Certificate
Fire Protection Engineering
Faculty
A. Simeoni, Professor and Department Head, Ph.D., University of Corsica; modeling, simulation and experiments of wildfires, heat and mass transfer, fire fighting and land management.
N. A. Dembsey, Professor; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; Fire properties of materials and protective clothing via bench-top scale experimentation; compartment fire dynamics via residential scale experimentation, evaluation, development and validation of compartment fire models, performance fire codes, engineering design tools, and engineering forensic tools.
K. A. Notarianni, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Fire detection and suppression; high-bay fire protection; fire policy and risk; uncertainty; performance-based design; engineering tools for the fire service.
M. T. Puchovsky, Professor of Practice, Associate Department Head, Industry Liaison; design and analysis of fire protection systems, application of regulatory codes and standards, automatic sprinkler systems, fire pumps, water supplies, water and chemical-based suppression, detection and alarm, smoke control, means of egress, building construction, standardized product testing, performance-based design, litigation support.
A. Rangwala, Professor, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego; combustion, flame spread on solid fuels and compartment fire modeling, dust explosions, risk assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transport and storage, industrial fire protection.
J. L. Urban, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; Ignition, combustion, flame spread over solid fuels, wildland fire, thermal sciences, computational modelling of fundamental fire phenomena, hazards of hot-work and welding, flame imaging and flow visualization.
Associated Faculty
L. Albano, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Performance of structural members, elements, and systems at elevated temperatures; structural design for fire conditions; simplified or design office techniques for fire-structure interaction; relationship between building construction systems and fire service safety.
J. Liang, Professor, Ph.D., Brown University, 2004. Nanostructured materials, material processing, material characterization.
Adjunct Faculty
C. Wood
R. Solomon
Emeritus Faculty
R. W. Fitzgerald, Professor Emeritus
D. A. Lucht, Director Emeritus
R. Zalosh; Professor Emeritus
Research Interests
WPI is a recognized world leader in a wide range of topics in fire protection engineering and related areas. Research is directed toward both theoretical understandings and the development of practical engineering methods. WPI faculty and their students create new knowledge that informs and shapes regulatory policy, building design, product manufacturing, and product performance standards.
Specific research interests:
- Fire and materials
- Combustion and explosion protection
- Computational fire modeling
- Fire detection and suppression
- Fire and smoke dynamics
- Wildland and wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires
- Regulatory policy, risk, and engineering framework
- Firefighter safety and policy
Programs of Study
The fire protection engineering graduate program at WPI adapts previous educational and employment experiences into a cohesive Plan of Study. Consequently, the program is designed to be flexible enough to meet specific and varying student educational objectives. Students can select combinations of courses, thesis and project topics that will prepare them to proceed in the career directions they desire. The curriculum can be tailored to enhance knowledge and skill in the general practice of fire protection engineering, in fire protection engineering specialties (such as industrial, chemical, energy, design, or testing), or in the more theoretical and research-oriented sphere.
Graduate Programs
The Fire Protection Engineering Department at WPI offers several graduate programs of study:
- Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering (thesis or non-thesis tracks)
- Combined BS/MS in Fire Protection Engineering
- PhD in Fire Protection Engineering
- Graduate Certificates in Fire Protection Engineering
The admissions requirements can be found in the description for each degree or certificate program.
Online-programs of study & part-time students
The Graduate Certificate and non-thesis master of science degree track may be taken either entirely online or on-campus.
Practicing engineers or others already employed and wishing to advance their technical skills may enter the master of science or graduate certificate programs as part-time students or take off-campus courses.
Follow the link to learn more about WPI's online graduate programs.
Graduate Theses
Master’s and PhD Theses require research to be performed on-campus.
Graduate Internships
A unique internship program is available to fire protection engineering students, allowing them to gain important clinical experiences in practical engineering and research environments. Students are able to earn income while maintaining their student status. Internships are generally full time for one year and provide the student a chance to try out various areas of practice, generate income, gain knowledge and experience, and make valuable lifetime contacts. No Graduate Credit is earned during an internship. A minimum of 9 graduate credits in FPE must be earned prior to participation in an internship. All Internships must be related to FPE.
Research Laboratories
UL Fire Protection Engineering Performance Lab at Gateway Park
The UL Fire Protection Engineering Performance Lab consists of a 190-square-meter floor space with a 9.2-meter-high ceiling, enabling researchers to construct and experiment on test specimens up to two stories tall. The laboratory features a 6-meter by 6-meter exhaust hood located 6 meters above the lab floor. This space is ideal for testing open burning fires (e.g., liquid fuel pan fires), medium-scale compartment fires, exterior façade fires, and more. It can also be used to replicate certain external exposure fire conditions (e.g., structure exposure in wildland-urban interface fires). The laboratory can support data acquisition through devices such as heat flux gauges and thermocouples.
The Performance Lab serves as both a teaching and research facility. The lab is used for course lab demonstrations, undergraduate Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs), graduate theses, and sponsored research projects.
Honeywell Fire Protection Engineering Fundamentals Lab at Gateway Park
The Honeywell Fire Protection Engineering Fundamentals Lab contains two cone calorimeters (iCone classic and a customizable cone calorimeter for research), a FM Global Fire Propagation Apparatus, a Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter, fourier-transform infrared spectrometer, and an Intelligent Laser Applications GmbH 75-megawatt fixed optical path length fp50-shift LDA system supported by an automatic traversing system, which can be used to make accurate velocity measurements. The lab also contains ovens, various tools, and hooded bench space. These pieces of apparatus enable researchers to conduct a wide range of small-scale experiments and tests.
The Fundamentals Lab serves as both a teaching and research facility. The lab is used for course lab demonstrations, undergraduate Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs), graduate theses, and sponsored research projects.
Combustion Laboratory
The WPI Combustion Lab was established in 2010 with the aim of advancing our understanding of fundamental explosion and combustion dynamics. The lab features state-of-the-art experimental equipment for investigating a range of phenomena, including laminar and turbulent burning velocity of dust flames (via the Hybrid Flame Analyzer), explosion venting, self-heating (using a hot plate and oven), ignition (using the Cone Calorimeter), and evaporation and combustion of oil slicks in a wave tank.
What sets the WPI Combustion Lab apart is the range of unique experimental platforms designed and constructed within the lab. These platforms support MQPs (Major Qualifying Projects), graduate theses (for MS and PhD students), and industry research. Whether you're a student or a researcher, the WPI Combustion Lab provides an ideal environment for conducting cutting-edge research in combustion and explosion dynamics.
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Certificate in Fire Protection Engineering, -
M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering, Master of Science -
Ph.D. in Fire Protection Engineering, Ph.D.
Classes
FP 520: Fire Modeling
Department
Modeling of compartment fire behavior is studied through the use and application of two types of models: zone and field. The zone model studied is a student developed model. The field model studied is FDS. Focus on in-depth understanding of each of these models is the primary objective in terms of needed input, equations solved, interpretation of output and limitations. A working student model is required for successful completion of the course. Basic computational ability is assumed. Basic numerical methods are used and can be learned during the course via independent study.
Prerequisites
FP 521 or permission of the instructor
FP 521: Fire Dynamics I
Department
This course introduces students to fundamentals of fire and combustion and is intended to serve as the first exposure to fire dynamics phenomena. The course includes fundamental topics in fire and combustion such as thermodynamics of combustion, fire chemistry, premixed and diffusion flames, solid burning, ignition, plumes, heat release rate curves, and flame spread. These topics are then used to develop the basis for introducing compartment fire behavior, pre- and post-flashover conditions and zone modeling. Basic computational ability is assumed. Basic numerical methods are used and can be learned during the course via independent study.
Prerequisites
Undergraduate chemistry, thermodynamics or physical chemistry, fluid mechanics and heat transfer
FP 553: Fire Protection Systems
Department
This course provides an introduction to automatically activated fire suppression and detection systems. A general overview is presented of relevant physical and chemical phenomena, and commonly used hardware in automatic sprinkler, gaseous agent, foam and dry chemical systems. Typical contemporary installations and current installation and approval standards are reviewed.
Prerequisites
Undergraduate courses in chemistry, fluid mechanics and either thermodynamics or physical chemistry
FP 554: Advanced Fire Suppression
Department
Advanced topics in suppression systems analysis and design are discussed with an aim toward developing a performance-based understanding of suppression technology. Automatic sprinkler systems are covered from the standpoint of predicting actuation times, reviewing numerical methods for hydraulic analyses of pipe flow networks and understanding the phenomenology involved in water spray suppression. Special suppression systems are covered from the standpoint of two-phase and non-Newtonian pipe flow and simulations of suppression agent discharge and mixing in an enclosure.
FP 555: Detection, Alarm and Smoke Control
Department
Principles of fire detection using flame, heat and smoke detector technology are described. Fire alarm technology and the electrical interface with fire/smoke detectors are reviewed in the context of contemporary equipment and installation standards. Smoke control systems based on buoyancy and HVAC principles are studied in the context of building smoke control for survivability and safe egress.
FP 570: Building Fire Safety I
Department
This course focuses on the presentation of qualitative and quantitative means for firesafety analysis in buildings. Fire test methods, fire and building codes and standards of practice are reviewed in the context of a systematic review of firesafety in proposed and existing structures.
FP 571: Performance-Based Design
Department
This course covers practical applications of fire protection engineering principles to the design of buildings. Both compartmented and non-compartmented buildings will be designed for criteria of life safety, property protection, continuity of operations, operational management and cost. Modern analytical tools as well as traditional codes and standards are utilized. Interaction with architects and code officials, and an awareness of other factors in the building design process are incorporated through design exercises and a design studio.
Prerequisites
FP 553, FP 521 and FP 570, or special permission of the instructor
FP 572: Failure Analysis
Department
Development of fire investigation and reconstruction as a basis for evaluating and improving fire-safety design. Accident investigation theory and failure analysis techniques such as fault trees and event sequences are presented. Fire dynamics and computer modeling are applied to assess possible fire scenarios and the effectiveness of fire protection measures. The product liability aspects of failure analysis are presented. Topics include products liability law, use of standard test methods, warnings and safe product design. Application of course materials is developed through projects involving actual case studies.
FP 573: Industrial Fire Protection
Department
Principles of fire dynamics, heat transfer and thermodynamics are combined with a general knowledge of automatic detection and suppression systems to analyze fire protection requirements for generic industrial hazards. Topics covered include safe separation distances, plant layout, hazard isolation, smoke control, warehouse storage, and flammable liquid processing and storage. Historic industrial fires influencing current practice on these topics are also discussed.
Prerequisites
FP 553, FP 521 or special permission of the instructor
FP 575: Explosion Protection
Department
Principles of combustion explosions are taught along with explosion hazard and protection applications. Topics include a review of flammability limit concentrations for flammable gases and dusts; thermochemical equilibrium calculations of adiabatic closed-vessel deflagration pressures, and detonation pressures and velocities; pressure development as a function of time for closed vessels and vented enclosures; the current status of explosion suppression technology; and vapor cloud explosion hazards.
FP 580: Special Problems
Department
Individual or group studies on any topic relating to fire protection may be selected by the student and approved by the faculty member who supervises the work. Examples include: • Business Practices • Combustion • People in Fires • Fire Dynamics II • Fire and Materials • Forensic Techniques • Complex Decision Making
FP 690: Ph.D. Dissertation
Department