Fire Safety Science is the study of fire and combustion phenomenon with the goal to inform the practice of fire safety engineering. The study of fire safety science includes the characterization of material flammability, measuring products of combustion generated, and quantifying the effects of fire on people and structures. The challenge in measuring fire phenomena is the range of length scales required - a fire scientist must be able to characterize phenomena at both the micron scale and the kilometre scale (e.g., bushfires). This challenge also presents exciting opportunities to develop new techniques to measure fire phenomena. This presentation will cover a range of typical phenomena studied in a fire lab, as well as the range of current techniques used to measure them.
David Morrisset joined the School of Civil Engineering in November 2024 as a Lecturer in Fire Safety Engineering. Prior to his appointment at UQ, Dr Morrisset completed his PhD in Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. His research interests cover a broad range of fire safety and combustion science related topics including material flammability, fire testing, fire performance of timber, lithium-ion batteries, combustible cladding, and advanced measurement techniques (e.g., laser diagnostics). In addition to his research experience, he also has experience working as a fire safety engineer in both the United Sates and Australia.
