U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Examination of the Use of Fire Dynamics Analysis Techniques With Furniture Fueled Fires
Award Information
Awardee
              UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INC
Award #
              2017-DN-BX-0163
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    NORTHBROOK, IL
Congressional District
              10
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2017
Total funding (to date)
              $570,790
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY17 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $570,790)
As submitted by the proposer:
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) will lead a study to examine the application of classical analytical methods used by fire investigators to determine the capabilities of those methods using realistic residential fuels. Over the years, fire researchers have provided many methods that can be used to predict fire characteristics. These fire characteristics include: median flame height, plume temperatures, estimations of the heat flux reaching a target based on the source heat release rate, hot gas layer temperature, and predicting flashover of a compartment. The methods developed range from simple, empirically based, algorithms to computational fluid dynamics models.
Over the past 30 years, changes in home construction materials, insulation and contents have resulted in the potential for faster fire growth rates. Faster fire growth rates combined with improved insulation of structures result in faster depletion of the oxygen contained in the fire structure. Therefore, fires in todays residential fire environment, which are predominantly comprised of synthetic contents, can more frequently generate ventilation-limited conditions. How and where the fire receives oxygen, especially in ventilation-limited conditions, greatly impacts the fire dynamics and subsequent fire environment.
This study will address the knowledge gap concerning the use of fire dynamics analysis techniques which were developed with and/or validated with gas burner or liquid fuel pool fires by examining the applicability of these tools when actual furniture (predominately synthetic) items are burned. The comparisons will be performed under fuel limited (free burn) and ventilation limited (compartment) fire conditions.
This research project will draw from and enhance previous DHS AFG and NIJ sponsored research. Outcomes will provide scientific-based data for training and reference materials, such as NFPA 921, addressing concerns expressed by the investigation community. Upon completion, investigators will have scientific-based comparisons for both the gas burner and the furniture fire results, and guidance on the application of the analytical methods. A comprehensive fire investigator outreach program will ensure that this science meets the street. UL proposes to conduct this project with the fire investigation community to inform forensic science policy and practice surrounding the changing dynamics of residential fires.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14).
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Experimental data from compartment fires with gas burner and upholstered furniture fuels
                  Examination of Fire Dynamics Analysis Techniques: Assessment of Predictive Fire Algorithms and Models
                  Examination of the Use of Fire Dynamics Analysis Techniques with Furniture Fueled Fires

  
Date Created: September 29, 2017
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Climate, Culture, and Correction Officer Wellness
                  Research and Development of an Approach for Non-invasive Determination of Cannabis Ingestion for Forensic Science Purposes
                  Optimizing Analytical Parameters for Detection of Chronic and Single Dose Drug Exposure in Forensic Hair Analysis
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov