Book excerpt: An Introduction to Fire Dynamics Second Edition Dougal Drysdale University of Edinburgh, UK Fire Safety Engineering, identified in the original edition as 'a relatively new discipline', has since grown significantly in stature, as Fire Safety Engineers around the world begin to apply their skills to complex issues that defy solution by the old 'prescriptive' approach to fire safety. This second edition has the same structure as the first highly successful text, but has been updated with the latest research results. Fire processes are discussed and quantified in terms of the mechanisms of heat transfer and fluid flow. Problems addressed include: * The conditions necessary for ignition and steady burning of combustible materials to occur * How large a fire has to become before fire detectors and sprinkler heads will operate * The circumstances that can lead to flashover in a compartment This book is unique in that it identifies fire science and fire dynamics and provides the scientific background necessary for the development of fire safety engineering as a professional discipline. It is essential reading for all those involved in this wide ranging field, from Fire Prevention Officers to Consulting Engineers, whether involved in problems of fire risk assessment, fire safety design, or fire investigation. It will also be of considerable interest and value to research scientists working in building design, fire physics and chemistry.