Fire Dynamics Series - Fire Protection Fundamentals - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Surveyors and Architects

Fire Dynamics Series - Fire Protection Fundamentals

Course Outline

This course reviews selected fire protection fundamentals and most relevant characteristics of fire chemistry, and physics (temperature, combustion products, smoke, toxicity, and fire extinguishing agents, etc.) and examines the following topics:

T- Squared Fire Power Law Heat Release Rate
Classes of Fire
Classification of Hazards
Classes of Fires and Extinguishing Agents
Classification of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Hazardous Materials Classifications
Classification of Flammable Gases
Flammability Hazards of Gases
Combustion Properties of Pure Solids in Pure Form
Extinguishing Agents for Metal Fires
Occupancy Classification and Use Groups
Building Limitations an Types of Construction
Deep Seated Fires in Class A Materials
Special Hazard Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Agents
Dry Chemical Extinguishing Agents
Fire Protection Using Foam
Harmful Properties of Toxic Gases Found in Fires
Effects of Decomposition Products of Halogenated Fire Extinguishing Agents

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

DISCLAIMER:

The following course material is informational in nature and is designed to introduce the principals of fire dynamics to non-fire protection engineers. The NRC developed materials rely on simplified empirical equations that may not be appropriate in all design situations. Each of the Fire Dynamics methods have limitations as stipulated within the text. These equations at best provide rough estimates and the examples in the course were specifically tailored for Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) environments. Therefore the arbitrary use of this information in “real-world” design situations is strongly discouraged without the expertise of a competent licensed fire protection engineer. PDH Online nor the Course Provider assume any liability for use of this information or for inaccuracies contained in the course material contained herein.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of the course, the student should have a fundamental understanding and be able to discuss the following concepts:

T- Squared Fire Power Law Heat Release Rate;
Classes of Fire;
Classification of Hazards;
Classes of Fires and Extinguishing Agents;
Classification of Flammable and Combustible Liquids;
Hazardous Materials Classifications;
Classification of Flammable Gases;
Flammability Hazards of Gases;
Combustion Properties of Pure Solids in Pure Form;
Extinguishing Agents for Metal Fires;
Occupancy Classification and Use Groups;
Building Limitations an Types of Construction;
Deep Seated Fires in Class A Materials;
Special Hazard Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Agents;
Dry Chemical Extinguishing Agents;
Fire Protection Using Foam;
Harmful Properties of Toxic Gases Found in Fires; and
Effects of Decomposition Products of Halogenated Fire Extinguishing Agents.

Intended Audience

The following course is primarily targeted to Architects and Engineers, and others with little experience in Fire Protection Engineering concepts. The material is presented in a format that extensive use of mathematics and in-depth scientific theory is avoided.

Benefit for Attendee

The following course will present basic fire protection concepts to permit the attendee to understand the fundamentals of fire behavior, classes of fires, combustibility characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases, and basic fire suppression theory which is necessary in the workplace.

Course Introduction

Fire Dynamics is defined as the scientific description of fire phenomena (e.g., ignition, flame spread, burning, smoke spread) in quantitative terms. It encompasses chemistry, physics, mathematics, fluid mechanics as well as heat and mass transfer. This section reviews some selected fire protection fundamentals and most relevant characteristics of fire chemistry, and physics (temperature, combustion products, smoke, toxicity, and fire extinguishing agents, etc.) This section will provide benefit to those individuals who have not been exposed or have had limited exposure to fire protection fundamentals. The following Fire Protection Fundamentals Course Material is from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and is referred to as “Fire Dynamics Tools” (FDT^s).

Course Content

The course material is from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and is referred to as “Fire Dynamics Tools” (FDT^s). This course material was implemented by the NRC to assist their regional fire protection inspectors in performing fire hazard analysis (FHA).

Fire Dynamics Series - Fire Protection Fundamentals

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Course Summary

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) – http://www.nrc.gov/

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.