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Robert R. Zarr (Assoc)
Mechanical Engineer
Robert R. Zarr is a mechanical engineer in the Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group of the Energy and Environment Division (EED) of the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Mr. Zarr joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology in January 1983 as a Research Mechanical Engineer. In 1987, he became project leader of NIST's 1016 mm guarded hot plate laboratory, a facility used to evaluate steady-state thermal transmission properties of insulating and building materials. Under his leadership, the facility has developed thermal insulation SRM's, participated in inter-laboratory comparisons, and provided more than 100 measurements to industry, government agencies, and academia. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Zarr piloted an international comparison of guarded-hot plate laboratories located at national metrology institutes in Europe, North America and Asia.
Collaborating with the NIST Office of Data and Informatics, Mr. Zarr developed NIST Standard Reference Database 81, "NIST Heat Transmission Properties of Insulating and Building Materials." The database, which compiled more than 50 years of NIST guarded-hot-plate data, is an authoritative reference for aggregated databases of design heat transmission coefficients. Mr. Zarr supervised the design, construction, and evaluation of the NIST 500 mm guarded-hot-plate facility to address thermal measurement issues for industrial building applications, including potential high-temperature thermal insulation SRM's. Mr. Zarr also has interests in improving test methods using the heat-flow meter apparatus.
Mr. Zarr received his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in 1982 and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Maryland. He is a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials Committee C-16 on Thermal Insulation and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Zarr was elected a fellow at the 26th conference of the International Thermal Conductivity Conferences held in 2001 and elected to the Board of Governors in 2009. In 2007, ASTM International Committee C16 on Thermal Insulation presented Mr. Zarr with their Honors Award for significant and meritorious contribution in the field of thermal insulation. Mr. Zarr received the NIST Bronze Medal in 2002 and the NIST Allen V. Astin Award in 2008.
Awards
1998 ASTM Committee on Publications Award of Excellence
2001 Fellow of the International Thermal Conductivity Conference
2002 Bronze Medal
2006 ASTM C16 Honors Award
2008 Allen V. Astin Award
2009 Board of Governors of the International Thermal Conductivity Conference
2011 Thermal Conductivity Award of the International Thermal Conductivity Conference