Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) News
Printer Friendly VersionSouthwest Research Institute's Fire Technology Department Chronology
| 1949 | Division of Fire Technology established. |
| 1951-52 | Projects include fires in cotton bales in transit (Association of American Railroads), a survey of home fire hazards and methods of control (Division of Housing Research), fires in aircraft in flight, and studies of new and unorthodox extinguishment methods. |
| 1953 | Research of fire retardants for interior finishes conducted. Investigation of new methods for extinguishing magnesium and other light metal fires. Developmental studies of fire alarm systems for aircraft performed. |
| 1954 | Applicability of photo conductive and infrared technology detection for automatic detection and extinguishment studied. |
| 1955 | Survey of the chemical-petroleum industries for the purpose of sponsoring the development of an electronic fire detection unit. |
| 1956 | Flame spread tunnel apparatus placed in operation. |
| 1962 | Evaluation of fire resistance in air conditioning ducts. |
| 1964 | Projects include fuel solidification studies related to airplane crashes and fire suppression in supersonic transport crashes. Basic method of wood burning is studied. Modeling of mass fires in urban areas is developed. |
| 1965-66 | Dust explosiveness studies initiated. Detection and extinguishing system for hypobaric space chamber is built. |
| 1967-69 | Fire hazards in manned space crafts investigated. Fire extinguisher developed for NASA. Automatic dust explosion suppression system developed. Studies made to determine the toxic effect of combustion gases. |
| 1970 | Institute responds to government mandated fire standards for performance of textile, carpet bedding and upholstery. |
| 1971 | New facility for fluid fire safety placed in service. |
| 1972-73 | Water flow in various types of sprinkler nozzles investigated. Combustion of plastic materials under study. |
| 1973-74 | Full-scale testing of consumer products using rooms and connecting corridor under way to evaluate smoke movement, flame propagation, and generation of toxic gases. Effects of sea action on fire behavior and suppression techniques. Water deluge systems studied. Small version of ASTM E119 furnace placed in service. |
| 1 975 | Studies on health effects of combustion products. |
| 1976 | Room calorimeter developed to evaluate heat release potential of wood and plastic items. |
| 1977-78 | Flammability characteristics of mobile homes investigated. Flammability of combustible insulation studied. |
| 1979 | Plans completed for new Fire Technology facility. |
| 1980 | Department of Fire Technology established and new facilities completed. |
| 1981 | Two-story test facility constructed to evaluate development of external fires associated with exterior insulated foam systems. |
| 1983-84 | Services for The Journal of Fire Sciences began. Modeling of hot gas flow through doorways and adjacent rooms begins. New large-scale furnaces for floor and wall specimens in to conform to ASTM E119 standard placed in service. Combustion Toxicology: Principles and Test Methods is published. |
| 1986 | ICBO approved multistory facility, UBC 17-6. |
| 1987-88 | Plastic automobile fuel tank fire test facility completed. Listing and labeling services established. |
| 1990 | Large-scale fire tests for storage of consumer products continue. FAA certifies SwRI as DER (Designated Engineer of Record). Roof testing facility completed. |
| 1991 | Wire and cable flammability test apparatus constructed. Intermediate scale multi-story facility constructed. |
| 1992 | New small/intermediate scale test building completed. Laboratory-scale incineration simulation system constructed. |
| 1993-94 | Jet fire facility constructed. Product calorimeter placed in service. SwRI Standard 93-01 for the evaluation of above-ground fuel storage tanks is established and acknowledged by the UBC. |
| 1995 | Remotely located large-scale fire facility placed in operation. Lloyds Registry of Shipping certifies SwRI Jet Fire Facility. |
| 1996 | High intensity burner test apparatus developed to evaluate heat shields. Full-scale flash fire simulation facility chamber developed. |
| 1997 | New large-scale rate-of-heat-release apparatus placed in service. Permeation facility established. Testing in support of the telecommunications industry begins. |
| 1998 | Furnace building expanded. Permeation facility completed. U.S. Coast Guard and Lloyd's Registry accredited. Lateral Ignition Flame Test (LIFT), single burning item, and a new cone calorimeter apparatus placed into service. |
| 1999 | Large-scale calorimeter building completed. Structural, mechanical, and weather test apparatus added. Forensic investigation conducted. |
