Fire Assessment Methods and Laboratory, ENFP Course, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland

ENFP 320 - Fire Assessment Methods and Laboratory (4 credits)

Photo courtesy of Andrew Neviackas ('06) & Danielle Leikach ('06)

Prerequisite:

Textbooks:

Course Description:

Experimental evaluation of ignition, flame spread, rate of heat release and smoke production of furnishings and interior finish materials.

Course Objectives:

Understand terminology and issues related to fire hazards and flammability assessment methods for engineering and research.
Identify and classify different types of combustibles in buildings.
Understand the relationship between fire performance and building design issues for different types of products.
Determine the appropriate fire test method(s) for assessing the hazard associated with common commodities and materials.
Apply basic calculation techniques to assess fire performance.
Document laboratory reports in a clear and concise manner.

Topics Covered:

Introduction: course overview, lab tour, World Trade Center Overview, liquid fires, lining fires, scaling.
Fire Characteristics, Metrics, and Measurements: WTC structure construction, toxicity test methods, aircraft damage, smoke visibility test methods, jet fuel dispersal, plastics test methods, office load design.
Smoke Test Methods: linings, smoke visibility, plastic appliances, floor coverings, fire endurance, toxicity.
Thermal measurements: floor coverings, heat flux, fire endurance, temperature.
Smoke and burning rate: liquid flashpoint test, weight loss measurement, smoke measurement, lining burning rate.
Cone Calorimetry: test method.
WTC construction, testing, and evaluation, interpretation.