William Davis

A computer program LAVET, is now available which computes the heating of fusible links due to the presence of a ceiling jet imbedded in an upper layer. An important new feature in this program is that the two dimensional structure of the ceiling jet is taken into account such that the location of the link beneath the ceiling lays a role in the response of the link. The links can be used to activate ceiling vents such that the effect of venting the upper layer on the ceiling jet may be studied. Additional applications would include the study of upper layer containment through the use of a combination by the program is that of a large compartment enclosed by a combination of walls and draft curtains.

C.P. Sarkos

The FAA has made a public commitment to the issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rule-making (NPRM) on cabin interior materials by late 1984.

David S. Jardine

A mathematical model was created to test the hypothesis that a partially covered febrile infant many develop potentially lethal temperature elevation.

James E. Demaree

This report presents the results of an examination of the effectiveness of emergency interior lighting in a wide-body test aircraft fuselage subjected to elevated temperatures and smoke conditions generated by an external fuel fire. Partial interior lighting systems and smoke photometers were installed in the C133 test aircraft fuselage and measurements were taken during the full-scale fire tests. Photometric measurements show significant stratification of smoke with the highest smoke density values at the ceiling. Test data indicate that the ceiling-mounted lights are obscured shortly after the start of a fire test. The external fuel fire may provide illumination levels greater than the required 0.05 foot-candle for emergency cabin illumination. Increasing the brightness of a sign or light may, not significantly increase its visibility under smoke filled cabin conditions. Lowering signs or lights closer to the floor will increase their usefulness during times when the cabin area is filled with smoke. Lights on the floor that outline the aisle provide additional aid in locating exit passageways during times when the cab in is filled with smoke.

A. Murty Kanuary, Stanley B. Martin

This paper explores the potential of the heat-release rate calorimeter as a tool to develop information useful in assessing fire hazard of materials as they are used in construction. Details are given of concepts for deducing from a typical heat-release rate versus exposure time curve, a variety of basic and applied physicochemical properties of materials in fires. The practical significance of these properties is discussed in relation to the combustion processes occurring in a fire. Among the properties considered are: thermo physical properties of the tested material, time of piloted and spontaneous ignition, fire spread with external radiation, fire endurance of slabs, rate of heat-release, extinguish ability, B-number, self-heating and smoke production.