NBSIR 74-497

US/UK Joint Complementary Research

Program in Building, (Wind Loads,

Water Supply, Fire Detection), July

1972 June 1973

C. C. Raley

I. A. Benjamin

R.D.Marshall

J. E. Snell

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

October 1973

Final

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

NBSIR 74-497

US/UK JOINT COMPLEMENTARY RESEARCH

PROGRAM IN BUILDING, (WIND LOADS,

WATER SUPPLY, FIRE DETECTION), JULY

1972 -JUNE 1973

C. C. Raley

I. A. Benjamin

R. D. Marshall

J. E. Snell

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

October 1973

Final

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Frederick B. Dent. Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS. Richard W. Roberts. Director

TABLE of CONTENTS

Page

Background 1

Wind Loads on Buildings 3

Design of Water Supply and Drainage Installations

in Buildings 7

Fire Detection in Buildings 11

Appendices 14

Building Research Establishment

Department of the Environment

Garston, Watford, WD2 7JR

UNITED KINGDOM

Center for Building Technology

Institute for Applied TechnologyNational Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

UNITED STATES

BACKGROUND

C. C. RALEY

Coordinator of International Affairs

Center for Building Technology

On July 21, 1971, a memorandum of understanding was signed

by Mr. Peter E. WALKER, Secretary of State, Department of

the Environment, United Kingdom, and Mr. George ROMNEY,

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development,

United States. It outlined a program for cooperation in

matters concerning urban environment including housing

and building technology. The goal of this program is to

achieve the maximum exchange of documents and visits, and

it can be extended to such other activities as expert consultations, long-term exchanges of professionals, and joint

research projects. In carrying out this understanding, the

two national coordinators may invite participation from other

agencies, organizations or private groups within their

respective countries.

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Center for

Building Technology (CBT) , have long been acquainted with each

other's work and have had a great deal of interaction. During

the March 1971 visit of Dr. F. Karl WILLENBROCK, Director

of the Institute for Applied Technology (of which CBT is a part) with Mr. James B. DICK, Director of BRE, the subject

of a joint BRE/CBT program was discussed. With the signing

of the memorandum of understanding, impetus was given to

establishing a formal cooperative program between the two

groups. As a result, CBT developed a number of research

proposals which later were reduced to three specific projects

by Mr. DICK and Dr. James R. WRIGHT, Director of CBT.

During the first week of March 1972, Mr. Irwin A. BENJAMIN, , Chief of the Building Fires and Safety Section, CBT, visited

the Fire Research Station, BRE, in order to discuss a

cooperative program on fire detectors.
The following May, three BRE staff members visited CBT. The

first visit, May 1-2 and 8-10, 1972, was made by Mr. A. F.

n. V/TSE, Head o^ the Environmental Design and Engineering

Division, RRE; the second on May 10, was Mr. J. G. SUNLEY

,

Head of the Structures and Building Division, BRE; and the

third, >fay 22-26 , 1972 , was Dr. S. C. C. BATE, ffead of the

Structural Engineering Division, BRE, Each examined

appropriate areas of CRT with the formulation of cooperative

projects in mind. At the conclusion of the meetings, three

proposals were drawn up for possible implementation. These

were: Wind Loads on Buildings, Design of Water Supply and

Drainage Installations in Building, and Fire Detection in

Bui Idings

,

On July 6, 1972, Mr, Harry E. THOMPSON, Denuty Director/

Operations, CBT, met with Mr, DICK in England to discuss

formal implementation of the three projects under the title

of the "Joint Complementary Research Program." This resulted

in the preparation of three documents of agreement: the first

two on wind and hydraulics were signed by BRE on July 27 and

countersigned by CBT on August 3, 1972. The third, on fire

detection, was signed on September 1 and countersigned likewise

on September 13, 1972. Copies of these documents are attached

as appendices to this report.

Between October 22 and 25, 1972, Mr. William C. CULLEN,

Assistant Chief of the Structures, Materials and Life

Safety Division, CBT, visited BRE in conjunction with the

wind loading and fire detection programs.

The following spring, Mr. P. BAKKE , Assistant Director of

BRE, visited the CBT facilities between May 10-14, 1973, and

(Uscussed the status of the three projects in addition to

familiarizing himself with other CBT activities.

Progress during the first year is reviewed in the following

sections on each of the selected projects.

-2-
WIND LOADS on BUILDINGS

R. D. MARSHALL

Structures Section

Center for Building Technology

Introduction

For the past several years, the Center for Building Technology

(CBT) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) have conducted

a number of studies into the effects of wind on buildings.

In general, these studies were conceived and carried out

without direct communication between the two establishments,

even though the goals of each were often the same. In view

of the fact that both establishments have recently concentrated on problems associated with low-rise structures, the

opportunity to establish a joint complementary research

program in July 1972 was most welcome. This section of the

report discusses the exchanges accomplished in this first

year of the program and identifies topics being considered

for future collaboration.

Full-Scale Investigations

BRE is currently conducting a series of studies at Aylesbury,

England. Test structures include several two-story townhouses

and a specially-constructed building whose roof pitch and

story height can be altered.

It is anticipated that new construction will extend in the

direction of the prevailing winds, thus providing an

opportunity to observe the effects of a changing environment

on wind loading. In addition to wind pressure and reference

wind speed and direction, local velocities within the development are being measured. Also, net drag and uplift loadsare being measured on the special test building.

CBT is currently conducting studies on two structures: one

of the general-purpose laboratory buildings (Bldg. 226)

on the Gaithersburg campus, and a duplex housing unit at

Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB) , Montana. Both of these

buildings have a clear exposure to prevailing winds. Studies

on a single-family dwelling, also located at MAFB, with

several buildings located directly upwind, were completed

in 1972.

Discussions between the liaison officers directly responsible

for conducting the joint project (Dr. R. D. MARSHALL for CBT

and Dr. K. J. EATON for BRE) have identified a number of items

-3-
that will increase the value of the studies in progress and

that will avoid unnecessary duplication of effort in future ^ studies. A two-week visit to CBT and the MAFB field site by

Dr. EATON in November allowed a first-hand appraisal of the

wind research program and associated programs within the

Center for Building Technology.

Exchanges of Experimental Data

Exchanges of experimental data this past year included mean

pressure coefficients, fluctuating pressure coefficients,

peak factors, auto- and cross -correlation functions, power

spectra, probability density functions and coherence functions.

In addition, a uniform method of defining and presenting the

data was agreed upon. Full-scale data collected by CBT and

BRE will be extremely valuable in preparing future revisions

of standards covering the design of structures subjected to

wind forces.

Exchanges of Instrumentation and Experimental Techniques

This area of the complementary research program was very

actively pursued by both sides. Instrumentation and

experimental techniques were developed independently over

the years and, although similar in many respects, were

found to have many important differences.

The methods by which data are recorded and prepared for

computer processing are much the same, analog tape recorders

being used in the field and subsequent multiplexing and analog

to digital conversion. Perhaps the most significant difference

is in the instrumentation used to measure pressures. The

BRE system is built around exposed-diaphragm transducers

which are mounted flush with the building surface. The CBT

system uses enclosed-diaphragm transducers which are either

mounted under low-profile housing or are installed inside

the building and connected to the exterior surface through

short-pressure tubes. The BRE transducers are a straingage device specifically designed for wind pressure

measurements while those used by CBT are a variable

reluctance device obtained from commercial sources. The

BRE transducers are more difficult to install but are not

susceptible to clogging by wind driven rain.

Both types of transducers are somewhat temperature

sensitive and demonstrate some long-term electrical drift.

Because of the extremely small pressure differences to

be measured, these errors cannot always be ignored. A very

effective solution to this problem has been developed by

BRE and is now being incorporated into the CBT system. A
solenoid valve is used to place the transducers into a "closed loop" configuration just prior to the data run and

the output is recorded. On command from the data acquisition system, the valve is then switched back to the reference

pressure line.

The measurement of wind speeds has differed mainly in the

types of anemometers used. Both establishments have used

3-cup anemometers at the 10-meter level (this has not been

possible at MAFB) and their distance constants are approximately equal. For the studies at Cai thersburg , turbulence

components (U , V and U, V, W) have been measured by fastresponse propeller anemometers. A three -component cluster

of these anemometers has been loaned to BRE for the

measurement of local wind speeds within the Aylesbury

complex. BRE, in turn, has provided details of their mobile

unit equipped with a telescopic anemometer mast. It is

anticipated that a similar system will be installed in

the CBT structural testing van.

Wi nd Tunnel Modeling

One of the primary reasons for collecting wind pressure

data on full-scale structures is to provide a basis for

evaluating the accuracy of wind tunnel tests. Proper

simulation of atmospheric flows in wind tunnels allov/s a systematic study of pressure distributions on buildings and

is, with few exceptions, the only method available for

establishing design pressure coefficients. Hence, both

establishments are actively engaged in wind tunnel modeling.

CBT has in the past contracted this work to Colorado State

University while wind tunnel studies associated v/ith the

BRE program have been conducted in their own facility and

at Bristol Univeristy. As wind tunnel test results have

only recently become available, no comparisons between

facilities have yet been made.

Data Reduction and Analysis

As indicated in a previous section, the methods used for

recording and converting data are quite similar. BRE has

an arrangement with the Electrical Research Association

(ERA) for the conversion and analysis of random data while

CBT conducts this work in-house. The digital analyses used

by the two establishments are best compared by the following

table:

-5-
CBT BRE

Sampling rate 16/second 32/second

Record length 750 seconds 1,024 seconds

Digital filtering Every 4 points Every 8 points

Cutoff frequency 2 Hertz 2 Hertz

Item s for Euture Collaboration

Based on exchanges initiated in the first year of the program

and studies currently being carried out by the two establishments, the following items have been identified for future

collaboration

:

1. Exchanges of data obtained from both full-scale

and wind tunnel model studies will continue.

2. Dr. MARSHALL will visit BRE in December 1973 to

discuss details of data analysis programs,

current full-scale studies, wind tunnel modeling

and instrumentation problems. Of particular

interest will be results of BRE research into

environmental wind problems created by the

construction of tall buildings.

3. Work will be initiated on the instrumentation

of tall buildings to measure their response to

wind. The electro -optical deflection measuring

device recently developed at CBT will be made

available for this study. BRE is currently

exploring the possibility of making these

measurements on the Post Office Tower in London.

4. Details of the portable data acquisition system

currently being developed for use in the

Philippines and along the U. S. Gulf Coast will

be made available to BRE. Mobile wind-measuring

equipment in use at Aylesbury will serve as a model for the build-up of a similar system at CBT.
DESIGN of WATER SUPPLY and DRAINAGE

INSTALLATIONS in BUILDINGS

J. E. SNELL

Assistant Chief

Building Environment Division

Center for Building Technology

Introduction

In July 1972 the Center for Building Technology (CBT) and

the Building Research Establishment (BRE) entered into

a complementary research program in the area of building

service systems. Early discussions centered on common

interests in the areas of plumbing (water supply and drainage)

,

solid waste handling, electrical distribution, and lifts

and elevators. It was agreed to concentrate efforts initially

on work in the area of water supply and drainage installations

within buildings and, in particular, on a project entitled

"hydraulic design of drainage installations in buildings."

Two other activities of mutual interest in plumbing research

were identified. These are development of means to predict

design loads for plumbing systems and development of criteria

for vacuum drainage, an alternative to the gravity sewer

which has gained a degree of acceptance in Europe. As

the program develops, it is expected that complementary

efforts will be established in these latter two areas.

The central thrust of the initial project on hydraulic design

of drainage systems is to test and compare results on alternative approaches to predicting the performance of drain-wastevent systems. The following sections of this report discuss

the technical substance of this complementary effort, the

exchanges accomplished to date, and the tasks being considered

for future collaboration.

Design/Evaluation of Gravity Drainage Systems

Until recently it has not been possible to predict accurately

the performance of unusual (i.e., non-standard) or innovative

gravity drainage systems. The major issues in drain-wastevent system design are sizing, spacing, and configuration of

drainage and vent piping to handle expected loads without

inducing pressure fluctuations in the system that would

upset the water seals in the fixture traps. These traps

provide a barrier which prevents sewer gas, foul odors, and

vermin from entering occupied spaces in buildings.

In a series of studies over the last two decades , researchers

at the Building Research Establishment have developed a

-7-
simple procedure and computer program that BRE recommends

for this purpose. This procedure/program determines the

maximum suction likely to occur in a drainage system for

comparison with an agreed-upon standard suction limit. The

stack and vent system are thus sized to limit suction to this

standard under specified hydraulic loading. The program takes

into account the geometry of the installation, heights,

lengths, pipe diameters, and so on, and also characteristics

of branch fittings and the discharge rates of sanitary

fixtures

.

Researchers at BRE are interested in obtaining further

field data on comparison with predictions obtained using

their program. CBT researchers are interested in the potential

for application of this approach to IJ. S. plumbing system

designs which differ significantly from those used in the

United Kingdom, and also in a comparison of vent sizes

computed (a) by the BRE method and (b) by American methods

for American systems already or soon-to-be evaluated in

laboratory tests at CBT or elsewhere.

Also, in its methodology BRE assumes drainage flows are

steady state, although results have been compared with results

of tests under transient conditions with good agreement. CBT

researchers feel dynamic effects may be significant. This

complementary program is designed to answer these questions

and, hopefully, to provide further improvement to the design

and evaluation methodology now available in both countries.

A significant objective is a gradual reduction in dependence

on full-scale, empirical tests that require elaborate,

expensive testing facilities and procedures.

Technical Exchange Activities in FY 1973

BRE has made its methodology and computer programs available

to CBT and' currently these are under review. CBT and BRE have

agreed on full-scale tests on typical townhouse and tenstory plumbing system designs. The townhouse was erected

in the CBT Plumbing Research Laboratory and the 10-story

system was constructed at Stevens Institute's Building

Technology Research Laboratory (Hoboken, New Jersey) in a

program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (UUD Contract H-1317 "The Study and Evaluation of Several

Innovative Drainage Systems")* The designs of these systems

have been reviewed by both parties. Vent sizing was by

American procedures. Full-scale performance tests were

conducted on each of these systems prior to detailed
analysis of fixture discharge characteristics and evaluation

of hranch-stack fitting pressure loss factors. This was

necessitated by the requirements of other programs at CRT

and Stevens Institute. Therefore, the performance of these

systems as they would be designed according to the BRE

procedure will be established by comparison of the BRErecommended designs with the American designs actually tested.

Tf necessary, subsequent testing would be conducted on

the same or similar systems.

CRT has shipped the appropriate stack-branch fittings to

BRE for pressure loss calibration. BRE is preparing a protocol for such calibration tests for subsequent review

and use by CBT. Similarly, CBT engineers are developing a simplified fixture calibration methodology and reporting

format. Initial tests have been completed on selected IJ. S.

water closet designs. BRE has selected five European designs

for CBT testing and these are being shipped to the IJ. S.

CBT completed design of its test installation and work plans

for testing the steady-state versus dynamic flow hypothesis.

Construction of the test assembly was initiated in FY 73.

As noted earlier, the major issues to be resolved are:

(a) dependence of peak air-demand rate on the dynamics of

actual fixture loadings, (b) the relationship between water

and air flow in stacks running partly full, (c) the relationship of pneumatic pressure fluctuations to trap-seal retention

in a dynamic loading mode , and (d) the extent to which air

circulation in a DWV network reduces the peak demand for air

in any particular element of the network.

Technical Exchange Activities Being Contemplated for FY 1974

Major activities by both parties to this project involve a natural continuation of efforts undertaken in FY 197.3. At

CBT these include completion of analysis of BRE computer

programs, further testing and reporting of fixture calibration methods, and testing of stack-branch fittings in a representative assembly. Also, CBT looks forward to

participation with BRE in further full-scale testing on

systems yet to be constructed (most likely several types of

so-called single stack system designs) . It is anticipated

that a researcher from BRE will come to CBT for these tests

and to observe results of the stack-branch assembly tests.

This interchange is important because there are significant

issues of instrumentation and experimental method to be

resolved and agreed upon.
Also in FY 1974 CBT will be field testing a prototype system

for collection of plumbing system event and load data.

This system design draws heavily from BRE's previous

experience in this area. It is expected that BRE will review

the performance of this system. The data collected in this

study will be used to test and validate analytical models

of plumbing system loads being developed independently in

the U. S. and U. K.

Detailed work plans for the new tasks in this cooperative

program will be developed in discussions between SNELL and

WYLY of CBT, and WISE and WEBSTER of BRE, in September 1973.

-10-
FIRE DETECTION in BUILDINGS

I. A. BENJAMIN*

Chief

Building Fires and Safety Section

Center for Building Technology

Introduction

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and the Building

Research Establishment (BRE) have similar programs leading

towards development of acceptance standards for smoke

detectors. The emphasis at NBS is on criteria for the

self-contained, residential smoke detector, while the

emphasis at BRE is for criteria for smoke detectors for

commercial application. , Exchange of Information

The smoke detector program at NBS is of recent origin.

The detector program at BRE has been in existence for a much longer period of time. As a consequence, the interchange between the two programs has been limited, during

this early phase, to an exchange of information in the

form of reports and correspondence relative to the results

of experimental work.

Program Objectives

The application of self-contained smoke detectors to

residential fire safety dictates the use of detectors

sensitive to the earliest -appearing products of combustion.

The detector must exhibit a high degree of sensitivity, yet

it must not exhibit any appreciable impedance to the entry

of smoke into its sensing chamber. The type of fire environment

to which the detector must respond is one in which the

heat output of the fire may be of such a low level that

the determining smoke transport mechanisms will likely

be those of the normally-present ambient conditions as

opposed to convective flow patterns established by the

fire. The program objective, therefore, of NBS is the

*0n October 1, 1973, Mr. BENJAMIN became the Acting Chief of

the Fire Technology Division, lAT, and the technical activity

of his former Section was transferred to the Fire Technology

Division

.

-11-
establishment of acceptance criteria which will ensure

the development of detectors which will meet this performance

i\^hile maintaining a high degree of signal-to-noise ratio

so as to minimize false alarms.

The objective of the BRE program is less concerned with the

detector hardware, and more with the conditions which must

or must not be detected. The controlling factors are, first,

the size of fire that can be tolerated before detection

without giving undue danger to life or great difficulty in

extinction, and second, the occurrence of false alarms due

to the conditions in the neighborhood of the detector.

The currently proposed criteria are (a) detection before

visibility falls to 10 meters and in time to allow the

fire brigade to extinguish the fire with one hand line,

and (b) on an average not more than one false alarm due to

ambient conditions per fire detected. Work in progress

is aimed at producing sensitivity limits meeting these

criteria

.

Areas of Mutual Concern

As far as the program objectives alone are concerned, the

knowledge gained by both NBS and BRE as they move towards

these objectives will be of interest to the other. In

addition, there are areas of mutual concern such as longterm reliability of the detectors, avoidance of false or

needless alarms, resistance of the detector to environmental

changes such as changes in pressure, temperature and relative

humidity, resistance to corrosion, to vibration, and other

deleterious effects. Exchange of experimental data in these

areas can be expected to increase as additional laboratory

work is conducted by both NBS and BRE.

Exchange of Instrumentation

One problem besetting smoke detectors is that certain

environmental ambient conditions tend to produce false

alarms from the detectors . Given some knowledge of what

ambient conditions can be expected in typical environments,

it should be possible to develop criteria for an acceptable

lower response limit for detectors to these ambient

conditions. BRE is developing an ambient -conditions

monitoring system which will assist in determining these

lower limits. NBS has been in contact with BRE with a view towards purchasing one or more of these systems for

use in the U. S. BRE has agreed to reduce the data generated

by NRS and process it through BRE ' s computer analysis program.

-12-
Items for Future Collaboration

Based on exchanges initiated in the early part of this

complementary program and research work being carried out

by the two organizations, the following items have been

identified for future collaboration:

1. Visits by BRE personnel to NBS and by NBS to BRE

during the next 6 months.

2. Exchanges of information on development of full

scale testing procedures for smoke detectors.

3. Exchanges of data on reliability of presentlyavailable smoke detectors.

4. NBS purchase of BRE ambient-condition monitoring

system with data reduction and processing by BRE

after U. S. data has been obtained.

5. Details of studies on smoke movement in typical

residences will be made available to BRE as the

work proceeds. It is anticipated that the results

of the smoke movement studies will have some

applicability to commercial and industrial

occupancies and will, therefore, be of interest

to BRE.
APPENDICES

Memorandum of Understanding

Wind Loads in Buildings Agreement

Design of Water Supply and Drainage Installations

in Buildings Agreement

Fire Detection in Buildings Agreement

-14-
MEMORANDUM OF UiMDERSTAINiDlNG

Tills Mcmoraiuluin of Uiulcrst.unliiij; between the Dcp.irtmciit of I lousing niul Urb;ui Dcvelopineiic

(ilUj)) of tlie Uiiitcil States .tiul the Department ot tiic IZiivironr.igiit of tlie Uiulcd Kim^;iloni outlines

a pro^'.ram for COOj)cratIon in matters concerning the urban ciivironment fallinij williin their competence, sucli as [>hysical phinning, urban manaj^'emcnt, liousing aiit! bnihlin|; teclwioh)|'y, and

comminiity development. 'I'hc j^oal of this proj^ram is to achieve the ina.\iimiii\ cxcliantjc of

experience in spcciHetl subject areas. Tlic prograin will include an org.iai/.cd cxchanjjc. of documents

and visits and may be extended as mutually agreed to such other activities as cxjicrt consultations,

die long-term exchange of scliolars and professionals, or joint research project". In carrying cut

specific activities under this Memorandu.-n of Understanding, the Departmcn: of Housing and Urban

Development may invite participation 'oy other U.S. departments and agencies or private groups; the Department of the Environment may similarly invite participation by other agencies and organizatio.ns

in tlie United Kingdom.

The general subject areas for initial cooperation may include, bu( are not limited to, community and

regional planning, construction technology, housiiig management and financing, citizen participation,

program evaluation techniques, policy and legislation. These general subject areas may be expanded,

added to, or modified by mutual agreement. Further discussioiis and cxc'nangc' of correspondence will further define those general areas, and it is specifically envisaged that joint projects of mutual

interest, when proposed by cither side and accepted by the other, will be undertaken.

The program will begin with the early exchange of views on tlie establishment of a mutually

acceptable program. Tliis first exchange will further define the interests of each country in the other's

specific programs and legislation. Visits of experts and teams may be made thereafter without regard

to reciprocity at the option of the visiting agency and subject to arr.ingcmcnts with the host agency. EacK side will bear its own travel and related living costs under the program.

It is understood that the pace of the program outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding will be

contingent upon the availability of funds and other resources on each side.

This Memorandum of Understanding will become effective when signed by authorized representatives

of ti»c Department of Housing and Urban Development of the United States and the Department of

the Environment of the United Kingdom and will remain in effect for five years. It may be renewed

by mutual agreement, and may be terminated a: any time by eitiicr party on thirty days' notice.

U. S. D;^"<Irtment of- 1 1^5(^51115 and

Urba^Devclopment

Ccorgc^Roinn

Scc^tary

Signed in Londoty^Tie day of July 1971.

Department of the Bn/ironment

Peter E. Walker

Secretary of State
BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABUSHMENT (DOE/UK)

AND CENTER FOR BUILDING TECHNOLOGY (NBS/USA)

JOINT COMPLEMENTARY RESEARCH PROGRAM(ME) *

Project title: Wind Loads on Buildings

Project outline: Revised criteria and standards are required for the design

of buildings for wind loading. Research in this area is also essential for the

proper installation of materials, the cost of construction and protection of

the user. Research will be carried out on buildings in low density and builtup areas. Both laboratories have worked on this subject and have common

research objectives. In each case the basic requirement is to establish the

validity of using wind tunnel studies for design by comparing wind tunnel data

with measurements made on full-scale structures. Each laboratory has

several full-scale experiments on hsind and the scope for joint research is

substantial.

Also, both laboratories have acquired or developed unique instrumentation

and equipment for their research work. Sharing usage and experience in

development of instrumentation and equipment will expedite results and

provide more comprehensive research to both countries.

Working arrangements: Directors have agreed to nominate officers who will

be responsible for developing and progressing the joint programme. This

project will be initiated on 1 August 1972 and will be reviewed on 30 June of

each year by each Director for continuation or revision of the project outline.

It is expected that the project will be completed by July 1975. The manpower,

funding and equipment necessary to conduct the complementary research will

be provided by each organisation. Exchange visits by personnel are essential

and will be encouraged.

* Initiated in response to the Memorandum of Understanding between

Mr George Romney, Secretary US Department of Housing and Urban

Development and Mr Peter Walker, Secretary of State, UK Department

of the Environment dated July 1971

ii
LIAISON OFFICERS NOMINATED BY DIRECTORS:

Dr J B Menzies

(Building Research Establishment)

Dr Richard Marshall

(Center for Building Technology)

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR

BUILDING RESEARCH

ESTABLISHMENT

CENTER FOR BUILDING

TECHNOLOGY

Dated. . . X\ Dated, .^fk f C , . /f.

Ill
BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT (DOE/ UK)

AND CENTER FOR BUILDING TECHNOLOGY (NBS/USA)

JOINT COMPLEMENTARY RESEARCH PROGRAM(ME) *

Project title: Design of Water Supply and Drainage Installations in Buildings

Project outline: A sound method is required for the design of conventional

drainage systems in buildings. Both laboratories have worked on this subject

to provide theory and data. BRE has found it possible to develop and gain

application in the UK of a simplified system - single stack drainage - that is

now beginning to be applied in the USA. A computer program is available at

BRE for sizing drainage and vent stacks on traditional as well as single stack

systems.

Its adaptation for American conditions requires the determination of some

further data on certain parameters by laboratory research. Once this

information is available the computer program would be modified and applied

to design installations for trials in USA, for example, on Operation

BREAKTHROUGH sites.

The CBT has been developing empirical methods for determining the air

demands of plumbing systems based on laboratory studies of reduced sized

venting systems. This work will provide a basis for review and analysis of

the BRE computer program.

The CBT has a new laboratory and field data collection facility offering the

means for collecting many of the data needed in this program for fixtures,

fittings and for drainage systems up to seven storeys in height. A ten- storey

facility sponsored by HUD is currently under construction, this is designed to

test the performance of alternative drainage system designs.

Both for water supply and drainage, sound theoretical framework and adequate

field data are necessary for the specification of design loads and water storage

requirements. Current procedures rely on a fixture unit method which has been

Initiated in response to the Memorandum of Understanding between

Mr George Romney, Secretary US Department of Housing and Urban

Development and Mr Peter Walker, Secretary of State, UK Department

of the Environment dated July 1971

iv
useful but is not rigorous and is known to lead to overdesign. Some research

on the subject has been done in recent years to provide a sounder basis and

this needs developing and extending for general use. BRE is organising an

international seminar (on behalf of CIB Commission 62) in September 1972

to review this subject and discuss research needs. It is intended that this

seminar will provide a basis for identifying priorities for collaborative

research into this problem between BRE and CBT. It is expected that even

though US and UK use quite different fittings and fixtures, a common

theoretical framework may emerge for demand estimation and also for field

test and measurement technology.

Working arrangements: Directors have agreed to nominate officers who will

be responsible for developing and progressing the joint programme. This

project will be initiated on 1 August 1972 and will be reviewed on 30 June of

each year by each Director for continuation or revision of the project outline.

It is expected that the project will be completed by July 1975. The manpower,

funding and equipment necessary to conduct the complementary research will

be provided by each organisation. Exchange visits by personnel are essential

and will be encouraged.

LIAISON OFFICERS NOMINATED BY DIRECTORS:

Mr C J D Webster Dr J E Snell

(Building Research Establishment) (Center for Building Technology)

0

DIRECTOR

BUILDING RESEARCH

ESTABLISHMENT

Dated. . .

DIRECTOR

CENTER FOR BUILDING

TECHNOLOGY

Dated . ./.t'-'

f

/.c..T...:f, / —
BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT (DOE/UK)

AND CENTER FOR BUILDING TECHNOLOGY (NBS/USA)

JOINT COMPLEMENTARY RESEARCH PROGRAM(ME)*

Project title: Fire Detection in Buildings

Project outline: The development of criteria and test methods for establishing

the level of performance of fire detectors is required for various types of

building. Each year lives are lost and there is much property damage because

of the lack of good fire detection systems in buildings. Both laboratories have

worked in this area and have some common research objectives.

The work at CBT has been particularly concerned with detectors for use in the

home. This CBT work is directed to detecting smoke and products of combustion

from fires at a lower level of intensity than would be required for industrial

systems.

The BRE has been concerned with defining how sensitive a detector system

must be in order to do its job, and also how insensitive it must be to' prevent

too many false alarms occurring. As part of the programme BRE is embarking

on a substantial long term programme of measuring relevant ambient conditions

in buildings in the absence of fire in order to obtain systematic information on

the conditions which give rise to false alarms. This requires the development of

special sensing and data logging equipment.

Co-operation between laboratories will be achieved by close communication

specifically on the CBT work on detectors for domestic use and the BRE v/ork

on the monitoring of ambient conditions since both countries have a deep interest

in both programmes.

•* Initiated in response to the Memorandum of Understanding between

Mr George Romney, Secretary, US Department of Housing and Urban

Development and Mr Peter Walker, Secretary of State, UK Department

of the Environment dated July 1971.

vi
Working arrangements: Directors have agreed to nominate officers who will

be responsible for developing and progressing the joint programme. This

project will be initiated on 1 September 1972 and will be reviewed on 30 June

of each year by each Director for continuation or revision of the project

outline. It is expected that the project will be completed by July 1975. The

manpower, funding and equipment necessary to conduct the complementary

research will be provided by each organisation. Exchange visits by personnel

are essential and will be encouraged.

LIAISON OFFICERS NOMINATED BY DIRECTORS:

Mr P E Burry

(Building Research Establishment)

Mr Irwin Benjamin

(Center for Building Teclmology)

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR

BUILDING RESEARCH

ESTABLISHMENT

CENTER FOR BUILDING

TECHNOLOGY

Dated. . . . l^^ .^f-i'P^^'K . Dated. ffr.^'^'TT^f?; . A^a . "ffZ^

VI

1

«DS-I I4A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. 1. PUBLICATION OR RKPORT NO. 2. Gov't Accession

B.BUOGRAPH.C DATA

NBSIR-74-497

~ ' 1

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

US/UK Joint Complementary Research Program in Building,

(Wind Loads, Water Supply, Fire Detection),

July 1972 - June 1973

5. Publication Date October 1973

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR(S)

C. C. Ralev. I. A. Beniamin. R. D. Marshall. J. E. Snell

8. Performing Organ. Report No. NBS TR-74-4Q7

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

UcrAK 1 Men 1 Ur L.UMMCKV.C

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Worlc Unit No. 4633104

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

oullic? catno flC Clo itptn 1 UClM Q17 •

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

Final July 1972-June 1973

14, Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

This is a status report of the progress achieved under the "Joint Complementary

Research Program" sponsored by the Building Research Establishment (UK) and the

Center for Building Technology (US), during the period July 1972 through June

1973. The program includes three projects: Wind Loads on Buildings, Design of

Water Supply and Drainage Installations in Buildings, and Fire Detection in

Buildings, each of which is discussed in the report.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons)

Cooperative programs; fire safety; hydraulics; international building technology;

wind loads

18. AVAILABILITY Unlimited

I

' For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. CI

3

Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCLASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

21

22, Price

USCOMM-DC 29042-P74