Urban/Wildland Fires: Ignition by Embers.
Urban/Wildland Fires: Ignition by Embers.
(172 K)
Manzello, S. L.; Cleary, T. G.; Yang, J. C.
Volume 1;
Interflam 2004. (Interflam '04). International
Interflam Conference, 10th Proceedings. Volume 1.
Posters: Risks. July 5-7, 2004. Organised by
Interscience Communications Ltd. in association with
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Building Research Establishment; National Fire
Protection Association; Society of Fire Protection
Engineers; and Swedish National Testing and Research
Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland, Interscience
Communications Ltd., London, England, 557-562 pp, 2004.
Keywords:
fire science; fire safety; wildland fires; urban fires;
urban/wildland interface; ignition
Abstract:
An experimental apparatus has been built to investigate
the ignition of surfaces as a result of impact with
burning embers. Embers were simulated by machining wood
(pinus ponderosa) into small disb of uniform geometry.
Ember simulation was necessary since it is difficult to
capture and characterize embers from an actual burning
object. The ember ignition apparatus was installed into
the Fire Emulator / Detector Evaluator (FE/DE) to
investigate the influence of an opposed airflow on the
ignition propensity of a surface. The operation of the
ember ignition and release apparatus is described.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899