Features & Perspectives · 2 articles
Fire Science
How fires ignite, grow and spread, and the physics behind sprinklers, detectors and smoke control.
Sprinkler densities, detector spacing and smoke control rules all rest on fire science: how fast a fire grows, how hot the gases get and how far smoke travels. These articles explain that science in plain terms, with links to the free calculators where you can run the numbers.
Fire science articles
Fire Science · Feature
How Hot Is a House Fire? Temperatures by Stage
A house fire can pass 1,800°F (1,000°C) once a room is fully involved. See how temperatures change by stage, why rooms burn faster now, and what heat does.
Fire Science · Feature
Flashover vs. Backdraft: How Two Different Fire Events Work
Flashover is a heat-driven event and backdraft is an air-driven one. See the physics, a side-by-side table, warning signs and how each shapes building design.
More Features & Perspectives
All featuresHave a question about your building?
For what the code requires, start with the Insights topics. For a specific project, talk to an engineer licensed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland or Delaware.