October 2001

BFRL Monthly Highlights

October 2001

November 2001

December 2001

January 2002

February 2002

PAST Highlights

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Roof Collapse Studied to Help Protect Firefighters

BFRL, in cooperation with the Kinston, N.C., fire department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, conducted a house fire test in part to measure the position of the roof from ignition to collapse. The feasibility study, funded by the U. S. Fire Administration, examined the potential to measure changes in roof position as an early warning technology for structural failure. Data from the tests are being analyzed and compared with other visual observation of fire conditions to determine if position measurements provide any significant additional information for making decisions about the safety of firefighters who might be on roofs to provide fire ventilation. Venting smoke though roofs is a common practice in fire fighting. It helps clear the smoke from structures to aid other firefighters entering the building. This study follows another conducted in cooperation with the Phoenix fire department to look at the use of thermal imaging as a means to warn about unsafe roof structures.

CONTACT: David Evans, 301-975-6897
Mechanical Engineer, Fire Fighting Technology Group
Fire Research Division

Carino Receives International Recognition

Nicholas J. Carino of the Structures Division, BFRL, was honored at the Fifth International Conference on Recent Advances in Concrete Technology held in Singapore. The conference series is co-sponsored by the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology of Natural Resources Canada and the American Concrete Institute. Carino was cited for “sustained and original contributions in advancing the art and science of concrete technology worldwide.” Specifically, he was honored for contributions in the field of non-destructive testing of concrete. In his invited presentation, Carino reviewed the NIST research that formed the basis for two widely-used ASTM test methods; one on the maturity method and the other on the impact-echo method. The former is a technique for estimating the development of concrete strength based on its measured temperature history, and the latter is a technique for thickness measurement and flaw detection based on stress wave propagation. He currently chairs ASTM subcommittee C09.64 that has jurisdiction over these standards.

CONTACT: Nicholas Carino, 301-975-6063
Leader, Structural Evaluation and Standards Group
Structures Division

Robert R. Zarr Elected a Fellow of International Thermal Conductivity

The International Thermal Conductivity Conference (ITCC, Inc.) has been held since 1961, with ITCC 26 being held in Cambridge, Mass., on Aug. 6-8, 2001. At the Aug. 6, 2001, meeting of the ITCC Board of Directors, Robert R. Zarr was elected a Fellow of the ITCC, in recognition of his contributions to the field of thermal conductivity and, in particular, for his work on the development of thermal conductivity standards.

CONTACT: Hunter Fanney, 301-975-5864
Leader, Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group
Building Environment Division

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