The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will jointly sponsor the “Designing Structures for Fire” conference in Baltimore September 30–October 1. Responding to heightened interest in building performance under fire conditions following the September 11 terrorist attacks, this two-day event will serve as a forum for exchange on recent advancements in fire-resistance design among architects, researchers, practicing fire protection engineers, structural engineers, and regulators.

The conference kicks off with a session analyzing the performance of the World Trade Center structure. In addition, representatives from 12 countries will present 29 papers, with sessions to include:

• Fire analysis
• Alternatives to U.S. codes
• Fire resistance evaluation of structural members: concrete, wood, and gypsum
• Analytical approach to design methods for structural response to fire
• Building-design case studies.

The conference is being held in conjunction with the SFPE annual meeting and professional development week. Additional information for both programs can be found at the SFPE site or by contacting SFPE at 301-718-2910.

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