Lead by Dr Maryam Ghodrat, Pyrometric lab is ʹڲƱs’ fire testing laboratory offering state of the art facilities and expertise to evaluate the fire performance of materials, products and systems under direct and indirect flame and radiative heat fluxes.
The Pyrometric Lab is currently being used to investigate various fire phenomena such as ignition, heat release rate, and compartment fire based on actual testing. Multiple small- and intermediate-scale experimental apparatus are housed in this lab.
Latest research activities include, but not limited to:
- Performance of fire retardants and suppression agents,
- Suppression of cotton seed fires, and
- Heat release rate (HRR) measurements of various exterior wall and flooring components and
- Crack initiation mechanism of various tempered glass façades exposed to fire with different frame insulation arrangements.
- Assessment of ԾٲٲԻtendency to flame propagation, tendency to release smoke Իheat and heat release rate of building materials and components according to AS 1530-3
- Non combustibility tests according to AS 1530.1
Other testing-based research activities are also available in this lab.
The Pyrometric lab at School of Engineering and Technology, ʹڲƱ Canberra also provides the "Higher Degree Research students" with hands-on knowledge of Fire Dynamics and behavior of materials under elevated temperature.
About Pyrometric Lab
“Pyrometric Lab” was established by Dr Maryam Ghodrat at ʹڲƱ in 2021. Dr Ghodrats' team uses laboratory-scale experiments to unravel the fundamental behavior of materials exposed to direct and indirect flame as well as radiative heat fluxes.
Using state of the art dedicated facility, Dr Ghodrat and her team have been able to measure mass loss rate, smoke production rates, and CO/CO2 production rates of flame-retardant materials for various applications including maritime and naval applications, flame-resistant clothing such as firefighters’ protective clothing, and flame-retardancy of nanocomposites.
The Lab is equipped with a modular subsonic combustion wind tunnel for convective heat flow visualization of propagating flame under variable forced flow.
@PYROMETRIC LAB
We are committed to developing cutting-edge sustainable technologies and solutions that safeguard Australia's critical infrastructures and assets from fire.
Fire Safety Engineering involves the application of scientific and engineering principles rooted in a comprehensive understanding of fire's effects and the measures necessary to safeguard people, property, and the environment.
A fundamental method for evaluating fire safety is through fire resistance testing, which requires the resources of a highly equipped fire testing laboratory. Within the realm of fire safety engineering, the domain of building fire safety holds significant importance and is rapidly evolving.
With ongoing advancements in building design, construction techniques, and the introduction of innovative materials, the meticulous application of fire safety principles becomes increasingly imperative.
Most notably, there is a substantial demand for conducting applicable fire resistance tests on new construction materials and industrial products to ensure compliance with local and/or national, as well as international building codes. This is where Pyrometric Lab excels, offering a range of essential research projects and services, including:
- The measurement of flame propagation away from the source of ignition across the material or assembly surface, assessing the potential for flame spreading during a fire incident.
- Engineering consultancy services that encompass mandatory fire resistance testing and computer modeling.
- The development of testing protocols for evaluating the fire resistance of non-standardized products.
- Expert technical guidance on materials' compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Conformity assessment services to demonstrate adherence to national Իinternational codes and standards applicable to fire safety applications.
