Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
High School Students Learn About Fire Protection Through UMD FPE Fire Design Challenge
Attracting, engaging, and retaining the interest of high school students is a challenge, no matter the topic. Scientific matters may pose an even greater challenge. However, the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering’s (FPE), Design Challenge seems to have captured high school seniors’ attention and even grown year over year. Its 11th Annual Design Challenge, held in April, was no exception. Eleven high schools and 29 teams competed this year and wowed the judges with their designs and creativity.
This year’s winning team, “The Cinderellas,” came from Elizabeth Seton High School. The all-women group impressing judges with their presentation, well-thought-out system design, and overall performance during the burn test.
Several schools had more than one team compete. The winning teams from each school were “Team 1” from Atholton, “ Team 7” from Bishop McNamara, team “Flowers 1” from Charles Herbert Flowers, team “That’s Totally What We Meant To Do” from DeMatha Catholic High School, team “The Juniors” from Glenelg High School, co-winning teams “Team” and “Team Sand” from Hubert Blake High School, the “Smokin’ Sailors” from Mount de Sales High School, and “Blazers 1” from Notre Dame Prep, team “FireBall” from Old Mill, and team “Flame On” from Woodlawn.
Year-Long Learning
Each year, the challenge brings together high school teams from local areas to expose students to basic principles of fire safety engineering, construction skills, and the scientific method. The goal is that participation in the program will boost student confidence in pursuing STEM careers, and the department welcomes excitement to learn about fire protection engineering, a field not broadly known.
Each team must build a system that successfully detects and suppresses a flame in a reduced-scale house model. Early in the school year, teams are formed with small groups of students who are paired with a professional or teacher mentor to begin learning challenge guidelines and review supporting materials provided by the department. Early design and testing of housing models begins in February through competition day in April.
Competition Day
The Fire Research Laboratory hosts the competition each spring in its facilities. There, each team is given a chance to showcase its prototype in a burn test to demonstrate efficient fire suppression methodologies. The world-class facilities ensure that a safe environment is kept in place for the participants.
Nicole L. Hollywood, UMD FPE associate director for programs, organizes the challenge and is grateful for everyone who comes together to make this event a success. “Our mentors, volunteers, judges, and donors are the reason that this program is such a success! I am so grateful to everyone involved at the schools, from the university, within the fire protection engineering field with all the help that they provide before, during and after this event.”
The Next Generation
The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has served as the sole sponsor of the Fire Design Challenge for several years and recently increased its support for future competitions. Its annual donation supports the supplies provided to the schools, prizes provided to winning teams, and marketing for the program. This event serves as one way to introduce high school students to the field of fire protection engineering and perhaps recruit bright minds into the field.
“I love attending these competitions,” comments AFSA’s Vice President of Engineering & Technical Services, John August Denhardt, P.E., FSFPE, and alumnus of UMD’s FPE program. “They’re an excellent way to immerse students in the world of fire protection. When I talk to them about their projects, you can see their excitement.”
For more information about the event and the Fire Protection Engineering program at the University of Maryland, visit fpe.umd.edu/FPEDC.