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Fire Research

 LAB

The UTFRG Fire Research Lab is located in the Engineering Teaching Center II building on the main campus of the University of Texas at Austin. The laboratory covers 1080 sq. ft. and is a general purpose space that allows researchers to conduct a variety of customized small and medium-scale fire tests. The lab is outfitted with two 3 ft x 3 ft overhead canopy hoods, a 10 ft-wide fume hood, and four overhead ventilation snorkels which allows for multiple tests to be conducted. A range of items including building insulation, consumer devices, batteries, and vegetation have been tested and characterized by researchers. 

Testing and Measurement Capabilities

The Fire Research Lab has a unique set of capabilities that has been customized for fire experiments. The laboratory has full utilities including air, water, natural gas, vacuum lines, 208 V and 120 V outlets and drainage. Student researchers have access to fully-equipped machine and wood shops and a 3D printing studio. Additionally, the following equipment is available in the laboratory to support experimental programs:

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Heat and Ignition Sources​

  • 2.4 kW infrared heating panels

  • Natural gas pilots

  • Electric spark ignitors​

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Measurement Equipment

  • Multi-channel data logging system (up to 400 channels)

  • Thermocouples

  • Heat Flux Sensors

  • Bi-directional probes

  • Pressure probes

  • Mass loss load cells

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Imaging Equipment

  • FLIR E40 Infrared Camera

  • Imaging Cameras (DSLR, HD Video) 

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Gas Analysis 

  • Servomex O2, CO, CO2 analyzer

  • Rosemount Analytics gas analyzer system (HC, CO, NOx)

  • Thermo-Fisher Nicolet IG50 Fourier Transfer Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy system (open-path or closed-path capable)

 

Battery Test Equipment 

  • Arbin 2-Ch 100V/30A battery testing system (bridgeable up to 60A)

  • Arbin 8-Ch 5V/10A battery testing system (bridgeable up to 80A)

  • Cadex battery analyzer

  • Battery spot welder

  • Custom designed fire cabinet for damaged battery storage

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General Equipment 

  • Thermocouple welder

  • ThermoFlex 5000 Chiller

  • Glove Box

  • Wide range of AC and DC power supplies 

  • Oscilliscopes

  • Function generators

  • Digital multimeters

  • 4-wire micro-ohmeter

  • Source meter

FLIR IR imaging camera
Temperatur controllers or the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) system
Laboratory counter with gas, compressed air and vaccum utilities.
Shimadu Gas Chromatograph (GC)
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