Fire Testing
Protection Development, Incorporated (PDI) is a Fire Protection Engineering firm with distinct capabilities and perspectives concerning fire protection, research and testing. PDI has licensed fire protection engineers with extensive backgrounds in both fire behavior research and firefighting, giving PDI a unique understanding of fire.
PDI uses the latest in fire growth and smoke movement modeling software to predict a building’s response to hypothetical fires. These models are run under varying building geometry and ventilation conditions to determine which set of parameters best predicts what would occur. Our experience in fire testing and research allows PDI to draw upon national databases of fire test data to develop a specific solution to a particular problem.
Product Approval
PDI brings this first-hand knowledge of fire behavior to our clients in the form of product certification services and performance-based engineering. Our sound understanding of the product approval process through agencies like Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL), Factory Mutual (FM), the International Code Council (ICC), and government approval bodies (DOD, DOT, and USCG) promote prompt product review and development of the specific test matrix required for the product’s ultimate approval. PDI utilizes its extensive fire testing consulting experience to develop designs that will pass compliance tests and help customers refine designs before expensive tests are required.
Litigation Support
PDI’s experience in testing and first-hand firefighting also makes it an excellent resource for litigation support. PDI is capable of providing expert witness testimony and testing programs in support of findings. We are proud to have earned the respect and trust of fire department officials, municipalities, and building inspectors for our ability to present code review, fire testing, and product approval findings to AHJ’s in a professional manner.
Our engineers and field technicians can perform site inspections, gather anecdotal evidence, and re-create fire scenarios under controlled laboratory conditions. We have access to one of the most respected research facilities in the world — Southwest Research Institute. PDI can oversee mock-up experiments of fires to determine whether or not the fire cause is substantiated, subject components to various conditions and observe the failure modes, and test individual materials for toxicity and smoke production.
To learn more about the experience of our licensed, Fire Protection Engineers please go to ‘Our People’ to review their full Curriculum Vitae