Fire Science Resources
Reference Materials
Government Documents
State Codes
Journals
Databases
Internet Resources
The Marvin K. Peterson Library has an extensive collection of resources for fire science and fire safety This guide is a starting point that presents a selection of resources, both ours and the Internet sources we list. You can also come to the Information Desk for assistance with your research, call us at (203) 932-7189 or e-mail us. For help writing papers, consult the Center for Learning Resources Writing Lab in Maxcy Hall.
Library Home Page
Go to the Peterson Library home page and take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it. If you start at the UNH website, click on Library in the top middle. All the links for accessing library materials and services are on the left of the library home page. The most important are the ones for the Catalog, Databases, Journals, and library Guides, but a quick look at all will be time well spent.
Library Catalog
Use the library catalog to find circulating and reference materials, including books, audio-visual resources, government documents, and periodical holdings. Our catalog uses the Library of Congress (LC) classification system and subject headings. LC assigns call numbers (letters and numerals) according to the book's primary subject. Many fire science materials will have T, TH, or TK. Some quick catalog search tips:
- Truncate with "?": combust? will bring up combustibility, combustible,
combustion, etc.
- Put phrases in " ": "fire prevention" or "smoke detector" or "hazardous materials"
- Sort results by Publish date descending to get newest items at the top of the list.
- Click on Bibliographic and use the subject-heading links below to find additional
material.
- Click on Linked Resources or look for the URL box next to an item for electronic
access.
More tips are at the bottom of the catalog search page and Using the UNH Library Catalog (OPAC).
Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook. Ref. TH9336 .A88 1999
Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards. Ref. T55.3 .H3 B73 1999
CHRIS (Chemical Hazards Response Information System). Ref. T55.3 .H3 C34 1999; also online.
Emergency Response Guidebook. From the U.S. DOT. Ref. T55.3 .H3 E45. Some sections online.
Encyclopedia of Fire. David E. Newton. Ref. TP265 .N48 2002
Fire in the United States. Ref. TH9503 .F48. Other eds. also online
Life Safety Code Handbook. Ref. TH9445 .P8 L5 2006. Includes the text of the code.
NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code Handbook. Ref. KF3975 .N3 W52h 2006
NFPA Fire Prevention Code Handbook. Ref. TH9182 .N47 2000
National Electrical Code Handbook. Ref. TK260 .N464 2005. Includes the electrical code.
National Fire Alarm Code Handbook. Ref. TH9271 .NJ4 1999
National Fire Codes Subscription Service. Ref. TH9111 .N376. Looseleaf volumes, updated regularly.
SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. Ref. TH9145 .S46 2002
If you need something not in our catalog, please use our ILL service to have materials sent here from other libraries. Forms to request books and articles are available at the Information Desk, and also online. Fill out a separate ILL request form for each item. Incorrect or incomplete information will slow down receipt of material, so please be accurate.
A U.S. documents depository since 1971, we currently receive about a third of Government Printing Office (GPO) publications. Documents received since 2000 will show up in catalog searches. Many of these are also available online so be sure to click on Linked Resources for each item. Most documents held in the library can be borrowed. Consult the Government Documents library guide for more information. To request catalog items with the U.S. Govt Docs location or to inquire about older documents, come to the Information Desk.
The current Connecticut codes are based in large part on particular editions of the BOCA and NFPA codes, which are supplemented by current state statutes (laws) and state administrative regulations. These supplements are kept on permanent reserve at the library's Circulation Desk. The Department of Public Safety's Division of Fire, Emergency & Building Services posts information about the codes on the web. Click on the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector links for more information. The Fire safety code is available in several pieces from the Fire Marshal link. It is also available in the library:
Connecticut State Fire Safety Code. [Perm. Reserve] Ref. KF3975.A15 N37. To be used in conjunction with the 1997 NFPA Life Safety Code. Ref. TH9445.P8.L5 2006.
State of Connecticut Building Code. [Perm. Reserve] Ref. KFC813.C7 2000. Includes the statutes, administrative regulations, and third party texts referred to in the statutes.
Uniform Fire Codes. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Ref. KF3975.Z95 I58 2000
Periodical articles from magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals are a valuable source of information in all research areas. Our Journals link lists of most of the periodical titles, current and historical, to which you have access through the library, in all formats.
Use the upper search box to enter a journal title to get links to databases containing the journal electronically and a link for any available library holdings as well. You can also use the drop-down box here to search for title keywords like fire and burn* [*=truncation here]. Click here for a list.
Use the indexes in the next section to find periodical articles. For more help, consult our library guide on Finding Articles.
Searching for articles on a subject is best done using an electronic index that searches the contents of many journals at one time. These databases now often provide the full text of articles as well.
Access all our Databases via the link on the library home page and enter your UNH network log-in when requested. Most are available 24/7 from any Internet terminal
Databases useful for fire science are listed below. Use the Annotated Listing to get additional information about them. Use the Subject Listing to look for others by topical category. Those under General/Multidisciplinary will be most broadly useful.
Journal Indexes
ABI/Inform Global, Dateline, Trade and Industry. International business and industry coverage.
Academic OneFile. Peer-reviewed, full-text articles from leading journals and reference sources.
CINAHL(Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature). Journal coverage and more.
Criminal Justice Periodicals Index. Academic and trade publications; search for arson.
Engineering Village. Search Compendex for journal articles, dissertations, conference proceedings.
ProQuest Newspaper Collection and Historical Newspapers. Full text of major U.S. papers.
PsycINFO is linked to available full-text articles in PsycARTICLES, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Look for articles on the psychology of arsonists, bombers, trauma effects, etc.
Other Useful Databases
Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Online (McGraw-Hill). Includes articles on fire technology.
ENGnetBASE. CRC's online collection of engineering handbooks.
FIREDOC. A freely available federal database of fire science-related literature.
FORENSICnetBASE/LawENFORCEMENTnetBASE. From CRC Press, this is an essential resource for those studying the forensic aspects of fire investigation, the chemistry and physics of fire, etc.
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics Online. Standard CRC reference online.
Homeland Security Digital Library. Freely available federal database.
Knovel Library. Links to K-Essentials and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Library.
Many of the websites below are from academic institutions and government agencies. It is usually best to focus on ones like these with .edu and .gov domains. Google "women's studies" for additional sites and examine them carefully for their content, currency, and credentials. Always look for the About us link. Here's a good website to help you to critically evaluate Internet resources.
Federal Agencies and Resources
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Look for the Emergency Response section. Also the ATSDR and NIOSH pages have lots of links on dealing with fires and chemical hazards.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Now includes FEMA; also has NIOSH, NFPA & ANSI equipment standards and WISER, Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders.
Firesafety.gov. Federal gateway to information on fire safety across departments, with links to statistics, other fire safety material, consumer protection information and other web sites.
National Institute of Standards and Technology Building and Fire Research Laboratory. Look for the links for fire tests/data, software/models, publications, and the Firedoc database.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Fire Safety. Click on the links to other pages, such as chemical safety, emergency response and others.
U.S. Fire Administration. Site includes links to publications online and data.
Fire Protection Associations and Institutions
Fire Safety Institute. A "not-for-profit' that lists commercial and government resources.
International Association of Fire Chiefs. Links to firefighting groups, arson investigators, and more.
International Code Council. Develops codes for building safety and fire prevention. A formal consolidation, in 2003, of BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators), ICBO (International Conference of Building Officials), and SBCCI (Southern Building Code Congress International).
National Fire Protection Association. We have their looseleaf subscription service in the reference collection [Ref. TH9111] with the codes, standards and guidelines.
Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Drop-down box links to other associations and topics like ethics.
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Fire Protection Division. Tests and certifies products.
Any Questions? Come to the Information Desk, call us at 203-932-7189 or e-mail us.
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