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Undergraduate Catalog 2012-2013

Fire Protection Engineering (ENFP)

A. James Clark School of Engineering
3106 JM Patterson Building, 301-405-3992
www.fpe.umd.edu
Chair: J. Milke
Professors: H. Baum (Res Prof), M. di Marzo, J.G. Quintiere
Associate Professors: A.W. Marshall, P.B. Sunderland, A.C. Trouve
Assistant Professors: S.I. Stoliarov
Lecturers: M. Chibbaro, S. Hill, B. Hoskins, M. Hurley, E. Kuligowski, J. Simone
Adjunct Professors: R. Roby, J. Torero
Professors Emeriti: V. Brannigan, J. Bryan, F. Mowrer (Assoc Prof Emeritus), S. Spivak

The Major

Fire Protection Engineering is concerned with the applications of scientific and technical principles to the dynamics, mitigation, and suppression of fire. This includes the effects of fire on people, on structures, on commodities, and on operations. The identification of fire hazards and their risk, relative to the cost of protection, is an important aspect of fire safety design.

The fire protection engineering student receives a fundamental engineering education involving the subjects of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The program builds on other core engineering subjects of materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer with emphasis on principles and phenomena related to fire. Fluid mechanics includes applications to sprinkler design, suppression systems, and smoke movement. Heat transfer introduces the student to principles of evaporation for liquid fuels. The subject of combustion is introduced involving premixed and diffusion flames, ignition and flame spread, and burning processes. Laboratory experience is gained by being exposed to standard fire tests and measurements. Design procedures are emphasized for systems involving suppression, detection, alarm, and building safety requirements. The background and application of codes and standards are studied to prepare the student for practice in the field. System concepts of fire safety and methods of analysis are presented. A senior design or research project is required which gives the student an opportunity to explore issues beyond the normal classroom environment.

The Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.

Program Objectives

The educational objectives of the undergraduate program in Fire Protection Engineering are to produce graduates who:

1.   have the technical knowledge and skills needed to practice fire protection engineering in a variety of modern professional settings;

2.   have the basic competencies needed to pursue advanced studies in fire protection engineering and related fields;

3.   have the ability to understand and communicate the societal, environmental, economic and safety implications of engineering decisions;

4.   are prepared to attain professional certification and licensure; and

5.   appreciate the need to maintain continual professional competency and to practice ethically.

The practice of fire protection engineering has developed from the implementation and interpretation of codes and standards directed at fire safety. These safety codes contain technical information and prescriptions derived from experience and research. Research has also led to quantitative methods to assess aspects of fire and fire safety. Thus, fire protection engineers need to be versed in the current technical requirements for fire safety and in the scientific principles that underlie fire and its interactions.

Program Learning Outcomes

1.  Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of math, engineering and science in addressing fire protection engineering issues making use of modern techniques, skills and engineering tools available in the professional practice.

2.  Demonstrated ability to design experimental apparatus, experimental procedures and data analysis generating novel information and knowledge in fire science and engineering.

3.  Demonstrated ability to design systems, processes and components relevant to the fire protection engineering practice or enhancing the performance and safety of the fire service personnel.

4.  Demonstrated ability to perform in multi-disciplinary or multi-tasking teams.

5.  Demonstrated ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems representative of those commonly encountered in the fire protection engineering practice.

6.  Demonstrated understanding of the professional and ethical responsibilities associated with the practice of fire protection engineering.

7.  Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through written reports and technical presentations with fire protection engineers and with other relevant professional constituencies (AHJ, architectural firms, etc.).

8.  Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary issues relevant to the fire engineering profession and broad understanding of the relevant societal issues impacted by the engineering solutions.

9.  Demonstrated recognition of the need to engage in life-long learning and ability to maintain state of the art fire protection engineering knowledge and skills.

Academic Programs and Departmental Facilities

Our laboratories provide hands-on experience with standardized ASTM test procedures, more fundamental experiments, and large scale burn tests. Our computer laboratory has workstations enabled with the latest software for modeling fires, structures, and human behavior. Our student lounge is frequently used for student meetings and study sessions.

Admission to the Major

Admission requirements are identical to those set by the A. James Clark School of Engineering. (See A. James Clark School of Engineering section under the Colleges and Schools section of this site).

Requirements for the Major

In general, the curriculum is designed to give the student a grounding in the science and practice of fire safety. The field touches on many disciplines and its scientific basis is expanding. It is an engineering discipline that is still growing, and offers a variety of excellent career opportunities. These cover a wide spectrum involving safety assessment reviews, hazards analysis and research, loss prevention and regulatory issues.

 

    Credits Credits
  Freshman Year First Sem Second Sem
  General Education Requirements
(Including ENGL 101)
3 6
CHEM135 General Chemistry for Engineers 3  
MATH140/141 Calculus I / Calculus II 4 4
ENES100 Introduction to Engineering Design
(**can be taken 1st or 2nd semester)
3**  
ENES102 Mechanics I (**can be taken 1st or 2nd semester)   3**
PHYS161 General Physics I   3
ENFP108 Hot Topics in Fire (optional)  (1)  
  Total 13 16
       
    Credits Credits
  Sophomore Year First Sem Second Sem
  General Education Requirements (incl. Diversity Courses) 3 3
MATH240 Linear Algebra, or 4  
  MATH241 Calculus III    
MATH246 MATH 246 Differential Equations   3
PHYS260/261 General Physics II 4  
PHYS270/271 General Physics III    4
ENES220 Mechanics II 3  
ENES221 Dynamics   3
ENFP251 Introduction to Fire Protection Engineering 3  
ENFP255 Fire Alarm and Special Hazards Design   3
  Total 17 16
       
    Credits Credits
  Junior Year First Sem Second Sem
  General Education Requirements 3 3
ENES232 Thermodynamics* 3  
ENFP300 Fire Protection Fluid Mechanics 3  
ENFP310 Water Based Fire Protection Systems Design   3
ENFP312 Heat and Mass Transfer   3
ENFP320 Fire Assessment Methods and Laboratory 4  
ENFP350 Professional Development Seminar   1
ELECTIVE General Elective - see advisor for details   3
ELECTIVE Approved Electives  (STAT, ENFP, ENES, ENxx)** 3 3
  Total 16 16
       
    Credits Credits
  Senior Year First Sem Second Sem
  General Education Requirements 3  
ENFP405 Structural Fire Protection   3
ENFP411 Fire Protection Hazard Analysis   3
ENFP415 Fire Dynamics 3  
ENFP416 Problem Synthesis and Design   3
ENFP421 Life Safety and Risk Analysis 3  
ENFP425 Fire Modeling 3  
ELECTIVES Approved Electives  (STAT, ENFP, ENES, ENxx)** 3 3
  Total 15 12
       
  Total Credit Hours   121

* ENME 320 is for non-ME majors. ENME 232 is usually for ME majors, but may be substituted with permission.
** Approved electives must include the following:
    A minimum of 3 credits (one course) of an approved ENFP elective
    A minimum of 3 credits (one course) in either Statistics, Mathematics or Applied Math

Note: An additional chemistry course(s) in Organic, Analytical or Physical Chemistry is recommended. See the department for an additional listing of approved electives.

 

 

 

Advising

Advising is required for all undergraduate students each semester prior to registering for classes. Please refer to www.enfp.umd.edu/undergrad/advising/contact.

Undergraduate Research Experiences

Many FPE undergraduates perform original research under the direction of a faculty member. These include analytical, experimental, and computational studies. The topics are chosen in discussions between the student and a faculty member. Students can perform research as a volunteer, for pay, or for credit (e.g., ENFP429 or ENFP489).

Fieldwork Opportunities

Information about fieldwork and summer employment is available in the department office, or visit www.enfp.umd.edu/employment/jobs.

Internships

Information about internships is available in the department office, or visit www.enfp.umd.edu/employment/jobs.

Co-op Programs

Information about co-op employment is available in the department office, or visit www.enfp.umd.edu/employment/jobs.

Honors Program

Qualified students in the department are eligible for participation in the A. James Clark School of Engineering honors program.

Student Societies and Professional Organizations

The University of Maryland student chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers is an active professional society open to all interested FPE students. The department honor society, Salamander, is open to academically eligible juniors and seniors. Student membership in the National Fire Protection Association is available. Information on these organizations may be obtained from the department office or at www.enfp.umd.edu/student-societies.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Numerous scholarships and grants are available to students in the department from organizational and corporate sponsors. Information is available on eligibility, financial terms, and retention criteria in the department office. The majority of the scholarships are for junior and senior students, but some scholarships are available for first- and second-year students. Additional information is available at www.enfp.umd.edu/undergrad/scholarships.

In-state tuition is possible for residents of many states in the academic common market. For more information please visit www.enfp.umd.edu/prospective.

Awards and Recognition

Academic achievement awards are sponsored by the department and the student professional-honor societies. These awards are presented at the annual A. James Clark School of Engineering Honors and Awards convocation. Eligibility criteria for these awards are available in the department office.

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