Application of CMA program to wood charring

Experiments were conducted to test the ability of a computer program to describe the charring of ovendried wood. Note: Mr. White is a Forest Products Technologist and Dr. Schaffer is a Supervisory Research Engineer at the Forest Service's Forest Products Laboratory. The Laboratory is maintained at Madison, Wisconsin in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin. Note: The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute official endorsement or approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.     

The role of thermal feedback in compartment fires

A response to P. H. Thomas’ comments. Note: This paper is a contribution from the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada, and is published with the approval of the Director of the Division.     

The effect of humidity,air temperature,and wind speed on fine fuel moisture content

A controlled environmental chamber was used to study the effects of relative humidity, air temperature, and wind speed on moisture content of tobosa grass. Prediction equations were developed to show rates of change in fine fuel moisture content and equilibrium fine fuel moisture content for both absorption and desorption. Note: Mr. Britton is a Research Associate at Texas Tech University; Mr. Countryman, a Project Leader, Forest Fire Laboratory, Riverside, California; Dr. Wright, Associate Professor of Range Management, Texas Tech University; and Dr. Walvekar, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering, Texas Tech University. Mr. Britton’s current address is Range Science Department, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas. Note: This paper is College of Agricultural Sciences, Texas Tech University Contribution No. T-9-111.     

Calculation of performance of fire retardant ceiling systems

With equations, Part I describes the thermal behavior of a composite system consisting of a noncombustible ceiling board suspended below a concrete floor slab. Part II shows how the equations have been successfully adapted to digital computer operation. The computed results agree with experimental measurements for two specific systems exposed to a standard test furnace heated at a prescribed rate. Note: References 1 through 11, Table 1, and Figures 1 and 2 will be found in Part I of this paper published inFire Technology, Vol. 5, No. 4, November 1969, on pages 323–331.     

Surface flammability assessment,part II—Validity and application of major current test methods

The authors discuss the detailed application of surface flammability assessment theory to the major test methods available in North America. Note: Dr. Campbell is with the Ontario Research Foundation, and Mr. McGuire is a consultant to the Foundation.     

Fire and high buildings

The time necessary to evacuate today’s high-rise buildings in a fire emergency is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of the development of untenable smoke conditions. The Division of Building Research has been working on the problem for several years and suggests several approaches to controlling smoke movement in buildings. Note: Mr. Wilson is Assistant Director of the Division of Building Research, and Mr. Shorter is Head of the Fire Research Section. Note: The authors presented this paper at the 74th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in Toronto on May 20, 1970. It is a contribution from the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada and is published with the approval of the Director of the Division.     

Extinction of fires by halogenated compounds — A suggested mechanism

The author suggests the halogenated compounds extinguish diffusion flames by promoting recombination of reactive oxygen atoms to form less reactive molecular oxygen; and he discusses data that tend to support his suggestion. Note: This paper is a contribution of the National Bureau of Standards not subject to copyright.     

Flame propagation of burning solid material with moisture

The author has developed an analytical model in an effort to determine the effect of moisture on flame propagation. To some degree, the study clarifies the fire controlling mechanism of liquids. Note: Mr. Ying is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Sciences.     

Ability of small-scale tests to predict full-scale smoke production

In testing the smoke production by interior finish materials, an attempt was made to correlate the results of a number of standard and nonstandard tests. Comparison of full-scale results and test results indicates that very limited correlation exists. Note: Dr. Christian’s current address is Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, Illinois.     

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.     

Two smoke test methods — A comparison of data

Different approaches have been taken in the United States and Great Britain to measure the smoke-producing characteristics of materials in terms of specific optical density. An investigation has been conducted to determine if a correlation exists between the methods. Note: This paper is a contribution of the National Bureau of Standards and is not subject to copyright.     

Effects of flame variation in ASTM D1692 flammability test

A study of various flame structures possible in the test for the flammability of cellular plastics showed that flammability characteristics could be appreciably altered by the selection of flame structure and position when testing highly flame-retardant rigid foams. Note: This paper was published in theJournal of Cellular Plastics, June 1967, and is printed here by permission.     

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 spread of fire in corridors

Full- and quarter-scale experimental fires in corridor-room assemblies, using various combinations of floor, wall, and ceiling lining materials, yielded some interesting results. Between the small-and large-scale tests, there were marked differences in the relative effects of floor coverings and ceiling linings. Note: This paper is a contribution from the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada and is published with the approval of the Director of the Division.     

Automatic determination of ignition temperature

An electronic circuit has been designed and tested which can automatically determine ignition temperatures of shredded combustible materials. Note: The authors hold the positions of Assistant Professor, Electronics Technician, Graduate Research Assistant, and Engineering Technician, respectively. This paper is Scientific Article No. A2618, Contribution No. 5655 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Agricultural Engineering.     

Stability — The key to effective high expansion foam,part II

In Part I, the author reviewed the fundamentals of high expansion foam and examined the findings of tests made to evaluate it. In this, the concluding part of the paper, he discusses the effects of automatic sprinklers on high expansion foam. Walter Kidde & Company, Inc. Note: References 1–8, Tables 1 and 2, and Figures 1 and 2 will be found in Part I of the article published inFire Technology, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb. 1970), pp. 39–51.     

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.     

Characteristics of fire loads in office buildings

A study was made to determine the effects of various parameters on the fire load characteristics of office buildings. This and future studies are expected to form the basis for improving fire resistant design requirements. Note: Dr. Culver is Program Manager, Building Technology Programs, Center for Building Technology, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C.     

An experimental determination of combustibility

The author describes a laboratory method for determining ignitability, rate of heat release, and total heat release as a measure of the combustibility of materials. The results may be applied to building design and designation of contents with an eye towards reducing the possibility of a major fire. Note: Professor Smith is Director of Chemical Engineering Research, Engineering Experiment Station, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.     

The accumulation of gases on an upper floor during fire buildup

Full-scale tests with rapidly developing and slowly developing fires were conducted in an effort to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of death by toxic gases in building fires. Note: Dr. Wagner’s present address is Department of Electrical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant GI-12.