Enclosure Fire Dynamics

Enclosure Fire Dynamics, Second Edition explores the science of enclosure fires and how they cause changes in the environment of a building on fire. The authors discuss mechanisms controlling enclosure fires and how to develop analytical relationships useful in designing buildings for fire safety. Derivation of equations from first principles is shown, stating assumptions and showing comparisons to experimental data, giving calculated examples for clarity. The text provides readers with the skills needed to solve a range of engineering equations and problems.

Features include:

• Describes the outbreak of compartment fires and the mechanisms controlling them
• Derives simple analytical relationships from first principles and shows how to compare the derived equations with experimental data, giving calculated examples for clarity
• Provides the calculational procedures and describes computer models needed to design a building for safety
• Cites the most up-to-date standards and references throughout
• Includes numerous chapter problems to test student readers’ understanding of fire behavior

Enclosure Fire Dynamics, Second Edition will enhance the knowledge of fire protection engineers, researchers, and investigators and help build a strong foundation for engineering students.

Dr. Bjorn Karlsson received his B Sc degree from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and his PhD from the University of Lund, Sweden. He taught in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Lund, and was also a Visiiting Associate Professor at the University of Maryland. From 2006 to the present he has been a professor in the Department 0f Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iceland. From 2001 to 2010 Dr. Karlsson also served as General Director in the Iceland Fire Authority (IFA); in 2011 he became Director General, and then permanent Director, of the Iceland Construction Authority (ICA), which is responsible for regulations in construction, and in electrical and fire safety, also houses the Fire Service Technical College.

Dr. James G. Quintiere received his PhD from New York University in 1970, and is currently Professor Emeritus, Department of Fire Protection, at the University of Maryland in College Park. He has over thirty years of experience in fire research and teaching, and has written the popular textbook PRINCIPLES OF FIRE BEHAVIOR, and co-authored ENCLOSURE FIRE DYNAMICS with Bjorn Karlsson. He has investigated numerous fire disasters, including the Branch Davidian Compound fire in Waco, Texas, and the 1986 New Year’s Eve DuPont Plaza fire in Puerto Rico. His testimony during the civil trial on the Waco tragedy was pivotal to the jury’s conclusion that the fires were not the result of federal authorities’ actions. Dr. Quintiere is the author of more than 75 journal publications and reports, and is the past chair, International Association for Fire Safety Science. He is also the recipient of the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal (1976) and Silver Medal (1982).

Dr. Nils Johansson holds a PhD in fire dynamics, with his thesis on Fire Dynamics in Multi-Room Compartments. He has more than five years of experience of teaching fire dynamics, and he is currently Course Administrator for the courses Fire Dynamics and Advanced Fire Dynamics, at the division of Fire Safety Engineering at Lund University.