Temperature Uncertainties for Bare-Bead and Aspirated Thermocouple Measurements in Fire Environments (NISTIR 6242)

Published

October 1, 1998

Author(s)

William M. Pitts, E Braun, Richard D. Peacock, Henri E. Mitler, Erik L. Johnsson, Paul A. Reneke, L G. Blevins

Abstract

Gas-phase temperature is the most ubiquitous measurement recorded in fire environments and plays a central role in understanding of fire behavior. Generally, either bare-bead or sheathed thermcouples are employed. While it is recognized that such thermcouples are subject to significant systematic errors when used in fire environments, e.g., see, in most fire studies uncertainties for temperature measurements are not estimated or reported. The work summarized here has been undertaken to characterize the uncertainties in temperature measurements which can occur when bare-bead thermocouples are used in fire environments and to assess the potential of two approaches -- aspirated thermocouples and the use of multiple thermocouples having different diameters -- to reduce the uncertainties.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6242

Report Number

6242

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.6242

Keywords

fire research, fire science, fire suppression, aspirated thermocouples, enclosures, fire tests, measurement uncertainties, temperature measurements, thermocouples

Citation

Pitts, W. , Braun, E. , Peacock, R. , Mitler, H. , Johnsson, E. , Reneke, P. and Blevins, L. (1998), Temperature Uncertainties for Bare-Bead and Aspirated Thermocouple Measurements in Fire Environments (NISTIR 6242), NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.6242 (Accessed October 11, 2025)