Fire dynamics includes such subject areas as:

Premixed flames
Diffusion Flames
Spontaneous Ignition
Ignition of Liquids and Solids
Flame Spread
Burning Rates for Diffusion Flames
Fire Plumes & Ceiling Jets
Compartment Fires

The prerequisite knowledge required to understand the subject areas of fire dynamics include:

Calculus
Ordinary Differential Equations
Control Volumes & Conservation Laws
Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics
Heat & Mass Transfer
Chemistry and Chemical Thermodynamics

While most fire dynamics texts (undergraduate and graduate level) include some discussion of these subjects (including heat transfer), it is assumed that this prerequisite knowledge has been obtained. Thus, the extent of the materials provided on these subject areas in the texts are at a summary and/or review level of presentation. This tends to be why a basic fire dynamics course is generally offered in the senior year of an undergraduate engineering program or an advanced course as part of a graduate level engineering program. These are complex subjects that require quite a bit of exposure to be able to apply the fundamental knowledge as a practicing engineer.

So, just having taken a fire dynamics course does not provide all you need to know in these prerequisite areas. Discussed or reviewed in the course? Yes, to some extent. Sufficient to say you have knowledge at a post-secondary education level without taking the prerequisite courses? Doubtful.

Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com