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Buildings & Construction

Building codes & standards

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Displaying 101 - 125 of 128

Movement on Stairs During Building Evacuations

June 8, 2016
Author(s)
Richard D. Peacock, Paul A. Reneke, Erica D. Kuligowski, Robert C. Hagwood
The time that it takes an occupant population to reach safety when descending a stair during building evacuations is typically estimated by measureable engineering variables such as stair geometry, speed, stair density, and pre-observation delay. In turn

Modeling of moment connections for structural fire analyses

January 5, 2016
Author(s)
Mina S. Seif, Therese P. McAllister, Joseph A. Main, William E. Luecke
Performance-based methodologies to evaluate the fire performance of structures are needed to move beyond the prescriptive procedures presently in use, which cannot be used to determine actual structural performance in fire. Analytical methods are needed

Standardization of Smart Grid Customer Interfaces

July 1, 2015
Author(s)
Steven T. Bushby, David G. Holmberg
One of the key concepts of a modernized “smart grid” is to combine modern communication technology with an improved electric grid to enable energy consumers to exchange information with energy suppliers in order to collaboratively manage electricity supply

Risk-Informed Performance-Based Design Concepts and Framework

March 31, 2015
Author(s)
Brian J. Meacham, Alberto Alvarez-Rodriguez
A new framework for a risk-informed performance-based approach to fire safety analysis and design has been proposed. It is structured around a paradigm in which the performance analysis is conducted relative to the performance of a building-occupant system

Behavior of structural steel moment connections under fire loading

March 24, 2015
Author(s)
Mina S. Seif, Joseph Main, Fahim H. Sadek
Performance-based methodologies to evaluate the fire performance of structures are needed to move beyond the prescriptive procedures presently in use. Analytical methods are needed for simulating the performance of structural systems, including connections

Performance of Portable Radios Exposed to Elevated Temperatures

October 9, 2014
Author(s)
Michelle K. Donnelly, William F. Young, Dennis G. Camell
This study investigates the performance issues associated with the use of handheld portable radios by fire fighters working in elevated temperature environments. Radios may be vulnerable to elevated temperatures that can be encountered during fire fighting

Structural Design for Fire: A Survey of Building Codes and Standards

October 1, 2014
Author(s)
Dat Duthinh
This document is a critical assessment of building codes and standards pertaining to structural design for fire from the United States, Canada, European Union members, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. These countries were selected because of their

White Paper on Fire Behavior of Steel Structures

September 18, 2014
Author(s)
Maria Garlock, Jo? Kruppa, Guo-Qiang Li, Li, Bin Zhao
This white paper presents the state-of-the-art of large-scale experiments, modeling, and performance- based design efforts in fire behavior of steel structures

White Paper on Fire Resistance of Concrete Structures

September 18, 2014
Author(s)
Luke Bisby, Hossein Mostafaei, Pierre Pimienta
This white paper presents the current, international, state-of-the-art large-scale experimental, modeling, and performance-based design (PBD) efforts related to structural fire resistance of concrete structures. The paper addresses these topics with

White Paper on Fire Resistance of Timber Structures

September 18, 2014
Author(s)
Andrew Buchanan, Birgit SP Wood Technology, Sweden tman, Andrea Frangi
Fire resistance of timber structures is a very large field. In order to keep this document relatively small, the scope of is limited as follows: • This report attempts to define a Performance-Based framework for the fire safety design of multi-story timber

The Use of Elevators for Evacuation in Fire Emergencies in International Buildings

July 21, 2014
Author(s)
Max T. Kinateder, Hidemi Omori, Erica D. Kuligowski
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of elevator evacuation from high-rise buildings with a focus on the safety of mobility impaired occupants. It addresses the specifics of elevator evacuation as well as relevant building codes and its

Investigation Plan - National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Technical Investigation of Building and Emergency Communications System Performance in the Joplin, Missouri, Tornado of May 22, 2011

May 24, 2012
Author(s)
Marc L. Levitan, Long T. Phan, Erica D. Kuligowski, Franklin T. Lombardo, David P. Jorgensen
Following the May 22, 2011 tornado that devastated the City of Joplin, NIST sent four engineers to Missouri on May 24 through May 28 to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance. Based on analysis of the data collected and other criteria required by law and

Strategic Roadmap for Fire Risk Reduction in Buildings and Communities

April 18, 2012
Author(s)
Anthony P. Hamins, Jason D. Averill, Richard G. Gann, Nelson P. Bryner, Rick D. Davis, David T. Butry, Alexander Maranghides, Jiann C. Yang, Daniel M. Madrzykowski, Matthew F. Bundy, Samuel L. Manzello, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Francine K. Amon, William E. Mell
The burden of fire on the U.S. economy continues to be large, comprising approximately $280 billion annually, or 2 percent of GDP. Over the last 30 years, civilian fire deaths and injuries have decreased due to the efforts of many people and organizations

Letter to the Editor of the CTBUH Journal

December 1, 2011
Author(s)
Sivaraj Shyam-Sunder, Jason D. Averill, Fahim Sadek
NIST was invited to comment on the articles written for a special issue of the CTBUH Journal, marking the ten years passed since the 2001 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. This letter to the editor reacts to the role of the NIST WTC Investigation

An Information Model Standard for Facility Integration With A Smart Grid

November 1, 2011
Author(s)
Steven T. Bushby
The National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA) and the American Society of Heating Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) are working to cooperatively develop a national Facility Smart Grid Information Model standard. This

Alternate Smoldering Ignition Sources: A Literature Review with Analysis

October 1, 2011
Author(s)
Richard G. Gann, Amanda P. Robbins
Current existing and proposed U.S. flammability standards for soft furnishings such as mattresses and upholstered furniture specify a “standard” cigarette as the ignition source in smoldering resistance performance tests. With the prevalence of reduced

Load Combination Requirements in ASCE Standard 7-10: New Developments

April 14, 2011
Author(s)
Therese P. McAllister, Bruce Ellingwood
The fundamental load combination requirements for strength design (or load and resistance factor design) appearing in Section 2.3 of ASCE Standard 7-10 advance those first developed and implemented in 1982, which since have achieved a state of maturity and

Interlaboratory Study of Alternate Filter Papers for Use in ASTM E 2187

December 11, 2009
Author(s)
Richard G. Gann, William F. Guthrie
ASTM E 2187 has become the internationally referenced standard for designing and specifying less fire-prone cigarettes. In this test method, a lit cigarette is laid on multiple layers of filter paper, and the observer identifies whether the cigarette burns

Building Occupant Safety Research 2008

June 12, 2009
Author(s)
Richard D. Peacock, Jason D. Averill, Erica D. Kuligowski, Richard W. Bukowski
Historically, building egress systems have evolved in response to specific large loss incidents. Currently, systems are designed around a concept of providing stair capacity for the largest occupant load floor in the building with little or no

Stairwell Evacuation from Buildings: What We Know We Don't Know

June 12, 2009
Author(s)
Richard D. Peacock, Jason D. Averill, Erica D. Kuligowski
Occupant descent down stairwells during building evacuations is typically described by measureable engineering variables such as stairwell geometry, speed, density, and pre-evacuation delay. In turn, predictive models of building evacuation use these
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