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Engineering Laboratory /Fire Research Division

Flammability Reduction Group

The Flammability Reduction Group develops, advances, and deploys measurement science to reduce fire hazard of building contents and construction materials. Carries out mission-related measurement science research and services to reduce material ignition probability, fire growth and spread, and develop standards for cost-effective, fire-safe building contents and construction materials.

Cube test
Functional Barriers for Low-Flammability Products
First Responders
Public Health Risks to First Responders
Timelapse of intermediate flame spread test
Material Flammability Characterization

Staff Spotlight

March 10, 2025
The Flammability Reduction Group within the Fire Research Division (FRD) welcomes Dr. Brittany Stinger to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow

Brittany Stinger
Credit: NIST

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Brittany Stinger to NIST. Dr. Stinger will collaborate with Dr. Rick Davis and the PFAS project team on the Public Health Risks to First Responders project, as well as other projects within FRD.

 

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HIGHLIGHT

December 2024
PFAS Found in Firefighter Gloves, Hoods and Wildland Gear

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.
Credit: B. Hayes/NIST

The protective clothing worn by wildland firefighters often contains PFAS, according to a new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The study also found PFAS in hoods and gloves worn by firefighters who respond to building fires.

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News and Updates

Ankit Sharma

Staff Spotlight - Dr. Ankit Sharma

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Ankit Sharma has joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as an Associate (PREP) in the

Projects/Programs

Cube test

Functional Barriers for Low-Flammability Products

Ongoing
This project enables low-flammability products without flame retardants by providing methods to assess functional barriers, advancing their performance, and exploring their use in multi-layer products for critical applications.
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.
First Responders

Public Health Risks to First Responders

Ongoing
This project advances tools and methods to analyze per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighter gear and workplaces, supporting the development of standards, policies, and best practices to reduce firefighter PFAS exposure.
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Tools and Instruments

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

Publications

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Textiles Present in Firefighter Gloves, Hoods, and Wildland Gear

Author(s)
Andre Thompson, Andrew Maizel, Meghanne Tighe, Samuel Escobar Veras, Alix Rodowa, Bruce Benner, Audrey Tombaugh, Jessica Reiner, Michelle Donnelly, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, John Kucklick, Catherine Rimmer, Rick Davis
Firefighter turnout gear has been found to contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and is a potential source of PFAS exposure to firefighters

Effects of Weathering and Formulation on the Properties of Vinyl Siding

Author(s)
Ronald Lankone, Mauro Zammarano, Song Jhang, Ickchan Kim, David Goodwin, Gianluca Sarti, Stefano Gardi, Camillo Cardelli, Lipiin Sung
Vinyl siding has become a popular choice for residential exteriors across the United States. In its insulated form, this siding includes a shell, capstock, and

Awards

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