Chairholders
Profile
George Hadjisophocleous
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carleton University
Chair title
NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Fire Safety Engineering
Chair program
Industrial Research Chairs program
Role
Senior Chairholder since 2001
Summary
Dr. Hadjisophocleous is developing computer models and other tools to predict the fire safety performance of buildings. Currently, his focus is on computer models that can predict the fire safety of light-frame wood buildings. These models will demonstrate whether or not buildings meet the objective-based building codes that are about to be adopted in Canada. His research also includes a large experimental component that utilizes a state-of-the-art fire research facility recently constructed by Carleton University. This facility consists of a 10-storey atrium for smoke management studies, a tunnel facility for transportation related fire tests, and a large burn hall for high heat release rate fires.
The fire protection community and the construction industry in Canada need tools to test the fire safety of buildings. Qualified people are needed to use these tools in design and enforcement. Dr. Hadjisophocleous' work is particularly important to the Canadian wood industry. The industry's light-frame building construction sector has been very successful in North America because of its design flexibility and cost-effectiveness. The continued success of light-frame construction largely depends on the ability of the industry to harness advanced technology for the design of safe, efficient and credible structures.
In addition to the research program, Dr. Hadjisophocleous is leading the effort to develop a graduate program in fire safety engineering at Carleton University. This is the only program in Canada offering opportunities for postgraduate education in fire safety engineering. As seen in other countries, the introduction of objective-based codes in Canada will increase the demand for qualified fire protection engineers capable of designing fire safety systems in buildings.
Partner
- Forintek Canada Corp.
Contact information
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 5B6
Tel.: 613-520-2600, ext. 5801
Fax: 613-520-3951
Email: george_hadjisophocleous@carleton.ca
Website:
http://www.carleton.ca
