Fire Protection Design Course

Lesson 1 • Occupancy and Hazard Classification

Defines occupancy categories and hazard levels used to drive design requirements. Links classification decisions to suppression density and detection sensitivity choices.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory Framework and Standards Overview

Surveys the hierarchy of codes, standards, and authority-having-jurisdiction requirements. Equips students to navigate compliance obligations without referencing jurisdiction-specific identifiers.

Lesson 3 • Fire Science and Combustion Fundamentals

Covers the fire triangle, heat transfer modes, and flame propagation mechanics. Provides the physical basis for every suppression and detection strategy in the course.

Lesson 1 • Construction Types and Fire Resistance

Examines five construction type classifications and their inherent fire resistance characteristics. Connects material behaviour to required protection levels and system design thresholds.

Lesson 2 • Fire Dynamics in Enclosed Spaces

Models pre-flashover and post-flashover fire stages within compartments of varying geometry. Applies fire dynamics to detector placement and suppression response timing.

Lesson 3 • Structural Fire Performance

Evaluates how structural members lose load capacity under thermal exposure and time-temperature curves. Informs decisions on spray-applied fireproofing and intumescent coatings.

Lesson 1 • Fire Pumps and Booster Systems

Addresses pump types, characteristic curves, and installation requirements for pressure-boosting applications. Students select and size pumps to meet system demand at minimum residual pressure.

Lesson 2 • Water Supply Testing and Evaluation

Teaches hydrant flow test procedures, data plotting, and supply curve interpretation. Connects test results to available pressure and flow for system demand verification.

Lesson 3 • Water Storage and Alternative Supplies

Evaluates tanks, reservoirs, and non-potable sources as supplemental or primary fire water supplies. Addresses fill rates, usable volume calculations, and supply reliability criteria.

Lesson 4 • Pipe Sizing and Network Analysis

Covers looped and gridded pipe network analysis, pipe sizing tables, and velocity limits. Prepares students to design distribution mains that meet simultaneous demand scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Preaction and Deluge System Design

Covers single- and double-interlock preaction systems and open-head deluge systems for special hazards. Connects detection logic to valve release and water delivery timing requirements.

Lesson 2 • Hydraulic Calculations for Sprinklers

Applies the density-area method and remote area selection to produce sprinkler hydraulic calculations. Students verify system demand against available water supply using calculation worksheets.

Lesson 3 • Wet and Dry Pipe System Design

Details pipe schedule and hydraulic design methods for wet and dry pipe systems in typical occupancies. Addresses dry pipe valve sizing, air pressure maintenance, and trip time requirements.

Lesson 4 • Special Storage and High-Piled Design

Addresses in-rack sprinklers, ESFR ceiling-only protection, and commodity classification for high-piled storage. Applies storage height and aisle width rules to system configuration decisions.

Lesson 1 • Notification Appliances and Coverage

Designs audible and visible notification appliance circuits to meet sound pressure and candela requirements. Applies room-by-room calculations to verify intelligibility and coverage compliance.

Lesson 2 • Detector Spacing and Placement Rules

Applies ceiling height, beam obstruction, and air movement factors to detector spacing calculations. Ensures coverage without gaps or redundant overlap in complex ceiling geometries.

Lesson 3 • Fire Alarm Control Panel Architecture

Covers conventional zone, addressable, and analog-addressable panel architectures and their wiring topologies. Prepares students to select panel type and configure initiating device circuits.

Lesson 4 • Detector Types and Selection Criteria

Compares ionisation, photoelectric, heat, beam, and aspirating detectors by sensitivity and application environment. Links detector physics to appropriate placement in varied occupancy conditions.

Lesson 1 • Carbon Dioxide Suppression Systems

Addresses high-pressure and low-pressure CO2 systems for total flooding and local application. Emphasises safety interlocks, personnel evacuation requirements, and confined-space hazards.

Lesson 2 • Dry and Wet Chemical Kitchen Systems

Covers UL-listed pre-engineered wet chemical systems for commercial cooking equipment and hood protection. Addresses nozzle placement, fuel shut-off integration, and inspection intervals.

Lesson 3 • Foam Suppression System Design

Designs low-, medium-, and high-expansion foam systems for flammable liquid storage and aircraft hangars. Calculates foam concentrate quantity, proportioning rates, and application density.

Lesson 4 • Clean Agent and Inert Gas Systems

Covers halocarbon and inert gas agent properties, design concentrations, and enclosure integrity requirements. Applies flooding factor calculations to determine agent quantity and cylinder sizing.

Lesson 1 • Means of Egress Fundamentals

Defines the three egress components and applies occupant load factors to determine required exit capacity. Establishes the egress design baseline that smoke control systems must support.

Lesson 2 • Travel Distance and Exit Configuration

Applies maximum travel distance and common path limits to exit placement in varied floor plan geometries. Evaluates exit remoteness and separation requirements for multi-exit floors.

Lesson 3 • Smoke Control in Complex Buildings

Integrates zoned smoke control, HVAC override, and fire alarm sequencing for high-rise and mixed-use buildings. Addresses stack effect, wind, and HVAC interactions that challenge pressure control.

Lesson 4 • Stairwell and Elevator Pressurisation

Designs mechanical pressurisation systems to maintain positive pressure in exit stairs and elevator shafts. Calculates supply air quantities, pressure differentials, and door-opening force limits.

Lesson 1 • Plan Review and Permit Process

Navigates the fire protection plan review cycle from initial submittal through correction response and permit issuance. Prepares students to write clear correction responses and resubmit efficiently.

Lesson 2 • Hydraulic Calculation Reports

Assembles complete hydraulic calculation packages including input data, node tables, and supply curve overlays. Verifies report completeness against plan review checklist requirements.

Lesson 3 • Coordinating Fire Protection with Other Disciplines

Manages spatial conflicts between sprinkler piping, ductwork, structure, and electrical systems using BIM coordination workflows. Reduces field conflicts through clash detection and early design coordination.

Lesson 4 • Construction Documents and Specifications

Produces fire protection drawing sets, schedules, and performance specifications aligned with project delivery requirements. Covers sheet organisation, symbol standards, and specification section structure.