Graduates of the fire protection engineering program leave UNH with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in a number of areas. Consulting, research, insurance loss control, fire service, and careers in the public or private sector with government, manufacturers, industry, and corporations are all possibilities with this degree.
Fire protection engineering graduates are qualified to design, evaluate, and test systems to reduce fire losses and recommend cost-effective methods of improving the level of protection.
A bachelor's degree in fire protection engineering from UNH provides students with the basics they'll need to succeed in graduate school.
Code Development and Evaluation
These positions serve a number of organizations both private and not for profit who research current trends in fire losses and craft codes and standards to reduce future losses. In some cases these positions require evaluation of a local fire department, building departments and a town's emergency plans.
Fire Service Personnel (Firefighter, Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, etc.)
A member of a fire department providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention, and life safety education services to a state, county, municipality, or organized fire district.
Fire Investigators, investigate possible criminal activities as they relate to fire involving explosions, fireworks and other fire/arson-related incidents. Investigators respond to fire scenes and sort through the aftermath to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Investigators are authorized to collect evidence some are sworn law enforcement officers with full powers of arrest to charge persons suspected of being involved in arson-related activities. Investigators for insurance companies may review local findings after the fact to determine trends or re-examine cause and origin.
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
In national forests and parks, forest rangers patrol to ensure that travelers and campers comply with fire regulations. When fires break out, crews of fire fighters are brought in to suppress the blaze with heavy equipment, hand tools, and water hoses. Members engaged in this work require specialized training in the Incident Management System.
Fire Protection Technology
Fire protection engineering technology is the application of science and engineering principles to protect people and their environments from the destructive effects of fire and smoke. This degree is also helpful for individuals who already possess an engineering degree to apply fire science knowledge to their careers.
Fire Protection Engineering
In practice, fire protection engineers typically identify risks and design safeguards that aid in preventing, controlling, and mitigating the effects of fires. Fire protection engineers assist architects in evaluating buildings' life safety and property protection goals. FPEs are also employed as fire investigators, including such very large-scale cases as the analysis of the collapse of the World Trade Centers. NASA uses fire protection engineers in its space program to help improve safety.
Industrial Fire Protection
An employee of an industrial, institutional, or commercial entity who on a full-time or part-time basis is actively engaged in the formulation, administration, or implementation of policies and procedures designed to provide fire protection, fire prevention and employee safety education for his/her employer's facilities.
This type of work is usually in the private sector for an insurance company investigating losses to try and reduce future losses, identifying potential hazards in the workplace and correcting them prior to an accident or loss.