March 2009

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Revisiting Christmas Tree Fires

Although the number of Christmas tree fires is low, these fires carry a higher level of hazard than other fires that occur in a residential structure. A 1999 NIST study on Scotch Pine Christmas tree fires offered some qualitative guidance on determining if the tree is dry and prone to an easy ignition. A recent NIST study, supported by the U.S. Fire Administration, had the following three objectives: 1) characterize the heat release rate of dry Fraser fir trees 2) demonstrate the ignition resistance of a tree with a high moisture content, and 3) examine the impact of a residential sprinkler on the heat release rate of a dry tree that is on fire in a compartment. The heat release rates of the trees which were allowed to dry ranged from 3.2 MW to 4.3 MW. Trees that were kept in water so that the needles maintained a moisture content in excess of 100 percent, self-extinguished after being exposed to a sprinklered room experiment demonstrated that even under conditions of extreme fire growth, a single sprinkler was able to prevent flashover and limit the spread of fire to other objects. The peak heat release rate, from the sprinklered room, was limited to approximately 1.8 MW. The furnished nonsprinklered room experiment generated a post-flashover heat release rate in excess of 6 MW.

This recent report, Impact of a Residential Sprinkler on the Heat Release Rate of a Christmas Tree Fire (NISTIR 7506), and videos of sprinklered and unsprinklered tree fires are available on CD by sending a request to Daniel Madrzykowski at madrzy@nist.gov or fax: (301) 975-4647

CONTACT:
Dan Madrzykowski
301-975-6677

Service Life Prediction Book Published

Service Life Prediction of Polymeric Materials: Global Perspectives, edited by Jonathan Martin, Rose Ryntz, Joannie Chin, and Ray Dickie, was published by Springer in early February 2009. This volume includes material covered in the Fourth International Symposium on Service Life Prediction held in Key Largo, Fla., in December 2006. Written by some of the world’s leading scientific and technical experts, this book critically examines existing and alternative methodologies for evaluating the service life of polymeric materials as well as advances in accelerated and field exposure testing methodologies.

CONTACT:
Jonathan Martin
301-975-6717

BFRL’s Emmerich Receives ASHRAE Award

Steven Emmerich of the Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group in the Building Environment Division has received a Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This award, which recognizes ASHRAE members who give freely of their time and talent on behalf of the society, is based on Emmerich’s contributions in the areas of standards development and technical committee activities. The award makes note of his leadership as chair of the committee responsible for ASHRAE Standard 62.2, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and his membership on key technical committees related to building ventilation and indoor environmental modeling. In addition, the award recognizes his numerous publications and presentations at ASHRAE meetings and conferences. The award will be presented to Emmerich at the annual society meeting in June 2009.

CONTACT:
Andrew Persily
301-975-6418

Rossiter Honored with ASTM Award

For his work on STP 1504, Roofing, Research, and Standards Development: 6th Volume, Walter Rossiter was the recipient of the ASTM International 2007 Committee on Publications’Award for Excellence in Symposium and Publications Management. “This award, established by the Committee on Publications (COP) in December 1989, acknowledges the excellence and expertise of chairmen and editors who conducted successful symposiums and produced a valuable Special Training Publication. . . As chairman/editor, [Walt] fulfilled all responsibilities with resolve, respect, and enthusiasm, while supporting the policies and objectives of the COP.” He will be presented with the Award for Excellence at the ASTM June Committee Week meeting.

CONTACT:
Walter Rossiter
301-975-6719

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