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Course

Building Code and Life Safety

MAE-40039

Engineering — Fire Protection

Building Code and Life Safety

Master International Building Code (IBC), NFPA standards, and life safety systems design — taught by a licensed professional engineer.

  • Online · Asynchronous
  • Jun 23 – Aug 22, 2026
  • 3.0 Units
  • MAE-40039
$750
 
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Designed for architects, engineers, and construction professionals, this online fire protection engineering course covers International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA life safety requirements, giving you the expertise to design and evaluate compliant, fire-safe buildings.

This course will give students the knowledge to ensure applicable and cost-effective protection measures of life and property from fire are applied. Participants will navigate the most current building and fire codes in the industry, determine how people behave in fire, apply the applicable protection measures for buildings, and understand building evacuation and human tenability conditions. Assignments will focus and use real-world examples and industry references.

Who should enroll

  • Fire protection engineers
  • Architects & building designers
  • Building officials
  • Structural & Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing engineers
  • Fire Prevention officials
  • Facility & safety managers

What you’ll learn

Codes & standards

Navigate the International Building Code (IBC), and NFPA standards as applied to real building projects.

Egress systems design

Design compliant means of egress to ensure safe occupant evacuation during a fire event.

Occupancy classifications

Apply occupancy and construction type requirements to correctly determine code compliance.

Fire protection systems

Understand active and passive fire protection requirements for commercial buildings.

Human behavior in fire

Apply occupant behavior principles to building design and evacuation planning.

Structural fire protection

Evaluate structural protection measures and fire test standards for code-compliant construction.

Topics covered

 
  • International Building Code (IBC)
  • NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
  • NFPA 13 — Sprinkler systems
  • Means of egress
  • Smoke control systems
  • Structural fire protection
  • Active and passive fire protection systems
  • Human behavior in fire
  • Fire test standards
  • Occupancy classifications
  • Construction type and limitations

Your instructor

Derek Duval, PE

Licensed Professional Engineer — Fire Protection Engineering

Southern California–based PE and code consulting expert with a BS and MS in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Extensive experience in the California Building Code (CBC), NFPA standards, healthcare, industrial hazardous materials, DoD facilities, and mixed-use development.

  • PE - Fire Protection
  • MS - Worcester Polytechnic
  • CBC Expert
  • NFPA Specialist
Availability

Offered in Winter and Summer quarters. Check the Academic Calendar for upcoming session dates.

Online
  • Delivered asynchronously with access to course materials anytime during the published course dates
  • Flexibility within structured timelines
  • Interactive learning environments using Canvas LMS
  • Instructor support and feedback
  • Access to all course materials online
Required knowledge

Students should have a foundational understanding of heat transfer before enrolling. This knowledge is applied when evaluating fire behavior, thermal effects on structures, and fire protection system performance.

Helpful background

While not required, students with the following backgrounds will find the material most applicable:

  • Engineering (mechanical, structural, civil, or fire protection)
  • Architecture or building design
  • Construction management or general contracting
  • Facilities management or building inspection
  • Environmental health & safety (EHS)
Not sure if you qualify? Contact us at unexengr@ucsd.edu and an advisor will help determine if this course is the right fit for your background and professional goals.
This course is designed for fire protection engineers, architects, mechanical and structural engineers, building officials (AHJ), contractors, facility managers, and safety professionals who need working knowledge of the California Building Code (CBC) and NFPA requirements.
The course covers the International Building Code (IBC), NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), and NFPA 13 (sprinkler systems), with a focus on practical application to real California building projects.
The IBC is the national model code published by the International Code Council (ICC). The CBC is California’s state adoption of the IBC with additional California-specific amendments.
This is a 3-unit UC San Diego Extended Studies credit-bearing post-baccalaureate, professional-level courses designed to provide opportunities for professional advancement and enable the general public to gain knowledge in various academic fields. Credit earned in these courses may lead to the award of a formal certificate by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies or be applied toward an academic degree or professional credential, subject to the approval of the receiving institution(s). Contact unexengr@ucsd.edu for any other questions.
Yes. The course covers building and fire code fundamentals, occupancy classifications, egress design, and fire protection systems — all core topics in the fire protection engineering PE exam.
Students should have a foundational knowledge of heat transfer. A background in engineering, architecture, or construction is helpful but not required for enrollment.
Yes. This course is 100% online and asynchronous — no live sessions required. Complete coursework at your own pace between the published start and end dates, and the weekly-based course pace. Students are responsible for meeting the course deadlines.
The recommended learning path continues with Principles of Fire Protection Engineering (MAE-40037) and Fire Protection System Design (MAE-40040), both offered through UC San Diego Extended Studies.

Course Information

Online
3.00 units
$750.00

Get more information

Course sessions

Closed

Section ID:

198956

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 6/29/2026

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
Closed

Instructor: Derek Duval

Derek Duval

Derek Duval is a registered professional engineer (PE) in Fire Protection Engineering and Code Consulting Expert located in the Southern California Region. He holds a Bachelor in Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master in Science in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. Duval built his experience in Fire Protection Engineering from a diverse background. He has experience in the development of national codes and standards, design and review fire protection systems (including but not limited to; fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, smoke control systems, fire-rated construction systems), installation oversight of fire protection systems, hazard assessment and risk analysis, and special hazard knowledge. Mr. Duval has managed projects in multiple vertical markets with a specialized focus in health care, industrial/manufacturing processes involving hazardous materials (combustible dusts, flammable and combustible liquids), detention and justice, DoD facilities, mixed-use development, higher education, and storage and warehouse facilities.

With extensive working knowledge of the building/fire codes and standards, specifically the California Building Code (CBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Mr. Duval has participated in several seminars as a speaker and expert in the matter.

Full Bio

FAQs
Each instructor has his/her own preferred method of communication and response policy, which will be detailed on the course syllabus. However, most instructors utilize email or the discussion board and will respond within 24-48 hours.
Format: Online asynchronous. There are no set meeting times, however, students follow a weekly schedule and there will be deadlines to meet in terms of course requirements. This course cannot be completed at an accelerated rate. UC San Diego Extended Studies operates in Pacific Standard Time and therefore any deadline is considered 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Three unit courses run for approximately 9 weeks; four unit courses run for approximately 10 weeks. For exact course dates of upcoming sections, visit the webpage of the course you are interested in taking on our website.
Please contact Student Services at (858) 534-3400 or unex-reg@ucsd.edu if you experience any issues logging in to any of our systems.
The courses in this program are post-baccalaureate, professional-level, credit bearing courses. Credit earned in these courses may lead to the award of a formal certificate by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies or may be applied toward an academic degree or professional credential, subject to the approval of the receiving institution.

If you wish to transfer credit, it is your responsibility to confer with the receiving institution before enrolling, as each individual academic institution decides whether or not to accept Extension’s credits.
Our classes post to our website and become open for enrollment approximately two months prior to the new quarter starting. If you’d like to get an email reminder you can sign up for our newsletter(s) in MyExtension, under the “Preferences” tab.
Enrollment in a course may be closed for one or more of the following reasons:
  • The course is at capacity. If the course is at capacity you will only be able to join the waitlist. If space becomes available in the course, students on the waitlist are contacted in the order they joined the waitlist.
  • The course has progressed to a point where students will no longer be able to make-up missed work and be successful in the course.
  • The course is cancelled due to low enrollments.
For all three of these reasons we recommend students enroll early in the courses they are interested in.
The refund deadline for courses in this program is typically 3 days after the start of the course. This allows you to enroll in a course and participate in the first class meeting to determine if the course is a good fit. Then, if needed, either you may either transfer your enrollment to a different course or submit a drop request by emailing Student Services at unex-reg@ucsd.edu. The exact refund deadline for each section is listed in the section notes on the course page in our website, and you can also find it in MyExtension by clicking on “My Courses” and then the name of the course.
We recommend enrolling as soon as possible, as occasionally classes will reach capacity.