Research Areas
Industry-leading research in a world-renowned program
Whether it's about firefighter safety, combustion protection, or studying the effects of materials in fire conditions, fire protection engineering research is multi-disciplinary in its nature. Mechanical, civil, electric, and chemical engineers all contribute to making our world safer.
WPI Fire Protection Engineering, in concert with industry leaders, has developed state-of-the-art laboratories where students learn directly from faculty in a collaborative environment searching for the best way to build and protect against fire.
Research Areas
With the goal of more efficient designs in the built environment, the study of fire and its effect on materials enables engineers to more accurately predict fire behavior, leading to better regulatory policy, greater safety, and property protection.
Current safety standards do not account for the full range of combustibility of materials found in industrial settings. By examining the complex problem of combustibility, engineers can better predict fire and explosion hazards.
Today there is more focus on gaining fundamental knowledge about the performance of buildings and occupants under a wide range of events, resulting in better allocation of resources focused on critical needs. 
Understanding, modeling, and simulating wildfires helps engineers develop scientific tools useful for fighting wildfires and improving land management. With a better understanding of fire dynamics, engineers can accurately forecast fire behavior. 
Firefighters increasingly serve as first responders for emergencies. Determining the best procedural standards and resource allocation to significantly reduce loss of life and property for both firefighters and civilians is a priority.
