###### *The President's Conference on*

**FIRE**

**PREVENTION**

![](media/image1.png){width="1.7020833333333334in"
height="1.6736111111111112in"}

***Report of the Committee on***

#### Research

Departmental Auditorium

Washington, D.C.

##### May 6,7, and 8, 1947

> *"The serious losses in life and property resulting*
>
> *annually from fires cause me deep concern. I am*
>
> *sure that such unnecessary waste can be reduced.*
>
> *The substantial progress made in the science of fire*

####### prevention and fire protection in this country during

> *the past forty years convinces me that the means are*
>
> *available for limiting this unnecessary destruction."*

######## Harry S. Truman

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

> **Page**

1\. Bibliography 1

2\. Human Behavior 1

3\. Fires on Shipboard 4

4\. Aviation 6

5\. Industrial Research 7

######### 6. Firefighting (Extinguishing) Equipment 9

7\. Forest, Brush, and Wild-Land Fires 11

8\. Mine Fire Prevention 11

Responsive to the objectives of the conference and pursuant to the scope
assigned it by the Coordinating Committee, the Conference's Committee on
Research submits the following report.

1.  **BIBLIOGRAPHY**

An essential tool for planning, and for the conduct of both fundamental
and applied research, is means for reference to results of past
experience, to experimental data, and to conclusions that have been
completely arrived at in view of them.

The Committee concurs with the saying that:

"Facts hidden away in a filing cabinet" (or hidden in our minds) "are of
little practical value; only when they are made available to people can
they be translated into action." (Author unknown.)

Loss of life, waste of property, and interference with private and
public affairs by fire have been and are within the experience of all
mankind. Organized firefighting was practiced when history was first
written. Fire prevention, in its modern aspects, is more than an art;
but scientific application of most of its branches is sadly hampered by
lack of bibliography and contributions from all sources thereto.

**The Committee on Research recommends, therefore, that:**

The Conference seek to have made available a central library facility,
to which reports on all aspects of firefighting, fire prevention, and
fire loss can be made, and which shall make available the bibliography
of fire, past and present; abstracted and indexed. Thereby source
material for public information, news service, and the like will become
available; enforcing authorities and managers of properties can reach
decisions upon factual bases; and finally, research on fire problems
will be so guided as to avoid duplications of planning and experiment.

2.  **HUMAN BEHAVIOR**

This Committee is confident that the Committee on Fire Prevention
Education of the Conference will devise constructive plans for combating
the crime of carelessness in which we Americans so freely indulge. It is
also confident that the Conference's Committee on Laws and Law
Enforcement and on Building Construction, Operation and Protection will
not fail to consider the economic and other factors that have been and
continue to be responsible for so many little fires in which life is
wasted and essentials to decent living standards are destroyed each day
throughout the land. Therefore the Committee on Research discuss only
the following few characteristics of human behavior.

**A. Causative Factors of Panic Behavior**

The Coconut Grove Night Club fire and the circus disaster in Hartford
are but two examples (comparatively recent) of the appalling waste of
life which results, at least in part, from panic behavior induced by
fear of fire.

Panic behavior, as contrasted with rational behavior, is more likely to
be the action of the individual and the group, when the individual or
the group has insufficient information. In other words, rational
behavior is a greater possibility when individuals placed in situations
of stress are familiar with the possible results of the situation and
the means to overcome the difficulties. Knowledge, then, through
education, is a means to combat panic behavior. On this basis, and since
panic is expressive of fear and lack of confidence, with an emotional
coloring, serious consideration should be given to initiating a program
of public education. Such a program, conducted through the medium of the
press and radio, should be very beneficial. The public should be
informed of modern advances in fireproof construction; of the present
day use of the various type of fire extinguishers; of the various means
utilized to evacuate burning buildings; and of other matters having to
do with the restoration of individual confidence in an emergency. The
public, and especially the occupants of large buildings such as hotels,
hospitals and office structures, should be taught to familiarize
themselves with the means of escape from the building, or parts of it,
prior to the development of an emergency; and they should be taught how
to safeguard themselves within it if escape is blocked.

**The Committee on Research accordingly recommends that the
Conference:**

Take steps sponsoring additional programs that will utilize known facts,
so as to indoctrinate the public in the essentials pertaining to the
conduct of the individual and the group in the stress of an emergency
created by fire.

B.  **Fireman Evaluation**

Psychological selection methods are well enough advanced and of
sufficient accuracy to promise the development of selection techniques
that will pick out the most desirable type of man to receive training as
a fireman. The desirability of applying our knowledge of normal
psychological reactions in selecting and training personnel cannot be
questioned. The military, during the recent war, very satisfactorily
applied this principle in creating screening methods to eliminate
individuals who were believed to be incapable of making a satisfactory
service adjustment. This method was used also to select personnel for
designation to specialized duties involving unusual danger. Experience
with the procedure revealed the fact that it was very satisfactory in
directing attention to individuals with borderline personality defects,
as well as to those who were frankly abnormal. There appears to be no
good reason why the utilization of this principle would not be
successful in determining the proper type of individual to be assigned
to fire departments.

Before a screen can be applied, of course, it is necessary to make a job
analysis, to determine the type of personality best suited to meet the
needs. Ordinarily, in a firefighting force, or in any group selected to
function without confusion in an emergency, special consideration should
be given to the stability of the individual, his ability to think
clearly under adverse circumstances, his judgment, his initiative, and
his ability to function quickly without reservations. In the application
of such a screen, it would be necessary to eliminate the inferior types
of personality -- the psychopath, the introvert, the individual marked
manic-depressive tendencies, and others exhibiting evidence of
instability.

**It is the recommendation of the Committee on Research that:**

Standard means of selecting and training firemen and other persons whose
work makes them responsible for fire safety should be determined. These
means should be applied through the adoption of a screen based on known
psychological and psychiatric determinations made by the military and
other authorities and appropriate for use by properly qualified
examiners. It is essential that trained examiners apply these screening
tests, and where available, State agencies should be called upon for
assistance in the selection of tests and in the evaluation of their
results.

C.  **Pyromaniacs**

Pyromania is another type of human behavior that is of significance in
fire prevention.

Apart from persons guilty of arson or of incendiarism, fire setters may
be classified under three general headings:

1.  *Accidental fire setters*, including normal persons, mental
    defectives, psychopathic personalities, and psychotic persons.

2.  *Occasional fire setters* would include normal persons, mental
    defectives, psychopathic personalities, and psychotic persons.

3.  *Habitual fire setters* would include psychopathic personalities,
    mental defectives, and psychotic persons.

In these categories so-called normal persons are for the most part not
informed regarding fire hazards and are without instruction and training
in mechanical and technical means of fire prevention and firefighting.
Management in industry and other fields must concern itself with
educational measures that will eliminate fire setting by normal persons.
Brief mention is made earlier in this report of carelessness as a cause
of fire, and in which, it must be assumed, normal persons, with others,
generously indulge.

In the past, considerable publicity has been given to the fact that
pyromaniacs have been responsible for starting a high percentage of
fires. Studies have revealed that certain abnormal individuals have
actually been responsible for a certain percentage; but it is not
believed that the problem with relation to these individuals is
insoluble. Statistics currently available point to the fact that about
48 percent of pathological fire setters are imbeciles or morons, and
another 22 percent are "dull normals" or borderline, while 17 percent
are of superior intelligence. These same studies have pointed to the
fact that among 1,145 male fire setters, the highest rate occurred
around the age of 17. Pyromania is outstandingly the crime of the
adolescent or young adult. Occupational or mental adjustments have a
considerable bearing on the problem; and it has been found that
alcoholic complications are frequent in those fire setters past the
twentieth year of age.

In approaching this over-all problem, it is important to keep in mind
the fact that no normal person sets fire habitually; that psychotic,
habitual fire setters usually do so for delusional reasons; and that
they constitute a fairly large group.

Psychotics, psychopaths, and mental defectives deliberately set fires
for one or more of the following motives:

a.  As a reaction against a social order which they believe is operating
    against their interests.

b.  To wreak vengeance against an employer.

c.  As a revenge for injured vanity.

d.  As a jealous rage reaction.

e.  As an opportunity to perform heroic endeavors as a firefighter.

f.  As a perverted sexual pleasure, in the nature of a conversion of the
    sexual impulse into a special substitutive excitement.

**This Committee on Research recommends that the Conference**

**take steps so that:**

All individuals legally charged with originating fires of the pyromaniac
type will be subjected to a detailed mental examination by competent
persons, and when it is determined an individual is abnormal, he be
hospitalized to protect the public. In this connection, the policies for
determining the release of habitual fire setters, or those suspected of
being so, from various public hospitals, reformatories, State schools,
and prisons throughout the United States, should be reviewed and
standardized.

3.  **FIRES ON SHIPBOARD**

Fires on board ship too frequently have demonstrated their menace to
life and property. Nevertheless this committee is agreed that existing
law and regulations with respect to the marine fire hazard are adequate,
according to the present state of the art of fire protection, but should
be reviewed from time to time in the light of experience and research.

The basic understanding of these hazards, both on board ship and at
shoreside, and the best methods of their control and extinguishment, are
well known.

The dissemination of this knowledge, of experience with respect to fire
prevention and extinguishment, is inadequate. An appropriate educational
program should be devised and applied. All available results of
experience from research and of statistical studies should be pooled to
become a part, perhaps, of the Bibliography Organization heretofore
proposed.

The joint investigation of marine fire detection and extinguishment
started by the Army, Navy, Maritime Commission and the United States
Coast Guard has promise of substantial contribution to safety to life at
sea and to safety to ships and their cargoes.

**The Committee on Research recommends that:**

There be established an organization in which Maritime and allied
industries and Government agencies may cooperate on a permanent basis,
providing

1.  A National Marine Fire Conference

2.  A clearinghouse for all information relating to marine and shoreside
    fires.

The Army, Navy, Maritime Commission and the United States Coast Guard
should use every effort to complete their investigation of marine fire
detection and extinguishment. Failing this, the Coast Guard should
prepare instructions for public use based upon the principles thus far
determined.

**Navy Firefighter Schools**

The success of the Navy firefighter training schools developed during
World War II is well known and is commended by every fire prevention and
firefighting official. During peace times, the Navy will be, to a great
extent, dependent upon outside firefighting aid in controlling large
fires at its shore stations and on board ships in port. Experience in
the use of Navy firefighting equipment and knowledge of the firefighting
technique as taught in the Navy schools is essential if civilian firemen
and Navy personnel are to coordinate their efforts efficiently.

The Navy accomplishment to which we refer was the reward of research.
Its duplication for application to fire loss prevention generally should
be unnecessary.

***Accordingly the Committee on Research recommends that the Conference
endorse the use of these Navy facilities under appropriate conditions,
whereby:***

*Training in Navy firefighting schools is available upon request to the
personnel of organized public fire departments, whose increased skill
will be in the interest of the public generally.*

*Also that this training be made available upon request to civilians
from industrial and other enterprises wherein ability in fighting fires
is a vital necessity.*

*And further, that these Navy firefighting schools be open to all
personnel in every rank and rating in the American Merchant Marine,
since merchant ships, auxiliaries to the Navy in wartime, must in peace
have every possible facility for assuring safety to life and to
property.*

***The Committee on Research further recommends that the Conference
arrange, through the Committee on Firefighting Services, or
otherwise:***

So that waterfront firefighting forces employ methods and equipment that
will make unnecessary, so far as possible, use of such quantities of
water that the stability of the vessel is endangered.

4.  **AVIATION**

Because safety is a prime consideration in the operation of aircraft,
fire prevention and extinguishment have been and continue to be the
subject of research by the industry and by both civil and military units
of the Government.

Three main phases of this research activity are apparent:

*Design, construction, and operation of aircraft.*

*Design, construction, and operation of airports and airport buildings.*

*Crash fire protection.*

In the design and construction of aircraft, much has been done to insure
against the occurrence of fire, to control its spread, to provide the
pilot with warning, and to enable prompt extinguishment. The new Civil
Air Regulations are definitely a step in the right direction. A program
is under way which, within a year, will make mandatory on any aircraft
in commercial air transportation the use of, and full compliance with,
the safeguard stipulated in the new regulations.

Test and research work is now being done by the Civil Aeronautics
Administration. Much development work is constantly being carried on by
the military services and by individual manufacturers of aircraft and
aircraft equipment. This development should be encouraged.

Many airlines have undertaken extensive programs for the training of
pilots, stewards, stewardesses, and other flight crewmembers in
practical emergency procedures. These procedures have been developed
largely as a result of experience, and there appears to be lack of
uniformity. *It is recommended that an industry-wide committee be
appointed to make a study of the procedures currently in use and to
properly evaluate their effectiveness.*

The problem of fire protection and fire prevention at airports is one of
particular importance, and has always been so recognized by fire
protection engineers. The tremendous impetus that war gave to the
industry created many problems, because of the larger planes and larger
hangar buildings in which to repair, service, and maintain them. *Every
progressive community must analyze its facilities, with the object of
creating airport facilities that are modern. The committee recommends
that this should be done at once.*

Both the National Board of Fire Underwriters and the National Fire
Protection Association have prepared standards for hangar construction
and protection. They also have committees at work on various phases of
the problem, dealing with the construction and protection of hangars and
other fixed airport installations, crash firefighting and rescue work,
provision for fire detection and extinguishing systems, and other
associated matters.

Fire experience at airports and in hangars points to the following
factors as principally contributing to serious fires; dependence on
distant public fire departments; deficiencies in water supplies, mobile
equipment and installed interior protection at airport facilities;
inferior construction, with failure to segregate hazards; substandard
heating equipment; and improper storage of aircraft.

Hangars are the main problem from a fire protection standpoint, as in
most instances they are structures distinct from types of buildings in
general use. They are, however, subject to most of the time-honored and
accepted principles of fire protection and prevention.

Recent surveys have shown that crash protection at airports is woefully
inadequate. While it is recognized that no field could possibly support
a crash crew that would take care of every conceivable contingency, any
airport, no matter how small, should make some provisions for such
protection. The military services during the war did considerable work
in the development of practical crash equipment and the training of
crash crews. This work should not be lost, but rather should continue so
as to keep abreast of new developments. The larger airports will be able
to provide full-time crews, while at smaller fields it may be necessary
to train all airport personnel in crash procedures. *It is recommended
that the requisite studies should be made promptly.*

As to equipment, the present thinking is that the maximum practical size
in apparatus has been reached and perhaps passed. Smaller, more
maneuverable units that can get to the scene in a hurry, with a
reasonable extinguishing capacity and that can be backed up by larger
tank units that do not have the same speed, appear to be a practical
solution.

In the event of a crash, rescue of personnel is of prime importance.
Extinguishing the fire is secondary until this has been accomplished.
Crash equipment and crash procedures should be planned with this in
mind.

Consideration should be given to providing adequate regulation of flying
over areas of special hazard to life or property.

5.  **INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH**

Since World War I especially, findings from both fundamental and applied
research, with respect to established and to new industrial activities,
have resulted in great expansion of the national economy and in
substantial advance in living standards. The great accomplishments from
research in the period of preparedness for, and later in conducting
World War II, are not fully evaluated.

Much of the technique of fire prevention and firefighting, developed
during this first half of the twentieth century, has been effectively
applied to both old and new problems met in the two wartime emergencies
and in the 25-year interim. The present industrial pace, however,
demands that improved or new facilities and methods be developed, so
that newly created resources of national wealth will not be
self-destroyed for the lack of fire prevention that safeguards against
inherent or byproducts hazards.

Investors, management, and employees have a common obligation to
themselves and to the public to provide, by research, basic knowledge of
all properties of newly developed raw materials, natural or synthetic;
and to investigate toxic and physical hazards that may appear in their
processing, application, and handling. Full discharge of this
responsibility is part of the price to be paid for the privileges of the
free-enterprise system. It is essential, too, that waste of natural
resources that are irreplaceable when destroyed by fire has due
consideration when assessing the need for industrial fire prevention.
Applied, and perhaps fundamental research likewise, is not completed if
the impact of its products upon safety to persons and property is not
measured and evaluated.

There is warrant for much satisfaction because of the attention that has
been and is being given to the problems concerning safety that are
connected with storage, handling, and processing by various consumers of
raw materials, and by producers of finished goods. Many groups
contribute substantially, by joint organized effort in research and
self-regulation within the scopes of their respective industries. Their
contributions to the objectives of public authorities and of insurance
groups, as well as to their own safety, are outstanding.

The following list enumerates (by no means completely) the subjects
requiring research in order to further fire prevention in industry's use
of materials and processes. It may help toward an appreciation of the
extent and variety of safeguarding which research may contribute to
safety to life and property and the stability of our economy.

Comparative classification of fire hazard characteristics and properties
of materials for building construction.

Contribution to the rapidity of fire spreading and to the toxic hazard
of burning coatings and other interior trim and finishes, and of
decorative materials, including furnishings of places of public
assembly.

Determination and classification of the fire hazards of wearing apparel
and costume accessories.

Fire and explosion hazard performances of chemical heat transfer media
while in use or standing by.

Storage and handling of hazardous chemicals in bulk form, during and
after handling, or while in use.

Relative dangers or hazards to firefighters and the public when
hazardous materials are burning.

Explosion prevention and emergency safeguards when flammable liquids,
gases, and combustible solids are stored, handled, or processed.

Reclassification and color coding of flammable liquid containers for
extraordinary environmental conditions, such as high altitude flying
cargoes, high oven temperatures, catalytic influences on ignition
temperatures.

Compilation of trade-name materials of commerce, with tabulations of
their respective fire and safety hazard properties; identification by
package labeling of such characteristics is desirable.

Development of procedures for inspection, counterchecking of automatic
instrumentation for safety controls, periodic service tests, and similar
factors in maintenance of safety measures.

Development of damage control methods when safeguarding is bypassed by
unusual happenings.

The occurrence of spontaneous ignition -- causes and inhibitors.

The control and elimination of static electricity.

The control and elimination of corrosion and its impairment of materials
and devices.

The significance of mechanical factors, vibration pressure, friction
ruptures, etc., with respect to the fire hazard.

**The Committee on Research recommends that:**

The Conference invite the continued cooperation of all concerned in our
industrial affairs, in the exchange of findings from research and from
field experience, whether good or bad, so that fire prevention may add
to its accomplishments in safety of persons and conservation of created
resources.

6.  **FIREFIGHTING (EXTINGUISHING) EQUIPMENT**

An earlier section of this report discussed Human Behavior as a factor
in fire prevention. Man's use of fire as his servant has developed his
individual mastery of fear of fire, controlling the panic impulses, and
prompting his taking appropriate steps for firefighting. Various
measures and tools, useful in such individual efforts, have been
devised. Aside from those employed in the organized and professional
firefighting services, many forms of firefighting equipment now serve to
reduce fire's toll of life and property.

Early discovery and promptly taken steps are jointly essential in
preventing little fires from becoming big ones.

Fire detection and initiation of alarms, closing of opening protectives,
and similar ways for confining fire to the place of its origin are
fundamentals of fire safeguarding. Their automatic operation is
generally most effective, overcoming certain aspects of human behavior
that cause detection and warning of fire to be too late. Thermally
sensitive and heat or electrically actuated methods of signaling
appearance of fire and its location are products of research now being
effectively applied in fire prevention service.

Early discovery of fire permits application of first aid, so-called, to
putting it out, to exiting, and to rescue when necessary.

A multiplicity of types and sizes of hand fire extinguishers are
marketed; and the sum total of fires that are extinguished in the
incipient stage doubtless greatly exceeds that of fires that grow so as
to require action from organized firefighting effort. The principles of
quenching and of blanketing fire -- or cool and smothering -- involve
use of water or of a vapor or gas that dilutes the oxygen content of
air. Applied research has been productive of equipment applying these
principles in a variety of ingenious methods.

For about 75 years the automatic sprinkler system has performed
outstandingly as a fire extinguishing method well adapted to
safe-guarding life and property in industrial and commercial premises,
on shipboard, theatre stages, in strategic parts of hotels, and other
places of public assembly and housing. Records of the National Fire
Protection Association provide ample assurance of the safeguarding of
lives and property of which automatic sprinklers are capable.

There appear to be economic considerations that limit even wider
application of the principle of the automatic sprinkler, so that a more
general use of it is halted. The relatively large water supplies, the
size of pipe and pipefittings, including valves of many sorts for a
variety of functions, are prominent among these. The Conference's
Committee on Research is informed of studies and experiments now in
progress looking to reducing these obstacles.

For the most effective results from the use of a quenching medium in
fire extinguishment, absorbing the heat of combustion of a fire's fuel
is a fundamental. Water, whether applied by a first-aid appliance, by
automatic sprinkles, or from hose streams, is most effective when its
latent heat of evaporation, in its conversion to steam, is utilized.

The Committee believes that the Conference should go on record endorsing
experiments, many now being in progress, that look to an even greater
efficiency in the use of water as a fire-loss prevention aid.

Generally speaking, fire will not persist where proportion of oxygen in
the surrounding air is one-half normal or less. When certain flammables
become ignited, petroleum-base liquids being a familiar example,
quenching is not practicable, and a blanketing method of extinguishing
the fire must be employed. The character and the method of application
of the blanketing means to be utilized are variable according to several
conditions.

It seems to the committee that experience in tests and in the field,
with case records, generously broadcast by the Conference's Committees
on the Firefighting Services and Organized Public Support and made a
part of fire prevention's formal bibliography, will assure the advantage
is taken of the many blanketing facilities now and presently available
and promoted.

7.  **FOREST, BRUSH, AND WILD-LAND FIRES**

Fire preventing, firefighting, fire education and fire bibliography are
each and all essential in conservation of an important asset of natural
wealth. Concern with waste of our created wealth and resources from fire
must not result in ignoring the hazard to life and property that exists
in preventable forest, brush, and wild-land fires. The products of
research in each of these phases of fire prevention are urgently needed,
drawing from all fields of technological development and taking many
forms. Outstanding categories to which such effort should be directed
are:

> Equipment development.
>
> Weather forecasting.
>
> Firefighting from the air.

Field organizations for firefighting.

> Prediction of lightning fires.
>
> Fire extinguishing agents, and
>
> Fire prevention methods. (See note.)

Note. -- The device of reducing the surface tension of water by adding a
wetting agent, so-called, has recently appeared and promises to be an
effective tool in certain situations in brush and wild-land fire
extinguishing. Determination of suitable and effective agents, of
methods of storage and of application and in due course, of education of
personnel in the firefighting services, is indicated.

The Committee on Research believes it appropriate to recommend to the
Conference that it go on record asserting its support and endorsement of
national, State, local government, and civilian programs for forest
fire, brush fire, and wild-land fire prevention and fire control.

8.  **MINE FIRE PREVENTION**

Fire preventing, firefighting, fire education, and fire bibliography are
each and all essential in conservation of an important asset of natural
wealth. Concern with waste of our created wealth and resources from fire
must not result in ignoring the hazards to life and property that exist
in preventable mine fires. The products of research in each of these
phases are urgently needed, drawing from all fields of technological
development and taking many forms.

*The Committee on Research believes it appropriate to recommend to the
Conference that it go on record asserting its support and endorsement of
national, State, local government, and civilian programs for mine fire
prevention.*

**COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH**

**CHAIRMAN**

WOODWARD H. BRENTON, *President, Brenton Bros., Des Moines, Iowa*

**SECRETARY**

ALVAH SMALL, *President, Underwriters Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois*

**ASSISTANT SECRETARY**

MATHEW M. BRAIDECH, *National Board of Fire Underwriters, New York,
N.Y.*

**ASSISTANT SECRETARY**

WALTER T. JOHNSON, *American Airlines, Inc., New York, N.Y.*

**ASSISTANT SECRETARY**

REAR ADMIRAL DALLAS G. SUTTON (MC) USN (Rt.)*, Washington, D.C.*

**ASSISTANT SECRETARY**

T. M. TORREY, *Insurance Company of North America, New York, N.Y.*

John A. Arnold, *National Retailers Insurance Company, Chicago, Ill.*

E. H. Barlow, *Standard Oil Development Co., New York, N.Y.*

Leonard I. Barrett, *United States Forest Service, Washington, D.C.*

Hylton R. Brown, *Bureau of Mines, College Park, Md.*

William T. Butler, *United States Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.*

Harry Campbell, *Bureau of Explosives, New York, N.Y.*

David W. Cook, *General Aniline and Film Corp., New York, N.Y.*

Gordon Davis, *Mutual Loss Research Bureau, Chicago, Ill.*

John H. Derby, *American Fire prevention Bureau, New York, N.Y.*

Alden H. Emery, *American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.*

H. E. Hagood, *Chief Building Inspector, Birmingham, Ala.*

Commodore Norman B. Hall, *United States Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.*

Felix Hargrett, *Home Insurance Co., New York 8, N.Y.*

Rex Hieronymus, *Aldis & Co., Chicago, Ill.*

John T. Howell, *Rubber Reserve Corp., Washington, D.C.*

R.C. Iddings, *The Fyr-Fyter Co., Dayton, Ohio.*

S. H. Ingberg, *National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C.*

Ira W. Knight, *Grinnell Corp., Providence, R.I.*

Calvin G. Lauber, *National Board of Fire Underwriters, New York, N.Y.*

Commander Lloyd Layman, *United States Coast Guard Reserve, Parkersburg,
W. Va.*

Dr. Nolan D. C. Lewis, *Columbia University, New York, N.Y.*

James E. Moss, *American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C.*

Robert S. Moulton, *National Fire Protection Association, Boston, Mass.*

Capt. Harry J. Parker, *The Board of Underwriters of New York, New York,
N.Y.*

Capt. Roy L. Raney, *United States Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.*

Harry N. Rider, *Automatic Sprinkler Corp. of America, Youngstown,
Ohio.*

S. H. Rolle, *Civil Aeronautics Administration, Washington, D.C.*

N. J. Thompson, *Factory Mutual Research Corp., Boston, Mass.*

Rear Admiral A. H. Van Keuren, U. S. N. (Ret.), *Washington 8, D.C.*

Hubert Walker, *America La France Foamite Corp., Elmira, N.Y.*

Warren N. Watson, *Manufacturing Chemists Association of the United
States, Washington, D.C.*

John L. Wilds, *Protection Mutual Fire Insurance Co., Chicago, Ill.*

R. C. Woodward, *Civil Aeronautics Administration, Washington, D.C.*

Dr. Lloyd N. Yepsen, *Department of Institutions and Agencies, Trenton,
N.J.*

**CONFERENCE ORGANIZTION**

**GENERAL CHAIRMAN**

Maj. Gen. PHILIP B. FLEMING, *Administrator, Federal Works Agency*

**EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR**

A.  BRUCE BIELASKI, *Assistant General Manager, National Board of Fire
    Underwriters*

> **COORDINATING COMMITTEE**
>
> **CHAIRMAN**
>
> W. E. REYNOLDS, *Commissioner of Public Buildings*

O. J. Arnold, *President, Northwestern National Life Insurance Co.*

Frank Bane, *Executive Director, Council of State Governments.*

Paul Betters, *Executive Secretary, United States Conference of Mayors.*

Ernest B. Brown, *President, Ernest W. Brown, Inc.*

Frank A. Christensen, *President, National Board of Fire Underwriters.*

J. H. Craig, *Chairman, Fire Marshals' Section, National Fire Protection
Association.*

Dr. Ned H. Dearborn, *President, National Safety Council.*

Charles A. Delaney, *President, International Association of Fire
Chiefs.*

Robert E. Dineen, *President, National Association of Insurance
Commissioners.*

Jas. R. Edmunds, Jr., *President, American Institute of Architects.*

Wallace J. Falvey, *Chairman, Advisory Committee, National Conservation
Bureau.*

Hovey T. Freeman, *President, Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Co.*

A. V. Gruhn, *General Manager, American Mutual Alliance.*

W. K. Jackson, *President, Chamber of Commerce of the United States.*

Leroy A. Lincoln, *President, Metropolitan life Insurance Co.*

W. E. Mallalieu, *General Manager, National Board of Fire Underwriters.*

Earl D. Mallery, *Executive Director, The American Municipal
Association.*

James H. Mooney, *President, Building Officials' Conference of America.*

James H. Park, *President, Pacific Coast Building Officials Conference.*

Curtis W. Pierce, *President, National Fire Protection Association.*

George J. Richardson, *Secretary and Treasure, International Association
of Fire Fighters.*

Mrs. Pearl Wanamaker, *President, National Education Association.*

Guy T. Warfield, Jr., *President, National Association of Insurance
Agents.*

Frank M. Whiston, *President, National Association of Building Owners
and Managers.*

**TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP**

H. R. Bassford, *Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.*

Robert B. Beach, *National Association of Building Owners and Managers.*

James V. Bennett, *Federal Interdepartment Safety Council.*

George W. Booth, *National Board of Fire Underwriters.*

A. L. Brown, *Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Cos.*

Percy Bugbee, *National Fire Protection Association.*

W. C. Clark, *Federal Fire Council.*

Theodore I. Coe, *American Institute of Architects.*

John P. Coyne, *International Association of Fire Fighters.*

Dr. Robert W. Eaves, *National Education Association.*

Hubert R. Gallagher, *Council of State Governments.*

Donoh W. Hanks, Jr., *The American Municipal Association.*

Julien H. Harvey, *National Conservation Bureau.*

A. L. Kirkpatrick, *Chamber of Commerce of the United States.*

West Shell, *National Association of Insurance Agents.*

Fred Shepperd, *International Association of Fire Chiefs.*

J. C. Stennett, *American Mutual Alliance.*

**CONFERENCE STAFF**

A. BRUCE BIELASKI, *Executive Director.*

LEWIS A. VINCENT, *Assistant Executive Director.*

William J. Chattin, *Technical Assistant.* John B. West *Technical
Assistant.*

John L. Werheim, *Technical Assistant.* Russell R. McGuire, *Publicity.*

Douglas H. Timmerman, *Conference Arrangements.* Hester M. Bell,
*Secretary.*

**STAFF CONSULTANTS**

A. C. Hutson, F. C. McAuliffe, R. E. Truman, R. E. Verner, R. E. Wilson

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1947

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington 25, D.C.

Price 10 Cents