BFRL: 2008 Program Information (V 1.1)

Program Manager:
Nelson Bryner
Revised: 10/10/2007

BFRL Goal:
Innovative Fire Protection Technologies

Relevant Links

Advanced Fire Service Technologies

To provide the science and performance metrics that are critical for development and implementation of new technology necessary to improve effectiveness and safety of emergency responders. This includes development of science-based standards and testing protocols, enabling an information rich information environment, fire fighter training tools, and application of innovative new technologies. In support of the BFRL Goal of Innovative Fire Protection Technologies, this Program will facilitate the transfer of BFRL research including, science, metrics, and technology, into the hands of fire fighters, incident commanders, and other emergency responders.

What is the problem and why is it hard? At an increasing rate, the fire service is learning to exploit existing technologies such as thermal imaging, positive pressure ventilation techniques, and is anticipating the integration of new innovative technologies, such as tactical decision aids, training simulators, and improved protective clothing. For existing technologies, it is critical that performance can be measured and evaluated in a scientifically sound method and that the technology can be successfully transferred to the fire service through training programs and fire fighting simulators. Without adequate performance metrics, first responders may acquire technologies that don’t perform or worse yet, place the users at risk of greater harm. For example, certain radio communication units appeared to interfere with some early versions of infrared cameras; keying the radio caused the infrared image to disappear on the camera display. There is also a simultaneous need to look ahead to developing innovative technologies and understand how better protective equipment and tactical decision aids can allow the fire service to reduce fire fighter fatalities and injuries as well reduce property losses.

Fire fighting operations inside and outside of structures proceed with very limited information needed to assure safe and effective operations. Today, the fire service may arrive on the scene of a fire without detailed information about fire conditions. Incident commanders typically “size-up” the fire from the outside of the structure and may decide to send in a suppression team. Once the team enters the structure, the incident commander may not know what conditions the team has encountered or where the team is located. New technologies are beginning to provide the fire service with more information including fire conditions and personnel location. As more and more data are provided to the incident commander, it will become more important for all these data to be presented in a form that is useable. Data from building sensors is not always linked to the responding fire department. Incident commanders are forced to rely on their own experience to interpret the physical signs and predict fire spread.

In the past, the fire service has relied on fire ground experience or on-the-job training to provide new fire fighters with the necessary skills. But, much of this experienced workforce has reached retirement age and the fire service is faced with training new fire fighters without access to real fires for training purposes. Training is conducted at state or local fire academies in scenarios created or driven by the experiences of senior instructors. In the short term, greater understanding through training for hazards faced in fire fighting may have a greater effect on reducing firefighter injuries and lives lost then the development and deployment of new technology.

The problem is hard because the technology is complex and the typical first responder operating conditions are extremely difficult. For example, thermal imaging technology involves optics, solid state electronics, pattern signal processing, and display technology which all must interact and function in wet, high thermal flux, and high temperature scenarios. The fire services are not able to develop their own performance metrics because they do not have the technical training or resources to develop and conduct performance tests of existing or emerging technology/ equipment for common fire scenarios. Manufacturers have technical staff and facilities to conduct performance tests, but are unlikely to conduct or release data that places their product at a disadvantage in a highly competitive market.

How is it solved today and by whom? The fire services relies on manufacturers' literature, sale presentations, and word-of-mouth to evaluate and select technology. Unbiased and scientifically based performance metrics, standards, and test methods, have not been developed for much of the existing technology. Information that is provided by a specific manufacturer tends to be focused only on the technology offered by that manufacturer and does not always provide a broad enough perspective or background as to alternative technologies.

What is the new technical idea and why can we succeed now? While working with fire service, technology manufacturers and first responders, the AFST Program encourages the development of a set of performance metrics and test methods that directly relate to the operating environment and tasks performed by first responders. Industry will utilize science based performance metrics to evaluate and improve their own products and develop new technology. The fire service will have appropriate and unbiased methods of evaluating existing technology and will better be able to make informed selection of required technology and will be better able to provide feedback to manufacturers.

As improved performance metrics are developed, it will also be necessary to assist the fire service in making optimal use of the available information. Fire models can be used to process sensor and fire environment data and then predict future fire spread. Improved communication and tracking technologies can provide assist the incident commander in making informed tactical decisions.

For existing technologies, it is critical that the technology be successfully transferred to the fire service through training programs and fire fighting simulators. Virtual fire fighter trainers provide the opportunity for new fire fighters to gain experience without placing them at risk. Virtual trainers also allow the fire service to practice more complicated scenarios than could be conducted at fire training academies. In the short term, greater understanding through training for hazards faced in fire fighting may have a greater effect on reducing firefighter injuries and lives lost then the development and deployment of new technology.

Progress in this Program is measured in terms of feedback from stakeholders in standards development, papers published in archival journals and conference proceedings, and collaborations with other agencies. Examples of recent progress and results include:

Infrared Imager Technology

• A draft set of recommendations for a standard on thermal imaging cameras was submitted to the NFPA Committee on Emergency Services Electronic Safety Equipment in Nov., 2005. As a direct offshoot of the Workshop on Thermal Imaging Research Needs for First Responders, held at NIST in Dec., 2004, a follow-on group consisting of first responders and thermal imager manufacturers began meeting to discuss the standardization of thermal imager display icons and user controls.

• A paper, First responder thermal imaging cameras: establishment of representative performance testing conditions (Amon, Hamins, Rowe) was presented at the SPIE Security and Defense Symposium in April, 2006.

• A paper, First responder thermal imaging cameras: development of performance metrics and test methods (Amon, Hamins) was presented at the SPIE Security and Defense Symposium in April, 2006.

• A paper, LCD display screen performance testing for handheld thermal imaging cameras (Dinaburg, Amon, Hamins, Boynton). Was presented at the SPIE Security and Defense Symposium in April, 2006.

Fire Fighter Protective Clothing

• A paper through WERB: “SWNT Film and PAN/SWNT Nanocomposite Films” S. Bellayer, J. W. Gilman, S. Bourbigot, X. Flambard, L. M. Hanssen, S. Kumar, submitted to Carbon Journal, 2007; also in meeting proceeding.

Characterization of Fire Fighter Respirators

• A Presentation - K. Butler, “Modeling the Flow of Gas and Particulates within a Respirator,” presented at International Society for Respiratory Protection Conference, 2006, Toronto, Canada, 27 August -1 September 2006.

Virtual Fire Fighter Trainer

• “User’s Guide for Smokeview Version 4: A Tool for Visualizing Fire Dynamics Simulation Data”, NIST Special Publication 1017, August 2004 (updated March 2006)

• Release of Smokeview 4.0.7 March 2006.