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Engineering Laboratory / Fire Research Division

National Fire Research Laboratory

Design Fires - Residential and Office Items

Research Overview

The objective of this project is to expand the NIST Fire Calorimetry Database to support fire protection engineering analysis and research. Test specimens were typical items found in offices and homes. The global measurements reported include the transient, peak and total heat release rates, the yields of carbon monoxide (CO) and soot, and the mass loss. The appearance of the fires was captured by video cameras from two orthogonal perspectives. Measurements of the heat flux to the surroundings from the test specimens were used to estimate the radiative fraction of the fires.

Hamins A, Di Cristina G, Bundy M, Chakalis T, Fernandez M, Kim I, Ramesh S, Zammarano M (2025) The Character of Burning Residential and Office Items. (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD), NIST Technical Note (TN) NIST TN 2... https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2303
A. Hamins, G. Di Cristina, M. Bundy, I. Kim, M. Zammarano, Fire performance of mattresses with contemporary bedding materials, Fire Safety Journal, Volume 162, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104695
Experiment Name Plot of Heat Release Rate Ignition Photo Date/Time Specimen Fuel Type Test Duration (min) Total Heat Released (MJ) Peak HRR (kW)
NGQC_3m_2kgs
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Box Burner Natural Gas
30.25
249
320
Test001
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
1 kg calibration weight
Pillow A Polyester Foam Insert and Polyester Cover
8.63
4.40
48.6
Test002
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow B Polyurethane Foam Insert and Polyester Cover
16.27
24.4
86.9
Test003
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow C Feather Insert and Polyester Cover
20.30
10.91
20.1
Test004
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow D Polypropylene Foam Insert and Polypropylene Cover
11.07
9.67
81.7
Test005
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow E Feather Insert and Polyester Cover
35.95
9.48
23.6
Test006
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow F Polyester Foam insert and Polyester Cover
20.02
5.44
27.1
Test007
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow A Polyester Foam Insert and Polyester Cover
6.95
5.17
70.4
Test008
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Two D Pillows Polypropylene Foam Insert and Polypropylene Cover
16.73
14.83
80.5
Test009
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Four A Pillows Polyester Foam Insert and Polyester Cover
11.03
16.92
109.2
Test010
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Four D Pillows Polypropylene Foam Insert and Polypropylene Cover
13.15
40.1
191.9
Test011
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow D Polypropylene Foam Insert and Polypropylene Cover
16.48
10.03
93.6
Test012
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow D Polypropylene Foam Insert and Polypropylene Cover
11.92
10.02
101.2
Test013
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Pillow A Polyester Foam Insert and Polyester Cover
7.17
5.41
72.9
Test014
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Laptop Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
6.05
0.19
1.31
Test015
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Laptop / Pillow A Polyester Foam Insert and Polyester Cover/ ABS
25.18
5.92
23.8
Test016
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Stackable Chair A Polyurethane Foam/Plastic
62.80
115.1
621
Test017
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Conference Room Chair B Polyurethane Foam
16.68
38.9
447
Test018
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Side Table Particleboard
18.03
0.93
2.22
Test019
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Conference Room Chair C Polyurethane Foam
16.82
24.8
414
Test020
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Stackable Chair D Polyurethane Foam / Wood
42.57
41.7
117.9
NGQC_9m_20kgsA
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Tube Burner Natural Gas
34.88
2,022
3,130
Test021
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Stackable Chair A Polyurethane Foam / Plastic
49.33
96.1
690
Test022
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Arm Chair E Polyurethane Foam / Cotton cover
27.48
49.2
421
Test023
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Beanbag Chair F Expanded Polystryrene
17.77
58.9
221
Test024
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Chair G Polyurethane Foam
10.50
43.1
366
Test025
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Three Stacked A Chairs Polyurethane Foam / Plastic
80.37
319
766
Test026
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
6" Spring Mattress A with two D pillows Polyurethane foam / Rayon fiber / polyester batting
48.48
82.5
164
Test027
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Arm Chair H Polyurythane Foam
25.40
381
1,733
Test028
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Carpet with two A pillows Polypropylene
20.50
23.2
145.8
Test029
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa A (K-Loveseat) Polyurethane Foam / polyester batting
34.67
811
1,984
Test030
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa B (K-Loveseat+Chaise) with two A pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester batting
36.85
1,426
2,994
Test031
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
6" Polyuretane Foam Mattress B with two D Pillows Polyurethane Foam
46.98
353
897
Test032
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
12" Memory Foam Mattress C with two D Pillows Polyurethane Foam
20.42
647
2,819
Test033
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Bookshelf with Pillow A Particleboard
8.45
6.9
79.2
Test034
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa C with two A pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
30.22
633
4,021
Test035
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa A (Loveseat) with two A pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
43.17
838
1,823
Test036
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa B (Loveseat + Chaise) with two A pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
35.00
1,412
5,153
Test037
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
6" Polyuretane Foam Mattress B with two D pillows and bedding Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
20.13
442
3,408
Test038
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
12" Polyuretane Foam Mattress C with two pillows and bedding Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
19.08
737
4,563
Test039
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
6" Spring Mattress A with two pillows and bedding Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
33.92
98.9
189
Test040
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa B (K-Loveseat) with two A pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
36.10
891
2,217
Test041
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Sofa B (K-Loveseat + Chaise) with two A pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
39.30
1,413
4,036
16CFR1633_BurnerTest
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Line Burners Propane
1.13
1.40
27.7
Test042
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
12" Polyurethane Foam Mattress C with Fire Retarded Cotton Scrim Polyurethane Foam
7.73
1.92
34.1
Test043
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
12" Polyurethane Foam Mattress C with Fire Retarded Cotton Scrim Polyurethane Foam
19.18
below detection limit
37.4
Test044
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
12" Polyurethane Foam Mattress C without fire barrrier and with two D pillows Polyurethane Foam / polyester fiber
14.40
696
7,148
Test045
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Three Stacked I Chairs Polyurethane Foam
29.93
132.1
282
Test046
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Office Chair J Polyurethane Foam
40.27
259
563
Test047
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Three Stacked D Chairs Polyurethane Foam
30.13
114.8
377
Test048
Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
Ignition
Office Chair K Polyurethane Foam / plastic webbing
5.98
below detection limit
18.8

Bryant, R. and Bundy, M. The NIST 20 MW Calorimetry Measurement System for Large-Fire Research, Technical Note (NIST TN) 2077, 2019
https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2077

NIST Fire Calorimetry Database (FCD)
https://doi.org/10.18434/mds2-2314

Last Updated March 17, 2026
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