The Fire Safety Engineering area at Underwriter’ Laboratories was conducting research last week in Northbrook.
Under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, UL examined fire service ventilation practices as well as the impact of changes in modern house geometries. There has been a steady change in the residential fire environment over the past several decades.
This series of experiments examine this change in fire behavior and the impact on firefighter ventilation tactics. This fire research project developed the empirical data that is needed to quantify the fire behavior associated with these scenarios and result in immediately developing the necessary firefighting ventilation practices to reduce firefighter death and injury.
Two houses were constructed in the large fire facility of UL in Northbrook, IL.
A summary of the testing along with the complete report can be accessed HERE.
Tim Olk was on hand during some of the burning and submitted some images.
One of the houses that was built for the testing inside the Northbrook facility of UL. Tim Olk photo
Firefighters apply water into a window during one of the burns. Tim Olk photo
A firefighter stands by as the fire rages in one of the test structures. Tim Olk photo
Tim has more images from the testing HERE.
