FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING

Two specialized areas of study comprise the subject matter for the option. The first area, call the fire protection core, focuses on engineering principles concerned with basic processes of fire behavior, prediction of fire development, the combustion of materials and furnishings, the effects of fire on structures and the environment, and on the law. A second area of study is the risk analysis core. This involves application of simulation and risk analysis to the predictive and analytical procedures for assessment of the hazards and the probabilities of potential fire incidents.

The degree requirement is to complete ten approved courses, which should include five fire protection core courses, three risk analysis core courses, and two elective courses as listed. Other substitutes are possible by permission of the department, e.g., certain courses in environmental engineering probability-statistics, thermal science, etc.

Fire Protection Core

Advanced Fire Dynamics (3) Advanced analysis of premixed and diffusion flames. Review of the material variables involved in the ignition process with examination of the configuration, mass/surface area ratios, fuel pyrolysis variables and oxygen ratios. The evaluation of flame spread on both horizontal and vertical fuel beds is studied. The effect of flame plumes in both restricted and unrestricted environments is discussed with both the flame and soot radiation effects relative to the distance modifiers.

Materials & Fire Properties of Interior Contents (3) Analysis of a variety of interior furnishings, finishes and contents relative to their mechanisms of ignition and flaming or smoldering combustion. The hazard potential and risk assessment involved in the application of various interior components will be assessed relative to the various environments of: residential occupancies, transportation and health care facilities.

ENFP 621 Analytical Procedures of Structural Fire Protection (3) Prerequisite: ENFP 421. Analysis procedures for structural components of wood, steel, concrete, composites. Structural capabilities, modifications under fire induced exposures. Calculations, computer models for predicting fire resistance ratings of structural components.

Fire Protection and the Environment (3) Examines relationship between fire protection engineering issues and the environmental concerns. Effect of halogenated agents on the environment with the identification of essential uses and the areas of development of substitute effective extinguishing agents. The evaluation of the environmental effects of industrial incidents and fire situations involving hazardous materials including radioactive, biological and carcinogenic materials. The analysis of the effects of fire and suppression procedures on the environment including ground water contaminated or air pollution, and development of computer-based analysis systems.

Legal Aspects of Fire Protection Engineering (3) Examines the social, cultural and technical variables that are critical to the legal decisions which establish legal precedents in fire protection engineering. An examination of the legal basis for the regulatory structure established by governmental agencies in relation to fire prevention procedures and the design of buildings or structures. The understanding of the role of the consensus standards organizations with an examination of their procedures relative to the model codes.

Risk Analysis Core

Reliability and Risk Analysis in Fire Protection Engineering (3) Provides the student with an understanding of the fire protection engineering applications of reliability and risk analysis. Probabilistic and statistical analyses with cumulative distribution functions, probability distribution parameters-moments and applications of Bayes Theorem for reliability studies will be examined. Monte Carlo techniques and Fault Tree analysis procedures will be applied to fire protection engineering problems. Some applications of critical risk financial analysis with cost benefit techniques will be applied to risk reduction alternatives.

ENRE 467 System Safety Engineering (3) Prerequisite: MATH 246 and PHYS 263 or permission of department. Role of system safety, the language of system safety, and programs for achieving safety such as the problem solving process, safety criteria, safety descriptors, checklist-timeliness elements, safety training, hazard analysis, and uncertainty in safety measurements. Time-phased indicators, hazard nomenclature, hazard mode and effect analysis, hazard classification, hazard probability, survival rate, distributions applied to human performance.

ENPF 610 Reliability & Risk Analysis in Fire Protection Engineering (3) Prerequisite: ENFP 411. Reliability engineering analysis techniques in fire protection engineering problems. Computer models, probability distribution theory and Monte Carlo methods.

ENFP 622 Fire Protection Engineering Hazard Analysis (3) Prerequisite: ENFP 610. Definition, evaluation of the fire risk to a process, facility or area. Prevention, intervention, control, suppression strategies. Resource allocation, queueing theory, decision priority, cost analysis.

Technical Electives
The following is a sample of elective courses:

Fabric and Furnishing Flammability Egress Characteristics and Design
Advanced Reliability Engineering   Fire Induced Flow Analysis
Risk Assessment for Engineers      Advanced Causative Analysis
You may also consult the graduate catalog.

For more information contact:

Frederick W. Mowrer, Associate Professor
Department of Fire Protection Engineering
Rm 0147, Engineering Classroom Building
301-405-2424 email fmowrer@eng.umd.edu


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Last modified: Thu Mar 21 17:12:47 EST 1996