Building and Fire Research Laboratory Activities, Accomplishments, and Recognitions 1998.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory Activities,
Accomplishments, and Recognitions 1998.
(3584 K)
Raufaste, N. J., Jr.
NIST SP 838-15; 57 p. January 1999.
Available from:
Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20401-0003.
Telephone: 202-512-1800.
Website:
http://www.gpo.gov
Order number: PB99-117988
Keywords:
research facilities; fire research; building technology
Abstract:
We of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL)
are pleased to present to our clients and collaborators,
this report of our 1998 impacts, accomplishments,
recognitions, and activities. As one of the
laboratories, we provide performance prediction methods,
measurement technologies, and technical advances needed
to assure the life cycle quality and economy of
constructed facilities -- residences, commercial and
institutional buildings, industrial facilities, public
works, and utilities. We are enthusiastic about our
work, conducted in close collaborations with industry,
government, and academia, because of its importance to
the productivity and competitiveness of all U.S.
industry and everyone's quality of life. In 1998, we
focused on 10 objectives using multidisciplinary teams
to achieve the greatest practicable impacts of our work.
This report describes the purpose, approach, and
principal 1998 impacts and accomplishments for each
objective. In addition, we have continued substantial
investments in longer term and fundamental research to
be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the
future. Research highlights are found in the next
chapter. BFRL addresses the measurement and standards
needed to achieve the National Construction Goals
developed with industry by the Subcommittee on
Construction and Building (C&B) of the President's
National Science and Technology Council. C&B's
activities are summarized in this report because of the
substantial investment of BFRL in leadership of C&B and
because of its influence on our program. C&B's major
accomplishment in 1998 was the President's announcement,
with industry, of the Partnership for Advancing
Technology in Housing (PATH). PATH brings together
government and industry to develop, demonstrate, and
deploy housing technologies, designs, and practices to
create homes that are stronger, more affordable, more
comfortable, and far more energy efficient. In addition
to the programs of the individual federal agencies, C&B
is working with industry to develop a Partnership for
Advancing Infrastructure and its Renewal (PAIR), and to
Streamline the Building Regulatory System to reduce
substantially the time and cost for achieving regulatory
approvals.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899