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enAI Can ‘Hear’ When a Lithium Battery Is About to Catch Fire
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/11/ai-can-hear-when-lithium-battery-about-catch-fire
NIST researchers have trained AI to detect the telltale sound even in noisy environments.
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/18669215x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2025/06/5x5-public-safety-innovation-summit
REGISTER NOW 5x5 ― the confirmation of a strong and clear signal ― and the place to make your voice heard and drive public safety communications forward. In 2025, the FirstNet Authority and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public
Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400Crissy Robinsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1862471New Smoke Alarms Are Better at Detecting Fires but Still Beep for Bacon
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/09/new-smoke-alarms-are-better-detecting-fires-still-beep-bacon
NIST research in a kitchen fire laboratory shows that updated smoke detectors still produce nuisance alarms during cooking.
Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/18612662024 NIST-NSF Disaster Resilience Research Symposium
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2024/08/2024-nist-nsf-disaster-resilience-research-symposium
In cooperation with the National Science Foundation, the Engineering Laboratory at NIST, Gaithersburg, is proud to host the 7th annual symposium featuring the Disaster Resilience Grant Research Program recipients on August 20 and 21, 2024. This
Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400Crissy Robinsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1849431John W. Lyons, Who Led NIST in Times of Great Change, Dies at 93
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/04/john-w-lyons-who-led-nist-times-great-change-dies-93
Lyons served as director of NIST from 1990 to 1993 and guided the organization as its mission expanded in support of U.S. industry.
Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/18454665x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2024/06/5x5-public-safety-innovation-summit
5x5 ― the confirmation of a strong and clear signal ― and the place to make your voice heard and drive public safety communications forward. In 2024, the FirstNet Authority and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400Crissy Robinsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1834271Wear and Tear May Cause Firefighter Gear to Release More ‘Forever Chemicals’
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/01/wear-and-tear-may-cause-firefighter-gear-release-more-forever-chemicals
Are firefighters at risk of increased exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in their protective clothing?
Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1832881NIST Researchers Develop Standards to Help Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foams
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/09/nist-researchers-develop-standards-help-eliminate-forever-chemicals
These foams contain chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have raised environmental and health concerns.
Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1823791NIST Issues New Guidance for Emergency Response During Wildfires
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/08/nist-issues-new-guidance-emergency-response-during-wildfires
Lessons learned from the 2018 Camp Fire in California include strategies for protecting lives when there is not enough time to safely evacuate all residents.
Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1822131AI Can Accurately Predict Potentially Fatal Cardiac Events in Firefighters
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/07/ai-can-accurately-predict-potentially-fatal-cardiac-events-firefighters
Training a machine-learning model with real-life data from firefighters was key.
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/18174812023 NIST-NSF Disaster Resilience Research Symposium
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2023/08/2023-nist-nsf-disaster-resilience-research-symposium
The Engineering Laboratory at NIST, Gaithersburg, is proud to host the 6 th annual symposium featuring the Disaster Resilience Grant Research Program recipients on August 23 and 24, 2023. This will be our 4 th virtual event showcasing a wide range of
Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400Sabina Mohanhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1743736Researchers Pin Down PFAS Prevalence in Firefighter Gear
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/05/researchers-pin-down-pfas-prevalence-firefighter-gear
The findings hint at potential solutions for safer equipment.
Mon, 01 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1740166For Sheds in Wildfire Zones, NIST Researchers Determine How Close Is Too Close to Home
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/06/sheds-wildfire-zones-nist-researchers-determine-how-close-too-close-home
How far away do sheds need to be located to significantly limit fire spread to homes? New research led by NIST has begun to provide important answers.
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1739766A Machine Learning-Based Solution Could Help Firefighters Circumvent Deadly Backdrafts
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/10/machine-learning-based-solution-could-help-firefighters-circumvent-deadly
The NIST team got data from hundreds of backdrafts in the lab to use as a basis for a model that can predict them.
Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1719451AI May Come to the Rescue of Future Firefighters
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/08/ai-may-come-rescue-future-firefighters
New research suggests that AI could provide first responders with a much-needed heads-up about a dangerous condition called flashover.
Wed, 10 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1713551NIST Study Finds Wildfire Hazards in Residential Fences and Mulch Beds
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/08/nist-study-finds-wildfire-hazards-residential-fences-and-mulch-beds
When building fences and landscaping their properties, homeowners should keep fire safety on the top of their minds.
Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/17118612022 Disaster Resilience Symposium
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2022/09/2022-disaster-resilience-symposium
The Engineering Laboratory at NIST, Gaithersburg will be hosting the 5 th annual (and third virtual) symposium featuring the 2018 NIST and 2020 NIST/NSF Disaster Resilience Grant Research Program awardees. Researchers will convene to share insights
Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400Pauline Truonghttps://www.nist.gov/node/1709636The Journey to Commercialize Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/05/journey-commercialize-cutting-edge-sensor-technology
In the early 2000’s, Abhishek Motayed found his way to the NIST campus as a contractor, working in what became the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML). Within MML, Abhishek delved into the start of his federal research with the Functional
Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000Marshall Childhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1703381NIST, NSF Award More Than $7.6 Million to Support Disaster Resilience Research
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/05/nist-nsf-award-more-76-million-support-disaster-resilience-research
The agencies are funding 20 projects to be conducted across 24 institutions through the Disaster Resilience Research Grant (DRRG) program, which they manage together.
Wed, 04 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1702201Scripps National News
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/02/scripps-national-news
Tue, 22 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000Kristy D. Thompsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1700591Happy Retirement, Cone Calorimeter!
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/03/happy-retirement-cone-calorimeter
After 40 years in service as a groundbreaking NIST-invented device for measuring the flammability of materials at the lab bench scale, the NIST cone calorimeter is being retired and will be replaced with a commercially produced system modeled on its
Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000Kristy D. Thompsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1699906Developing Standards to Reduce Fire Damage
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/03/developing-standards-reduce-fire-damage
One of NIST’s primary missions is the development and use of standards to be used throughout society for the betterment of the public and improved quality of life. More specifically, NIST develops and disseminates these standards to allow
Wed, 09 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000Marshall Childhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1697741NIST Offers First-of-a-Kind Guidance for Holistic Home and Community Wildfire Protection
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/03/nist-offers-first-kind-guidance-holistic-home-and-community-wildfire
Once they have a foothold, severe wildfires can quickly overwhelm a community, particularly one that is densely packed. To shield houses against such a fierce threat, a thorough defense is key. Establishing a deep and multifaceted defense in and
Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1697096NIST Names Joannie Chin as Director of Its Engineering Laboratory
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/12/nist-names-joannie-chin-director-its-engineering-laboratory
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has selected Joannie Chin to lead its Engineering Laboratory. Chin has been at NIST for 26 years, most recently serving as acting director of
Mon, 20 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1691196Draft California Fire Code Includes NIST Tool to Evaluate Wildfire Hazard
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/09/draft-california-fire-code-includes-nist-tool-evaluate-wildfire-hazard
Severe wildfire disasters are often the product of numerous factors — vegetation, drought, a lack of firefighting resources, and many others — coalescing. Identifying which factors are the most important is not always a simple task for local leaders
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1680546NIST’s Emberometer Could Gauge Threat of Wildfire-Spreading Embers
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/08/nists-emberometer-could-gauge-threat-wildfire-spreading-embers
As wildfire fronts advance through landscapes or communities on the ground, they also attack from above, launching volleys of glowing embers into the air. Also known as firebrands, these specks of burning debris can glide for up to 40 kilometers
Wed, 18 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1676691Flammability Reduction Group provides virtual seminar on Reducing the Fire Risk of Residential Upholstered Furniture Fires as part of SFPE Member Series
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/05/flammability-reduction-group-provides-virtual-seminar-reducing-fire-risk
The “Low Heat Release Upholstered Furniture” project at the Fire Research Division (FRD) of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts research aimed at helping U.S. industries’ efforts to reduce the fire losses associated with
Mon, 24 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000Kristy D. Thompsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1663886How AI Could Alert Firefighters of Imminent Danger
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/06/how-ai-could-alert-firefighters-imminent-danger
Firefighting is a race against time. Exactly how much time? For firefighters, that part is often unclear. Building fires can turn from bad to deadly in an instant, and the warning signs are frequently difficult to discern amid the mayhem of an
Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1661646Spotlight: Laura Dubrulle
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/10/spotlight-laura-dubrulle
Closing down a highway of fire: NIST guest researcher Laura Dubrulle wants to keep your fence from going up in flames and taking your home with it. With small wood samples, she tests the fire-retardant chemical coatings that companies make for
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1660006NIST Research Featured in Fire and Materials Journal Special Issue on Furniture Flammability
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/03/nist-research-featured-fire-and-materials-journal-special-issue-furniture
The NIST Flammability Reduction Group (FRG) recently contributed to the production of a Special Issue on Furniture Flammability in the Fire and Materials Journal; Dr. Richard Gann , a senior member of the FRG, served as the issue’s guest editor. The
Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000Kristy D. Thompsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/16558762021 Disaster Resilience Symposium
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2021/07/2021-disaster-resilience-symposium
Note: Captions are forthcoming. The Engineering Laboratory at NIST, Gaithersburg, will be hosting its fourth annual symposium as a virtual only event on July 20-21, 2021 featuring the Disaster Resilience Grant Research Program recipients from 2019
Tue, 20 Jul 2021 11:00:00 -0400Crissy Robinsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1655171NIST Tool Will Help Military Vehicles Fight Fires Using Less Harmful Chemicals
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/03/nist-tool-will-help-military-vehicles-fight-fires-using-less-harmful
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new, interactive spreadsheet that will help the U.S. military extinguish aircraft and vehicle fires using the latest environmentally friendly chemicals. While
Tue, 02 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1653351New Timeline of Deadliest California Wildfire Could Guide Lifesaving Research and Action
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/02/new-timeline-deadliest-california-wildfire-could-guide-lifesaving-research
On a brisk November morning in 2018, a fire sparked in a remote stretch of canyon in Butte County, California, a region nestled against the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Fueled by a sea of tinder created by drought, and propelled by
Mon, 08 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1650316New Fire-Simulating Tool Could Improve In-Flight Fire Safety
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/03/new-fire-simulating-tool-could-improve-flight-fire-safety
Some of the most dangerous fires are the ones you don’t see coming. That goes not only for fires in buildings but for those kilometers off the ground, aboard commercial airliners. Many aircraft have systems to detect fires early on, but fires that
Wed, 24 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1650026The New NIST Fire Calorimetry Database Is Available to Answer Your Burning Questions
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/01/new-nist-fire-calorimetry-database-available-answer-your-burning-questions
This news article is reproduced from a blog post that originally appeared in the NIST TAKING MEASURE Just a Standard Blog on December 16 th, 2020. By: Matthew Bundy Several centuries ago, scientists discovered oxygen while experimenting with
Thu, 07 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000Matthew Hoehlerhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1649271Mattress Flammability Standard Is a Lifesaver, NIST Report Finds
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/11/mattress-flammability-standard-lifesaver-nist-report-finds
No matter how soft and cozy, beds that have gone up in flames are a source of some of the deadliest fires in the U.S. As large pieces of furniture loaded with combustible cushioning materials, beds are substantial fuel sources for home fires. Once
Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1640336NIST Awards More Than $4 Million to Small Businesses for Innovations in AI, Wildfire Forecasting and More
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/10/nist-awards-more-4-million-small-businesses-innovations-ai-wildfire
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded 19 small businesses in 12 states a total of more than $4.4 million in grants to support innovative technology development. The
Thu, 01 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1638036Insights Into Behavior During Chimney Tops 2 Fire Could Improve Evacuation Planning
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/09/insights-behavior-during-chimney-tops-2-fire-could-improve-evacuation
As global temperatures continue to rise, cities and towns not historically prone to large wildfires may begin to face greater threats. An unsuspecting Tennessee community found itself in this position during the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 Fire, which led to
Wed, 02 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000Sarah Hendersonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1635226Remembering Randy Shields
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/07/remembering-randy-shields
John “Randy” Shields, a physical scientist in the Flammability Reduction Group of EL’s Fire Research Division, died suddenly of a heart attack on June 27, 2020. Born in 1958 in Alexandria, Virginia, Shields graduated from the University of Maryland
Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000Kristy D. Thompsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1632546NIST Conducts Full-Scale Experiments to Demonstrate Flammability Risk of Residential Upholstered Furniture (RUF) and Potential Mitigation Strategies
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/03/nist-conducts-full-scale-experiments-demonstrate-flammability-risk
The NIST Flammability Reduction Group (FRG) is conducting a series of full-scale fire experiments in collaboration with the National Fire Research Laboratory (NFRL) to demonstrate the potential fire risk of residential upholstered furniture (RUF) –
Thu, 12 Mar 2020 12:00:00 +0000Kristy D. Thompsonhttps://www.nist.gov/node/1624391