Building and Fire Research at NBS/NIST, 1975-2000.
Building and Fire Research at NBS/NIST, 1975-2000.
(145 K)
Wright, R. N.
NIST BSS 179; 347 p. December 2003.
Keywords:
building research; fire research; built environment;
codes; earthquakes; economics research; environmental
systems; fire hazard assessment; simulation; fire
suppression; life-cycle cost methods; materials;
measurements; refrigerants; smoke detectors; standards;
structures; test methods; wind effects; costs;
construction; building construction; fire safety; safety
engineering; fire science
Abstract:
In the last quarter of the 20th Century, building and
fire research programs at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, formerly the National Bureau
of Standards, provided one of the most significant
sources of technology, measurements and standards for
the construction and fire safety communities of the
world. These communities are of great social and
economic importance. The built environment shelters and
supports most human activities. Its functionality,
safety, environmental quality, aesthetics, and economy
are important to everyone.s quality of life and
productivity. In the United States, new construction,
renovation, operation and maintenance of constructed
facilities amount to over 1/8 of the Gross Domestic
Product, and the costs of fire protection and losses to
unwanted fires exceed $200 billion, annually. This
history summarizes the technical accomplishments of
these programs and their impacts, the existential and
management challenges faced by the programs, and the
visions and efforts of the staff.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899