August 2003

BFRL Monthly Highlights

July 2003

August 2003

September 2003

October 2003

November 2003

PAST Highlights

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ASTM Approves Standard Guide for Thermal Transmission Data

ASTM International has approved the new “Standard Guide for Development of Standard Data Records for Computerization for Thermal Transmission Data for Thermal Insulation” (C1553-03). It was proposed by BFRL to ASTM International Committee C16.30 on Thermal Measurements in 2000. Subsequently, BFRL championed the draft through committee approval activities, revising the draft as necessary. The guide defines the principal elements of information, which are considered important and worth recording permanently in computerized databases. The guide is intended for thermal transmission test data obtained from standard test methods under the jurisdiction of either ASTM International or the International Organization for Standardization. Standard Guide C1553-03 assists the thermal insulation user community in facilitating the interchange of thermal transmission data from in-house sources as well as among different corporate entities and institutions.

Contact:
Robert Zarr
301-975-6436

BFRL Holds Workshop on Cement Analysis

BFRL hosted an industry workshop on the latest technology in processing X-ray powder diffraction data of hydraulic cements on June 2-4, 2003. It was designed to enable the analyst to collect and interpret X-ray powder diffraction data where diffraction patterns are fit using a least-squares refinement of crystal structure models. A cement phase crystal structure database previously had been compiled under sponsorship of The Portland Cement Association. Attendees participated in lecture and laboratory exercises on X-ray powder diffraction fundamentals, material preparation, data collection, phase identification, and quantitative methods.

Contact:
Paul Stutzman
301-975-6715

BFRL Hosts Workshop on LADAR Calibration Facility

BFRL hosted a workshop on the needs for a LADAR (LAser Distance and Ranging) calibration facility on June 12-13, 2003. It was attended by a representative cross section of end users and manufacturers as well as private and government researchers from Canada and the United States. The objectives of the workshop were to provide a forum for sharing and discussing current efforts in LADAR calibration, determine the type of performance evaluations and test protocols required, identify the physical requirements of such a facility, and explore potential plans for the establishment/operation/location of a LADAR test facility. The participants agreed there was a need and suggested NIST begin by demonstrating a proof-of-concept for such a facility.

Contact:
William Stone
301-975-6075

McGrattan Elected Honorary Member of Society of Fire Protection Engineers

Kevin McGrattan (BFRL) has been awarded the Grade of Honorary Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). Honorary membership is bestowed upon individuals of acknowledged eminence in fire protection engineering or a related activity. McGrattan received the award for bringing the power of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics modeling of fire environments into the hands of mainstream fire protection practitioners through the development of user-friendly PC-based computer models. McGrattan has spent countless hours understanding the needs of the fire protection engineering profession and developing the advanced knowledge-based tools that fire protection engineers need to adequately serve the public.

The SFPE is an international professional society for engineers involved in the multifaceted field of fire protection engineering. Its worldwide members include engineers in private practice; in industry; and in local, regional, and national government as well as technical members of the insurance industry.

Contact:
Anthony Hamins
301-975-6598

 

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