Edward Fyfe

Edward Fyfe (born July 19, 1940) is a chemical engineer recognized as the pioneer of the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) structural systems industry. With more than 40 patents in the composite strengthening field, Fyfe developed fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) into a commercially viable product meant to strengthen and restore columns, slabs, walls, pipes and structural connections in buildings, waterfront frameworks and industrial facilities.
Fyfe is the principal of the Fyfe Technology Center in San Diego, CA is active in his company, Fyfe Company LLC. The products developed by Fyfe are available for structural applications under the Tyfo® Fibrwrap® brand.
Education and the Early Years
Ed Fyfe graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1964 with a chemical engineering degree (P.Eng.). After graduation, Fyfe took a position as a process engineer with Dupont of Canada, Limited. Working in Nylon Intermediates, he was soon (1965) promoted to the Research and Development Department in Montreal to specialize in Teflon® and Elastomers research.
In 1968, in conjunction with colleague Dave Pigott, Fyfe invented a method to turn scrap-printed polyethylene into garbage bag film in a simple, one-step process. The resulting company, PCL Limited, is currently a publicly held Canadian business.
Fyfe moved on to begin Fyfe Developments 1970. The company, serving Burlington, Ontario and Niagara Falls, NY, manufactured expansion joints, bearings and other construction products. After working to invent the Aseismos-Control™ system for base isolation of structures, Fyfe formed a third company in 1983 (Fyfe Associates, Inc.). The company was responsible for installing Los Angeles County’s 911 Building isolator system.
In 1988, Fyfe began researching pre-saturated composite materials for column strengthening, creating 14 large-scale columns to test his innovative fiber technology. The Fiber wrap, as it became known, was branded with the name Tyfo® Fibrwrap® System, and was approved by the California Department of Transportation. Further testing lead to its use in reinforcing beams, slabs, beam-column joints, walls and pipes.
Current Company
Founded in 1992, Fyfe Company LLC manufacturers and provides engineering support for the Tyfo® Fibrwrap® Strengthening Systems Mr. Fyfe invented. He is also the founder of the FYFE Group, which includes certified Fibrwrap® applicators around the world. Applicators are trained to use externally bonded Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) systems to restore, repair and strengthen new and existing masonry, concrete, steel and wooden structures.
Fyfe Company staffs hundreds of employees, including in-house engineers, material specialists and installation technicians. The company has completed thousands of Fibrwrap® projects worldwide. Fyfe Co. and Fyfe’s related entities are realizing consistent growth across all markets, and substantially more growth expected in the next 10 years.
Current Products
Fibrwrap® systems are the fusion of TYFO® glass, carbon, aramid and hybrid fabrics with TYFO® Polymers. When combined, the result is a composite system engineered to meet the demands of commercial and municipal buildings, bridges and transportation infrastructures, waterfront structures, water treatment/storage facilities and large, industrial facilities. Fibrwrap® technology is used extensively for seismic retrofit, pipe rehabilitation, structural preservation, blast mitigation, corrosion repair and prevention, comprehensive force protection, excessive loading and environmental protection.
TYFO® products and Fibrwrap® Systems have been structurally tested over 500 times for durability, corrosion, blast mitigation and fire resistance. Studies simulate 50 to 100 years of service life, and were conducted by hundreds of independent facilities, including universities and accredited private labs. Fibrwap® Systems also performed as designed during major urban earthquakes in Taipei, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Salvador and China.
Patents
Fyfe holds over 40 patents in the engineering industry. Patents include:
• Disc bearing concept
• Pressure sealing expansion joint
• Seismic disc bearing concept
• The following TYFO® Composite Systems elements:
o Columns
o Beams
o Walls
o Underwater
o Blast
o Pipe
o Blast Resistant Building
o Anchors Method for Reinforcing a Structure
o Composites to Steel
o Fire-Resistant Systems
o Composite Reinforced Pipe
o Stay-in-Place Forms
o Structural Bearing
o Method of externally strengthening concrete columns with flexible strap reinforcing material
Memberships
Fyfe is a member of the A.C.I. Committee 554, task group K, on Seismic Bearings. The committee produced “Guide to Earthquake Bearings for Concrete Structures.”

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