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! NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

7373

VISIT TO EUROPEAN

FIRE RESEARCH LABORATORIES

1961

by

A. F. Robertson

U. $. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
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NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

VISIT TO EUROPEAN

FIRE RESEARCH LABORATORIES

1961

by

A 0 F. Robertson

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0. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

MBS PROJECT NBS REPORT

1002-30-= ICAi- 27 November 2, 1961 7373

Visit to European

Fire Research Laboratories

1961

by

A. F. Robertson

ABSTRACT

Notes and comments are presented on

observations made during a visit to some

laboratories in England, Germany and Italy.

Introduction

During the last meeting of the Working Party on Fire of

the Conseil International du Batiment (CIB/CTF) , it was decided,

at the suggestion of General Piermarini, that the next meeting

be held in 1962 in Rome. However, the planned retirement of

General Piermarini made it seem desirable that the schedule for

the meeting be advanced to October 1961. This report presents

the results of the observations made during visits prior to this

meeting as well as some comments relative to the meeting itself.

Imperial College

I visited Dr. Spalding at Imperial College, London, and

there was introduced to Dr. D. Vortmeyer who took me around

the laboratory. Several different analog devices were shown

to me. These were, in general, intended to solve combustion

and heat transfer problems.

Dr. Spalding’s steady flow combustion analog—7 was intended

to permit studies of flame geometry where aerodynamic phenomena

were largely important in defining this factor. An air flow

model was used and the chemical reaction simulated by an array

of heaters located downstream from the flame holder. Associated

1/ D. B. Spalding "Analogue for High-Intensity Steady Flow

Combustion Phenomena" Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. V.171 No. 10,

19 57 , pp. 383-^12.
2

with each heater element is a thermocouple for measurement of

local air temperature. On the assumption that reactivity or

existence of the flame would be temperature dependent, the

heater elements were all manually switched on, alnd then those

providing temperature rise below a fixed level were tumed^off;

the flame shape was simulated in this manner. The temperature

level assumed would be a function of fuel reactivity. The air

flow rate was modeled and thus considerable flexibility in use

of the device existed. The assumptions made in its use preclude

simulation of gas viscosity changes, heat losses, carbon

formation and latent heat of atomization phenomena.

Dr. M. D. Samain was then visited. He has been working

for about four years on development of an electrical analog

device which operates on the same principal as those used by

Leibman—• . His analog is, however automated. This type of analog

involves the use of discrete time as well as space intervals.

The electrical network involved is simply a resistive one and,

by appropriate techniques, it can be used to solve problems

expressible by the following equations:

1. S- 2

T , 6^T , b^Z _ „2

6x2 by2 bZ 2 0

The steady state form of Fourier's equation.

2 . &

2

T

6X2

6

2

T

ty

2

b

2

Z

~bZ

2

- v/2. V^T f (T)

A form important for solution of numerous

combustion problems.

3- 6 2

T T , 6£z _ ^ 2, 6X2 6y2 6Z 2

The Fourier equation

heat and mass flow.

'(g)

important in transient

2/ G. Liebmann, "A New Electrical Analog Method for “the Solution

of Transient Heat Conduction Problems" ASME Trans. V.78, Apr 1956

pp. 655-
- 3 -

While this analog device has not been described in the > technical literature certain features of it have been mentioned-^-.

Other publications related to spherical flames are also

available^ 5J

I was impressed with the utility of this analog device and

feel that they have made a real step forward in devising so

versatile an instrument.

Fire Research Station

My first visit to the Fire Research Station was on Thursday,

28 September. I visited with Mr. Pickard who had recently done

work on the influence of winds on burning behavior of crib fires.

Their work, which is currently being put in shape for publication,

seems to be well along in yielding some information on the

behavior of such fires. He indicated that they had found a

m = weight rate of burning per unit base area

D = length of burning zone

g = gravitational constant

L = flame length

U = wind speed

p = cold gaseous fuel density

He reported that the burning behavior of cribs similar to that

of Mr. Fons of 12-inch width could be significantly modified

by the addition of sides of asbestos wood of 3 /8 -inch thickness.

_3/ D. B. Spalding, V. K. Jain, and M. D. Samain, "The Theory of

Steady State Laminar Flame Propagation: Analog Solution"

Combustion and Flame, V. 5, Mar 1961, pp. 19-25*

b/ D. B. Spalding, "The Theory of Steady Laminar SphericaJ Flame

Propagation: Equations and Numerical Solutions" Combustion and

Flame, ^7,4, Mar I960, pp. 51-58.

1/ D. B. Spalding and V. K. Jain, "The Theory of Steady Laminar

Spherical Flame Propagation: Analytical Solutions" Combustion

and Flame, V. 5, Mar 1961, pp. 11-18

correlation between

where

p = 62 x 10*3 lb/f t3
Mr. Pickard has recently been transferred to work

previously done by Mr. Nash on study of dry chemical inhibiting agents.

I visited Mr. Hazleton who is working with Dr. Thomas

on enclosure fires. They have set up a cubical box of

perhaps 3/4-inch size and with a window of perhaps about

35 percent of one side although this can be varied. Near

the inside bottom of the box is a tray filled with vermiculite

used as a gas burner. A water-cooled calorimeter with guarded

receiving area of about 1

- 3/8 inch in diameter is arranged

just above the burner to view flames and box walls. The , results of the first tests with the system have been reported—

They apparently have not made detailed measurements on the

neutral zone position during burn experiments. He was interested in our photographic technique for obtaining this type

of data.

They also have been doing some experiments on the charring of wood and studying the influence, on the rate of char

formation, of variations in the surrounding atmosphere.

Their work, to date, shows little difference in bahavior of

wood in atmospheres of oxygen and nitrogen.

I visited Dr. Thomas on his return after illness. He

gave me copies of three new papers he had prepared.

We discussed the models study for some time but made no

decisions. As usual, he was enthusiastic about their work

is critical of Blinov an^ flame height

and Dr. Hottel's analysis of it because the approach to a constant height flame resulted from a single observation on a very large size fire^ the experiment on which was not performed

at the same station as the others.

6 / P. H. Thomas "Fundamental Studies on Compartment Fires"

Fire Research Station Internal Note No. 99* CIB/CTF 61/39(UK)

Aug 1961.

2/ P. H. Thomas, C. T. Webster, and M. M. Raftery "Some

Experiments on Buoyant Diffusion Flames" FR Note No. 449

Dec I960.

and the extent to which understood. He
- 5 -

Dr. Thomas also described some work he had recently done,

O / on analysis of the work of Wright and Hayward®7 on charring

of wood. The results of this analysis have been prepared in

9/ report form^-and suggest:

1. That the rate of charring of wood exposed to

high temperatures is almost constant with time.

2. The currently assumed conductivity values for

charcoal may be too low by one order of magnitude.

This work would be of considerable interest to those concerned

with heat balance calculations in respect to fire development.

A further study he hes made—^was not discussed, but is of

interest in this same connection. In this he suggests that

if it is assumed that the decomposition of wood is exothermic

and independent of oxygen supply, then it seems possible that

a uniform rate of decomposition might result.

Dr. Thomas also has formulated his thoughts with respect

to spread of fire—^and compared a theoretical model he has

developed with one proposed by Fons in 1946.

I talked briefly with Dr. Scott and asked about work she

had been planning on extinguishment experiments in model enclosure fires. She indicated that little progress had been

made on this, but some work had been done on stopping fires

by sealing the box after various preburn times. They apparently had been able to actually extinguish the fire with

this technique with only minor weight loss after sealing the

box.

7 j57 R. H. Wright and A. W. Hayward ’’Kinetics of the Thermal

Decomposition of Wood" Can. J. of Techn. 29 Dec 1951* P* 503*

£/ P. H. Thomas "A Comment on the Thermal Decomposition of

Wood at High Temperatures" FR Note No. 9-71, Aug 1961.

10/ P. H. Thomas "On the Rate of Burning of Wood" FR Note

No. 446, Sept I960.

11/ P. H. Thomas "A Theoretical Model of the Rate of Spread

of Fire in a Continuous Bed of Fuel" FR Note No. 459, Apr 1961
- 6 -

I visited Mr. Bowes and discussed work he had under way

on study of unstable compounds. He currently is concentrating

on study of benzoyl peroxide. He reported that they had

observed what appeared to be high order detonations after prolonged storage at 80°C. The sample size was 25 gm and the

time about 16 hours. It is believed the explosion took place

from the liquid phase in spite of the fact that the melting

point for the initial material is 105°C. Bowes had an elaborate

experiment under way in which a large number of small specimens

of this material were being exposed to constant temperatures of

80° and 90°C. Samples were removed after various periods of

heating and iodine index number determinations were being made

to measure the degree of degradation. He showed me a specially

constructed cylindrical furnace with walls about 1/2-inch thick

which was being used in their Chemical Laboratory for study of

larger specimens of this chemical. The furnace had automatic

temperature control and was designed to vent in the vertical

direction in case of explosion. Color photographs of this

equipment are available.

I asked Mr. Bowes what work had been done on smoldering.

He indicated that no really quantitative method had been developed

for measuring this property of materials. He referred to FR Note

No. 4l5 as indicative of the best analysis to date. He does not

know of any work planned on this subject apart from the empirical

hot plate studies previously reported.

I witnessed a test on an aluminum frapie wall facing panel

of four stories height on their outdoor test building. The

construction used differed from conventional construcidnn in

that the spandrel wall below the window was of lightweight insulated sheet metal rather than of masonry construction. The

test was considered successful since complete burnout of the

first floor unit was accomplished without ignition of material

in the room above.

This test impressed on me the necessity for simulation

of a wider front for tests of this type since much of the

flaming rose away to one side of the upper units. It was also

evident that building fronts of this type must be self supporting at intervals along the height of the building since the

complete framwork was melted out of the speciment at the level

of the fire.
- 7

-

On Wednesday morning, 4 October, Mr. Shorter and I were

invited to participate in a discussion with the senior staff

on the question of the value of international cooperative

experiments and studies. This proved interesting and resulted

in rather general agreement that suc;h work was highly desirable.

In addition to the opportunity to share the work of large

experiments, such cooperation provided an excellent means of

comparison of measureing methods.

I talked with Messrs. Ashton and Malhotra on the subject

of fire test methods. I was interested to learn that they

had been concerned with aircraft fires in which foamed polyurethane had been the source of trouble. They indicated that

there was some evidence that combinations of different plastics

were worse than either plastic alone. So far, they had not

much experimental data to discuss.

We discussed again their previously reported finding that

the thermal properties of the interior finish of a room has

considerable influence on the rate of fire growth in the

furnishings. They indicated that a number of additional tests

12/ have been conducted— and “they hope, before too long, to be

able to make a report on this subject.

The program of column tests which was just starting

during the last visit was nearing completion. This was intended

to provide an indication of the feasibility of permitting the

concrete cover of columns to carry a portion of the designed

load. Mr. Malhotra indicated that the results had shown good

performance of columns-i3/. Somewhat shorter fire endurance

periods were observed, but that was to be expected.

I visited the various portions of the new laboratories and

offices of the Fire Research Station. They had certainly built

a useful facility and I was again impressed with the usefulness

of the -high bay buildings. In each of these, they had installed a three ton^capacity overhead rail hoist. Numerous comments were

made on the usefulness of this device for setting up and arranging equipment.

H7 "Fire Research I960'1 DSIR and FOC HM Stationery Office,

pp. 24-25- Also see "Factors Influencing the Growth of Fire"

CIB/CTF 61/34 (UK).

13/ "Protection of Steel in Buildings" CIB/CTF 61/32 (UK).
- 8 -

Visit to Dr. Magnus at Mannheim and Karlsruhe

During the last visit to Europe, Dr. Magnus had shown

disappointment with my inability to visit his laboratory.

Therefore, both Mr. Creitz and I visited him this time. In

Mannheim, we visited the fire station he has charge of. We

were interested in the degree to which the fire chief assists

in planning for fire safety in this industrial city. Dr. Magnus

indicated that great confidence was placed in his advice and

he was usually furnished proprietary processing information

necessary for specification of the fire precaution measures

which would be necessary to insure safety. He apparently

assumes the responsibility normally assigned to fire protection

officials of private companies with respect to advising on

safety measures required by companies operating in Mannheim.

He showed us his fire station which appeared efficient.

Various aspects or special features of the engine units were

pointed out. They use lined polyester fiber hose, rubber-lined

airplane-type tanks for carrying water, and plastic hose nozzles.

Other inovations were mentioned, but nothing was as impressive

as the statement that the city of 136,000 population, had only

about 200 fire calls per year. This compares with 12,000

calls on the Washington Fire Department in a city of about

1,000,000 population.

We were taken to Karlsruhe on the following day. His

group doing fire research work at the Technischen Hochschule

Karlsruhe, consists apparently of about three technical men

and a secretary. We were shown work they have under way on:

1. Compatible dry chemical extinguishing agents.

2. Tests for storage stability and caking behavior

of dry powders.

3. Dispensing devices for controlled application of

p'pwders to flames.

4. Abrasion test equipment for fire hoses.

5. Test for measuring hose deterioration under high

radiation exposure conditions.

6. Studies of fire nozzle design and development.

7. Research investigations on various dry chemical

powders

.
- 9

-

Mr- . Creitz, Dr. Friedrich, Dr. Magnus and I spent about

three hours talking about the possibility that ionic processes

might assume some importance in determining the process of

combustion reactions. There seemed to be some enthusiasm for

the research Mr. Creitz is doing in this field.

CIB/CTF Meeting - Rome

This meeting was held at the Scuole Central! Antincendi,

Capannelle, Rome, Italy. The facilities for conducting the

meeting were elaborate and impressive. The program of the

meeting is included as Appendix I.

The first day was given over to discussions on the use of

models for study of enclosure fires. There was a suggestion

that the work be continued at the various laboratories as

proposed in CIB/CTF 61/49 (UK). It was suggested that the work

might be completed in a period of 1-1/2 years. I objected to

undue haste in finishing the work. I emphasized the need to

better standardization of experimental techniques and encouraged

that some exploratory work was first necessary in defining test

methods. There was partial acceptance of this suggestion. It

was decided to allow Dr. Lie, in TNO Netherlands, time to run

some initial experiments in a large enclosure they have constructed.

Based on his experience, the various participating laboratories

would be informed of methods which might be useful for standardizing enclosures and fires in them.

The second day was given to discussions on fire resistance.

There was first, a discussion of possible criteria of load

failure. Few of the countries involved have tested structures

which have been restrained by fixing or tying the ends against

withdrawal from the supports. As a result, there has been little

appreciation for the need for both deflection and rate of deflection criteria for load failure. It was, however, stated that

the new German Standard would specify the point of load failure

as ^^/800d/

There was discussion of the influence of confinement

restraint on the behavior of floor constructions. It was indicated that a group of cooperative experiments' were being

planned to permit intra-laboratory studies of this behavior.
10

There was a discussion of the protection of steel in

buildings. The Italians have developed a new standard or

14jg/ code—^hich deals with this subject. Dr. Seekamp drew our

attention to a one-dimentional method he had developed for

estimating the protective cover required for steel columns^-^

Further discussions were held on plastics, flammability

problems, and fire door. Nothing of special interest was noted

here.

The last meeting was given over to further miscellaneous

topics. Paints, smoke in buildings, and fire statistics.

Before closing the meeting, it was suggested and agreed

that three subcommittees or working groups be organized. These

were to be concerned with:

1. Endlosure Fires

2. Fire Resistance

3

. Size of Buildings

I agreed that we would share with the British and Netherlands, the responsibilities of guiding the work on enclosure

fires. This is the only group we were to be directly concerned

with, although I did agree to do what we could in cooperative

study of fire endurance test methods.

W "Norme di Sicurezza per la Protezzione Contro if Fuoco dei

F,abbricati a Struttura in Acciaio Destinati ad Uso Civile"

(Security Standards fpr Fire Protection of Steel Buildings for

Civilian Use). Ministero Dell ’ Interno, Direzione Generale Dei

Servizi Antincendi, Roma, 1961.

15/ 0. Piermarini. "Fire Protection in Steel Framed Buildings"

CIB/CTF 61/61 (I), Oct 1961 (In English)

16/ Dr. Ing. Baue "Der Feurschutz im Stahlhochbau" Heft 21, Deutschen Stahlbau-Verband, Kpln, Ebert Platz 1 .
Laboratories of the Scuole Centra li Antincendi

One morning was used in touring the laboratories of this

organization. In Italy, problems of fire and structural

stability, as it influences the safety of the public, are

centralized in the Government in the Ministry of the Interior.

The school they have established serves, not only as a special

postgraduate training center for officers of the Italian fire

departments, but also accepts volunteers for fire fighting from

the men drafted for military service. In 1961, there are

over 700 such men who are being trained for service in the fire

fighting stations throughout the country. The total enrollment

of this school in 1961 is over 1100 men. In addition to its

service as a training center for officers and firemen, it also

serves as the central fire research laboratory for the country.

The school is located on a ten-acre site at Capannelle

some distance south of Rome. The facilities are valued at

$15,000,000. The administration building and entrance way

are impressive, the buildings being trimmed with marble and

serpentine. These, however, are common building materials

in Rome. On the tour we were shown:

1. Two fine hydraulic laboratories. One for work

at low and the other at high fluid pressures.

2. A large motor transmission, and pump test and

instruction laboratory.

3 . A fire endurance test laboratory with a single

multipurpose furnace capable of taking floor,

column, and wall panels. This furnace was unusual in its provision for flexibility of burner

position.

4. The structural test laboratory was modestly large,

but very well equipped for tests of walls, slabs

and columns. We witnessed a test of a slab about

2x3 meters size.

5. The dynamic test laboratory was very well equipped

for instruction and studies of metal behavior

under alternating stress cycles.

6. Creep test facilities were impressive. All test

equipment appeared to be of the latest type usually

of U. S. construction.
12

7. A laboratory for use of radioactive materials.

8. Several laboratories for electronic investigations including studies of radio communication

equipment, high voltage generators, power and

frequency measurements.

9. Several chemical laboratories including some

specialized for calorimetric measurements,

gas analysis, etc.

After looking at the facilities, I couldn't help wondering

how well they were used. There was little evidence of their

use for research purposes, however, it is evident that they

were also intended for instructional needs.

The poor translation performance at the CIB meeting

impressed on us all the importance of personnel competent in

this work for success of such meetings.
- 13 - APPENDIX I

DETAILED A&ENDA AND PAPERS REQUIRED FOR

C.I.B./C.TnP. MEETING

9TH TO 11 TH OCTOBER, 1961 .

SESSION I RESEARCH WITH MODELS OTHER THAN THAT CARRIED

OUT AS PART OF THE CO-OPERATIVE PROGRAMME

9TH OCTOBER 10,00 - 12.30

Papers submitted for discussion

1 . Mechanism of burning in buildings

CIB/CTF 61/38 ( UK) - Fundamental Studies on Compartment Fires

CIB/CTF 61/42(J) - Effect of Internal Linings on Spread of

Fire, at its Early Stage - General

Results on Model Study

CIB/CTF 6l/46(N) Comparison Flashover Time in Lined Models

with the Flame -Forming Intensity

CIB/CTF 6 l/48 ( USA

)

Preliminary Results of Experimental Fires

in Enclosures

2 . Size of flames

CIB/CTF 6l/39(UK) The Size of Flame

3. Roof venting

CIB/CTF 6l/37(UK) - Roof venting

SESSION II CO-OPERATIVE RESEARCH USING MODELS

9TH OCTOBER 14.00 - 16.30

Papers submitted for discussion

4. Report on Progress

cib/ctf 6 i/36 (uk) - Comparative tests by three laboratories

on a fire in a small scale compartment

CIB/CTF 6l/40(UK) International Modelling Programme on the

Growth of Fire Analysis of Ceiling

Temperatures and Radiation from the

Opening

5. Next Stage in Programme

CIB/CTF 61/49 (UK) Proposals for Next Stage of C.I.B.

Programme on Fires in Compartments

Other relevant papers

CIB/CTF 60/50(USA),

CIB/CTF 61/1 5(UK).

cib/ctf 6o/54(uk), cib/ctf 6 l/8 (UK),
SESSION III

EIRE RESISTANCE

10TH OCTOBER 10.00 - 12.30

ifepers submitted for die pubs

I

on

6. Deflection criteria of failure

7.

CIB/CTF 61/28(D) Legende fur die Zusammenstellung von Bauteilen f&r DIN 4102, Blatt 2

CIB/CTF 6i/50(d) — Deflection criteria of failure

Correlation of floor tests and effect of restraint on fire resistance

of floors

CIB/CTF 61/31 (UK)

CIB/CTF 6l/45(USA)

Correlation of floor tests and effect of

restraint on fire resistance of floors

The New Beam Furnace at PCk and Some

Experience gained from its Use

8. Protection of steel in buildings

CIB/CTF 6l/23(F) CoS.T.B. Essais de resistance au feu

concernant la protection des ossatures

metalliques effectues a la station du feu

du CoS.ToB. Point-9 - de- 1

8 0rdro du Jour

CIB/CTF 6 1/3 2 (UK)

CIB/CTF 61/43(J)

Other relevant papers

Protection of steel in buildings

present trends

some

Full Scale Fire Test on a Steel Frame

Construction

cib/ctf 6o/45(f), cib/ctf 6o/53(f), cib/ctf 6i/i(f), cib/ctf 6i/4(uk) 5 cib/ctf 6i/6(f) CIB/CTF 61/9(C), CIB/CTF 61/16(F), cib/ctf 6l/l8(x),

CIB/CTF 61/19(1), CIB/CTF 6l/2Q(l), CIB/CTF 6l/4l(C)» <

SESSION XY

FIRE RESISTANCE

1 0TH OCTOBER 14,00 - 16.30

Papers submitted for discussion

9. Fire hazard of plastics

CIB/CTF 6l/33(UK) - Fire hazard of plastics

CIB/CTF 6l/47(USA) ~ Surface Flammability of Cellular Plastio

Foams

10. Factors influencing the growth of fire

CIB/CTF 6l/23(j) - Study bn the Prevention of Fire- Spread.

Caused by Hot Upward Current

CIB/CTF 6l/34(UK) - factors influencing the growth of fire'
- 15 -

11, Requirements for doors, shutters and windows for the protection

of openings in buildings

CIB/CTF 6l/26(F) - C.S.T.B. Comportement au feu de portes

diverses, y compris les rideaux. Point

1 1 de l'Ordre du Jour

CIB/CTF 6l/35(UK) - Requirements for doors, shutters and windows

for the protection of openings in buildings

Other relevant papers

CIB/CTF 60/48(UK), CIB/CTF 6o/55(UK), CIB/CTF 6l/2(C),

CIB/CTF 6l/7(F), CIB/CTF 6l/2l(F).

SESSION V

TOUR LABORATORIES OF THE

SCUOLE CENTRALI ANTINCENDI

1 1 TH OCTOBER 10.00 - 12.30

SESSION VI

OTHER BUSINESS

1 1TH OCTOBER 14*00 ~ 16. 30

Papers submitted for discussion ,

12. General matters connected with fire protection of buildings

CXB/CTF 6l/ll(N) - Fire -Protection of Buildings

CIB/CTF 6l/24(F) - C. So To B. No. 50, Cahier 397. Essais de

resistance au feu d'elements de

construction

13.. Fire-retardant treatments and paints

CIB/CTF 6l/29(USA) - Surface Flammability of Fire-Retardant

and Conventional Paint Assemblies

14. Fire statistics

CIB/CTF 6l/44(Dk) - How Can Fire Statistics be improved to comply with wishes from the building

research

Other relevant papers

CIB/CTF 60/46(C), CIB/CTF 60/47(C), CIB/CTF 60/49(UK),

CIB/CTF 60/52(C), CIB/CTF 6o/56(C). CIB/CTF 60/57(F).

CIB/CTF 60/58(c), CIB/CTF 6l/lO(UK), CIE/CTF 6l/l3(C),

CIB/CTF 6l/l 7(C).

15. Report on International Standards Organization meeting in

London

16. Date and Place of Next Meeting
16 -

APPENDIX II

Furnace for Testing Fire Resistance of Building Materials

Very valuable contributions from the various laboratories

(Chemical, Thermal and Construction Science) have been studied

and incorporated in the recently completed large- furnace for

testing the fire endurance behavior of structural and marine

materials.

This important facility, now complete and operating,

represents, in itself, a valuable testing instrument.

This furnace, Installed in a large building constructed

of concrete and glass, has internal dimensions of 6.50 x 3. 00

x 4.00 meters, and within it, it is possible to reach, depending on the desired test requirements, a temperature of 1,200°C

(in some cases during experimentation, it has been raised to

as high as 1,250°C).

The frontal opening has dimensions of 1.20 x 1.80 meters

with a double, hinged door mounted on metal columns and, in

additirmr it is provided with a sliding, water-cooled wall

closure. On the four walls, 53 positions are provided for

the naphta burners or for thermocouples.

The burners, (12 in number) may be moved to various

positions, even under the furnace floor for indirect heating.

These are regulated automatically by appropriate, thermocouple

controlled mechanisms.

The upper furnace opening which would normally receive

a floor construction intended for test is closed when not in

use by movable, refractory beams which can be easily dismounted.

There are also available, 4 hydraulic jacks, each capable

of applying a load of 50 tons. These, together with restraining beams allow placing the test speciemns under the various

load conditions. A bridge-type hoist with electric controls,

and a capacity of 50 tons, permits easy movement of the test

specimen. The use of thermocouples and electrical deflection

shnsors allows the detailed recording of data with regard to

temperatures as well as movements which the test specimen has

been subjected to.

From the above, the many uses this furnace can be put to

are easily seen.

Translated from "Le Scuole Antincendi" Ministry of the Interior.

Rome, by J . M. Fernandez.

USC0MM-NBS-DC
U. S. DEPARTMENT OE COMMERCE

Luther H. Hodges, beuctury

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

A. V. Astin, Director

THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The scope of activities of the National Bureau of Standards at its major laboratories in Washington, U.C., and

Boulder, Colorado, is suggested in the following listing of the divisions and sections engaged in technical work.

In general, each section carries out specialized research, development, and engineering in the field indicated by

its title. A brief description of the activities, and of the resultant publications, appears on the inside of the

front cover.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Electricity. Resistance and Reactance. Electrochemistry. Electrical Instruments. Magnetic Measurements.

Dielectrics. • Metrology. Photometry and Colorimetry. Refractometry. Photographic Research. Length. Engineering Metrology.

Mass and Scale. Volumetry and Densimetry.

Heat. Temperature Physics. Heat Measurements. Cryogenic Physics. Equation of State. Statistical Physics.

Radiation Physics. X-ray. Radioactivity. Radiation Theory. High Energy Radiation. Radiological Equipment.

Nucleonic Instrumentation. Neutron Physics.

Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry. Pure Substances. Spectrochemistry. Solution Chemistry. Standard Refer- ence Materials. Applied Analytical Research.

Mechanics. Sound. Pressure and Vacuum. Fluid Mechanics. Engineering Mechanics. Rheology. Combustion

Controls. Organic and Fibrous Materials. Rubber. Textiles. Paper. Leather. Testing and Specifications. Polymer Structure. Plastics. Dental Research.

Metallurgy. Thermal Metallurgy. Chemical Metallurgy. Mechanical Metallurgy. Corrosion. Metal Physics. Electrolysis and Metal Deposition.

Mineral Products. Engineering Ceramics. Class. Refractories. Enameled Metals. Crystal Growth. Physical

Properties. Constitution and Microstructure. Building Research. Structural Engineering. Fire Research. Mechanical Systems. Organic Building Materials. Codes and Safety Standards. Heat Transfer. Inorganic Building Materials. Applied Mathematics. Numerical Analysis. Computation. Statistical Engineering. Mathematical Physics. Operations Research. Data Processing Systems. Components and Techniques. Digital Circuitry. Digital Systems. Analog Systems.

Applications Engineering.

Atomic Physics. Spectroscopy. Infrared Spectroscopy. Solid State Physics. Electron Physics. Atomic Physics.

Instrumentation. Engineering Electronics. Electron Devices. Electronic Instrumentation. Mechanical Instru- ments. Basic Instrumentation. Physical Chemistry. Thermochemistry. Surface Chemistry. Organic Chemistry. Molecular Spectroscopy. Molecular Kinetics. Mass Spectrometry.

Office of Weights and Measures. BOULDER, COLO.

Cryogenic Engineering. Cryogenic Equipment. Cryogenic Processes. Properties of Materials. Cryogenic Technical Services. Ionosphere Research and Propagation. Low Frequency and Very Low Frequency Research. Ionosphere Research.

Prediction Services. Sun-Earth Relationships. Field Engineering. Radio Warning Services.

Radio Propagation Engineering. Data Reduction Instrumentation. Radio Noise. Tropospheric Measurements.

Tropospheric Analysis. Propagation-Terrain Effects. Radio-Meteorology. Lower Atmosphere Physics.

Radio Standards. High Frequency Electrical Standards. Radio Broadcast Service. Radio and Microwave Materials. Atomic Frequency ana Time Interval Standards. Electronic Calibration Center. Millimeter-Wave Research.

Microwave Circuit Standards. Radio Systems. High Frequency and Very High Frequency Research. Modulation Research. Antenna Research.

Navigation Systems.

Upper Atmosphere and Space Physics. Upper Atmosphere and Plasma Physics. Ionosphere and Exosphere

Scatter. Airglow and Aurora. Ionospheric Radio Astronomy.