An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Engineering Laboratory: Fiscal Year 2014 by Panel on Review of the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards & Technology

Author:Panel on Review of the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards & Technology
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: The National Academies Press
Published: 2015-01-08T00:00:00+00:00

Laboratories and equipment within the legacy portion of the FRD appear adequate. However, in some cases, the equipment is old and nearly outdated. Despite this constraint, the FRD staff have done a good job of producing usable results with the equipment they have. During the next year or two, the FRD needs to review its equipment needs and update hardware where appropriate. The division has done an excellent job of designing and creating a new fire test facility, the NFRL. There are large expectations for this new facility with its capabilities that are not found elsewhere. By allowing the testing of different size fires, the NFRL will help address fire scaling and the impacts of fire on structures under load. The FRD has assembled external expertise to help identify needed capabilities and metering systems and create roadmaps for the NFRL. In addition, the division has developed a multistaged commissioning plan to ensure that the NFRL system is well calibrated and ready for use.

While the commissioning plan has been developed, the team needs to start soon on the creation of specific plans for the series of tests for the first year or two following commissioning. Such a planning activity is likely to result not only in prioritizing tests to be completed early but also in identifying resource needs and possible partners in executing or funding the work. It would be beneficial to consider international participation. Long-term planning for program and project goals and resources for NFRL activities will be important to ensure that other portions of the program are not jeopardized. The NFRL can provide a focus for coordination of many of the activities of the FRD.

Recommendation: During the next year or two, the Fire Research Division should review their equipment needs in the legacy portion of their laboratories and update hardware where appropriate.

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