National Fire Research Laboratory 

(NFRL)

Joannie Chin, Director

Engineering Laboratory
NIST Laboratory Programs

2
EL promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing 

measurement science, standards, and technology for engineered systems 

in ways that enhance economic security and improve the quality of life

Credit: DHS Science & Technology Directorate Credit: NIST Credit: NIST

Engineering Laboratory (EL) Mission

Disaster 

Resilience

Building Energy and 

Environment

Advanced 

Manufacturing
EL Organizational Structure
Fire Risk Reduction in Communities: To improve the resilience of communities 

and structures through innovative fire protection and response technologies 

and tactics

Fire Risk Reduction in Buildings: To increase the safety of building occupants 

and the performance of structures and their contents by enabling innovative, 

cost-effective fire protection technologies 

Fire Research Programs at NIST 
A unique national resource dedicated to 

understanding fire behavior and structural 

response to fire

Credit: NIST

National Fire Research Laboratory (NFRL)

• Capability of conducting full-scale fire and 

structural fire measurements under controlled 

conditions

• Enables generation of science-based data to 

validate fire models and improve fire and 

building codes

• Contains one of the most accurate instruments 

in the world for measuring the heat release rate 

of large fires
Original lab (“legacy”) built in 1973 

(red highlighted section)

NFRL History

After the WTC 7 collapse, it was recognized 

that no facilities existed to evaluate the 

performance of full scale structure under 

realistic fire loads

A 2012 study conducted by the Fire 

Protection Research Foundation stated: 

“The NFRL presents a unique opportunity to 

explore a broad range of unanswered 

questions regarding the performance of real 

structures in the fire condition, and to 

inform performance-based design methods 

and standards...”
Credit: NIST

Strong floor

Strong wall

Expansion of the NFRL in 2015
Advance

Metrology

Tools

Validate

Computational 

Models

Conduct

Large-Scale 

Experiments

Support

Post-Fire 

Investigation

NFRL Research Thrust Areas
To study the influence of fire on the lateral load resistance of 

cold-formed steel shear walls

Load cycling without fire

Load cycling following fire

Fire Following Earthquake Impact on Cold-Formed 

Steel Construction

Specimen
To quantify the contribution of Cross-Laminated Timber elements to compartment 

fires with varied ventilation, encapsulation and exposure

• 9.1 m x 4.6 m x 2.7 m studio apartment

• 175-mm thick 5-ply CLT structural panels

Large Scale Experiments of Cross-Laminated Timber 

Compartments

Provided the technical basis to transform the International Building 

Code to allow the expanded use of cross-laminated timber structures 

in North America while ensuring occupant safety
Phase I: Behavior and limit states of 42 ft span 

composite floor beam assemblies (Completed 2018)

Phase II: Behavior and failure mechanisms of 

30 ft x 20 ft composite floor assemblies (in progress)

Phase III: Ductility of subassemblies influenced by 

fire (scoping)

Steel-Framed Structures with Composite Floor Systems 

Largest composite floor test constructed with full compliance 

with U.S. practice

First-of-kind structural-fire experiments in the U.S. with real 

boundary conditions in a two story, multi-bay steel frame
Unique Safety Challenges

Large fires (long 

durations, high 

thermal radiation)

Use of high-capacity 

overhead cranes

Large forces imposed 

by high-capacity 

hydraulic loading 

systems

Use of scissor lifts, 

forklifts, and skid 

loaders

Large forces and large 

fires applied 

simultaneously

Multi-level test 

structures
General NFRL Safety Policies

At least two authorized 

workers are required to be 

present for all lab activities

A safety briefing is conducted 

by the Activity Leader prior to 

each experiment involving fire 

or large-scale structure

NFRL Lab spaces are restricted 

to authorized personnel 

through use of badge card 

reader

Each experimental test series 

must have an approved 

Hazard Review, including 

approved standard operating 

procedures and required PPE
The NFRL High Bay Labs (113 and 125) are equipped with a total of 8 IR fire detectors 

aimed beneath the hoods and 3 linear beam smoke detectors located below the ceiling.

A fire suppression system (deluge sprinklers and fire monitor nozzles) is activated by the 

fire detection system or manual pull stations.

The water deluge system will deliver up to 3000 GPM of water and must be bypassed 

during a fire experiment. 

Automatic Fire Suppression Deluge System
Primary Hazards

• Large fires (heat, toxic gases)

• Large forces and heavy material handling (cranes, forklifts)

• Flammable liquids, chemicals, compressed gases

• Fabrication equipment (band saws, mills, lathes, drill 

presses)

• Working at high elevations (ladders, manlifts, platforms, 

scaffolding)

• Confined Spaces

• Electrical Hazards

Engineering and Administrative Controls, 

PPE and Training

Described in Activity Hazard Reviews and Standard Operating 

Procedures

• NFRL general use Activities for crosscutting hazards

• Project Hazard Reviews for specific experiments conducted 

in NFRL

Activity Hazard Reviews
Minimum Required Personal Protective Equipment

• Safety glasses

• Hard hats

• Closed toe shoes

• Long pants

Activity-Specific PPE examples (prescribed in hazard review)

• Steel toe shoes

• Respirator or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

• Face shield 

• Fall protection harness

• Hearing protection

• Gloves

• Fire fighting turnout gear 

• Amber tinted safety glasses

Required Personal Protective Equipment
Pre-test Safety Briefings and Checklists
• On September 26, 2022, an engineering technician in the NFRL was involved in a 

tragic accident involving a fall from elevation.

• He arrived at NIST 10 years ago and brought more than two decades of experience in 

executing large-scale experiments and critically needed knowledge of the hydraulic 

systems used for large-scale structural testing.

• There are currently two on-going investigations: Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA) and the NIST Office of Safety, Health, and Environment 

(OSHE).

• The structural high bay has been in a stand-down mode and structural experiments 

are on hold indefinitely.

• Low-hazard experiments in the legacy NFRL are in the process of being re-reviewed 

for re-start.

Fatal Accident on September 26, 2022
Questions
Additional Slides
Core Areas of Expertise in EL
Original lab (“legacy”) built in 1973 

(red highlighted section)

NFRL History

Specification Original New Expansion

Floor Area 1000 m2 2000 m2

Fire Capacity 1 MW | 3 MW | 

10 MW 20 MW

Strong Floor/

Strong Wall None Strong floor: 18 m x 27 mStrong Wall: 18 m x 9 m

Structural 

Loading None up to 960 kN actuators

The 2015 expansion allowed 

for the combined study of fire 

and structural response
• NFRL operates as a collaborative facility through partnerships among NIST, the private 

sector, and other government agencies

• Scientists and engineers from industry, non-profits, academia, and government 

agencies work side-by-side with NIST researchers to address significant problems and 

fill critical knowledge gaps

• International scientists and engineers can also partner with NIST in areas aligned with 

EL priorities of mutual interest.

• Project funding is shared among collaborators, with NIST covering basic facility costs 

and support of NFRL crew.

NFRL Operating Model
NFRL Floor Plan
Hazard Identification

• Large forces, working at elevation, high-capacity overhead cranes

• Large fires (long durations, high thermal radiation)

• Failure or collapse of test structures

Engineering Controls

• Access control system

• Control room and Observation room

• Fire detection and suppression systems

• Controlled hydraulic loading

• Strong wall and reaction frames for stabilizing test structures

• Building monitoring system (video, air quality, temperatures, strains)

• Cranes and hydraulic system with state-of-the-art safety features

Administrative Controls

• Hazard reviews and SOPs, Staff training/certification, maintenance and inspection

• Pre-test Safety Briefings

Personal Protective Equipment

Near-Miss and Incident Reporting

Safety in the NFRL