Credit Points 10

Coordinator Sameera Wijesiri Pathirana Opens in new window

Description The subject aims to develop a detailed knowledge of fire behaviour and dynamics in the built environment. Students analyse the various fuels and combustion processes; the chemistry of combustion; flammability limits; ignition characteristics; and different types of flames and fire plumes. The built environment adds complexity to fire behaviour and students learn characteristics of fire hazards within enclosed spaces as well as techniques to calculate design fires. The subject covers the basic principles of fire safety design ensuring that students can appreciate fire safety systems and interpret fire safety engineering design concepts. Knowledge gained in this subject/program will benefit students aspiring to careers in fire safety engineering and building surveying.

School Eng, Design & Built Env

Discipline Fire Technology

Student Contribution Band

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 5 subject

Equivalent Subjects ENGR7006 Fire Engineering 1 (Fire Dynamics)

Restrictions

Only students enrolled in a postgraduate program can enrol in this subject.

Assumed Knowledge

Basic physics, chemistry and mathematics

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse the basic principles of the fire phenomenon including the nature of fire hazards, heat transfer, burning of gases, liquids and solids, fire initiation and propagation, products of combustion and fire retardants.
2. Determine fire loads, fire growth rates and flashover of an enclosure fire and assess the effect of the ventilation factor for an enclosure fire.
3. Apply the principles used in fire engineering design and assessment as well as the functions of various fire safety subsystems according to the Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines.
4. Analyse the parameters in fire resistance used in fire safety engineering solutions.
5. Determine fire safety engineering solutions using relevant fire science for a range of fire contexts.

Subject Content

- Fuels and the combustion process
- Chemistry of combustion in fire
- Flammability limits
- Premixed flames
- Diffusion flames
- Flames from natural fires
- Fire plumes
- Burning of gases and vapours
- Burning of liquids
- Burning of solids
- Smouldering combustion
- Flaming combustion
- Self-induced ignition
- Piloted and non-piloted ignition
- Propagation of smouldering and flaming combustion
- Growth to flashover
- Flashover
- Post-flashover fires
- Fire resistance
- Spread of fire from a compartment
- Production and measurement of heat, smoke and toxic gases
- Methods for assessment of fire behaviour
- Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines
- Fire safety subsystems