An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories Fiscal Year 2003 (2003) / Chapter Skim
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14 Building and Fire Research Laboratory: Division Reviews
14 Building and Fire Research Laboratory: Division Reviews
Pages 235-256
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From page 235... ...
The umbrella project of the Inorganic Materials Group is its HYPERCON Program relating to high-performance concrete, which recently completed the second year of a 3-year consortium aimed at developing and validating the Virtual Cement and Concrete Testing Laboratory (VCCTL)
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From page 236... ...
The Service Life Prediction (SLP) Program remains the dominant thrust of the Polymeric Materials Group.
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From page 237... ...
The completion of the first phase of the Light Scattering Materials Characterization Facility within the Polymeric Materials Group greatly enhances the group's capability to characterize the bulk and surface morphology of coatings and thin films as well as the microstructure and dispersion of particles in complex fluids. While the first phase of the facility is directed at the study of solid samples, the second phase, expected to be installed in 2003, is aimed at the characterization of liquids and highly scattering solids.
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From page 238... ...
NIST's technical efforts may be more profitably directed toward the Dissemination and Technical Assistance Program, which should be multihazard-oriented from the outset. Additionally, a more strategic engagement in general structural risk assessment and mitigation under the NHRP umbrella might represent a valuable contribution by NIST to homeland security.
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From page 239... ...
The plan that the panel recommends should additionally provide a clear means for the application of VCCTL and its components to code and standard development. The panel envisions that the Inorganic Materials Group could interact with the Construction Metrology and Automation Group of the division, BFRL's Office of Applied Economics, and the BFRL Standards and Codes coordinator for the development of the plan that it recommends as well as for its implementation.
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From page 240... ...
Research facilities for the Structures and the Construction Metrology and Automation Groups are of good quality and are adequate for the ongoing research programs. The focus on homeland security is limited to the WTC investigation and a planned research effort on the progressive collapse of buildings.
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From page 241... ...
that of healthy and sustainable buildings, which involves the division's Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation, Thermal Machinery, and Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Groups; and (2) that of cybernetic building systems, which involves the division's Mechanical Systems and Controls and Computer-Integrated Building Processes Groups.
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From page 242... ...
The research into the energy impacts in commercial buildings is using a combined thermal and airflow analysis.
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From page 243... ...
Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems The goal of the projects undertaken by the Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group is to provide standards, rating methods, and basic measurements that support the needs of the building community. The group's specific areas of research are thermal properties, photovoltaic power, fuel
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From page 244... ...
Mechanical Systems and Controls The programs of the Mechanical Systems and Controls Group provide a window on a NIST organization recognizing industry needs, establishing research projects, working with industry over the years for continuing program relevance, and achieving significant accomplishments. These programs involve buildings communication protocol standards, automated commissioning, fault detection and diagnostics methods, critical infrastructure protection for building computer systems, and a virtual cybernetic building testbed for evaluating the effectiveness of the integrated systems.
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From page 245... ...
This project represents a positive response of BRFL to homeland security program needs. The projects of the Mechanical Systems and Controls Group are all related, including the Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed (VCBT)
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From page 246... ...
Program Relevance and Effectiveness The programs undertaken by the Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group have long supported the private building sector and more recently the security needs of the nation. There are a number of research projects on commercial building ventilation in cooperation with CEC (the California Energy Commission)
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From page 247... ...
One paper was given the Award of Excellence for a Technical Paper presented at the 53rd Annual International Appliance Technical Conference in March 2002. The thermal conductivity measurement work of the Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group is recognized internationally as a source of basic measurements.
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From page 248... ...
The panel is pleased to see the move toward formally recognizing the broader scope of supporting the exchange of building information across the complete life cycle of a facility. This move is reflected not only in the name change of the Computer-Integrated Building Processes Group but also in the stated objectives and approaches of 2003 project descriptions.
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From page 249... ...
The division is successfully pursuing its goal of fire loss reduction by enabling engineered fire safety for people, products, and facilities and by enhancing the effectiveness of firefighters. The division conducts research programs focused on reduced risk of flashover, directed at reducing residential fire deaths, injuries, and property losses; on advanced fire technologies services, working to reduce deaths and burn injuries of firefighters in the line of service; and on advanced measurement and prediction methods.
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From page 250... ...
These include models on fire spread, predictions of flashover, exposure of firefighters to radiation from fires, and heat transfer through fireprotective clothing and skin. Other modeling efforts include reactive molecular dynamics studies of the thermal decomposition of polymers and of the relationship between polymer structure and flammability.
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From page 251... ...
projects. These situations should be assessed, and efforts should be made, where possible, to alleviate pressures that can be anticipated in preparing the final report on the WTC investigation.
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From page 252... ...
OAK is particularly strong in the area of enhanced building performance, and it develops tools to aid decision making in the building and fire safety communities. A core approach is demonstrated in its work with the Department of Energy, whereby the OAK's software-based systems have been established for more than 10 years as the standard in such areas as life-cycle costing and energy efficiency.
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From page 253... ...
New relationships for example, with the Construction Industry Institute for the development of a technology roadmap for the built infrastructure further enhance OAK's leadership. OAK is involved in NIST homeland security work.
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From page 254... ...
The impacts of OAK can be measured through the ubiquity of use of its products and services in specific segments of the community. The Building Life Cycle Cost program is the standard reference for calculating the cost-effectiveness of conservation and renewable energy projects for federal, state, and local governments.
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From page 255... ...
That analysis should complement, feed, and be fed by an examination of codes and practices by the other teams engaged in the WTC investigation, each of which should be asking, as one of its concerns: "What impact, if any, will our work have on the codes and standards industries of the world, and how can we best disseminate the results of our work in a timely manner? " The audience for BFRL' s work in all of these areas includes the manufacturers of relevant products and regulators.
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