Society of Fire Protection Engineers
BETHESDA, Md. – January 11, 2010 – Robert Jönsson takes office as President of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) for 2010. Jönsson currently is the Chairman of the Department of Fire Safety Engineering and Systems Safety at Lund University in Sweden.
Jönsson who will become the first SFPE president to reside outside North America has served on the Society’s Board of Directors since 2002 and is an SFPE Fellow. SFPE Fellows represent a distinguished group of members who have attained significant stature and accomplishment in engineering.
“At Lund University Jönsson has made significant contributions to the profession of fire protection engineering by advancing the science and technology that makes people and property safe from fire,” said SFPE Engineering Program Manager Chris Jelenewicz. “He is widely recognized for making the program at Lund University one of the preeminent fire safety engineering schools in the world.”
In 1981 Jönsson became a faculty member at Lund and was promoted to Department Head in 1985. He was the driving force behind the planning and implementation of the fire protection engineering program and is still course manager for a number of courses. He was also responsible for starting an MSc program in Risk Management and Safety Engineering at Lund.
Jönsson holds an MSc in Civil and Structural Engineering from Lund University and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley he studied structural engineering and mechanics under the supervision of Professor Brady Williamson. He previously served on the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning where he was responsible for the formulation of the Swedish Building Regulations.
What is a Fire Protection Engineer?
According to the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a fire protection engineer applies science and engineering principles to protect people, homes, workplaces, the economy and the environment from the devastating effects of fires. Fire protection engineers analyze how buildings are used, how fires start and grow, and how fires affect people and property. They use the latest technologies to design systems to control fires, alert people to danger, and provide means for escape. Fire protection engineers also work closely with other professionals, including engineers of other disciplines, architects, state and local building officials, and local fire departments to build fire safe communities. Fire protection engineers are in high demand. The number of available jobs far exceeds the supply.
About Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Organized in 1950, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) is the professional organization that represents engineers engaged in fire protection worldwide. Through its membership of over 5,000 professionals and 65 international chapters, SFPE advances the science and practice of fire protection engineering while maintaining a high ethical standard. SFPE and its members serve to make the world a safer place by reducing the burden of unwanted fire through the application of science and technology. To become a member, go to www.sfpe.org.
More information about SFPE can be found at www.sfpe.org.
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