The Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland was established in 1956 and offers the only fully accredited fire protection engineering undergraduate program and one of three graduate degree programs in the U.S. Through the use of engineering fundamentals, research and fire analysis, the Fire Protection Engineer assesses fire safety challenges wherever they may occur, i.e. in buildings, wildlands, industrial facilities or transportation vehicles. In recent years, the department faculty and students have been involved in a wide array fire-related research including energy storage systems, material flammability, flammable refrigerants, fire detection, use of artificial intelligence for situational awareness, and numerical simulations involving fires and people - this is all in an effort to reduce the loss of life and property to fire by providing the highest quality of scientifically based education, research, and outreach in fire- related safety, health and environmental issues. FPE's mission is to reduce the loss of life and property by providing high quality, scientifically-based education, research and outreach in fire protection engineering, and in fire-related safety, health and environmental issues. Our program provides a unique interdisciplinary academic foundation, and scholarly training needed to address complex engineering problems with regards to fire safety. Fire Protection Engineering offers a variety of excellent career opportunities, covering a wide spectrum of safety assessment reviews, hazards analysis and research, loss prevention and regulatory issues.
Each FPE 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.
