Prof. Chow Wan-ki, Chair Professor and Head of PolyU’s Department of Building Services Engineering, has long been researching on fire spread and control, mathematical modelling of fire as well as fire suppression systems. These research efforts aim to explore the scientific understanding of fire problems in high-rise buildings, deep underground subway stations, long tunnels and large atria. 

Managed by the PolyU and the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) Fire Safety and Technology Research Centre for Large Space, a 30-meter tall full-scale burning facility, the PolyU/USTC Atrium, was built at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science at Hefei, Anhui Province, China. This atrium laboratory is a facility at international level for studying atrium fire, smoke filling process, natural vents, mechanical smoke exhaust, atrium sprinkler and intelligent fire detection systems.

Research projects undertaken by Prof. Chow and his team cover hotel fires, industrial fires, bus and train vehicle fires, shopping mall fires, improved fire safety in old buildings and supertall buildings, evaluation of fire services systems, and risk analysis of the airport terminal buildings. Results have been applied to assist the government in reviewing big construction projects with fire safety provided by performance-based design.