I Director's Message

3 BFRL at a Glance

5 Collaborating With Our

Customers

7 Owners, Designers, and

Constructors

I I Producers and Suppliers

15 Standards and Code

Developers

19 Fire Safety Officials

22 Research Facilities

24 Staff Highlights

24 Collaborations

25 National Institute of

Standards and Technology

U.S. Department of Commerce

Ronald H. Brown, Secretaiy

Technology Administration

Mary L. Good, Lnder Secretary for Technology

National Institute of Standards

and Technology

Arati Praljhakar, Director

August 1993

Developed by Noel J. Raufaste NIST SP 838-3
COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Director's

Message

The competitiveness of all U.S.

industries and the quality of life of all people depend on the quality of the constructed facilities that shelter and

support most human activities. Construction also is of great direct economic importance. Annually, in excess of $600 billion is spent in the United States on the design, construction, maintenance, repair, and

renovation of constructed facilities, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce. New construction alone employs 6 million people.

Safety is essential to quality and competitiveness. Fire losses and costs of

fire safety are in excess of $100 billion annually. A single major earthquake

of the magnitude of the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 close to any major

urban center would cause estimated

losses of $60 billion to $100 billion. Wind damage to constructed facilities exceeds $4 billion per year; damages

from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 were more than $20 billion.

The Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) of the National Insti- tute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) is dedicated to the life cycle

quality of constructed facilities. NIST's primary mission is to help U.S.

industry to strengthen its international competitiveness. BFRL enhances the competitiveness of U.S. industry and

public safety through performance

prediction and measurement tech- nologies and technical advances that improve the life cycle quality of constructed facilities. Its products are used by those who own, design, construct, supply, and provide for the

safety or environmental quality of constructed facilities.

BFRL works closely with its cus- tomers to iflentify needs for improved

practices, condiicl ihc needed

research and development, and transfer research results to practice. BFRL

reaches out to its customers through

participation in professional, trade, and standards organizations. In its research and development activities, BFRL encourages the participation of

its customers as guest researchers, in consortia, and in cooperative research and development agreements.

Major themes of BFRL's work are the performance concept and open sys- tems for the products and services of constructed facilities. The perfor- mance concept is to make explicit,

quantitative, predictable and measurable the users' needs for the perfor- mance of the materials, components,

and systems of constructed facilities. For instance, how much time does an

occupant need to evacuate a burning

building, and does the fire safety sys- tem provide that time reliably?

Open systems allow improved materials, components or practices to be

introduced into constructed facilities and the construction process without

excessive cost or extensive modifications to other elements. BFRL supports open systems by making the performance of the system predictable

from the properties of its components,

and providing the interface criteria and measurement methods needed for acceptance of components.
This "Perspective" describes how

BFRL's projects respond to needs of the principal classes of its customers

in the constraction and fire safety

communities: owners, designers, and

constnictors; producers and suppliers; standards and codes interests; and the

fire services. Our projects address

major needs and opportunities for improving the life cycle performance

of constructed facilities, including:

high-performance concrete and steel "green" building technologies

integrated, automatic control sys- tems for operation of constructed

facilities computer-integrated, effectively

automated design and constniction

practices

reduction of losses from unwanted

fires, earthquakes, and extreme winds

We invite you to read this "Perspective" and to contact us to gain access

to our results or to explore collaborative activities. We encourage you to join with us in working to improve the competitiveness of the construction

industry, the quality of constmcted

facilities, and the safety and quality of

life of their users.

Richard N. Wright

Director

Typical of BFRL's research is development of improved measurement methods which pro- vide the technical basis for standards for design and construction practices. Shown here

is Steven Nabinger, mechanical

engineer, measuring airborne

concentrations of volatile organic compounds which were col- lected during indoor air quality

investigations. Chromatographic

analysis is used to identify specific organic compounds in the

air sample. This work advances

the Administration's thrust in environmental quality.

2
BFRL's Resources

over 90 years of experience

unique facilities

I staff of more than 200

$24 million annual budget

expertise in structures, building

materials, mechanical systems,

building environments, fire science, and fire safety

I access to advanced technologies

j —mathematical modeling

I -high-speed instrumentation

! —non-destructive testing and

I diagnostics

—information technologies

—modeling environmental

processes —advanced fire detection and

I suppression

I BFRL's Opportunities

j laboratory visits to share

information

cooperative research and problem

solving, access to unique

I resources

cooperative proprietary research to achieve customer s technology

I mission, with industry partner

j holding rights to intellectual

' property

guest researcher assignments for collaborative research

research consortia to solve industry-wide problems

II licensing inventions

I,

COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Building and Fire

Research Laboratory

at a Glance

BFRL's Divisions

The Structures Division provides

the construction connnunity with technologies to increase the productivity and safety of constmction.

The Division: provides technical bases for improved structural, earthquake,

and wind design criteria; conducts laboratory, field, and

analytical research in structural engineering, including investigations of important structural

failures, characterization of build- ing loads during construction and

service, and structural response

analyses;

produces evaluation methods and

criteria leading to safer and more

economical constmction practices;

and

determines engineering properties

of soils and foundations and devel- ops non-destmctive evaluation methods and criteria for increasing

structural properties.

Contact:

Dr. H.S. Lew

301-975-6061

The Building Materials Division

pei'lornis research lo advance construction materials science and technology. The Division: conducts analytical, laboraloi7,

and field research, including the development of methods to measure and predict service life of construction materials; and

develops technical bases for improving criteria and standards used to evaluate, select, use. and

maintain construction materials and for improving tools to make

decisions in selecting constmction

materials, including highperformance concrete and steels.

Contact:

Dr. Geoffrey J. Frohnsdorff 301-97.5-6706

3
BFRL'S Divisions {continued)

The Building Environmenf:

Division provides technologies to improve performance and reduce

costs of designing, constructing, and

operating constmcted facilities. The Division: develops data, measurement and

test methods, and modeling tech- niques to determine building air leakage, the performance of the building envelope and its insulation systems, and the release,

movement, absorption of indoor air pollutants, the performance of building mechanical and electrical equipment, and the quality of the indoor environment; and

develops performance criteria, interface standards, and test methods to help the nation's build- ing industry make better use of computer-aided design hardware

and software.

Contact:

Dr. James E. Hill 301-975-5851

Tlie Fire Safety Engineering

Division develops methods to predict the behavior of fire and smoke

and to assess ways of mitigating their impact on people, property, and the environment.

The Division: develops and demonstrates the

application of analytical tools to building fire problems and quantitative prediction of threats to people and property from fires, as well

as the means for assessing the accuracy of the models; develops techniques to predict, measure the behavior of, and miti- gate the impact of large fires; maintains and advances the Fire Research Infoimation Service

(301-975-6860); and

operates BFRL's large-scale fire test facility.

Contact:

Dr. Andrew J. Fowell

301-975-6863

The Fire Science Division

develops metrology for fire research and understanding of the scientific and engineering aspects of fire phe- nomena. The Division: produces principles, metrology,

data, and predictive methods to evaluate the smoke components in flames and the burning of polymeric materials; generates science and predictive

methods for the development of high-performance fire detection and control systems; and

develops understanding of and

information about new fire suppressants and their use.

Contact:

Dr. Richard G. Gann

301-975-6864

Right: IMeasurements are

critical to the producers of building-related products.

William Pitts, research

chemist, is making real-time measurements of scalar val- ues (such as concentration)

in turbulent flows. These

measurements are used to validate computational fluid dynamics codes and to develop models for industry's

chemical reacting turbulent

flows, combustion systems,

and mechanical systems.

4


COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Owners,

Designers, and

Constructors

Computer scientist Glenn

Forney develops computational models to determine

the flow characteristics in different structural geometries. Such models are used by designers to plan more fire-safe facilities. Shown here are thermal

gradients induced by fires and their effect on the

structure and surrounding

environment.

BfRL provides the analytical tools, procedures, and practices needed for improved design, construction, and

operation of constmcted facilities. Better methods to test, measure, and

predict the performance of materials,

systems, and processes will lead to increased productivity and comfort of building occupants and reduced construction, operating, and maintenance

costs. Improved fire hazard modeling,

materials, and fire detection and suppression systems save lives and

reduce losses from fires. Safer facilities reduce human and economic

losses from disasters.

Open Systems

BFRL researchers take an open sys- tems approach to permit products or components manufactured by differ- ent companies to be used in the same

building. \^ ith open systems, o^^^^ers can consider alternative suppliers for the components of the initial system,

combine manual and automated functions cost effectively, modify their system to respond to new requirements, and upgrade the system incre- mentally as technologies and needs

evolve.

For example, in cooperation with

the American Society of Heating,

Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning

Engineers. BFRL has developed a standard communication protocol

called BACnet (Building Automation

and Control Networks)—^for direct

digital control of building control systems.

BFRL researchers also are working to standardize infonnation formats so

architects, engineers, manufacturers,

contractors, and owners can exchange

automatically drawings and data generated on different computer-aided

design systems. This work is part of an international standardization effort known as STEP (Standard for

Exchange of Product Data) that includes all industries. This standardized information exchange project is part of BFRL's effort to advance

computer-integrated construction.

Computer Models for Decision Making

Ad\ ances in computing hardware per- mit BFRL to offer its customers vastly

improved methods for predicting, test- ing, and measuring the performance

of systems and materials. The Lab

develops, evaluates, and tests communication protocol standards so building mechanical and electrical systems can be increasingly inte- grated and automated. A major part of

this work involves the development,

verification, and refinement of dynamic-simulation models for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning

(HVAC) and control components and

systems. In addition. BFRL

researchers are conducting theoretical and experimental studies on build- ing/H\ AC/control system dynamics.

Simulation models are being devel- oped that will predict the transfer of moisture through walls, movement of pollutants from materials and equip- ment throughout a building, and

spread of fires throughout buildings.

With these tools, architects and engi- neers can design facilities to mini- mize the risk from such events.

HAZARD I. an advanced computer

model, makes it possible to assess the fire safety of a specific building

and the change in the safety level that

will result from changes in building

design or composition of building

components or furnishings. Using

data about the building design, materials and furnishings, room

arrangements, door and windo^v configuration, and the nature of a fire, HAZARD I predicts temperature,

smoke and toxic gas concentrations in each room, and tlie likely loss of life and injuries.

7
Computer models make it possible for building owners, designers, contractors,

and others to improve fire safety at reduced costs. Using BFRL's HAZARD I, they can predict the spread

of smoke, toxic gases, and

heat from a fire in a room to other parts of a building

without having to burn a room or building.

Architects and l)uilders can use HAZARD I to gain approval of build- ing designs by code authorities. With

the model, they can calculate the most cost-effective design trade-offs

in selecting materials and fire-control technologies to meet building code

requirements.

BFRL and the Portland Cement Association, working through a Cooperative Research and Development

Agreement (CRADA), are examining

the effect a fire has on concrete build- ing components such as walls, ceil- ings, and floors. They will use this information to produce an advanced

version of HAZARD I that will apply

to a wider range of fires, building

types, and materials. New Techniques to Improve

Work Quality

The Lab develops guidelines and

expert systems that provide decision

tools to improve the quality of work in

tiie constmction influstiy and contribute to the rehabilitation of the U.S.

infrastructure. For example, the expert system on highway concrete (HWYCON). developed by BFRL and

sponsored by the National Academies* of Science and Engineering,

National Research Council's Strategic

Highway Research Program (SHRP),

assists highway inspectors and engi- neers to diagnose problems on site and select appropriate concrete materials for the constmction or repair of pavements and highway structures such as bridge decks and columns.

The portable expert system contains

facts, accepted practices, and guidelines from concrete experts and professional associations as well as pictures and drawings that facilitate

its use. It was successfully pretested

8
by users from more than 10 state Departments of Transportation and

universities. HWYCON now is dis- tributed by SHRP to state highway

departments, engineering firms, and

material specialists.

Improved Building Operations

A major thrust of BFRL research is to improve the safety, comfort, and productivity of building occupants

through the development and application of energy conservation and envi- ronmentally "friendly" technologies.

This work focuses on energy efficient and color coirected lighting systems:

automated and integrated building

control systems for heating, cooling,

ventilation, illumination, fire control, communication, improved indoor air quality, and energy efficiency of appliances and materials.

BFRL researchers provide building managers and operators, designers,

indoor air quality consultants, and

industrial hygienists with tools to assess the impact of indoor air contaminants on the performance of ventilation systems. For example, BFRL

pioneered tracer gas techniques for evaluating ventilation system perfor- mance and determining contaminant

levels in mechanically ventilated office buildings. This research led to a better understanding of indoor air quality,

particularly the relationship between

ventilation and indoor air pollution

levels. Advanced measurement tech- niques are being developed to more

accurately measure ventilation system

performance, assess the reliability of

existing measurement techniques, pro- vide prototype automated equipment to monitor ventilation system perfor- mance in the field, and produce

advanced computer simulation tools that will allow designers to better esti- mate the effectiveness of ventilation systems before construction.

Below: Computer scientist Lawrence Kaetzel and chemist

James Clifton, HWYCON devel- opers, evaluate the interactive expert system designed to help

highway inspectors and engi- neers diagnose problems,

select materials for construction, and repair highways and

highway structures.

Center: Steven Bushby, electrical engineer, develops, evaluates,

and tests communication proto- col standards for the open

exchange of information between

equipment from different control vendors and between different control levels in hierarchical and

distributed building management

systems.

The drive to conserve energy through

tighter construction and better insulation often results in excess moisture

in walls and roofs. Under sponsorship

by the Department of Energy (DoE),

BFRL developed a personal computer

program, MOIST, that predicts the

transfer of heat and moisture in build- ing envelopes. The computer pro- gram, using hourly outdoor weather

data, predicts the moisture content and temperature of the envelope lay- ers as a function of time of year. This program is used by architects and

engineers to predict damaging moisture accumulation in building walls and flat roofs, thus improving the per- formance of the envelope. Using

MOIST, BFRL researchers assisted HUD by developing moisture control guidelines for walls and ceilings/roofs of manufactured housing. The guidelines have been incorporated into HUD's Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. Cheol Park, mechanical engi- neer, develops simulation models to help designers accurately

predict and improve the perfor- mance of heating, ventilating,

and air conditioning systems

and building controls. These

models are validated using

experimental data, documented

through users' manuals, and

publicized through technical

talks and publications.

9

COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Producers and

Suppliers

Mark Kedzierski, mechanical

engineer, takes photograplis

and measurements of the

nucleate boiling heat transfer characteristics on refriger- ants being tested as alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons.

The I^ab helps producers and suppliers develop, more economically,

construction materials and products

with improved performance, safety,

and economy. BFRL develops test methods and conducts performance

research for construction-related materials and systems ranging from

concrete, steel, and paints to heating

and cooling equipment. The Lab pro- vides producers and suppliers with measurement and lest methods, trace- able to an authoritative national refer- ence source, for accurate and

cost-effective methods of quality assurance.

Better Materials

In collaboration with the private sector and federal agencies, the Laboratory developed a national program

to exploit the potential ot high-perfor- mance concrete and steel. Concrete is the most widely used manufactured

material; over 230 million kg (500

million tons) of concrete are placed in the United States each year, about 1000 kg (1 ton) for every U.S. citizen. With an annual cost of $20 billion, concrete for construction is targeted

for performance improvements and

cost reductions. Possibilities of greater strength, improved durability,

and easier placement are driving

BFRL work to predict and optimize

concrete performance.

Precise characterization of concrete

materials and better performance measurements will lead to better designs for concrete mixtures, which

are now largely based on trial and

error. Four major universities and

BFRL comprise the National Science

Foundation's (NSF) Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials, a consortium investigating the chemistry, physics, and microstructure of concrete and related materials to generate the knowledge for improving

their performance. Work is under way

to produce concrete with compressive

strengths of 170 to 200 million Pa

(25,000 to 30,000 psi) — a fivefold increase in strength over today's conventional good concrete.

A BFRL-developed analytical tool predicts strength development in fresh concrete as a function of time

and temperature. These predictions

help increase the speed and safety of construction projects, such as highrise buildings, where concrete must

gain sufficient strength before form- work can be removed safely.

The Lab is conducting a comprehensive research effort to find and exploit

refrigerant mixtures to replace harmful chlorofluorocarl)ons (CFCs) refrig- erants, which are depleting the Earth's ozone layer. Even before the 1987

international agreement to phase out CFCs, BFRL researchers screened

nearly 1,000 fluids in search of refrig- erant replacements. This work

revealed some fluorocarbons, which

do not have ozone-destroying chlorine atoms, as candidates for replacement

refrigerants.

In 1988, BFRL launched its current research effort to provide industiy with the information needed to identify promising alternatives to CFCs, to

retrofit existing equipment, and to design new equipment. As part of this work, BFRL has CRADAs with several firms. In association with the

Electric Power Research Institute, the research and development arm of the

electric utility industiy, and with the Trane Co., an equipment manufacturer, BFRL is dete rmining the performance characteristics of alter- native refrigerants and providing

technologies for the redesign of heat pumps and chiller systems to optimize performance using mixtures of

alternatives/refrigerants.

11
Testing the Tests

Much of BFRL's work involves devel- oping new test and measurement

methods. To help industry assure that

its tests are performed properly, the Lab develops reference materials for calibrating industry testing equipment.

The Lab's Line Heat Source Guarded

Hot Plate serves as a reference device

to calibrate the accuracy of other hot

plates. Standard Reference Materials, a fibrous-glass blanket (SRM 1451) and

a fumed silica board (SRM 1449 and

1459), characterized using BFRL's hot

plate are used by other laboratories to calibrate their devices. The apparatus

is capable of measuring insulation

1 -meter (39 in) in diameter and up to 400 mm (16 in) thick. Devices used previously could measure only samples

about 25 mm (1 in) thick or less. This device is now an ASTM and ISO

standard.

Besides providing Standard Reference

Materials and techniques for the construction industry and fire community, BFRL administers two reference laboratories. The Cement and Concrete

Reference Laboratory (CCRL) is sponsored by the ASTM and the Army's

Corps of Engineers. The AASHTO

Materials Reference Laboratory is sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). CCRL inspects cement and concrete testing laboratories and distributes proficiency test samples on cement and pozzolans

(mineral admixtures), aggregates, and

concrete for quality assurance in pri- vate and public construction materials

testing laboratories that use ASTM

standards. The AASHTO Materials Ref- erence Laboratory provides similar services for soil and bituminous test- ing laboratories that use AASHTO

standards.

BFRL fire research for producers and

suppliers includes modeling combustion and flammability of materials ranging from engineered polymers and

thermoplastics to composites to cellu- losic materials. The work focuses on

producing mathematical models to predict burning rates and flame resis- tance and on understanding fire igni- tion, flame spread, and flame retardant

treatments. In parallel work, researchers

are developing new fire safety technologies such as advanced fire detection systems and automatic fire suppression

systems. For example, BFRL and E.I. du

Pont de Nemours & Co., through a CRADA, are testing the effectiveness of a fire-blocking barrier on the flammability of upholstered furniture.

Full-scale fire tests are used to validate small- scale test procedures

and models developed to predict the behavior of manufactured products

for heat release rates and

other data important for minimizing fire hazards.

Degradation of the protective ozone

layer has been accelerated by the

effects of the halogenated fire suppressants (halons). BFRL is studying

suppression mechanisms and screening potential alternatives to halon 1301 for in-flight fire suppression in

its work for the Air Force, Army,

Navy, and the Federal Aviation

Administration. BFRL is a leader in the search for new suppressants and

in optimizing ways to incorporate

them into efficient systems.

More Energy Efficient Building Systems

Residential buildings consume

approximately 21 percent of all U.S. energy, costing the United States more

than $100 billion annually. Space

conditioning, water heating, and food

storage account for 80 percent of this energy use. BFRL, in response to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, develops testing and rating

procedures for central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, water

heaters, refrigerator/ freezers, and

other residential appliances. A study

by DoE's Lawrence Berkeley Laborator}'. The Regional Energy and Eco- nomic Impacts of the National

Appliance Energy Conservation Act of

1987, showed that mandated DOE

minimum efficiency level standards

that use BFRL's test procedures will result in $17 billion in energy savings

for appliances purchased between

1990 and 2015. Also, the American

Council for an Energ)' Efficient Econ- omy reported that BFRL's work contributed to an average efficiency increase of 96 percent for refrigerator- freezers, 35 percent for central air conditioners and heat pumps, 30 per- cent for room air conditioners, and

18 percent for gas furnaces during the period from 1972 to 1986.

12
BFRL researchers have char- acterized the flammability of alternative refrigerants under

ambient conditions. In this example, an unacceptable

level of flammability, evident

by the blue horizontal flame, was found.

Less Flammable Materials

Losses from fires in buildings would

be greatly reduced if furnishings did

not bum or were less flammable.

BFRL is developing advanced tech- nologies that permit the design for fire safety of the materials used in furni- ture and interiors found in building

and transportation systems. Lab

researchers have developed methods

to reduce the flammability of high

impact and other commonly used

polymers. For example, researchers found it was possible to cut the flame

spread of an acrylic in half. With

BFRL's polymer molecular dynamics

modeling, researchers also are able to use computer simulations to develop new materials with improved fire resistance. With these tools, BFRL

researchers are working with industr)

to help manufacturers design less flammable synthetics and to verify

accurately the results.

BFRL researchers use computer models to characterize

the molecular dynamics of thermal degradation of poly- mers. These computer models

and the resulting data are used by manufacturers to make polymers more stable and fire resistant.

Nicholas Carino, civil engi- neer, tests high-strength concrete specimens to establish

the technical basis for char- acterizing their mechanical

properties.

Stanley Liu, mechanical

engineer, helps to develop new procedures for measuring the energy consumption

of residential equipment.

Test procedures are used by

manufacturers to determine

the annual operating costs

of their products.
Ptgttit CI SmS»rt» I t/'

P
COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Standards and

Code Developers

Edward Garboczi, physicist, develops computer

models that simulate the

development of the microstructure of concrete during the setting process. Models like this are used to predict concrete performance,

strength, and durability.

HFRL's findings influence the way buildings are designed and constructed, components are fabricated,

and materials are manufactured and

used. Its research results form the

technical basis for many of the specifications, standards, and codes used

by designers, constructors, producers,

suppliers, and others serving the construction industry.

Although BFRL has no standards or code writing authority, 90 organizations that produce the standards cited

in the nation's building codes rely on BFRL's research findings. BFRL staff participate in more than 150 domestic

and international committees that develop standards for the construction and fire safety communities.

The Lab's study of plumbing loads and the hydraulics of drainage and

venting provided the technical basis

for revisions in plumbing provisions of the One and Two Family Dwelling

Code, a model code widely used in the

regulation of single-family dwellings.

These changes are estimated by the National Association of Home

Builders to save about S500 per

dwelling, for a nationwide savings of about S500 million aimually. BFRL's

research also supports standards and

codes for solar heating, energy conservation, building rehabilitation, mobile

homes, structural seniceability. and

fire safety of materials such as furni- ture and carpeting.

Natural Hazards

In 1990. the Reauthorizing Act of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program gave NIST the responsibility for research and development to improve standards, codes, and practices for new and existing buildings

and lifelines (gas and liquid fuels, water and sewage systems, power and

telecommunications, and transportation). BFRL's research includes

determining the seismic behavior of masonn,' and precast concrete struc- tures and the residual strength and

energ}' absorbing capacity of damaged

structures. In cooperation with other

organizations, BFRL contributes to "recommended provisions" that pro- vide the basis for the seismic provi- sions of national standards and the model building codes.

BFRL conducts earthquake engineering investigations as part of its effort

to reduce human and economic losses from natural hazards. Some examples

of earthquake investigations and sub- sequent improvements to practice

include: San Fernando, Calif.. 1971 —

improved design provisions for highway bridges:

Miyagi-ken-oki. Japan. 1978 —

calibration techniques to evaluate the

liquefaction potential of soils: Imperial County. Calif.. 1979 —

models that predict inelastic deformation and failure mechanisms in stmctures: Mexico City. 1985— models that showed the importance of site amplifi- cation and duration of strong shaking on seismic perfonnance of buildings:

Loma Prieta. CaliL. 1989-

practices for site hazard assessments and for seismic safety of new and

existing buildings and lifelines.

15
Max Peltz, technician,

evaluates innovative

precast beam-column

connections undergoing

earthquake motion tests.

In reseairh perlorniecl lor the Federal Highway Administration, the Califor- nia Department of Transportation, and

NSF, BFRL evalnated the effective- ness of bridge design specifications

that were revised following the San

Fernando Earthquake. Based on their model and full-scale structural tests of bridge columns, BFRL researchers determined that the revised specifications were adequate for seismic resis- tance. They also showed how the

specification could be improved to reduce constmction costs.

Failure Investigations

As a neutral third party, BFRL investigates and reports on the physical causes of major structural failures. The research results provide technical bases for improved standards and con- stmction practices and procedures.

For example, after the Lab identified the cause of the collapse of a sus- pended walkway in a Kansas City

hotel in 1981 that killed 113 guests, the American Society of Civil Engineers and other organizations devel- oped a manual to improve quality in design and construction. As a result of the BF'RL investigation into the 1988

collapse of a large oil tank south of Pittsburgh that polluted the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, the American

Petroleum Institute improved its standard for existing tanks.

BFRL performs post-disaster

investigations to develop

the most probable technical causes of failures. A failure of supporting columns

resulted in the major col- lapse of the bi-ievel 1-880 Viaduct during the 1989

Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco area.

A 15,000 m^ (4 million gallon) capacity oil stor- age tank cracked as a

result of brittle fracture

that initiated at a flaw in the tank's wall.

16
Vytenis Babrauskas, fire protection engineer and

developer of the cone

calorimeter, is collecting

data critical to predicting

the fire hazard of a product

using a small sample of material. This test replaces

time-consuming and expensive full-scale tests. ASTM

and ISO adopted a voluntary fire hazard test method

based on the instrument.

Testing is conducted to evaluate the seismic perfor- mance of concrete columns

1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter and

9.1 m (30 ft) high. Other

tests have evaluated frac- ture propagation in steel plates 1 m (3.3 ft) wide and

90 mm (3.6 in) and 150 mm

(6 in) thick.

New Testing Technologies

for Industry BFRL invented the cone calorimeter to measure tlie burning behavior of materials. The device measures the rate at which a small sample of a product

releases energy by measuring the oxy- gen consumption. Rate of heat release is widely accepted as the most important

property of a product in assessing its fire hazard and risk. It capitalizes on the

principle that heat release is proportional

to the amount of oxygen consumed and

the constant of proportionality is nominally independent of the chemistry of the

fuel. The device accurately represents

the way that materials perform in fires. The cone calorimeter provides the basis

for national and international standards

for fire testing of materials. As a result, more than 100 cone calorimeters are used in federal, industrial, and university laboratories around the world.

The cone calorimeter enables product manufacturers to obtain data for assessing the degree to which a new or existing

product contributes to a fire hazard. It, along with BFRL's HAZARD I model, is supporting a worldwide movement to performance-based fire standards and

the creation, evaluation, and specification of a new generation of more fire resistant products.

17

Kevin McGrattan, computational fluid dynamicist, is using numerical techniques

to evaluate the flow of smoke and hot gases

released by fires.

1

COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Fire Safety

Officials

BfRL is the primary U.S. source

ol new knowledge about the science

of fire and a major player in the development of advanced fire safety

technologies. The Lab's research generates scientific data and analytical

tools that help fire safety officials pre- vent fires, reduce the damages of fire fighting, limit damage when fires do

occur, and understand why and how

they happen. The Lab locuses on

developing the data and analytical

techniques to predict fire hazard,

tools that fire safety officials can use

to estimate the risk of fire in facilities and to identify cost-effective ways to reduce that risk.

BFRL staff work closely with organizations that represent state and local

fire safety officials, as well as all major fire sen'ice organizations in the United States and in several countries abroad. For example, the International Society of Fire Service

Instructors, which represents local

fire department training officers, transfers BFRL technologies to fire departments through state and local training programs.

BFRL works with the National Association of State Fire Marshals, which

represents the 50 state fire marshals

responsible for code enforcement,

public fire safety education, and fire investigations, to investigate the cause

of fires and to define fire research needs and priorities. Together, BFRL

and the fire marshals are developing a networked computer database contain- ing technical information necessary to run fire models such as HAZARD L

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers advance fire protection engineering and develop

fire standards. BFRL staff serve on many of the committees of these organizations that develop standards,

codes of practice, handbooks, and

other educational materials.

Predicting Fire Hazard

Bf RL research helps fire protection

engineers design buildings against

fires, fire safety officials assess innovative fire safety designs, and fire investigators determine the causes of

fires during post-fire investigations.

BFRL fire simulation methods help

reconstruct the path of a lire to learn where, when, and how it started and

the factors that led to the level of loss suffered. For example, using the Lab's computer models for fire growth and

engineering formulas addressing mass

burning rate, rate of heat release,

smoke temperature, smoke layer

depth, velocity of smoke/flame front, oxygen concentration in the smoke

layer, sprinkler and smoke detector response, and fire duration, BFRL

demonstrated the probable course of a

fire in 1986 that raced through the lower floors of the Dupont Plaza Hotel

in Puerto Rico and killed 98 people.

In another fire investigation, the 1988

Los Angeles First Interstate Bank

Building fire, BFRL's investigation revealed the important relationship

between the rate of burning material and the availability of air. Here, the

availability of excess combustion air assured complete burning. Too. it showed the vulneral)ility of continu- ous glass constiuction used in many

modem buildings and the potential value of sprinkler protection. BFRL's

fire models are invaluable to fire investigators as they reconstruct fire events. These and other BFRL investigations have contributed to revisions

in the fire safety provisions of local building codes to require sprinklers

in all hotels and high-rise buildings.

The investigations also led to major

changes in fire services and fire safety education.
This blowout fire near East

Timbalier Island, La., provides a

natural laboratory field site for evaluation of measurement

techniques for burning rate and

emissions from industrial fires. Information from these field measurements are used by local authorities responsible for making hazard response decisions.

Oil Spill Fires

The Lab is helping government officials find more efficient ways to rapidly clean up large oil spills. BFRL developed meth- ods to measure the distribution of smoke

and oil residue to determine If burning an

oil spill would cause less environmental damage than other clean-up options.

Working with the Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Petrole- um Institute, BFRL researchers studied

the process during burning, the residue

after the oil has burned, and air emissions. Researchers produced a simulation model that predicts, in three dimensions,

the airborne concentration of smoke particles from a major oil fire. Simulations such as this one are used to evaluate the environmental impact of such fires, addressing Issues like the height of the plume and the location of unhealthy amounts of particulate matter tens of kilo- meters downwind. In a related area, BFRL

is helping the oil industry and the Minercns Management Service predict oil flow from

spills and oil well platform blowouts. By

using data from on-site flame radiation measurements with the Lab's data to predict oil flow, authorities can plan for

spill response and oil recovery and predict damage to coastal areas.

Emissions from a large crude

oil fire are collected using

mini-blimps to understand

possible environmental

impacts of intentionally burning oil as a response method

to performing oil clean-up

after accidental oil spills.

BFRL researchers work to understand

fire spread in buildings; the fire itself, and the smoke and hot gases released. The Lab's experimental facilities help answer some of the questions about

?.mall-scale combustion and large- scale convection phenomena. For example, BFRL's work in computalidual fluid dynamics is illustrated in the red and blue computer graphics on page 18. Shown is a compartment

(left), whic'h is filled with smoke and

hot gases (red) from a fire when a window is broken (center) and fresh air

(l:)lue) pours into the room from the

right. This phenomenon is called backdraft. The intermediate colors denote the temperature of the mixing

fluids. This scenario concerns fire- fighters because often a fire in an initially sealed compartment exhausts

the available supply of oxygen and

appears to die, only to be explosively

re-ignited when fresh air enters the room through an opened door or bro- ken window. Using computer simulations, it is possible to quantify certain aspects of problems such as the time

to replenish the diminished oxygen

level and the amount of mixing that takes place. The findings provide

guidelines to assist firefighters in identifying potentially dangerous

situations.

BFRL pioneered the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) to identify alternative methods of providing the equivalent levels of fire safety to that specified in prescriptive codes. FSES

uses a numerical grading system to evaluate the relative value of design

features and safety systems in limit- ing the threat to building occupants.

FSES was developed for use in a vari- ety of occupancies such as health

care, board-and-care, detention, correctional, and business facilities. As a recognized means of establishing

compliance with the life safety code,

FSES was included in the NFPA's

20
Alternative Approaches to Life Safety

lOlM 1992. This approach helps

users identify lower cost alternatives

for code compliance in new and exist- ing buildings.

Fire Control Technologies

BFRL is developing belter fire detection, suppression, and smoke management methods by characterizing the combustion processes in fires, predicting smoke formation and dispersion, calculating the effects of fire suppressants on electrical systems,

and developing principles for the response of advanced detection sys- tems. Working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Architect of the Capitol. BFRL investigated the use of smoke control systems to miti- gate fire conditions in tall buildings.

The old Plaza Hotel, Washington,

D.C., was used to collect measure- ments on smoke transport, stairwell pressurization, natural ventilation,

and the interactions of sprinklers with

the fire under smoke control conditions. The results provided a basis for evaluating smoke control system

designs based on computer and laboratory models.

Using this and other Lab-developed

information, BFRL verified its computer model that predicts the course

of fires in buildings. The Consoli- dated Fire and Smoke Transport

model uses the rate of heat release from the fire to predict room pressure and temperature, the height of the smoke layer, inter-room air flow, and

concentrations of oxygen, carbon

monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

BFRL is working to identify methods

for detecting fires in the early stage of development. The Lab is studying the use of unique fire "signatures" to trig- ger detectors, a technique that would

reduce false alarms which often occur

in conventional fire detection systems.

Acoustic emissions from materials provide unique signatures of early

stage fires. Piezoelectric transducers mounted on materials, such as wood,

plastic, and gypsum board, detect uhrasonic emissions which result from the relief of stress created by

changing temperatures. The rate of acoustic emissions and the cumulative energy, released when the material is exposed to a flame, provide a good measure of the overheated state of many materials. This occurs well before a temperature increase registers at the same location. For example, wood is particularly susceptible

to acoustic emission. A solid fir board

produces more than 1,000 events per

minute; other products produce fewer

emissions per minute, yet many more

than background activity.

If research shows that this fire- induced frequency of acoustic emission is not confounded by frequencies

emitted by other mechanical sources,

it may lead to the development of devices that can detect small fires reliably. It further may provide

greater assurances that builcHng occupants will not disconnect the detector.

Computer models of fluid motion and convective

heat transfer simulate

smoke movement in a

building. In this cross

section of the building,

the left side represents z large room leading into a

stairwell (center) and to a vertical shaft

(right). The

heat source

(red) is at <.-^^^_

the base of the stair- well. Cooler areas of the build- ing are represented by

various shades of blue. The smoke and hot gases concentrate at the center of the stairwell, a concern for fire safety

professionals. This simulation also is important

to designers of HVAC

systems as they consider a heat source

occurring in a duct.

The consolidated fire growth and smoke trans- port computer model

predicts the temperature,

smoke, and level of gases

in a room. The model

will be incorporated into HAZARD I to improve its predictive capabilities to duplicate real fires with- out having to burn a room

or building.
COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Research

Facilities

BFRL is a national resource for the science and technology underpinning

the constiTJCtion and fire industries.

Its facilities are world-class. Some are unique, and several serve as refer- ence sources for equipment in other

organization's laboratories. All facilities can be used for collaboration by

researchers in industry, government,

and academia.

Iitformation about using these facilities is availai)le from Noel J. Raufaste,

Head. Cooperative Research

Programs, BFRL, 301-975-5905.

1. Large-scale structures test

facility. W itii it.s .5.3 MN (12-inillion pound) universal structural testing machine—the largest in the world—this

facility can test structural components up

to 17.7 m (.S8 ft) in height.

2. Tri-directional structural test

facility. This computer- controlled apparatus—the only one of its kind—applies

forces or displacements in three directions simultaneously to test structural components up to 3.4 m (11 ft) high an<l 3.1 m (10 ft) in length or width.

3. Guarded hot plate. This is a large- capacity devic e tor measuring the thermal

resistance of insulation and other lowdensity materials up to 400 mm (15 in) thick and 1 m (39 in) in diameter. It pro- vides calibrated specimens for guarded

hot plates in other labs.

4. Calibrated hot box. This facility uses an envirDiimcnIal and climatic chamber to simulate indoor and outdoor conditions. It is used to develop standard test methods to evaluate the dynamic perfor- mance of full-scale walls up to 3 m by

4.6 m (9.8 ft by 15 ft) under cyclic temperatures ranging from -40 "C to 65 "C (-40^ to 1.50"F). The facility also is used

to develop standard measurement methods for use in other laboratories.

5. Cone calorimeter. Tliis is the pri- maiy apparatus lor ^mall-scale measure- ments of the burning behavior of materials.

It measures the rate of heat and smoke

release by burning materials. Through

connection to a Fourier Transform Infrared .Spectrophotometer, the calorimeter can

continuously measure water vapor, hydro- gen chloride, and other gases released. The calorimeter is a national and international standard test method.

6. Lateral ignition and flame

spread apparatus. This apparatus determines properties related to piloted

ignition of a vertically oriented material sample under constant and uniform radi- ant heat flux up to 6.5 W/cm- and to lateral llame spread on a vertical surface due

to an externally applied radiant flux. The

data generated are used in fire growth models and as component elements in fire hazard and fire risk assessments.

7. Large burn facility. One of the few

of its kimi in the world, this multiroom

facility is used for conducting experimental fires in full scale to validate mathematical models and to study the fire performance of furnishings and interior finish materials. Two large heat-release

rate calorimeters are available with

capacities of 1/2 million W and 7 million W. Up to 300 instruments with scanning

rates over 100 channels per second can

be dedicated to a single test.

8. Environmental chambers. BFRL

has one large and six smaller environmental chambers with temperature ranges of -40"C (-40"F) to 65°C (150°F) and relative humidity ranges from 15 to 85 percent. They are used to test simulation models for a variety of conventional and

special stiaictures and equipment. The

largest is 14.9 m X 12.8 m X 9.5 m (49 ft X

42 ft X 31 ft). It can accommodate a twostory building and has an earthen floor that can be excavated for construction of experimental structures. Shown here is one section of a three-section, two-story townhouse entering BFRL's largest envi- ronmental chamber.

22
9. Lighting research facilities.

Tlie facility provides a basis to better understand the interactions between

the occupants and the ilkmiination/ daylighting systems of a building. It provides a realistic environment lor studying color rendering (distortion) of energy-efficient lighting systems.

10. Controls laboratory. With the aid

(if a computerized energy monitoring and

control system, this lab performs funda- mental research on HVAC control systems, on controls dynamics, and on adaptive

optimization techniques. It uses a computerized energy monitoring and control sys- tem with BFRL software, which controls an

air handler, a building, a heating/cooling

plant, and a laboratoiy test facility for evaluating the performance of standard and advanced HVAC/control systems.

1 1 . Microstructure laboratory.

The laboratory is et|uipi)cd with a digital scanning electron microscope with X-ray

powder diffractometer and petrographic and stereo microscopes. The facility pro- vides for microstnictural characterization

of cement clinkers, high-performance concrete, and mortars, and it is used to characterize expanded foam insulation, roofing

materials, paints, and other protective

coatings.

12. Interactive graphics and

structural analysis laboratory.

This facility supports finite-element modeling and analysis of complex three- dimensional stnictures. It has a highperformance Silicon Graphics 4D/210

workstation, a Convex C120 minisupercomputer, two Vax minicomputers, a high-resolution color raster display

device, and a color hardcopy device.

1 3. Outdoor energy conservation

laboratory. A passive solar hou^c and

six one-room buildings constructed of

different materials with varying amounts of insulation are used to test the thermal performance of solar building features and

provide data on dynamic mass effects and

heat exchange with the surrounding eartii.
COLLABORATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Staff

Highlights

Collaborations

One of the great strengths of the Laboratoi7 is the excellence of its staff. Their competence and contributions are consistently recognized by peers in professional

societies. Examples of some recent staff awards include:

Nicholas Carino, 1993 Delmar L. Bloem

Award. American Concrete Institute, for leadership in developing specifications for cold weather concreting;

Steven Glazer, 1993 Basic Research Award. U.S. National Committee for Rock

Mechanics, for a paper on the application

of acoustic emission in fracture mechanics

in rock: Edward Garboczi, 1992 Robert L'Hermite

Medal. International Union of Research and Testing Laboratories for Materials and

Structures, for development of computer

simulation models of microstructure and

properties relationships lor cement-based

materials: James G. Gross, 1992 American Society of Civil Engineers President's Medal, for leadership in providing ASCE with a growing standards program and developing ASCE's five-year standards plan; Nora Jason, 1992 Directors" Award. Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE),

for Outstanding Committee Sei"vice on the inFIRE Advisoiy Committee;

John Klote. 1992 ASHRAE Symposium

Paper Award, for design of elevator smoke

control systems for fire evacuation: Mary McKnight, 1992 William T. Pearce Award. ASTM Committee D-1 on Paints and Related Coatings and Materials, for outstanding contributions to the science of

testing paint and paint materials:

Katharine Notarianni, 1992 SFPE Hat's Off Award, Society ol Fire Protection Engineers, for representing SFPE on the National Coalition of Engineering Societies

for Precollege Mathematics and Science Education and as active participant in the

coalition's Engineers for Education: Paul Stutzman; 1992 American Society

for Testing & Materials P. H. Bates Award

from Committee COl on Cement, for out- standing paper and presentation on cement clinker characterization by scan- ning electron microscopy:

Steven Treado, 1992 Taylor Technical Talent Award, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, for outstanding

research in lighting and HVAC:

Howard Baum, 1991 2nd International Symposium on Fire Safety Science Medal

of Excellence, for best paper on fire induced flow field-theory and experiment;

John Klote. 1991 ASHRAE Best Paper

Award, for fire experiment of zoned smoke

control at the Plaza Hotel in Washington,

D.C.;

Vytenis Babrauskas. 1990 Interilam Award at the Fifth International Confer- ence on Fire Safety, for development

of heat release rate measurement and

accelerating adoption of this technology worldwide:

Nicholas Carino, 1990 American Concrete

Institute Leonard G. Wason Award for Materials Research, for co-authored paper

on the feasibility of the impact-echo method for reliably detecting delaminations in reinforced concrete slabs;

Richard Marshall, 1990 National Hurri- cane Conference Engineering Award, for work on wind load measurements and

post-disaster assessments of hurricane wind speeds and structural damage;

Mary McKnight and Jon Martin, 1990

Corrosion Committee Puiilications Award,

Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, for the best corrosion-related paper published in the Journal of Coating

Technology in 1989; Harold E. Nelson, 1990 Standards Medal

by the National Fire Protection Association's Standards Council, for development

of the fire protection engineering technologies;

Andrew Persily, 1990 \oung Engineer

Award, District of Columbia Council of Engineering and Architectural Societies,

for developing measurement and testing

procedures for indoor air quality in large commercial buildings:

These awards are supplemented by many

other awards for technical excellence by

the Department of Commerce and NIST

management and for leadership by virtue of election as chairs of professional society committees and of government technical panels and committees.

Collaboration with

Other NIST Labs

BFRL works closely with NIST's other lab- oratories and draws on their expertise to support its own research such as: Chemical Science and Technology

Laboratory to develop a Standard Refer- ence Material for lead in paints; develop mathematical models that describe degradation processes of protective coatings on

metals; provide measurement protocols for sampling airborne asbestos; and establish the thermal and physical properties and

performance potential of candidate alternative refrigerants. Computing and Applied

Mathematics Laboratory to formulate probabilistic distributions of extreme wind in hunicanes and extratropical storm

regions; generate structural identification and non-linear dynamical systems; model

flow patterns of smoke particulates; and

design experiments and analyze results

statistically. Computer Systems Laboratory to develop mathematical models of expected

penetration of concrete security barriers based on various threat scenarios.

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory to evaluate fire resistance of microwave absorbers in acoustic anechoic chambers and to develop

electrical and fire protection methods for power transformers containing PVC fluids. Manufacturing Engineering

Laboratory to assess the quality of plasma sprayed coatings and to develop

finite element modeling to formulate the manufactured process.

Materials Science and Engineering

Laboratory to develop methods to measure the photon efficiency of ultraviolet

light in degrading polymers; develop elec- tromicroprobe characterization methods for corrosive products at the polymer coating/ metal interface; and provide non-destructive testing capabilities, such as X-ray

analysis of welds and metal failures during

investigations of buildings and structures.

Physics Laboratory to determine laser magnetic resonance for flame chemistry and perform microprobe analyses to predict corrosion on metals.

24
National Institute

of Standards and

Technology

Collaborative Research

BFRL lends its expertise and facilities for some proprietaiy research and for the development of generic and precompetitive technologies that benefit the construction and fire safety industries. Research opportunities include:

Guest Researchers The Laboratory usually has around 70 visiting scientists from industrial, university,

federal, and foreign labs; typical assign- ments average 12 months.

Cooperative Research BFRL frequently works with other organizations to share costs and resources in solving problems whose solutions often have industry-wide application. Through

Cooperative Research and Development

Agreements, industry partners can be

granted proprietarv rights to intellectual property resulting from the collaboration.

Research Consortium BFRL encourages and supports the formation of consortia by firms and organizations to solve industry-wide problems.

More Information About BFRL

BFRL publishes several brochures and

booklets that give more detailed descriptions about specific areas of the Lab. They

include:

Building and Fire Research Project Summaries: a detailed description of the current year's research. BFRL Impacts: a sample of the Lab's technical contributions and their impact on its customers. BFRL List of Publications: an annual list- ing of the Lab's publications.

About BFRL: a brief overview of the Lab. BFRL Facilities: a technical description of the Lab's facilities and their capabilities. BFRL Guest Researcher Opportunities: a review of the guest researcher programs

available for assignments to BFRL.

Inventions, Patents, and Licenses: Several Lab inventions are available for licensing. For a list of inventions and

other details, contact Dr. Bince Mattson,

Chief, Technology Development and

Small Business Program, 301-975-3084.

Visit the Lab

We encourage potential collaborators to

visit the Laboratoiy when in the Washington area. To schedule a visit, contact Noel

J. Raufaste, Head, Cooperative Research

Programs. 301-975-5905.

BFRL Consultation

If you have general questions about BFRL

programs or are interested in working with BFRL, contact:

Dr. Richard N. Wright

Laboratory Director 301-975-5900

Dr. Jack E. Snell Deputy Director and Manager for Fire Research 301-975-6850

James G. Gross

Assistant Director 301-975-5903

Noel J. Raufaste Head, Cooperative Research Programs 301-975-5905

Questions about specific programs should be directed to BFRL's Management listed on pages 3 and 4.

The mailing address for all BFRL

personnel is: Building and Fire Research Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and

Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001

FAX: 301-97.5-4032

The National Institute of Standards and

Technology is dedicated to helping U.S. industry strengthen its international competitiveness. NIST also aims to advance

science and engineering and to improve

public health, safety, and the environment.

Created in 1901, NIST is the nation's pre- mier measurement laboratory. It is a major

source of technical expertise for U.S. businesses—large and small—seeking to use the latest technologies to improve

their products and processes.

NIST laboratory researchers work with

industiy to develop new technologies, devise new measurement methods, and

provide materials, data, and calibrations

for quality assurance. Through its Advanced Technology Program, NIST

awards direct grants to industry for devel- opment of generic, precompetitive technologies. To assist small and mid-sized manufacturers in modernizing their pro- duction capabilities, NIST is building a Manufacturing Extension Partnership that

will be made up of Manufacturing Technology Centers, Manufacturing Outreach

Centers, the State Technology Extension Program, and LINKS—a support, coordination, and linking/networking infrastructure. The Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award, managed by NIST. recognizes continuous improvements in quality

management by large manufacturers, large service companies, and small businesses. NIST researchers work at the frontiers of science and technology in the following

areas: electronics and electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical

science and technology, physics, materials science and engineering, building and fire research, computer systems, and

computing and applied mathematics.

For more information on NIST

programs, call 301-975-3058.

To order a copy of these free publications

or to discuss the Lab's research reports, contact Nora Jason, BFRL Infonnation

Service, at 301-975-6862.