of scientific and engineering principles to protect people, property, and their environments from harmful and destructive effects of fire and smoke. It encompasses engineering which focuses on fire detection, suppression and mitigation and fire safety engineering which focuses on human behavior and maintaining a tenable environment for evacuation from a fire.

History

The discipline of fire protection engineering emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the numerous fire disasters occurring in cities and industries. The Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 were two major events that highlighted the need for improved fire safety measures.

Principles

Fire protection engineering includes a variety of components:

• Fire detection: This involves the use of various technologies and systems to detect the presence of fire or smoke in a building or area. This can include smoke detectors, heat detectors, and flame detectors.

• Fire suppression: This involves the use of systems to extinguish or control a fire. This can include fire sprinkler systems, gaseous fire suppression systems, and fire extinguisher systems.

• Fire prevention: This involves the design and arrangement of buildings and the use of materials to reduce the likelihood of a fire starting or spreading.

• Fire safety: This involves the use of practices and procedures to ensure the safety of individuals in the event of a fire. This can include fire drills, fire safety training, and the use of fire safety equipment.

Education and Training

Many universities offer degree programs in fire protection engineering or related fields. These programs typically include coursework in fire dynamics, fire protection systems, and fire safety design. In addition, many fire protection engineers obtain professional certification through organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).

Careers

Fire protection engineers work in a variety of settings, including fire departments, insurance companies, consulting firms, and government agencies. They may also work in research and development, designing new fire protection systems and technologies.

See Also

• Fire safety
• Fire prevention
• Fire detection
• Fire suppression