#NIST

3 articles.

A test room built like a small nightclub stage: a low wooden platform in front of a recessed alcove, with grey egg-crate acoustic foam on the alcove and upper walls above brown wood paneling, and three thin instrument poles on the empty floor.

Fire Case Studies

Station Nightclub Fire: Why 100 People Had Only 90 Seconds

The Station nightclub fire killed 100 people in 2003. See how stage gerbs, acoustic foam and one narrow inner door left the crowd about 90 seconds to escape.

October 10, 2026 · 19 min read

A dark living room early in a house fire, seen from floor level: a thick black smoke layer presses down from the ceiling and glows orange, while a thin band of clearer air remains near the floor over a sofa, coffee table, and doorway — showing why smoke inhalation strikes before the flames reach you.

Fire Fundamentals

Smoke Inhalation: Why the Upper Layer Kills You First

Smoke inhalation kills more fire victims than flame does. Here is the toxic upper layer, the CO and HCN dose, and the FED clock that times your escape.

June 26, 2026 · 15 min read

A dried-out Christmas tree in a dark living room engulfed in fierce orange flames that climb to the ceiling, with thick black smoke spreading overhead and a warm glow falling on a sofa and wrapped gifts below — the start of a flashover.

Fire in Daily Life

Christmas Tree Fire: Flashover in 60 Seconds Explained

A dry Christmas tree fire can hit 7 megawatts and flash a whole room in under a minute. Here is the NIST science, second by second, and why water stops it.

June 19, 2026 · 8 min read