BFRL: Monthly Highlights

April 2007

BFRL Monthly Highlights

January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 PAST Highlights

BFRL Studies Retrofits for Chembio Protection of Buildings

BFRL has completed a study for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate retrofit options to increase building protection against potential chembio releases. A number of commercially available approaches to protecting buildings against accidental and intentional releases are identified and described, and their potential to protect building occupants from a number of generic contaminant releases is evaluated using building airflow and contaminant transport modeling. The retrofits considered include enhanced filtration and air cleaning, building pressurization, relocation of outdoor air intakes, shelter- in-place, and isolation of vulnerable spaces such as lobbies. In addition, a case study is presented in which specific retrofit options are considered for two actual buildings, and pre-installation designs and cost estimates are developed. Based on the analyses performed, the results of the case study and other available information, guidance on the application and effectiveness of various retrofits are presented. An economic analysis software tool employing lifecycle cost analysis techniques was also developed as part of this project. This tool helps users make consistent comparisons of chembio protection strategies based on industry consensus life-cycle cost standard ASTM E 917, allowing building owners and managers to define chembio hazard scenarios and compare chembio protection strategies that address those scenarios. Furthermore, the software helps users assess the importance of additional benefits, such as increased energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality. This effort has been documented in NISTIR 7379, which is available at http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/ build07/PDF/b07006.pdf. The life-cycle cost analysis tool is available at http://www2.bfrl.nist.gov/software/LCCchembio/index.htm.

CONTACT:
Andy Persily
apersily@nist.gov
301-975-6418

Pilot Study on Thermal Conductivity for Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Consultative Committee for Thermometry, Working Group 9 on Thermophysical Properties

BFRL researchers have completed thermal conductivity measurements as part of a pilot study organized under the auspices of Working Group 9 (WG9) on Thermophysical Properties, Consultative Committee for Thermometry (CCT), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. The pilot study on thermal conductivity measurements by the guarded-hot-plate method was proposed in 2005 at the CCT-WG9 meeting in Bratislava. There are six confirmed national metrology institute (NMI) participants: Laboratoire National d’Essais (Pilot), National Institute of Metrology China, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Physical Laboratory, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, and All-Russia D.I. Mendeleyev Scientific and Research Institute for Metrology (VNIIM). The protocol was agreed upon in July 2006 and measurements are to be conducted by all NMIs from January 2007 to January 2008. Final analysis of the test results are to be completed in June 2008. Two insulation materials were selected for the comparison: the European Commission Reference Material Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements 440 (resin-bonded glass fibre board) and two expanded polystyrene boards (having thickness of 35 mm and 70mm, respectively). The guarded-hot-plate measurements have been conducted at 10°C, 23°C, 40°C and a temperature difference of 20 K using the NIST 1-meter guarded-hotplate apparatus. There were four replicates required at 23°C to assess laboratory repeatability. The guarded-hotplate measurements were performed in accordance with International Organization for Standardization 8302:1991, “Thermal insulation—Determination of steady-state thermal resistance and related properties— Guarded hot plate apparatus.

CONTACT:
Robert Zarr
rzarr@nist.gov
301-975-6436

Last updated: 4/25/2007