Fundamentals, Innovations, & the Engineer’s Role
The professional engineer (PE) plays a vital role in design and fire safety engineering. PEs evaluate the risks to determine the best way to reduce those risks through design to minimize fire load and protect human life. This article explains the fundamentals of fire protection system design, advances in fire protection, and the role of the engineer.
Fire protection systems prevent, mitigate, and control the outcomes of fire on people and property. These systems are an essential safety component of new and existing structures.
The first regulations were established after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Fast forward a few hundred years, most building departments require fire suppression system in new buildings or when existing structures are significantly changed.
The design of fire protection systems has evolved from studying fire behavior and fire load while considering use, occupancy, and the surrounding environment. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) creates and updates more than 300 codes and standards that cover various aspects of fire safety, including building construction, electrical systems, fire prevention, and emergency response procedures. These codes provide engineers with minimum standards for safe fire system designs.
The Fundamentals of Fire Protection System Design
What is fire load? Fire load is the sum of combustible materials in a given area, quantified as the possible heat energy available to combust, and is a vital facet of determining fire risk and proper fire protection systems.
Fire load depends on many factors, including construction materials, furnishings, and stored goods. Building materials such as wood and plastic increase fire load compared to concrete and steel, which lower the load. Furniture, carpet, and curtains also increase load, and things like paper, chemical, and fabric storage can feed a fire.
An effective fire protection system design looks at all these components to analyze fire risk and determine the consequences of a fire event.
A fire protection system must consider:
- Building materials, layout, and use. Choosing an effective system depends on how easily occupants can exit the building and how many people will be in the building during the busiest times (use). Areas of increased fire risk should be identified, including areas where flammable materials are stored, carpeted areas, or combustible construction materials are used.
- Appropriate fire detection systems. Understanding building materials, layout, and use helps fire system engineers choose the most advantageous fire detection systems, such as type of sprinkler systems (foam water spray systems, dry chemical extinguishing systems, clean agent systems), smoke detectors, heat detectors, and low lighting exit illumination.
- Advanced communication system. Fire team response is critical to minimizing damage and spread. This includes automated systems as well as training on-site personnel in how to deploy the system in an emergency.
- Maintenance and testing. An effective maintenance program must be implemented. Testing is required to ensure all components and systems are operating correctly before an emergency event.
In addition, fire protection systems must meet all applicable codes and regulations set forth by the National Fire Protection Association, International Building Council, and local municipalities.
The Engineer’s Role in Fire Protection Design
Fire safety engineering is evolving as new technologies are developed and risks are identified. For example, as people move further from city centers, there is a growing demand to mitigate the wildland-urban interface.
Lithium-ion batteries in electric cars and cross-laminated timber are also creating challenges for fire protection systems.
Engineers are at the forefront of analysis and design to mitigate loss. They navigate design, construction materials, building arrangement, purpose, and transportation to create effect fire detection, suppression, and communication systems in compliance with local regulations and laws.
Engineers are also an integral part of the investigation team post-fire events.
Advances and Innovations in Fire Protection
Engineers use modern technologies like advanced sensors, AI-powered monitory systems, and software to understand fire behavior for better fire protection system design. Advanced sensors such as IoT sensors, video smoke detection, and smart alarms detect fire earlier.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) allow engineers to simulate fire behavior to predict how fires will spread and building information modeling (BIM) enables an integrated approach to building design to facilitate improved coordination and analysis.
Other innovations include water mist systems, gas-based and foam-based systems, and automated sprinkler systems. New communication systems improve emergency personnel notification. Photoluminescent exit path lighting helps occupants find exits in low-light conditions. Smoke control systems prevent smoke and flames from spreading and predict movement of smoke and gases in a building.
Advances and innovations in fire protection increase excitement in this field. These advances also necessitate professional development.
PE Continuing Education and Professional Development
Continuing education and professional development courses are essential for fire protection system engineers to stay current with industry trends and enhance career opportunities. While engineers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree, many earn a master’s degree.
Advanced courses in fire behavior, on-the-job training, or working as volunteer fire-fighters equip fire system engineers to more effectively do their job.
McKissock Learning’s Basics of Fire Protection Systems offers an introductory look at how to design effective systems to manage fire. Advanced certifications and training programs for engineers are available through the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
Conclusion
Fire protection engineering is an exciting career option for professional engineers with an interest in managing structural fires or wild fires. The field continues to advance as new technologies and building materials are introduced to minimize loss due to fire.
Additionally, there is no doubt that devasting fires, like the Lahaina Fire, Palisades Fire, and Camp Fire, will continue to apply pressure on regulatory agencies to improve firefighting technologies and logistics.
McKissock Learning offers the best in continuing education for licensed professional engineers with courses. The new student dashboard helps you track your mandatory and elective continuing education courses so that you’re ready when it’s time to renew your license.
