Building and Fire Research Laboratory

Headquarters

---

Introduction

BFRL is the national laboratory dedicated to enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. industry and public safety through performance prediction and measurement technologies and technical advances that improve the life cycle quality of constructed facilities. Its products are used by those who own, design, construct, supply, and provide for the safety or environmental quality of constructed facilities.

Goals

Major goals of the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory are to improve the productivity of the U.S. construction industry, which now faces stiff competition from overseas firms, and to reduce the human and economic losses resulting from fires, earthquakes, winds, and other hazards. Through performance prediction and measurement technologies, as well as technical advances, the laboratory works to improve the life-cycle quality of constructed facilities.

The laboratory studies fire science and fire safety engineering; building materials; computer-integrated construction practices; and structural, mechanical, and environmental engineering. Products of the laboratory's research include measurements and test methods, performance criteria, and technical data that are incorporated into building and fire standards and codes. Staff members are involved in more than 100 activities to develop voluntary standards.

The laboratory conducts investigations at the scene of major fires as well as structural failures due to earthquakes, hurricanes, or other causes. The knowledge gained from these investigations guides research and is applied to recommendations for design and construction practices to reduce hazards.

Laboratory Office

• Sivaraj Shyam-Sunder
  Director
  (301) 975-6850
  sunder@nist.gov
• Robert Chapman, Acting Chief, Office of Applied Economics
  (301) 975-2723
  robert.chapman@nist.gov
• Jack Hayes, Director, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
  301-975-5640
  jhayes@nist.gov

International Activities

• Forum for International Cooperation on Fire Research
• UJNR, the U.S./Japan Program on Natural Resources
• CIB WI4: Fire
  The present emphasis of CIB W14: Fire is on fire safety engineering needed for performance based fire codes or regulations. Contact:  Richard Bukowski, richard.bukowski@nist.gov

 

Privacy Policy/Security Notice  |  Disclaimer  |  FOIA NIST is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce