Smoke Measurements in Large and Small Scale Fire Testing. Final Report.
Smoke Measurements in Large and Small Scale Fire
Testing. Final Report.
(7724 K)
Bukowski, R. W.
NBSIR 78-1502; 35 p. October 1978.
Available from:
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Order number: PB-287870
Keywords:
fire tests; ionization chamber detectors; light
extinction; light scattering; smoke measurement
Abstract:
The extinction beam photometer is the most widely used
instrument for taking smoke measurements in fire
testing. Most existing designs were found to be
inaccurate and unreliable for measurements where smoke
detection performance is evaluated due to the low levels
of smoke present at activation. Accordingly, a new
extinction beam photometer design was developed which
will provide the stability and accuracy necessary for
these measurements. The paper describes the new design
and proposes its adoption as an industry standard. The
paper also discusses the need for a reference ionization
chamber instrument and a reference measurement which
relates to gas sensing fire detectors.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899