Skip to Main Content
American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Digital Collection
Cart
header search
Search
Advanced Search
Skip Nav Destination
Uncertainty in Fire Standards and What to Do About It
ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Uncertainty in Fire Standards and What to Do About It
By
John R. Hall, Jr Jr
John R. Hall, Jr Jr
Symposium Chairman
1
National Fire Protection Association
,
Quincy, MA,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
This Site
PubMed
Google Scholar
ISBN:
978-0-8031-7527-3
No. of Pages:
196
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1520/STP1541-EB
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
2012
eBook Chapter

What Have We Learned About Uncertainty? Are We Still Playing with Fire

By
Ned Keltner
Ned Keltner
1
Fire Instrumentation Research and Engineering Services
,
Albuquerque, NM 87112,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
This Site
PubMed
Google Scholar
Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1520/STP154120120009
Page Count:
22
  • Published:
    2012

Accurate characterization of the thermal environment in fires and fire safety tests is crucial to understanding the impact of fire on materials and assemblies and the work on modeling those impacts. Standardized fire resistance test methods have been used to help evaluate building materials and assemblies since the early 1900s and have been part of a successful effort to improve fire safety. However, current methods use predominately temperature measurements and do not provide sufficient heat transfer data to support the development and validation of fire protection engineering models. This paper looks at measurement techniques that were used successfully in pool fire research and how they could be applied to modeling structure fires.

Keywords:
temperature, heat flux, uncertainty analysis, directional flame thermometers, fire resistance, pool fires

References

1.
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Thermal Measurements in Fire Safety Testing - Are We Playing With Fire?
”
Special Symposium of Fire Calorimetry
,
NIST, Gaithersburg, MD
, July,
1995
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Thermal Measurements in Fire Safety Testing - Are We Playing With Fire?
” July,
1995
,
Fire Calorimetry Proceedings
, DOT=FAA=CT-95=46,
FAA Tech Center, Atlantic City Int'l Airport, NJ
.
2.
ASTM E119-11a, “
Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol.
04.07
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
3.
ISO 834-1:1999,
1999
, “
Fire-Resistance Tests - Elements of Building Construction-Part 1: General Requirements
,”
ISO
,
Geneva, Switzerland
.
4.
Gritzo
,
L. A.
, Sandia National Laboratories, private communication,
2001
.
5.
Nakos
,
J. T.
,
Gill
,
W.
, and
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
An Analysis of Flame Temperature Measurements Using Sheathed Thermocouples in JP-4 Pool Fires
,”
Proceedings of the ASME/JSME Engineering Joint Conference
,
Lloyd
 
J. R.
 and
Kurosaki
 
Y.
, Eds., ASME Book No. I0309E,
ASME
,
New York
,
1991
, pp. 283–289.
6.
Nakos
,
J. T.
, “
Uncertainty Analysis of Thermocouple Measurements Used in Normal and Abnormal Thermal Environment Experiments at Sandia's Radiant Heat Facility and Lurance Canyon Burn Site
,”
SAND2004-1023
,
Sandia National Laboratories
,
Albuquerque, NM
, April,
2004
.
7.
ASTM E906-10 / E906M-10,
2010
, “
Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using a Thermopile Method
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol.
04.07
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
8.
ASTM E1354-11a,
2011
, “
Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol.
04.07
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
9.
ASTM 511-07,
2007
, “
Standard Test Method for Measuring Heat Flux Using a Copper-Constantan Circular Foil, Heat-Flux Transducer
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
10.
ASTM E2683-09,
2009
, “
Standard Test Method for Measuring Heat Flux Using Flush-Mounted Insert Temperature-Gradient Gages
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol.
15.03
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
11.
Alpert
,
R. L.
,
Orloff
,
L.
, and De
Ris
,
J. L.
, “
Angular Sensitivity of Heat Flux Gauges
,”
Thermal Measurements: The Foundation of Fire Standards, ASTM Spec. Tech. Publ.
, Vol.
1427
,
Gritzo
 
L. A.
 and
Alvares
 
N. J.
, Eds.,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
,
2002
.
12.
Manual on the Use of Thermocouples in Temperature Measurement
, MNL12-Fourth Edition, ASTM Committee E20 on Temperature Measurement,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
,
1993
.
13.
Jakob
,
M.
,
Heat Transfer
, Vol.
II
,
John Wiley & Sons
,
NY
,
1957
.
14.
Moffat
,
R. J.
, “
Using Uncertainty Analysis in the Planning of an Experiment
,”
J. Fluids Eng.
, Vol.
107
, No.
2
, June
1985
, pp. 173–181.
15.
Moffat
,
R. J.
, “
Describing the Uncertainties in Experimental Results
,”
Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci.
, Vol.
1
, No.
1
,
1988
, pp. 3–17.
16.
Blanchet
,
T. K.
,
Humpries
,
L. L.
, and
Gill
,
W.
, “
Sandia Heat Flux Gauge Thermal Response and Uncertainty Models
,”
SAND 2000-1111
,
Sandia National Laboratories
,
Albuquerque, NM
, May,
2000
.
17.
Dowdell
,
R. B.
, Discussion: “
Contributions to the Theory of Single-Sample Uncertainty Analysis
,” (
Moffat
,
R. J.
,
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
, Vol.
104
,
1982
, pp. 250–258).
18.
Beyler
,
C.
,
Beitel
,
J.
,
Iwankiw
,
N.
, and
Lattimer
,
B.
, “
Fire Resistance Testing for Performance-Based Fire Design of Buildings
,”
The Fire Protection Research Foundation
,
Quincy, MA
, June,
2007
.
19.
ASTM E1529-10,
2010
, “
Standard Test Methods for Determining Effects of Large Hydrocarbon Pool Fires on Structural Members and Assemblies
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol.
04.07
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
20.
Bader
,
B. E.
, “
Heat Transfer in Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel Fires
,” Report SC-R-64-1366A,
Sandia Corp.
, Albuquerque, NM, June
1965
.
21.
Gregory
,
J. J.
,
Mata
,
R.
, Jr., and
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Thermal Measurements in a Series of Large Pool Fires
,” SAND 85-0196,
Sandia National Laboratories
, Albuquerque, NM, Aug
1987
.
22.
Gregory
,
J. J.
,
Mata
,
R.
, Jr., and
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Thermal Measurements in Large Pool Fires
,”
J. Heat Transfer
, Vol.
111
, May
1989
, pp. 446–454.
23.
Schneider
 
M. E.
,
Keltner
,
N. R.
, and
Kent
,
L. A.
, “
Thermal Measurements in The Nuclear Winter Fire Test
,” SAND 88-2839,
Sandia National Laboratories,
Albuquerque, NM, Jan
1989
.
24.
Bainbridge
,
B. L.
 and
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Heat Transfer to Large Objects In Large Pool Fires
,”
J. Hazard Mater.
, Vol.
20
, Dec
1988
, pp. 21–40.
25.
Keltner
,
N. R.
, and
Moya
,
J. L.
, “
Defining the Thermal Environment in Fire Tests
,”
Fire Mater.
, Vol.
14
,
1989
, pp. 133–138.
26.
Gritzo
,
L. A.
 and
Nicolette
,
V. F.
, “
Coupled Thermal. Response of Objects and Participating Media in Fires and Large Combustion Systems
,”
Numer. Heat Transfer
, Part A, Vol.
28
,
1995
, pp. 531–545.
27.
Keltner
,
N. R.
,
Gill
,
W.
, and
Kent
,
L. A.
, “
Simulating Fuel Spill Fires Under the Wing of an Aircraft
,”
Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science
,
Kashiwagi
 
T.
, Ed.,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
, July
1994
.
28.
Heinonen
,
E. W.
,
McCarson
,
T. D.
, Jr.,
Stepetic
,
T. J.
,
Kent
,
L. A.
,
Gill
,
W.
, and
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Inverted Deluge System (IDS) Development Tests, Volume I: Fire Suppression Tests
,” CEL-TR-92-71,
NM Engineering Research Institute
, Albuquerque, NM, June
1992
.
29.
ASTM E459-05,
2005
, “
Standard Test Method for Measuring Heat Transfer Rate Using a Thin-Skin Calorimeter
,”
Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol.
15.03
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
.
30.
Brundage
,
A. L.
,
Donladson
,
A. B.
,
Walt Gill
,
W.
,
Kearney
,
S. P.
,
Nicolette
,
V. F.
, and
Yilmaz
,
N.
, “
Thermocouple Response In Fires: Part 1: Considerations In Flame Temperature Measurements by a Thermocouple
,”
J. Fire Sci.
, Vol.
29
, May
2011
, pp. 195–211.
31.
Brundage
,
A. L.
,
Donladson
,
A. B.
,
Walt Gill
,
W.
,
Kearney
,
S. P.
,
Nicolette
,
V. F.
, and
Yilmaz
,
N.
, “
Thermocouple Response In Fires: Part 2: Validation of Virtual Thermocouple Model For Fire Codes
,”
J. Fire Sci.
, Vol.
29
, May
2011
, pp. 213–226.
32.
Wittasek
,
N. A.
 “
Analysis and Comparison of Marine Fire Testing Regulations and Procedures
,” °Master Of Science Thesis,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
, Worcester, MA,
1996
.
33.
Keltner
,
N. R.
,
Nash
,
L.
,
Beitel
,
J.
,
Parker
,
A.
,
Welsh
,
S.
, and
Gilda
,
B.
, “
Fire Safety Test Furnace Characterization Unit
,”
Thermal Measurements: The Foundation of Fire Standards, ASTM Spec. Tech. Publ
. Vol.
1427
,
Gritzo
 
L. A.
 and
Alvares
 
N. J.
, Eds.,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
,
2002
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
34.
Babrauskas
,
V.
 and
Williamson
,
R. B.
, “
Temperature Measurement in Fire Test Furnaces
,”
Fire Technol.
, Vol.
14
,
1978
, pp. 226–238.
35.
Sultan
,
M.
, “
Fire Resistance Furnace Temperature Measurements: Plate Thermometers Vs Shielded Thermocouples
,”
Fire Technol.
, Vol.
42
, No.
3
, July
2006
, pp. 253–267.
36.
Sultan
,
M.
, “
Comparisons of Measured Temperature and Heat Flux in Fire Resistance Test Furnaces Controlled by Either ISO Plate Thermometers or by ASTM Shielded Thermocouples or by Directional Flame Thermometers
,”
ASTM E5 Symposium on Advances in The State of The Art of Fire Testing
, Miami Beach, FL, Dec
2008
.
37.
Sultan
,
M. A.
, “
Comparisons of Furnace Temperature and Incident Heat Flux in Wall and Floor Furnaces Controlled by Six Different Temperature Sensors
,”
NRCC- 52644
,
National Research Council of Canada
,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
, July
2010
.
38.
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Directional Flame Thermometers: A Tool for Measuring Thermal Exposure in Furnaces and Improving Control
,”
Proceedings of the Interflam 2007 Conference
(CD-ROM),
Royal Holloway College, Univ. of London, Interscience
,
London
, Sept
2007
.
39.
Keltner
,
N. R.
,
Beck
,
J. V.
, and
Nakos
,
J. T.
, “
Using Directional Flame Thermometers for Measuring Thermal Exposure
,”
J. ASTM Int.
, Vol.
7
, No.
2
,
2010
, JAI102280.
40.
Pitts
,
W. M.
,
Murthy
,
A. V.
, de
Ris
,
J. L.
,
Filtz
,
J. R.
,
Nygard
,
K.
,
Smith
,
D.
, and
Wetterlund
,
I.
, “
Round Robin Study of Total Heat Flux Gauge Calibration at Fire Laboratories
,”
NIST Spec. Publ.
, Vol.
1031
, Oct
2004
.
41.
Keltner
,
N. R.
 and
Wildin
,
M. W.
, “
Transient Response of Circular Foil Heat-Flux Gauges to Radiative Fluxes
,”
Rev. Sci. Instrum.
, Vol.
46
, No.
9
, Sept
1975
, pp. 1161–1166.
42.
Kidd
,
C. T.
 and
Nelson
,
C. G.
, “
How the Schmidt-Boelter Gage Really Works
,”
Proceedings of the 41st International Instrumentation Symposium
,
Aurora, CO
, May 7-11,
1995
,
Instrument Society of America
,
Research Triangle Park, NC
.
43.
Nakos
,
J. T.
 and
Brown
,
A. L.
, “
Schmidt-Boelter Heat Flux Gage Sensitivity Coefficients In Radiative And Convective Environments
,”
ASME/JSME 2011 8th Thermal Engineering Joint Conference (AJTEC2011)
,
Honolulu, HI
, March 13-17
2011
Interscience
,
London
.
44.
Bryant
,
R.
,
Johnsson
,
E.
,
Ohlemiller
,
T.
, and
Womeldorf
,
C.
, “
Estimates of the Uncertainty of Radiative Heat Flux Calculated from Total Heat Flux Measurements
,”
Interflam'01. 9th International Fire Science and Engineering Conference
,
Edinburgh, Scotland
. Sept 17-19,
2001
Interscience
,
London
.
45.
Gritzo
,
L. A.
,
Gill
,
W.
, and
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Thermal Measurements to Characterize Large Fires
,”
Proceedings of the 41st International Instrumentation Symposium
,
Aurora, CO
, May 7-11,
1995
, Instrument
Society of America
,
Research Triangle Park, NC
, pp. 337–346.
46.
Janssens
,
M.
, “
Comparison Of Different Methods To Characterize The Thermal Environment In Fire Resistance Furnaces
,”
ISO/TC92/SC2 Fire Safety - Fire Containment, Workshop on Heat Transfer Calculations and Measurements in Fire Safety Engineering-Furnace Characterization and Control
, Sept 10,
2007
,
SP Technical Research Institute Of Sweden
,
Borås, Sweden
.
47.
Wickstrom
,
U.
, “
Adiabatic Surface Temperature for Calculating Heat Transfer to Fire Exposed Structures
,”
Proceedings of the Interflam 2007 Conference
,
Royal Holloway College, Univ. Of London
,
London
, Sept,
2007
.
48.
Noravian
,
H.
,
Nicolette
,
V. F.
,
Woodbury
,
K. A.
,
Reinhart
,
L. E.
, and
Keltner
,
N.
, “
VULCAN/SINDA Loosely Coupled Analysis Methodology for the NASA/JPL Rod Calorimeter
,”
Joint Army-Navy-NASA-Air Force (JANNAF) Interagency Propulsion Committee
,
Boston
, May,
2008
.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this chapter.

ASME Journals

ASME Conference Proceedings

ASME eBooks

Resources

Opportunities

  • Crossref Logo
  • Crossref Open Funder Registry Logo
  • Crossref Open Cited-By Logo
  • Crossref Crossmark Logo
  • Crossref Similarity Check Logo
  • Chorus Logo
  • Counter Logo
  • Cope Logo
  • STM Logo
Copyright © 2025 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Close Modal
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

or Create an Account

Close Modal
Close Modal
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.
Accept