/npsi/ctrl?lang=en http://nparc.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/npsi/ctrl?lang=fr Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at ABSTRACT Thermal and mechanical properties at elevated temperatures are given for various building materials. The thermal properties include thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal expansion and density. The mechanical properties include strength and modulus of elasticity of the materials. Creep is also discussed. The various materials considered are lightweight and normal weight concrete, steel, claybrick, wood and gypsum. &sud- .

It is important that the practicing fire protection engineer has tools that are computationally easy to use to simulate thermal injury to the skin. This paper presents a brief review of skin damage and the tools that exist for predicting pain and superficial 2nd degree burns due to radiant exposure. New simplified equations for calculating the time to pain and superficial 2nd degree burns for a reference state of the skin are presented. The variation in skin properties: pain receptor depth, initial skin temperature, and epidermal thickness, as a function of age, sex, occupation, and personal habits are examined. The range of variation in these properties for a diverse population are used to develop correction factors for the simplified equations.

An experimental effort at Virginia Tech was initiated with the aim to evaluate the applicability of the Global Equivalence Ratio (GER) concept to compartment fires with prototypical building features. The present paper contains an in depth review of previous studies, which are contrasted with a new data set. The data are presented as integrate average mole fractions exiting the compartment correlated versus a new nondimensional heat release rate. In addition to presenting good correlations for depleted oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons, the new parameter provides an indication of the degree of burning occurring up to the compartment exit plane.

A recent study on the environmental impact of automatic fire sprinklers is documented in a two part series. The present paper examines the relationship of automatic fire sprinkler technology to environmental sustainability. Large-scale fire tests were conducted using identically constructed and furnished living rooms. In one test, fire extinguishment was achieved solely by fire service intervention, and in the other, a single residential automatic fire sprinkler was used to control the fire until final extinguishment was achieved by the fire service. Comparisons of the total greenhouse gas production, quantity of water required to extinguish the fire, quality of water runoff, potential impact of wastewater runoff on groundwater and surface water, and mass of materials requiring disposal between the two tests were made. The results show that in addition to providing life safety and limiting property damage, the use of automatic fire sprinklers is a key factor in achieving sustainability.