Fire Safety Journal 19 (1992) 309-310

News Item

REPORT ON THE FIRE CHEMISTRY DISCUSSION GROUP OF THE SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY AND INDUSTRY

Following the success of the previous meetings the Group voted to become formally constituted as a member group of the Society of Chemical Industry. The inaugural AGM took place on 11 November 1991. The elected honorary officers of the group are:

Dennis Price Chairman (University of Salford) Ed Metcalfe Treasurer (Thames Polytechnic)

and Jo Ellwood Secretary (Fire Research Station)

from whom full details concerning the objectives and future meetings are available (tel. 081-953-6177). The membership currently stands at 77 with attendance at the meetings of 40 to 50.

10 APRIL 1991: FLAME CHEMISTRY AND EXPERT SYSTEMS

Held at UMIST. The morning keynote lecture on Flame Chemistry was given by Bob Simmons who described various techniques developed to monitor flame reactions together with past and current results. The supporting short contributions were given by Joe Rutherford 'Phos- phorous content and char length', Greg Coleman 'Cyclic DSC studies to elucidate the mechanism of cellulose pyrolysis in air', whilst Dougal Drysdale discussed the problems associated with identifying flame retardent mechanisms. In the afternoon Ken Palmer gave an introduc- tory account of the development of Expert Systems. This was followed by short presentations by Caroline Cousins 'Halogen Replacements', Dawn Roberts 'Fire and the Environment' and Sheila Munro 'The Cone Calorimeter--Test Method of the Future?'

11 NOVEMBER 1991- FIRE CHEMISTRY--MODELLING AND AUTOIGNITION

Held at the Society of Chemical Industry, London. The meeting got off to an exciting start with an excellent overview lecture on 'Fire

309 Fire Safety Journal (19) (1992)----~ 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd, England. Printed in Northern Ireland