The use of directed routes for assessing escape potential

Of primary concern in structural fires is the ability of occupants to escape once a fire has been detected. This paper describes a technique for calculating the number of directed routes from any room to a location of safety. Note: The model discussed here was developed as part of a project to study fire-safety in residential occupancies being funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Project H-2316).     

Design of buildings for fire safety — Part I

Conventional fire protection practices are examined in the light of recent advances in fire science, and fallacies of the present fire protection philosophy are pointed out. Note: Dr. Harmathy presented this paper at the Second International Fire Protection Engineering Institute held at the University of Maryland, April 27 to May 9, 1975.     

Hydraulic studies of fire hose

Based on a series of experiments using fire hose and nozzles in stock at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, simple pressure loss versus flow equations have been developed. The pressure losses are found to be noticeably lower than those given in fire stream tables currently in use. Note: The work reported on in this paper was performed under the auspices of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

A survey of fire loads in hackney hospital

The author suggests that greater cost effectiveness in providing structural fire resistance in existing hospital buildings may result from tailoring fire resistance to the fire loads in the various accommodations rather than to have a blanket requirement to cover all types of accommodations. Note: The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Department of Health and Social Security. Dr. Green is located in London, England.     

A novel fire test for pipe insulation

The author discusses the development of fire tests for pipe insulation that are intended to provide more realistic use conditions than traditional tests for the fire hazard of materials. Note: The author presented this paper at the 80th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association, held in Houston, Texas, May 1976.     

Fire performance of exterior wall insulation and finish systems

It is quite possible that variations of the systems currently available on the market may require additional or different fire testing. Successfully tested and approved systems do not present a fire hazard and should be permitted on all types of construction. Note: This paper has been unanimously adopted by EIMA as an industry position concerning fire hazard.     

An overview of the fire behavior of polymers

A review of the literature dealing with investigations of the fire behavior of plastics. Note: The author presented this paper at the Second Combustion Symposium on the Thermal and Oxidative Properties of Plastics sponsored by the American Chemical Society in April 1973.     

Smoke and fire propagation in compartment spaces

A three-dimensional model has been devised for predicting smoke and fire propagation within structures. Three generalized fire scenarios are sufficient to represent many design conditions. Note: This paper was presented at the Fall Meeting of the Western States Section of the Combustion Institute on September 7, 1972.     

Fire test ratings for civil defense shelters

Existing fire test rating techniques are examined and found generally acceptable in evaluating fallout and blast shelters as barriers against passage of fire, fire gases, and heat. Extension of standard test methods to include additional tests parameters is described. SFPE IIT Research Institute Note: This paper was presented at the Civil Defense Fire Research Symposium, Washington, D.C., on May 17, 1965, sponsored by the Office of Civil Defense. It is based on work performed under Contract No. OCD-PS-64-50 (Task 2B) for OCD.     

The evaluation of the fire risk as a basis for planning automatic fire protection systems

The European Fire Alarm Manufacturers Association has developed a proposed method for evaluating fire risk, which could be used to determine that fire protection measures should be taken for a given property. Note: This paper was presented at the 76th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association on May 18, 1972 in Philadelphia, Pa.     

The fire protection engineer and modern building design

The author emphasizes the importance of fire protection engineers keeping abreast of developments so that they can recognize information pertinent to the solution of a problem. To illustrate his point, he reviews the development of information and tests for fire endurance. Note: This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers at Atlanta, Ga., May 22, 1968, as part of a program arranged by the Chespeake Chapter of the SFPE.     

A final report on fire tests involving stored plastics

The Factory Mutual Research Corporation has completed a series of fire tests of stored plastics. This paper highlights the major points of the final report. Note: The author presented this paper at the National Fire Protection Association annual meeting held in Chicago, May 1975.     

Fire research abroad

During the latter part of 1966, the author visited 42 organizations in 11 nations of Europe and Asia. These organizations are engaged in all phases of the fire problem. Here, he summarizes his findings and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the fire effort abroad. Note: This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers at Boston, Mass., on May 17, 1967 as part of a program arranged by the New England Chapter of the SFPE.     

Some aspects of structural fire endurance of concrete

Thoroughly convinced that the fire resistance of concrete follows laws that can be expressed in terms of engineering principles, the Portland Cement Association has developed design methods that can be used to predict the fire endurance of some common structural elements. The Association feels that it is only a matter of a few years before design procedures are developed for all common structural elements. Note: The author presented this paper at the Second Annual Fire Protection Seminar, sponsored by the Montreal-Ottawa Chapter of the SFPE and held on May 5 and 6, 1969.     

Characteristics of full-scale fires in various occupancies

This paper is the second to result from research to evaluate the fire response of building materials. Here the authors discuss gas temperatures, radiant and convective heating, burning rates, and smoke development in full-scale fire tests that characterized the fire hazard of various occupancies. Note: Dr. Christian’s present address is Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, Illinois.     

Detection and analysis of binary gas phase mixtures

The advent of halogenated hydrocarbon engineered fire extinguishing systems has created a need for measuring agent concentrations in an enclosed volume. Since commercially available instruments do not meet the criteria specified by researchers, development of a new unit was undertaken. Note: Dr. Riley presented this paper at Fire Research Session No. 1 of the National Fire Protection Association’s 76th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia on May 16, 1972.     

Qualification test of smoke detectors

To improve the quality and reliability of fire detection and alarm, the author calls for internationally agreed upon test specifications that will not hinder future development. Note: The author delivered this paper at the NFPA Fall Meeting in Montreal, Canada, November 1978.     

Application of release rate data to hazard load calculations

The author illustrates methods of applying heat, smoke and toxic gas release rate data to calculating fire hazard loading values. Note: This paper was presented by the author at the 78th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association on May 23, 1974 at Miami Beach, Florida.     

Thermal performance of concrete masonry walls in fire

Under consideration here are the effects of cement paste, autoclaving, aggregates, geometry, and moisture on the fire endurance of concrete masonry walls. Note: This paper was originally published as Canadian Building Digest CBD 140 by the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada, and is reproduced here by permission.     

The use of AFFF in sprinkler systems

This paper reports the results of a series of fire tests to measure the effectiveness of a 1% aqueous film forming foam concentrate against flammable hydrocarbon fires when applied through conventional, automatic, wet-pipe sprinkler systems using closed sprinklers. Note: The author presented this paper at the NFPA annual meeting held in Chicago, Illinois in May 1975.