OBJECTIVES:
| • |
To promote, encourage and
improve the science and practice of Fire Engineering, Fire
Prevention and Fire Extinction, and all operations and expedients
connected therewith, and to give an impulse to ideas likely
to be useful in connection with or in relation to such science
and practice to the members of the institution and the community
at large. |
| • |
To enable members to meet and to correspond
and to facilitate the interchange of ideas respecting improvements
in the various branches of the said science, and the publication
and communication of information on such subjects. |
| • |
To do all other things incidental or
conducive to the attainment of the above or any of them. |
WHAT IS FIRE ENGINEERING?
The production of these definitions was
required by the Engineering Council as part of the requirements
connected with the granting of Nominated Body status in 1997.
This has not been an easy task as can be seen from the explanatory
and supporting material provided later in this document and which
should be read in conjunction with the definitions which follow.
FIRE ENGINEERING
The application of scientific and engineering
principles, rules [Codes], and expert judgement, based on an understanding
of the phenomena and effects of fire and of the reaction and behaviour
of people to fire, to protect people, property and the environment
from the destructive effects of fire.
These objectives will be achieved by a variety
of means including such activities as:
| • |
the assessment of the hazards
and risks of fire and its effects; |
| • |
the mitigation of potential fire damage
by proper design, construction, arrangement, and use of buildings,
materials, structures, industrial processes, transportation
systems and similar; |
| • |
the appropriate level of evaluation
for the optimum preventive and protective measures necessary
to limit the consequences of fire; |
| • |
the design, installation, maintenance
and/or development of fire detection, fire suppression, fire
control and fire related communication systems and equipment; |
| • |
the direction and control of approp
riate equipment and manpower in the strategy and function
of firefighting and rescue operations; |
| • |
post-fire investigation and analysis,
evaluation and feedback. |
A FIRE ENGINEER
A fire engineer, by education, training
and experience :
| • |
understands the nature
and characteristics of fire and the mechanisms of fire spread
and the control of fire and the associated products of combustion;
|
• |
understands how fires originate, spread
within and outside buildings/structures, and can be detected,
controlled, and/or extinguished; |
• |
is able to anticipate the behaviour
of materials, structures, machines, apparatus, and processes
as related to the protection of life, property and the environment
from fire; |
• |
has an understanding of the interactions
and integration of fire safety systems and all other systems
in buildings, industrial structures and similar facilities
|
• |
is able to make use of all of the above
and any other required knowledge to undertake the practice
of fire engineering. |
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