Fire protection engineering is a unique profession that uses science and technology to protect people, property and businesses from destructive fires.

Throughout the world, fire is a significant problem. For example, in the United States alone more than 18,000 people are injured, and 3000 people die as a result of fire each year. In addition to personal losses, more than $10 billion in property damage occurs annually as a result of fire. That’s why fire protection engineers play an important role in protecting the public’s health, safety and welfare.

Fire Protection engineers analyze how buildings are used, how fires start, how fires grow, and how fire and smoke affect people, buildings and property.  Fire protection engineers use the latest technologies to:

• Design systems that control fires, alert people to danger and provide means for escape;

• Evaluate buildings to pinpoint the risks of fires and the means to prevent them;

• Conduct fire safety research on consumer products and construction materials;

• Investigate fires to discover how fire spreads, why protective measures failed, and how those measures could have been designed more effectively. 

They work with architects and other engineers, state and local building officials and local fire departments to build and maintain fire safe communities. They make recommendations for cost effective fire protection solutions to ensure that the structure, and the property and occupants contained within are adequately protected.

For more information about careers in fire protection engineering, see other parts of this website or contact chris@sfpe.org. Or, for more information about the Fire Protection Engineering profession, visit www.sfpe.org.