Fire science in a nutshell

As urban development grows and technologies advance, understanding fire safety has become more critical than ever. Fires affect everything from building design to emergency planning, and our ability to prevent, control, and respond to them can save lives and protect infrastructure. While fire has always been part of human history, today’s complex environments demand a deeper understanding of how fires behave and how we can mitigate their impact. But what exactly is fire, how does it spread, and what can we do to manage its risks?

About the course

In this course, you will explore the fundamentals of fire science and gain an understanding of how fires start, spread, and can be controlled. You will investigate the behavior of different materials under fire conditions, examine fire dynamics in various environments, and learn about fuel loads, extinguishing methods, and evacuation strategies. Through hands-on experiments and interactive exercises, you will develop practical insights into fire safety.

The course contains

Fire Science in a Nutshell is a four-part, 12-hour course offering a comprehensive introduction to fire science. It begins with the fundamentals of fire, including its stages, pyrolysis, smouldering, and material flammability through the "Will It Burn?" experiment. The second part explores fire dynamics, localized fire behavior, flame intensity, room fires, and flashover. Part three focuses on fuel load, combustibility limits, and fire extinguishing strategies. The final section addresses smoke movement, evacuation dynamics, and structural integrity during fires, featuring the chimney experiment. Each module includes interactive exercises and quizzes to reinforce learning.

You will

• Understand the fundamental principles of fire science.
• Investigate the ignition of materials used in buildings.
• Analyse different fire phenomena such as flashover, localized fires, etc.
• Understand human behaviour in the event of fires
• Apply fire science principles to the design and construction of buildings.

Who is the course for?

This course is useful for

• Firefighters, fire consultants, architects, and safety officers who want to have a basic understanding of the scientific principles behind fire behavior.
• Students studying fire protection engineering, architecture, and public safety seeking insights into fire dynamics.
• Homeowners, real estate developers, property managers, and insurance professionals looking to understand basic fire safety principles in buildings.

Registration

• Register here External link, opens in new window.