Handbook of Building Materials for Fire Protection Book

Charles A. Harper

Preference :

While always important, the broad field of fire protection has, in recent years, appropriately received
ever-increasing attention. Higher concentrations of people and buildings, wider use of materials in
processing, more critical and costly equipment and systems, all contribute to the need for greater
understanding and control of fire protection in materials, systems, and fabrication and processing
operations. Fortunately, both academia and business have risen to meet the challenge. Many universities
now have outstanding degree courses in fire protection, and an increasing number of businesses
are including fire protection specialists in their organizations. All of this is becoming increasingly
unified through excellent professional associations.

Since, in one way or another, materials are the source of fire and fire hazards, it is appropriate
that a broad-ranging book be provided for those having interests or needs in the use of materials in
analysis, design, fabrication, and processing. This new Handbook of Building Materials for Fire
Protection is the first major book devoted completely to materials. As such, it will be invaluable to
all of those in this field, and to all others having fire and safety concerns. I feel honored to serve as
Editor for this book, and to have had the opportunity to work with the group of truly outstanding
people who are the chapter authors for the book. A look at the list of contributors on page xi shows
clearly that this is a group of well known and highly respected people in the field of fire protection.
Their contributions to this field are invaluable, and their stature is unequaled. The information, data,
and guidelines provided in their chapters will be a source of great importance to all of the readers of
this sourcebook.