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 Engineering Laboratory /                  Fire Research Division
      National Fire Research Laboratory

    
    Breadcrumb
        Fire Calorimetry Database (FCD)Multiple Item Transient Combustion Calorimetry (TCC) Project

            Research Overview
                                Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between the peak heat release rate (HRR) and the number of multiple combustible items. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) collaborated on a set of experiments to measure the  (HRR) of transient combustibles. These are items one might find in industrial spaces on a temporary basis, in particular nuclear power plants. For example, during maintenance work, items such as trash bins, pallets, cardboard boxes, and so on, might remain in an area for a limited time period. These items are typically not accounted for when designing the fire protection system, but they are considered as part of a probabilistic risk analysis (PRA). A key parameter in such an analysis is the maximum heat release rate an item can generate if it accidentally catches fire, and the time to reach that peak following ignition.


                  McGrattan, K. Heat Release Rates of Multiple Transient Combustibles, Technical Note (NIST TN) 2102, 2020
  https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2102
                                        Heat Release Rate and Fire Characteristics of Fuels Representative of Typical Transient Fire Events in Nuclear Power Plants, NUREG-2232 2020
  https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2009/ML20091L481.pdf
  

      

      Experiment Name
                            Plot of Heat Release Rate
                                                  Ignition Photo
                                                  Date/Time
                                                  SpecimenSort descending
                                                  Fuel Type
                            Test Duration (min)
                            Total Heat Released (MJ)
                            Peak HRR (kW)Test35_8boxRags_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/20/2019 4:33:22 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with cotton rags
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            77.60
                            433
                            290Test10_1boxRags_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/06/2019 5:10:25 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with cotton rags
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            46.07
                            61.9
                            113.9Test11_4boxRags_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/06/2019 6:18:16 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with cotton rags
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            61.77
                            250
                            345Test12_4boxRags_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/09/2019 4:20:15 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with cotton rags
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            56.67
                            246
                            342Test32_box_r2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/19/2019 5:01:38 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            51.85
                            103.6
                            132.6Test33_2box_r2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/19/2019 6:08:17 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            47.45
                            223
                            267Test1_1box_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/02/2019 8:55:35 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            22.42
                            116.3
                            328Test34_4box_r2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/19/2019 8:20:11 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            72.87
                            442
                            288Test2_2box_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/02/2019 9:42:38 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            31.37
                            236
                            481Test3_4box_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/03/2019 5:13:32 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            44.22
                            479
                            944Test4_8box_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/03/2019 6:15:18 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            49.32
                            979
                            2,581Test37_4box_R3
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        02/25/2020 5:09:15 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            34.95
                            459
                            930Test38_4box_R4
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        02/25/2020 6:12:22 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            35.37
                            471
                            1,964Test40_4Commodity_R2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        02/25/2020 9:42:21 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene cups
                                                                                        Cellulose, Polystyrene
                            26.37
                            710
                            2,071Test25_1plasticCommodity_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/16/2019 8:13:12 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene cups
                                                                                        Cellulose, Polystyrene
                            17.12
                            174
                            619Test26_2plasticCommodity_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/16/2019 8:49:07 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene cups
                                                                                        Cellulose, Polystyrene
                            22.75
                            355
                            888Test27_4plasticCommodity_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/17/2019 5:38:43 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene cups
                                                                                        Cellulose, Polystyrene
                            33.13
                            700
                            1,430Test28_8plasticCommodity_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/17/2019 6:32:35 AM EST
                                                                                        cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene cups
                                                                                        Cellulose, Polystyrene
                            34.07
                            1,438
                            2,826Test22_1tarp_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/16/2019 5:05:44 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic tarp
                                                                                        Plastic
                            16.93
                            4.0
                            12.0Test22_1tarp_r2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/16/2019 5:38:42 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic tarp
                                                                                        Plastic
                            23.65
                            below detection limit
                            10.5Test24_2tarp_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/16/2019 6:21:11 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic tarp
                                                                                        Plastic
                            20.68
                            8.3
                            15.8Test30_2trashCanRagsPaper_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/18/2019 4:13:01 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcan filled with cotton rags and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            61.08
                            370
                            462Test31_4trashCanRagsPaper_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/18/2019 5:28:39 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcan filled with cotton rags and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            70.55
                            772
                            972Test29_1trashCanRagsPaper_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/17/2019 8:33:15 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcan filled with cotton rags and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            51.27
                            190
                            225Test36_2Trashcan_r2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/20/2019 6:07:56 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcan with crinkle paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            56.65
                            253
                            409Test17_Trashcan_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/11/2019 5:04:01 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcans filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            56.27
                            131
                            159Test18_2Trashcan_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/11/2019 6:23:09 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcans filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            48.08
                            257
                            445Test19_4Trashcan_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/11/2019 8:53:17 AM EST
                                                                                        plastic trashcans filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            68.97
                            512
                            587Test39_4trashcan_R2
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        02/25/2020 8:18:43 AM EST
                                                                                        trashcans filled with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            55.08
                            453
                            705NGQC_6m_20kgs_3MW
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/02/2019 5:59:40 AM EST
                                                                                        tube gas burner
                                                                                        Natural Gas
                            25.95
                            2,372
                            3,094Test13_woodCrib_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/09/2019 8:21:20 AM EST
                                                                                        wood cribs
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            55.73
                            597
                            396Test14_2woodCrib_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/09/2019 9:42:27 AM EST
                                                                                        wood cribs
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            61.68
                            1,263
                            907Test15_4woodCrib_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/10/2019 5:06:48 AM EST
                                                                                        wood cribs
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            79.17
                            2,523
                            1,402Test16_8woodCrib_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/10/2019 8:30:01 AM EST
                                                                                        wood cribs
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            115.43
                            5,120
                            2,301Test21_8box2pallet_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/12/2019 5:51:13 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and cardboard boxes with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            48.95
                            1,506
                            3,240Test5_2Pallet_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/03/2019 8:28:58 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            39.52
                            502
                            934Test6_4Pallet_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/03/2019 9:26:33 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            39.23
                            1,073
                            1,801Test7_4Pallet_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/05/2019 4:28:55 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            49.73
                            1,092
                            2,049Test8_8Pallet_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/05/2019 8:15:14 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            53.47
                            2,229
                            4,174Test9_8Pallet_r1b
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/05/2019 9:52:52 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and paper
                                                                                        Cellulose
                            54.85
                            2,186
                            3,141Test20_4Trashcan2pallet_r1
                            Plot of Fire Heat Release Rate with event markers. Uncertainty bar shown at peak value.
                                                                                        Ignition
                                                                                        12/12/2019 4:40:53 AM EST
                                                                                        wood pallets and plastic trashcans with paper
                                                                                        Cellulose, Plastic
                            38.77
                            1,028
                            2,319

      Bryant, R. and Bundy, M. The NIST 20 MW Calorimetry Measurement System for Large-Fire Research, Technical Note (NIST TN) 2077, 2019https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2077
        NIST Fire Calorimetry Database (FCD)https://doi.org/10.18434/mds2-2314

      Last Updated October 21, 2020
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