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                            Funding & Awards
 Study of the Impact of Ventilation on Fire Patterns and electrical system Damage in Single Family Homes Incorporating Modern Construction Practices
Award Information
Awardee
              Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
Award #
              2015-DN-BX-K052
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Northbrook, IL
Congressional District
              10
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2015
Total funding (to date)
              $999,081
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 15 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2015, $999,081)
As submitted by the proposer: Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) will lead a 2-year study examining how ventilation impacts fire patterns and electrical system damage in single family homes, incorporating modern construction practices. Fire investigators must understand fire dynamics to properly identify the origin and cause of a fire; and, fire dynamics are dependent upon ventilation. Limited scientific data exists from fullscale analysis of controlled fire scenarios. Research is needed on the impact of ventilation on fire damage by natural causes, as well as the use of ventilation as a firefighter practice.
ULs proposed research, conducted with the fire investigation community, will inform forensic science policy and practice. UL has been an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization since our inception in 1894. As one of the most widely recognized safety organizations, UL is well-positioned to provide an unbiased, independent perspective.
Over the past 30 years, home construction design has changed, compounding how ventilation influences fire behavior. Fires in todays environment, predominantly comprised of synthetic materials, commonly become ventilation-limited. How and where the fire receives oxygen greatly impacts the fire dynamics and subsequent fire patterns. One event, such as a door left open by a fleeing occupant, or a window that fails as a result of fire growth, could greatly impact home damage. Additionally, modern construction practices (open floor plans, two-story foyers, and great rooms) may lead to fire dynamics and fire patterns different than what fire investigators are accustomed.
We will utilize full-scale house experiments to examine fire behavior from ventilation occurring without fire service involvement, as well as ventilation used during fire attack. We will also study: characterizations of electrical system response to fire; and computational fluid dynamics (utilizing NISTs FDS) fire modeling analysis (UL will simulate these experiments and use the model to expand scenarios to further assess FDSs ability to model fire patterns). Research will provide scientific-based data to supplement fire investigator knowledge.
The project will draw from and enhance previous DHS AFG-sponsored research (EMW-2008-FP- 01774 - impact of horizontal ventilation through doors/windows) and (EMW-2010-FP-00661- the impact of vertical ventilation through the roof). Outcomes will provide a baseline for future training and modification to reference materials, such as NFPA 921; and, address concerns expressed by the investigation community. Investigators will gain scientific-based comparisons of the types of ventilation occurring during a everyday fires. A comprehensive fire investigator outreach program will sure that this science meets the street.

This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.

ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Gas burner experiments conducted in modern residential style structures
                  Validation of CFD fire model pressure predictions for modern residential style structures
                  Understanding the Impact of Ventilation on Burn Patterns Can Aid Arson Investigations
                  Modeling Gas Burner Fires In Ranch and Colonial Style Structures
                  Impact of Flashover Fire Conditions on Exposed Energized Electrical Cords/Cables
                  Impact of Fixed Ventilation on Fire Damage Patterns in Full-Scale Structures
                  Impact of Flashover Fire Conditions on Exposed Energized Electrical Cords and Cables
                  Study of the Impact of Ventilation on Fire Patterns and Electrical System Damage in Single Family Homes Incorporating Modern Construction Practices




  
Grant-Funded Events
        
                      Impact of Ventilation on Fire Patterns
                  Introduction to Heat Transfer and Fire Measurements
                  Fire Forensics: Claims and Evidence

  
Date Created: September 16, 2015
    
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