Neil P. Wu, P.E., CFEI, CBO

Mr. Wu has applied his knowledge of fire protection engineering principles to the analysis of building fire and life safety systems, the determination of fire performance of materials, and the causative analysis and investigation of fire losses. He specializes in building design, construction, inspection, and testing of critical fire and life safety systems including smoke management systems, automatic fire suppression systems, fire protection site infrastructure, automatic fire alarm and detection systems, and occupant egress systems. He has provided testimony regarding fire protection systems, fire origin and cause, and flammability of building construction and insulating materials.

Mr. Wu’s research has focused on the flammability of liquid petroleum fuels, the ignition and flame spread characteristics of solid materials, full-scale tests of water-based and alternative fire suppression agents, as well as bench-scale to full-size flammability sensitivity testing.

Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Wu served as the Fire Protection Engineer for the City of Orlando, Florida. As the authority having jurisdiction, he was responsible for regulating construction for compliance to the International Code Council ® (ICC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) model code families. In addition, Mr. Wu also served as a Project Engineer at a large fire protection engineering consulting firm providing services in the areas of building fire protection and life safety system design, fire investigation and litigation support, engineered performance-based design, construction administration, and construction management.

Wu N, Carroll P. The revolution in building materials: plastics—Innovation or ignition? National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Annual Conference, Hollywood, FL, November 2008.

Wu N. The importance of sprinkler system main drain testing: Impairment to a sprinkler system can have catastrophic consequences. Fire Prot Contractor 2008; 22–23, September.

Wu N. Ready for action: Five steps can help ensure that sprinkler water supply always meets design criteria. Building Operating Manage 2008; 94–96, September.

Wu N. Managing change of fire sprinkler system water supplies. Int Fire Prot 2008; 69–74, August.

Torero JL, Wu N, Kolb G. The effect of weathering on the flammability of a slick of crude oil on a water bed. Combust Sci Technol 2000; 161:269–308.

Quintiere JG, Torero JL, Long RT, Wu N, Dillon SE, Heater D. Material fire properties. FAA Fire Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, November 1998.

Wu N, Torero JL, Mosman T, Olenick S. Effect of weathering on piloted ignition and flash point of a slick of oil. Proceedings, 21st Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar, 21st Environment Canada. Proceedings, Volume 2, Alberta, Canada, June 10–12, 1998. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, pp. 633–649, 1998.

Wu N. Determination of fire properties of liquid fuels characteristic of oil spills using ASTM E-1321. M.S. Thesis, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, Spring 1998.

Wu N, Torero JL, Kolb G. Piloted ignition of a slick of oil on water: The effect of weathering. 27th International Symposium on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, pp. 2783–2790, 1998.

Wu N, Torero JL. Piloted ignition of a slick of oil on water. Proceedings, Chemical and Physical Processes in Combustion, Combustion Institute Eastern States Section, Fall Technical Meeting, Hartford, CT, 1997.

Wu N, Torero JL, Baker M, Kolb G. Ignition, flame spread and mass burning characteristics of liquid fuels on a water bed. Proceedings, 20th Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical Seminar, Environment Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, pp. 769–794, 1997.

Wu N, Torero JL, Baker M, Kolb G. Ignition, flame spread and mass burning characteristics of liquid fuels on a water bed. Spill Sci Technol Bull 1996; 3(4):209–213.

Presentations

Wu N. Material flammability and its contribution to fire growth. National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Maryland and D.C. Chapter, Fall/Winter Meeting, Annapolis, MD, November 2007.

Wu N. Fire protection system maintenance training. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), Atlanta, GA, May 2000.

Wu N. Piloted ignition of a slick of oil on water. Chemical and Physical Processes in Combustion, Combustion Institute Eastern States Section, Fall Technical Meeting, Hartford, CT, October 1997.

Wu N. Ignition, flame spread and mass burning characteristics of liquid fuels on a water bed. 20th Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical Seminar, Environment Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, June 1997.

• International Association of Arson Investigators (active member)
• National Fire Protection Association—NFPA (active member); Incinerators and Waste Handling Systems Technical Committee (principal member, 2007); Flash Fire Protective Garments Technical Committee (principal member, 2009)
• Society of Fire Protection Engineers—SFPE (professional member); Chesapeake Chapter (member)
• International Code Council (active member); International Fire Code Council – ICC Fire/Performance/Wildland-Urban Interface Code Interpretation Committee, FCIC (member, 2007)
• National Association of Fire Investigators (active member)
• National Association of Subrogation Professionals (professional member)