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Engineering Laboratory

Fire Research Division

The Fire Research Division develops and applies measurement science and predictive methods to understand fire behavior and enable science-based solutions that reduce the impacts of unwanted fire on society.

Photograph of large open room with fire engineers standing around a large fire test.
50 Years of Fire Safety Advances
Left side is a photo of a firefighter dressed in full equipment, including heavy clothing, a helmet and a breathing mask. Right side is a diagram showing the three layers typically found in firefighter gear: outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal barrier.
Wear and Tear Changes Measurable PFAS Levels in Firefighter Gear
An illustration depicting office workers in a stairwell trying to take a safe exit, shown in green, during a fire emergency.
New AI Model Shows How to Evacuate for Fires One Safe Step at a Time

Through its comprehensive programs in measurement, prediction, systems integration, and the study of fire dynamics in both built and natural environments, the division leads efforts to advance the science and practice of fire safety engineering, firefighting, fire investigation, fire testing, fire data management, and controlled burning.

News and Updates

Projects

FDS Ceiling Smoke

Advanced Fire Modeling

Ongoing
This project develops and maintains robust, validated fire models—and the associated visualization and analysis tools—for performance-based fire safety, forensics (fire reconstruction), and fire research applications in the built and natural environments.
Timelapse of intermediate flame spread test

Material Flammability Characterization

Ongoing
This project develops a database that includes tools, measurement data, material properties, and validation data to enable quantitative prediction of material flammability behavior, such as ignition, steady burning, and fire growth.
View All Projects/Programs

Software

FDS and Smokeview

Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) is a computational model for smoke and heat transport from fires. Smokeview visualizes the output from FDS and CFAST.

CFAST

CFAST (Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport) is a computer program that helps users understand how fire and smoke spread through a building.

Tools and Instruments

NIST Gasification Apparatus

NIST Gasification Apparatus

The NIST Gasification Apparatus was originally designed and built at EL in the late 1990s to expose solid or liquid samples to a uniform heat flux in a non
Emberometer

NIST Emberometer

The Emberometer ( video) is a camera-based system designed to study the motion of embers as they move through the air. It uses a technique called 3D Particle
Cone Calorimeter

Cone Calorimeter

In the late 1970s and early 1980s the fire community was pushing for reliable bench-scale tools to measure material flammability based on heat release rate. A

Awards

Alexander Maranghides

Alexander Maranghides Recognized as 2025 IFSJ Influencer

For over 30 years of large-scale testing experience and two decades of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fire reconstructions. He has led all four NIST Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fire reconstructions, with findings shaping US codes, standards and...

Contacts

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