FIR 204 Fire Safety and Building Codes

This course examines the importance of building codes promoting the life safety of building occupants. The student is introduced to the nature of human physiological and psychological responses to fire and its by-products. Topics include: combustion pharmacology, adaptive and non-adaptive behavior, life safety assessment in buildings, concepts of egress design, the history and origins of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (a model code), contrasting performance codes and specification codes, fire modeling, and the "defend in place" concept. Historic multiple death fires are also examined for the lessons they offer.

Hours

3 Credits, 3 Hours