NFPA Prize Awarded to Developer of Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Device

The DiNenno Prize recognizes important innovations that have had a significant impact on public safety, including building, fire, and electrical safety, and it is named in honor of the late Philip J. DiNenno, former CEO of Hughes Associates.

  • Jun 16, 2016

The National Fire Protection Association awarded its Philip J. DiNenno Prize for 2016 to Dr. William Parker of the National Institute of Standards and Technology) for developing an oxygen consumption calorimetry device. The award and $50,000 in prize money were presented this week in Las Vegas at NFPA's Conference & Expo; the device is "a foundation of modern quantitative fire protection engineering," according to NFPA.

The DiNenno Prize recognizes important innovations that have had a significant impact on public safety, including building, fire, and electrical safety, and it is named in honor of the late Philip J. DiNenno, former CEO of Hughes Associates.

Oxygen consumption calorimetry determines the heat release rate of a fire by measuring the rate oxygen is consumed. It is used to evaluate the fire safety of materials and assemblies. According to NFPA's announcement, Parker in 1974 was working as a research associate at Underwriters Laboratory when he "observed that the burning rate of a Steiner tunnel sample was proportional to the oxygen depletion percentage in the exhaust. He determined the heat release rate by recognizing the constancy of heat release per unit of oxygen consumed and published his findings in 1977. Parker worked with Dr. Clayton Huggett, a now deceased colleague, who in 1979 first submitted the journal paper that provided the scientific basis for the constancy of heat release per unit of oxygen consumed as a basis for calorimetry. Their efforts provided a means for measuring the heat release rate of a fire, allowing fire research to move forward with confidence."

DiNenno died in 2013 and NFPA established the prize the following year, welcoming nominations from around the world. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org/dinenno.

Product Showcase

  • The MGC Simple Plus

    The MGC Simple Plus is a simple-to-use, portable multi gas detector that runs continuously for three years without being recharged or routinely calibrated after its initial charge and calibration during manufacturing. The detector reliably tests a worksite’s atmosphere for hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and combustible gases (LEL). Its durability enables the detector to withstand the harshest treatment and environments, hence earning it an IP 68 rating. The MGC Simple Plus is also compatible with a variety of accessories, such as the GCT External Pump. Visit gascliptech.com for more information. Read More

  • Full Line of Defense Against Combustible Dust Nilfisk

    Nilfisk provides a comprehensive range of industrial vacuums meticulously crafted to adhere to NFPA 652 housekeeping standards, essential for gathering combustible dust in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E, F & G environments or non-classified settings. Our pneumatic vacuums are meticulously engineered to fulfill safety criteria for deployment in hazardous surroundings. Leveraging advanced filtration technology, Nilfisk ensures the secure capture of combustible materials scattered throughout your facility, ranging from fuels, solvents, and metal dust to flour, sugar, and pharmaceutical powders. Read More

  • SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit

    The SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit is a single-use spot test designed for use in screening for cannabis compounds in any sample type or on any surface. The test is capable of identifying the presumed presence of cannabinoids in very small quantities, with a level of detection as little as 6 μg in mass. Learn more about the SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit and the rest of SwabTek surface drug testing solutions through the webinar titled "Everything You Want To Know About Surface Testing" Read More

Featured

Most   Popular

Artificial Intelligence