Matthew B. Barfield, P.E., is an explosion-protection test engineer at Fike Corp. (Blue Springs, MO). He regularly performs explosion, fire, and pressure relief tests to aid research and development of explosion-suppression systems, rupture discs, fire-suppression systems, and other process safety products. He previously worked as a junior consulting process engineer for PROTEGO USA (Charleston, SC), a conservation vent and flame arrester manufacturer. Barfield holds a BSE in chemical engineering from the Univ. of South Carolina. He is a licensed professional engineer in South Carolina and an active member of AIChE and the Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems (DIERS)