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FIRE PATTERN REPEATABILITY: A STUDY IN UNCERTAINTY

Published

Author(s)

Daniel M. Madrzykowski, Charles Fleischmann

Abstract

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting a multi-year study, with the support of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), to examine the repeatability of burn patterns. The primary objective of the study is assessing the repeatability of burn patterns on gypsum board exposed to a limited range of source fires. Although the experiments are simple in design the amount of uncertainty in each component of the experiment, especially in the measurements is discussed. The study required the use of a variety of measurements to determine the repeatability of the source fires in terms of heat release rate, temperature, heat flux and flame height. Replicate source fire experiments were conducted in an oxygen consumption calorimeter in order to examine the repeatability of the fires in terms of heat release rate. The flame movement and height for each fire was recorded with photographs and videos. The fire pattern experiments were conducted in a three-walled structure with a full floor and partial ceiling constructed from wood framing and lined with painted gypsum board. The source fires were positioned against the rear wall, midway along its length. Replicate experiments were conducted with each fuel. The fire patterns were documented and analyzed for repeatability. The fire pattern height results are then compared to the mean flame height results to examine the level of agreement. Published Online: November 11, 2011 Paper ID: JTE104261 DOI: 10.1520/JTE104261 http://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/JOURNALS/TESTEVAL/
Citation
Journal of Testing and Evaluation
Volume
40
Issue
1

Keywords

burn patterns, fire experiments, fire investigation, fire patterns, heat release rate

Citation

Madrzykowski, D. and Fleischmann, C. (2012), FIRE PATTERN REPEATABILITY: A STUDY IN UNCERTAINTY, Journal of Testing and Evaluation (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created January 3, 2012, Updated February 19, 2017