5 - Interfacing With the Other Disciplines

Abstract

Fire protection engineers interface with architectural engineering including locations of buildings, exposures to buildings, sizes of buildings and sizes of fire areas, building layout, combustibility of building finishing materials, and security issues. Areas of concern to fire protection engineers that interface with chemical engineering includes: materials hazards, materials storage, process hazards evaluation, and process utilities. Fire protection engineering interfaces with electrical engineering in the following areas: building system controls, fire detection and alarm systems, extinguishing system control, electric motor-driven fire pumps, emergency lighting, backup power supplies, electrical equipment for hazardous locations, and electrical protection systems. Fire protection systems that interface with the mechanical discipline include: piped fire protection systems, fire protection water supplies, pneumatic power and control systems, building HVAC systems, smoke control and smoke management systems, and area ventilation systems. Natural calamities like earthquakes, flood, cyclones, tornadoes, and hurricanes can damage fire protection systems. Building codes contain the structural design features for flood, earthquakes and wind, as well as for snow, ice, and other loads.