NFPA Journal: Research

WEB SITE: http://www.nfpa.org/researchsection

CHAIR: Daniel Madrzykowski, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Current Research Foundation Projects

The Fire Protection Research Foundation staff met with industry and insurance company representatives to develop a plan to study appropriate protection methods for Class III and other liquids in non-listed plastic intermediate bulk containers. A research consortium is being formed, and a test program is planned for late 2005.

At its February 11 meeting, the Research Advisory Council also agreed to form a working group to develop a compendium of information on the fire hazards associated with the interior furnishings of passenger vehicles. The white paper will include post-fire investigation information and case studies, fire test data on vehicle components, vehicular fire statistics, statistics on materials used in vehicle components, and a comparison of automotive vehicle component fire tests and regulatory requirements with those of other vehicles. The compendium should be completed in 2006.

Another research consortium is being formed in conjunction with the National Research Council of Canada to develop best-practice guidance on fire detection technologies for roadway tunnels.

Detection Research Council Formed

On January 25, the Research Foundation convened a workshop to define a research agenda and road map for hydrogen infrastructure safety. The day-long discussion focused on the research needs for regulating the safety of hydrogen technology as it reaches commercialization.

Participants, who included members of key NFPA technical committees, the fire service, the research community, government agencies, and those commercially involved in hydrogen technology, identified more than 50 research items important in the path toward acceptance of this new technology by the regulatory community. The six top items were code synthesis, stationary fuel cell siting, vehicle refueling stations, metal hydride storage safety, the safety of enclosed parking structures, and fire service and AHJ education. The Foundation is working with the hydrogen community to implement this research.

At its February meeting, the Foundation's Board of Trustees approved the formation of a new research council in cooperation with the Fire Detection Institute. The Council will hold a planning meeting in May to identify and initiate one or more priority research projects in 2005. The Board also approved the formation of new research committee to oversee the nature and management of Foundation research projects.

In January and February, Foundation staff also presented to NFPA's Standards Council a white paper outlining the Foundation's role in the introduction of new technology to NFPA's codes- and standards-development system. In addition, Foundation staff met with members of the NFPA 232 committee, the NFPA 921 committee, the NFPA 150 committee, and the Protection Task Group of NFPA 30 to discuss the Foundation's role in supporting their data needs.

Also in January and February, the Foundation met with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Fuel Cell Council, and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers to discuss collaborating on research programs under development. And staff met with the National Safety Council to discuss participating in a window safety program with fall protection and firefighter egress aspects.

Potential Projects

The Foundation is exploring two new projects. One, devoted to calibration standards for NFPA 262, Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Space, is designed to enhance NFPA 262 on plenum cable fire testing by selecting and characterizing a new set of calibration cables.

The other will focus on furnaces and siting distances for stationary fuel cells. This project will inform the spatial separation requirements for hydrogen fuel cells in storage enclosures in NFPA 55, Storage, Use, and Handling of Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids in Portable and Stationary Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks.

Symposia

Ninety participants engaged in an exchange of the latest detection and suppression technology at the Foundation's January symposium. They discussed research needs and will feed this information into the Foundation's research planning.

On June 6 and 7, the Foundation will co-sponsor with NFPA two other symposia during the World Safety Conference and Exposition® (WSCE®) in Las Vegas. One will focus on tunnel fire safety, reviewing the latest information about fire development and fixed fire protection systems in roadway tunnels. The other will address regulatory and fire safety issues related to refueling hydrogen vehicles and fuel cell storage for the hydrogen highway. The Foundation will also host an booth at the WSCE.

For more information, contact Eric Peterson at epeterson@nfpa.org.

Section-Sponsored Sessions at WSCE

The Research Section is sponsoring 17 sessions at the WSCE in Las Vegas in June. The sessions cover a wide range of topics, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology's report on the collapse of the World Trade Center. Other fires to be discussed are the 1980 MGM Grand Hotel fire and the 2003 Cook County Administration building fire.

Among the section-sponsored sessions are:

* Risk vs. Gain: Considerations for Working Fires in Unoccupied Structures

* Fire Protection Aspects of the Luxor Hotel and Casino: A Performance-Based Approach

* Fire Detection and Situational Awareness

* Heat Release Rates of Motor Vehicles

* The Building Calorimeter: FM Global's Novel Approach to Large-Scale Fire Testing

* Detection and Diagnostic Studies of Microbiological-Influenced Corrosion (MIC) in Fire Protection Systems

* Estimating Smoke Detector Response

* Ambulance Safety in the Fire Service

* Eiffel Tower II-Performance-Based Structural Fire Safety

* Tenability Analyses for Three Atria Smoke Management Systems

* Performance-Based Design of Structural Fire Resistance

* Fire Protection Aspects of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

* New Sprinkler Fire Statistics

Details can be found on NFPA's web site.

Bigglestone and Guise Awards

Winners of the 2005 Harry C. Bigglestone Award and of the SFPE's 2004 Arthur B. Guise Medal will present their work at the WSCE on June 8.

Tingguang Ma, Stephen M. Olenick, Michael S. Klassen, Richard J. Roby, and Jose L. Torero won the Bigglestone Award for their paper Burning Rate of Liquid Fuel on Carpet (Porous Media). The Bigglestone Award is presented to the authors of the best paper submitted to Fire Technology during the previous year.

Dr. Vytenis Babrauskas, winner of the 2004 Guise Medal, will present his paper ignition: A Century of Research and an Assessment of Our Current Status. The Guise Medal recognizes achievement in advancing the science and technology of fire protection engineering.

Research Section Business Meeting

The section's annual business meeting will take place on June 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the WSCE at the North Convention enter. Plan to discuss presentations we might sponsor at future meetings and efforts to build section membership.

HOW TO REACH US: Rita Fahy, Executive Secretary, (617) 984-7469, rfahy@nfpa.org