The fire research community has large amounts of ever-growing research outputs and information in... more The fire research community has large amounts of ever-growing research outputs and information in a vast array of formats located in discrete repositories around the world. This fragmented environment is collectively inefficient, resulting in a loss of unidentified opportunities to use research outputs, increasing duplication, and limiting project sizes, scope and impact. There is an opportunity to more effectively utilize our fire information.
Results from ASTM E2187, ISO 12863 and NZS/AS4830 for testing the ignition propensity of cigarett... more Results from ASTM E2187, ISO 12863 and NZS/AS4830 for testing the ignition propensity of cigarettes have limitations that include sensitivity to mass, moisture content, and surface roughness of the filter paper substrate, variations in test results when using filter paper produced in a different location, and reliance on a proprietary product. Therefore identification of an essentially equivalent substrate with good reproducibility across various manufacturers and batches is underway. A summary of results of the initial screening and preliminary identification of a likely alternate substrate are presented. INTRODUCTION ASTM E 2187, ISO 12863 and NZS/AS4830 describe essentially the same test method for the ignition propensity of cigarettes. This standard test method is the basis for less fire-prone cigarette regulatory requirements in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the European Union. U.S. fire incidence statistics project a likely reduction of roughly 30 % in deaths from cigarette...
The research on reduced ignition propensity cigarettes conducted by NIST since 1984 was done in t... more The research on reduced ignition propensity cigarettes conducted by NIST since 1984 was done in the interest of saving lives and protecting property from cigarette-induced fires. In no way does it lessen or negate the health hazards and addictive nature of smoking as determined by the Surgeon General or suggest that NIST and the Department of Commerce condone smoking. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this report in order to specify an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. Metric units are used throughout this document, except where standards are discussed that explicitly use non-metric units or where a commercial product is described in non-metric units.
Existing and proposed U.S. flammability standards for soft furnishings such as mattresses and uph... more 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 introduction of reduced ignition propensity cigarettes into the marketplace, the specific conventional cigarette that has been widely used in testing for ignition resistance is no longer in production. A standard reference cigarette, SRM 1196, has been developed as a short-term replacement. However, to support furnishings manufacturers and testing organizations in product design and evaluation, and to assist regulators in the compliance evaluation process, a feasible and preferably non-agricultural ignition source with long-term availability is desirable. A key first step in establishing such a standard ignition source is examination of prior characterizations of smoldering ignition sources and the cigarette ignition process. This report documents a literature survey on these topics.
SUMMARY This article explores how egress drills—specifically those related to fire incidents—are ... more SUMMARY This article explores how egress drills—specifically those related to fire incidents—are currently used, their impact on safety levels, and the insights gained from them. It is suggested that neither the merits of egress drills are well understood, nor the impact on egress performance well characterized. In addition, the manner in which they are conducted varies both between and within regulatory jurisdictions. By investigating their strengths and limitations, this article suggests opportunities for their enhancement possibly through the use of other egress models to support and expand upon the benefits provided. It is by no means suggested that drills are not important to evacuation safety —only that their inconsistent use and the interpretation of the results produced may mean we (as researchers, practitioners, regulators, and stakeholders) are not getting the maximum benefit out of this important tool.
on a standardized approach for selection of scenarios used in performancebased analysis with fire... more on a standardized approach for selection of scenarios used in performancebased analysis with fire-safety in mind. This report provides a flowchart that analysts can follow to select the fire-safety scenarios to be used to assess an engineering building design performance for fire hazards. The method published in this report evolved from discussions of the draft of ISO/WD 29761 (Fire-safety engineering-Selection of design occupant behavioural scenarios and design behaviours) that was in development by Working Group 11 of ISO/TC92/SC4 during meetings in 2010. The method incorporates and builds on concepts from ISO/TS 16733 (2006), where appropriate. In preparing this report, some text from ISO/TS 16733 (2006) has been used as a starting point, with permission from the chairs of the ISO Working Group (WG6) and Sub Committee (ISO/TC92/SC4) directly responsible for the standard, and then expanded where applicable and appropriate for the purposes of this document. It is recommended that the reader of this report familiarizes themselves with ISO 16733 (2006) to provide a more comprehensive background for the context and terminology used here.
Ongoing international collaborative research clearly demonstrates that the concept of adiabatic s... more Ongoing international collaborative research clearly demonstrates that the concept of adiabatic surface temperature is a simple single parameter to describe the complex convective and radiative conditions to which the surface of a structural element is exposed ...
The fire research community has large amounts of ever-growing research outputs and information in... more The fire research community has large amounts of ever-growing research outputs and information in a vast array of formats located in discrete repositories around the world. This fragmented environment is collectively inefficient, resulting in a loss of unidentified opportunities to use research outputs, increasing duplication, and limiting project sizes, scope and impact. There is an opportunity to more effectively utilize our fire information.
Results from ASTM E2187, ISO 12863 and NZS/AS4830 for testing the ignition propensity of cigarett... more Results from ASTM E2187, ISO 12863 and NZS/AS4830 for testing the ignition propensity of cigarettes have limitations that include sensitivity to mass, moisture content, and surface roughness of the filter paper substrate, variations in test results when using filter paper produced in a different location, and reliance on a proprietary product. Therefore identification of an essentially equivalent substrate with good reproducibility across various manufacturers and batches is underway. A summary of results of the initial screening and preliminary identification of a likely alternate substrate are presented. INTRODUCTION ASTM E 2187, ISO 12863 and NZS/AS4830 describe essentially the same test method for the ignition propensity of cigarettes. This standard test method is the basis for less fire-prone cigarette regulatory requirements in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the European Union. U.S. fire incidence statistics project a likely reduction of roughly 30 % in deaths from cigarette...
The research on reduced ignition propensity cigarettes conducted by NIST since 1984 was done in t... more The research on reduced ignition propensity cigarettes conducted by NIST since 1984 was done in the interest of saving lives and protecting property from cigarette-induced fires. In no way does it lessen or negate the health hazards and addictive nature of smoking as determined by the Surgeon General or suggest that NIST and the Department of Commerce condone smoking. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this report in order to specify an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. Metric units are used throughout this document, except where standards are discussed that explicitly use non-metric units or where a commercial product is described in non-metric units.
Existing and proposed U.S. flammability standards for soft furnishings such as mattresses and uph... more 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 introduction of reduced ignition propensity cigarettes into the marketplace, the specific conventional cigarette that has been widely used in testing for ignition resistance is no longer in production. A standard reference cigarette, SRM 1196, has been developed as a short-term replacement. However, to support furnishings manufacturers and testing organizations in product design and evaluation, and to assist regulators in the compliance evaluation process, a feasible and preferably non-agricultural ignition source with long-term availability is desirable. A key first step in establishing such a standard ignition source is examination of prior characterizations of smoldering ignition sources and the cigarette ignition process. This report documents a literature survey on these topics.
SUMMARY This article explores how egress drills—specifically those related to fire incidents—are ... more SUMMARY This article explores how egress drills—specifically those related to fire incidents—are currently used, their impact on safety levels, and the insights gained from them. It is suggested that neither the merits of egress drills are well understood, nor the impact on egress performance well characterized. In addition, the manner in which they are conducted varies both between and within regulatory jurisdictions. By investigating their strengths and limitations, this article suggests opportunities for their enhancement possibly through the use of other egress models to support and expand upon the benefits provided. It is by no means suggested that drills are not important to evacuation safety —only that their inconsistent use and the interpretation of the results produced may mean we (as researchers, practitioners, regulators, and stakeholders) are not getting the maximum benefit out of this important tool.
on a standardized approach for selection of scenarios used in performancebased analysis with fire... more on a standardized approach for selection of scenarios used in performancebased analysis with fire-safety in mind. This report provides a flowchart that analysts can follow to select the fire-safety scenarios to be used to assess an engineering building design performance for fire hazards. The method published in this report evolved from discussions of the draft of ISO/WD 29761 (Fire-safety engineering-Selection of design occupant behavioural scenarios and design behaviours) that was in development by Working Group 11 of ISO/TC92/SC4 during meetings in 2010. The method incorporates and builds on concepts from ISO/TS 16733 (2006), where appropriate. In preparing this report, some text from ISO/TS 16733 (2006) has been used as a starting point, with permission from the chairs of the ISO Working Group (WG6) and Sub Committee (ISO/TC92/SC4) directly responsible for the standard, and then expanded where applicable and appropriate for the purposes of this document. It is recommended that the reader of this report familiarizes themselves with ISO 16733 (2006) to provide a more comprehensive background for the context and terminology used here.
Ongoing international collaborative research clearly demonstrates that the concept of adiabatic s... more Ongoing international collaborative research clearly demonstrates that the concept of adiabatic surface temperature is a simple single parameter to describe the complex convective and radiative conditions to which the surface of a structural element is exposed ...
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