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PUBLICATIONS

Passenger Minivan Fire Tests. REPORT OF TEST FR 4012

Published

Author(s)

D W. Stroup, Laurean A. DeLauter, James J. Lee, G Roadarmel

Abstract

Two fire tests were conducted using a passenger minivan. The fire test scenarios were selected as part of a fire investigation being conducted by the U.S. Department of Treasury s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Heat release rate was determined as a function of time from ignition under a large calorimeter using the oxygen depletion principle. In addition, the temperatures and gas concentrations inside the passenger compartment were measured. For the first test, approximately 0.317 kg (0.697 lb) of paper was ignited in the passenger compartment with the windows closed. This fire extinguished itself due to lack of oxygen within the passenger compartment. A second test was conducting using 2 L (0.53 gal) of gasoline in the passenger compartment with the driver and passenger windows open. This fire did not extinguish itself; it was extinguished manually with hose lines.
Citation
OTHER - 4012
Report Number
4012
NIST Pub Series
Other
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

arson, fire data, fire models, fire tests, gas analysis, heat release rate, motor vehicle fires, temperature measurements
Buildings and Construction and Fire

Citation

Stroup, D. , DeLauter, L. , Lee, J. and Roadarmel, G. (2001), Passenger Minivan Fire Tests. REPORT OF TEST FR 4012, Other, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861118 (Accessed October 11, 2025)

Issues

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Created December 1, 2001, Updated February 19, 2017
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