Episodes

March 27, 2024

145 - Fire Safety Engineering in South Africa and Beyond with Richard Walls

In this episode, we discuss the stark realities of fire safety engineering in South Africa (and beyond) as we sit down with Professor Richard Walls from Stellenbosch University. Our journey through the recent history of deva…
March 19, 2024

144 - Design fire generator with Greg Baker

Imagine if we had a tool that we could use to design a design fire. Instead of simply assuming fire growth characteristics by slapping the alpha-t2 function, use a tool that could tell us which items in a compartment burn an…
March 13, 2024

143 - Fire Fundamentals pt 7 - CFD simulations of fires

In today's fire fundamentals episode, I have chosen a difficult job: explaining how CFD modelling works without the ability to put a single equation out there! It's much tougher than I thought! I hope I've done a decent job,…
March 6, 2024

142 - Uncertainty in fire measurements with David Morrisset

If the word 'uncertainty' sounds extremely boring to you, this episode will prove you wrong. I have invited David Morrisset from the University of Edinburgh to discuss his research on the subject. Whereas in fact David is es…
Feb. 28, 2024

141 - Smouldering in Mass Timber with Harry Mitchell

This week, I am meeting up with Imperial Hazelab's Harry Mitchell, who is finalizing his PhD thesis on mass timber fires and, quite uniquely - including the smouldering phenomena in those fires. As a part of Code Red experim…
Feb. 21, 2024

140 - Development and implementation of the SBI test with Rudolf van Mierlo

Tests in the world of reaction to fire are supposed to be representations of real fire scenarios, allowing us to grasp the characteristics of building products against them. While for the worst scenario (flashover fire) or t…
Feb. 13, 2024

139 - Wind and Fire Interactions for Safer Open Car Park Design

I've finished my first large research grant! I guess that makes me a 'real' scientist now. Came here today to share some most interesting aspects of this project with you. Not going to bore you all about the wind and fire in…
Jan. 30, 2024

138 - Getting ready for the Wildfires in Northern Europe with Nieves Fernandez-Anez

It is interesting to see changes in our profession that happen directly in front of our lives. Climate change and in consequence the changes in the wildfire patterns are one such obvious shift. In Poland, we do not ever have…
Jan. 23, 2024

137 - e-mobility fires with Adam Barowy

This episode of the Fire Science Show welcomes once again Adam Barowy from the Fire Safety Research Institute to shed light on the pressing issue of fire hazards in electric mobility devices. In this episode, we give a follo…
Jan. 17, 2024

136 - Fire Fundamentals pt 6 - The fire automation in a building

In this episode of Fire Fundamentals, we dive into the life-saving choreography of fire detection and building automation systems that must work together in case of a fire. We discuss the roles and challenges related to: fir…
Jan. 9, 2024

135 - Contemplating a design fire for car parks

In episode 48, my guest Mike Spearpoint said that in mid '90s, he participated in experiments on vehicle fires, as at that time, there were doubts if the design fires of that time (developed in the '80s) were representative …
Jan. 3, 2024

134 - Fire Fundamentals pt 5 - The Evacuation Equation with David Purser

It's time to learn about "the evacuation equation" from one of its creators. This week I interview prof. David Purser about the elements that go into the evacuation process that help us determine the fire safety of buildings…
Dec. 27, 2023

QA6 - Reflecting on 2023 and Igniting the Future

As we close the curtains on 2023, take a walk with me through the unforgettable milestones that have shaped the Fire Science Show. This isn't just a recap; it's a treasure trove of insights and a roadmap to the innovations j…
Dec. 19, 2023

133: Managing EV Fires at Sea with Elena Funk and Magnus Arvidson

Welcome aboard a journey through the challenges of managing electric vehicle fires at sea with Elena Funk of DBI and Magnus Arvidson from RISE. In this podcast episode, we discuss two large projects devoted to understanding …
Dec. 12, 2023

132 - Dis-abling buildings - fire safety features from wheelchair user perspective with Mary Button

This is an important episode. Our guest for today, UK fire engineer Mary Button, who uses a wheelchair herself, shares some of her own stories and feelings describing the reality for many disabled individuals. Drawing from h…
Dec. 6, 2023

131 - Experiments that changed fire science pt. 8 - Modelling Cardington Fire Tests with Asif Usmani

In this part 8 of Experiments that changed fire science series we revisit Cardington (previously covered in part 2 - https://www.firescienceshow.com/078-experiments-that-changed-fire-science-pt-2-bre-cardington-with-tom-lenn…
Nov. 29, 2023

130 - Mass timber fire dynamics with Dr. Carmen Górska

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Carmen Górska from OFR Consultants, the recent IAFSS Phillip Thomas Award recipient for the best paper at the previous IAFSS Symposium. In this interview, we touch on preconceived notions …
Nov. 24, 2023

129 - Backdraught and Underventilated Fires with Dr. Ricky Carvel

In today's episode, we go into the practical consequences of having an underventilated fire - that is the possibility of backdraught or other similar smoke explosion phenomena. My guest Dr Ricky Carvel from the University of…
Nov. 21, 2023

128 - Fire Safety Engineering with Dr. Ricky Carvel

Dear friends of the Fire Science Show, and listeners of the Smart Passive Income Podcast - today is some sort of a special broadcast. As I have just been featured in THE podcast https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/shows/spi/ …
Nov. 15, 2023

127 Introducing the Book of Fire: An Online Resource Hub for Fire Engineers

Dear friends, I am building something new for you. Something that should be very useful, something that I wish I had when I started my journey as a fresh fire safety engineer. And I’ve reached a point where I’m comfortable s…
Nov. 8, 2023

126 - Where is the challange with tunnel smoke control? with Wojciech

I'm known for my rant about critical velocity concept in tunnel ventilation systems, and I tried to really control myself and not go into podcast with it :) But in recent weeks, when I was enjoying sake at IAFSS in Tsukuba t…
Nov. 1, 2023

125 - Enhancing Fire Safety Through Data: EU FireStat Project with Martina Manes and Mohamad El Houssami

Today we go deep into how statistical data about fires is gathered, processed, and used around the world, and what are the ideas on how to improve this in the future. My guests represent the EU FireStat Project - Dr Mohamad …
Oct. 26, 2023

124 - Advancements in Fire Safety of Facades with Eleni Asimakopoulou

In today's episode, I have invited dr Eleni Asimakopoulou from the University of Central Lancashire to discuss her extensive expertise on fire behaviour of facades. In the talk, we will go through Elenis' experiments on vent…
Oct. 18, 2023

123 - Futureproofing fire safety systems with Jaime Cadena Gomez

Balancing the cost and the potential to change a system in the future is a difficult act. Discover a new perspective on this aspect of fire safety systems with our guest, Jaime Cadena Gomez. We discuss the significance of lo…