The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ og: http://ogp.me/ns# rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# schema: http://schema.org/ sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# "> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).init={ajax:{deny_list:["bam.nr-data.net"]}};(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={licenseKey:"37b7ccb661",applicationID:"1089704227"};;/*! For license information please see nr-loader-rum-1.281.0.min.js.LICENSE.txt */ (()=>{var e,t,r={122:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{a:()=>i});var n=r(944);function i(e,t){try{if(!e||"object"!=typeof e)return(0,n.R)(3);if(!t||"object"!=typeof t)return(0,n.R)(4);const r=Object.create(Object.getPrototypeOf(t),Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(t)),o=0===Object.keys(r).length?e:r;for(let a in o)if(void 0!==e[a])try{if(null===e[a]){r[a]=null;continue}Array.isArray(e[a])&&Array.isArray(t[a])?r[a]=Array.from(new Set([...e[a],...t[a]])):"object"==typeof e[a]&&"object"==typeof t[a]?r[a]=i(e[a],t[a]):r[a]=e[a]}catch(e){(0,n.R)(1,e)}return r}catch(e){(0,n.R)(2,e)}}},555:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Vp:()=>c,fn:()=>s,x1:()=>u});var n=r(384),i=r(122);const o={beacon:n.NT.beacon,errorBeacon:n.NT.errorBeacon,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,sa:void 0,queueTime:void 0,applicationTime:void 0,ttGuid:void 0,user:void 0,account:void 0,product:void 0,extra:void 0,jsAttributes:{},userAttributes:void 0,atts:void 0,transactionName:void 0,tNamePlain:void 0},a={};function s(e){try{const t=c(e);return!!t.licenseKey&&!!t.errorBeacon&&!!t.applicationID}catch(e){return!1}}function c(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");if(!a[e])throw new Error("Info for ".concat(e," was never set"));return a[e]}function u(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");a[e]=(0,i.a)(t,o);const r=(0,n.nY)(e);r&&(r.info=a[e])}},217:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{D0:()=>h,gD:()=>b,xN:()=>v});r(860).K7.genericEvents;const n="experimental.marks",i="experimental.measures",o="experimental.resources";var a=r(993);const s=e=>{if(!e||"string"!=typeof e)return!1;try{document.createDocumentFragment().querySelector(e)}catch{return!1}return!0};var c=r(614),u=r(944),l=r(384),d=r(122);const f="[data-nr-mask]",g=()=>{const e={feature_flags:[],experimental:{marks:!1,measures:!1,resources:!1},mask_selector:"*",block_selector:"[data-nr-block]",mask_input_options:{color:!1,date:!1,"datetime-local":!1,email:!1,month:!1,number:!1,range:!1,search:!1,tel:!1,text:!1,time:!1,url:!1,week:!1,textarea:!1,select:!1,password:!0}};return{ajax:{deny_list:void 0,block_internal:!0,enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},distributed_tracing:{enabled:void 0,exclude_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_tracecontext_headers:void 0,allowed_origins:void 0},get feature_flags(){return e.feature_flags},set feature_flags(t){e.feature_flags=t},generic_events:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},harvest:{interval:30},jserrors:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},logging:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0,level:a.p_.INFO},metrics:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},obfuscate:void 0,page_action:{enabled:!0},page_view_event:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},page_view_timing:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},performance:{get capture_marks(){return e.feature_flags.includes(n)||e.experimental.marks},set capture_marks(t){e.experimental.marks=t},get capture_measures(){return e.feature_flags.includes(i)||e.experimental.measures},set capture_measures(t){e.experimental.measures=t},capture_detail:!0,resources:{get enabled(){return e.feature_flags.includes(o)||e.experimental.resources},set enabled(t){e.experimental.resources=t},asset_types:[],first_party_domains:[],ignore_newrelic:!0}},privacy:{cookies_enabled:!0},proxy:{assets:void 0,beacon:void 0},session:{expiresMs:c.wk,inactiveMs:c.BB},session_replay:{autoStart:!0,enabled:!1,preload:!1,sampling_rate:10,error_sampling_rate:100,collect_fonts:!1,inline_images:!1,fix_stylesheets:!0,mask_all_inputs:!0,get mask_text_selector(){return e.mask_selector},set mask_text_selector(t){s(t)?e.mask_selector="".concat(t,",").concat(f):""===t||null===t?e.mask_selector=f:(0,u.R)(5,t)},get block_class(){return"nr-block"},get ignore_class(){return"nr-ignore"},get mask_text_class(){return"nr-mask"},get block_selector(){return e.block_selector},set block_selector(t){s(t)?e.block_selector+=",".concat(t):""!==t&&(0,u.R)(6,t)},get mask_input_options(){return e.mask_input_options},set mask_input_options(t){t&&"object"==typeof t?e.mask_input_options={...t,password:!0}:(0,u.R)(7,t)}},session_trace:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},soft_navigations:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},spa:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},ssl:void 0,user_actions:{enabled:!0,elementAttributes:["id","className","tagName","type"]}}},p={},m="All configuration objects require an agent identifier!";function h(e){if(!e)throw new Error(m);if(!p[e])throw new Error("Configuration for ".concat(e," was never set"));return p[e]}function v(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(m);p[e]=(0,d.a)(t,g());const r=(0,l.nY)(e);r&&(r.init=p[e])}function b(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(m);var r=h(e);if(r){for(var n=t.split("."),i=0;i<n.length-1;i++)if("object"!=typeof(r=r[n[i]]))return;r=r[n[n.length-1]]}return r}},371:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{V:()=>f,f:()=>d});var n=r(122),i=r(384),o=r(154),a=r(324);let s=0;const c={buildEnv:a.F3,distMethod:a.Xs,version:a.xv,originTime:o.WN},u={customTransaction:void 0,disabled:!1,isolatedBacklog:!1,loaderType:void 0,maxBytes:3e4,onerror:void 0,ptid:void 0,releaseIds:{},appMetadata:{},session:void 0,denyList:void 0,timeKeeper:void 0,obfuscator:void 0,harvester:void 0},l={};function d(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");if(!l[e])throw new Error("Runtime for ".concat(e," was never set"));return l[e]}function f(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");l[e]={...(0,n.a)(t,u),...c},Object.hasOwnProperty.call(l[e],"harvestCount")||Object.defineProperty(l[e],"harvestCount",{get:()=>++s});const r=(0,i.nY)(e);r&&(r.runtime=l[e])}},324:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{F3:()=>i,Xs:()=>o,xv:()=>n});const n="1.281.0",i="PROD",o="CDN"},154:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{OF:()=>c,RI:()=>i,WN:()=>l,bv:()=>o,gm:()=>a,mw:()=>s,sb:()=>u});var n=r(863);const i="undefined"!=typeof window&&!!window.document,o="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator),a=i?window:"undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis),s=Boolean("hidden"===a?.document?.visibilityState),c=/iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(a.navigator?.userAgent),u=c&&"undefined"==typeof SharedWorker,l=((()=>{const e=a.navigator?.userAgent?.match(/Firefox[/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);Array.isArray(e)&&e.length>=2&&e[1]})(),Date.now()-(0,n.t)())},687:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Ak:()=>c,Ze:()=>d,x3:()=>u});var n=r(836),i=r(606),o=r(860),a=r(646);const s={};function c(e,t){const r={staged:!1,priority:o.P3[t]||0};l(e),s[e].get(t)||s[e].set(t,r)}function u(e,t){e&&s[e]&&(s[e].get(t)&&s[e].delete(t),g(e,t,!1),s[e].size&&f(e))}function l(e){if(!e)throw new Error("agentIdentifier required");s[e]||(s[e]=new Map)}function d(e="",t="feature",r=!1){if(l(e),!e||!s[e].get(t)||r)return g(e,t);s[e].get(t).staged=!0,f(e)}function f(e){const t=Array.from(s[e]);t.every((([e,t])=>t.staged))&&(t.sort(((e,t)=>e[1].priority-t[1].priority)),t.forEach((([t])=>{s[e].delete(t),g(e,t)})))}function g(e,t,r=!0){const o=e?n.ee.get(e):n.ee,s=i.i.handlers;if(!o.aborted&&o.backlog&&s){if(r){const e=o.backlog[t],r=s[t];if(r){for(let t=0;e&&t<e.length;++t)p(e[t],r);Object.entries(r).forEach((([e,t])=>{Object.values(t||{}).forEach((t=>{t[0]?.on&&t[0]?.context()instanceof a.y&&t[0].on(e,t[1])}))}))}}o.isolatedBacklog||delete s[t],o.backlog[t]=null,o.emit("drain-"+t,[])}}function p(e,t){var r=e[1];Object.values(t[r]||{}).forEach((t=>{var r=e[0];if(t[0]===r){var n=t[1],i=e[3],o=e[2];n.apply(i,o)}}))}},836:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{P:()=>c,ee:()=>u});var n=r(384),i=r(990),o=r(371),a=r(646),s=r(607);const c="nr@context:".concat(s.W),u=function e(t,r){var n={},s={},l={},d=!1;try{d=16===r.length&&(0,o.f)(r).isolatedBacklog}catch(e){}var f={on:p,addEventListener:p,removeEventListener:function(e,t){var r=n[e];if(!r)return;for(var i=0;i<r.length;i++)r[i]===t&&r.splice(i,1)},emit:function(e,r,n,i,o){!1!==o&&(o=!0);if(u.aborted&&!i)return;t&&o&&t.emit(e,r,n);for(var a=g(n),c=m(e),l=c.length,d=0;d<l;d++)c[d].apply(a,r);var p=v()[s[e]];p&&p.push([f,e,r,a]);return a},get:h,listeners:m,context:g,buffer:function(e,t){const r=v();if(t=t||"feature",f.aborted)return;Object.entries(e||{}).forEach((([e,n])=>{s[n]=t,t in r||(r[t]=[])}))},abort:function(){f._aborted=!0,Object.keys(f.backlog).forEach((e=>{delete f.backlog[e]}))},isBuffering:function(e){return!!v()[s[e]]},debugId:r,backlog:d?{}:t&&"object"==typeof t.backlog?t.backlog:{},isolatedBacklog:d};return Object.defineProperty(f,"aborted",{get:()=>{let e=f._aborted||!1;return e||(t&&(e=t.aborted),e)}}),f;function g(e){return e&&e instanceof a.y?e:e?(0,i.I)(e,c,(()=>new a.y(c))):new a.y(c)}function p(e,t){n[e]=m(e).concat(t)}function m(e){return n[e]||[]}function h(t){return l[t]=l[t]||e(f,t)}function v(){return f.backlog}}(void 0,"globalEE"),l=(0,n.Zm)();l.ee||(l.ee=u)},646:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{y:()=>n});class n{constructor(e){this.contextId=e}}},908:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{d:()=>n,p:()=>i});var n=r(836).ee.get("handle");function i(e,t,r,i,o){o?(o.buffer([e],i),o.emit(e,t,r)):(n.buffer([e],i),n.emit(e,t,r))}},606:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{i:()=>o});var n=r(908);o.on=a;var i=o.handlers={};function o(e,t,r,o){a(o||n.d,i,e,t,r)}function a(e,t,r,i,o){o||(o="feature"),e||(e=n.d);var a=t[o]=t[o]||{};(a[r]=a[r]||[]).push([e,i])}},878:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t){return{capture:e,passive:!1,signal:t}}function i(e,t,r=!1,i){window.addEventListener(e,t,n(r,i))}function o(e,t,r=!1,i){document.addEventListener(e,t,n(r,i))}r.d(t,{DD:()=>o,jT:()=>n,sp:()=>i})},607:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{W:()=>n});const n=(0,r(566).bz)()},566:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{LA:()=>s,bz:()=>a});var n=r(154);const i="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx";function o(e,t){return e?15&e[t]:16*Math.random()|0}function a(){const e=n.gm?.crypto||n.gm?.msCrypto;let t,r=0;return e&&e.getRandomValues&&(t=e.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(30))),i.split("").map((e=>"x"===e?o(t,r++).toString(16):"y"===e?(3&o()|8).toString(16):e)).join("")}function s(e){const t=n.gm?.crypto||n.gm?.msCrypto;let r,i=0;t&&t.getRandomValues&&(r=t.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(e)));const a=[];for(var s=0;s<e;s++)a.push(o(r,i++).toString(16));return a.join("")}},614:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{BB:()=>a,H3:()=>n,g:()=>u,iL:()=>c,tS:()=>s,uh:()=>i,wk:()=>o});const n="NRBA",i="SESSION",o=144e5,a=18e5,s={STARTED:"session-started",PAUSE:"session-pause",RESET:"session-reset",RESUME:"session-resume",UPDATE:"session-update"},c={SAME_TAB:"same-tab",CROSS_TAB:"cross-tab"},u={OFF:0,FULL:1,ERROR:2}},863:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(){return Math.floor(performance.now())}r.d(t,{t:()=>n})},944:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t){"function"==typeof console.debug&&console.debug("New Relic Warning: https://github.com/newrelic/newrelic-browser-agent/blob/main/docs/warning-codes.md#".concat(e),t)}r.d(t,{R:()=>n})},284:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{t:()=>c,B:()=>s});var n=r(836),i=r(154);const o="newrelic";const a=new Set,s={};function c(e,t){const r=n.ee.get(t);s[t]??={},e&&"object"==typeof e&&(a.has(t)||(r.emit("rumresp",[e]),s[t]=e,a.add(t),function(e={}){try{i.gm.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(o,{detail:e}))}catch(e){}}({loaded:!0})))}},990:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{I:()=>i});var n=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;function i(e,t,r){if(n.call(e,t))return e[t];var i=r();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,t,{value:i,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),i}catch(e){}return e[t]=i,i}},389:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t=500,r={}){const n=r?.leading||!1;let i;return(...r)=>{n&&void 0===i&&(e.apply(this,r),i=setTimeout((()=>{i=clearTimeout(i)}),t)),n||(clearTimeout(i),i=setTimeout((()=>{e.apply(this,r)}),t))}}function i(e){let t=!1;return(...r)=>{t||(t=!0,e.apply(this,r))}}r.d(t,{J:()=>i,s:()=>n})},289:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{GG:()=>o,sB:()=>a});var n=r(878);function i(){return"undefined"==typeof document||"complete"===document.readyState}function o(e,t){if(i())return e();(0,n.sp)("load",e,t)}function a(e){if(i())return e();(0,n.DD)("DOMContentLoaded",e)}},384:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{NT:()=>o,US:()=>l,Zm:()=>a,bQ:()=>c,dV:()=>s,nY:()=>u,pV:()=>d});var n=r(154),i=r(863);const o={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net"};function a(){return n.gm.NREUM||(n.gm.NREUM={}),void 0===n.gm.newrelic&&(n.gm.newrelic=n.gm.NREUM),n.gm.NREUM}function s(){let e=a();return e.o||(e.o={ST:n.gm.setTimeout,SI:n.gm.setImmediate,CT:n.gm.clearTimeout,XHR:n.gm.XMLHttpRequest,REQ:n.gm.Request,EV:n.gm.Event,PR:n.gm.Promise,MO:n.gm.MutationObserver,FETCH:n.gm.fetch,WS:n.gm.WebSocket}),e}function c(e,t){let r=a();r.initializedAgents??={},t.initializedAt={ms:(0,i.t)(),date:new Date},r.initializedAgents[e]=t}function u(e){let t=a();return t.initializedAgents?.[e]}function l(e,t){a()[e]=t}function d(){return function(){let e=a();const t=e.info||{};e.info={beacon:o.beacon,errorBeacon:o.errorBeacon,...t}}(),function(){let e=a();const t=e.init||{};e.init={...t}}(),s(),function(){let e=a();const t=e.loader_config||{};e.loader_config={...t}}(),a()}},843:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{u:()=>i});var n=r(878);function i(e,t=!1,r,i){(0,n.DD)("visibilitychange",(function(){if(t)return void("hidden"===document.visibilityState&&e());e(document.visibilityState)}),r,i)}},434:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Jt:()=>o,YM:()=>c});var n=r(836),i=r(607);const o="nr@original:".concat(i.W);var a=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,s=!1;function c(e,t){return e||(e=n.ee),r.inPlace=function(e,t,n,i,o){n||(n="");const a="-"===n.charAt(0);for(let s=0;s<t.length;s++){const c=t[s],u=e[c];l(u)||(e[c]=r(u,a?c+n:n,i,c,o))}},r.flag=o,r;function r(t,r,n,s,c){return l(t)?t:(r||(r=""),nrWrapper[o]=t,function(e,t,r){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.keys(e).forEach((function(r){Object.defineProperty(t,r,{get:function(){return e[r]},set:function(t){return e[r]=t,t}})})),t}catch(e){u([e],r)}for(var n in e)a.call(e,n)&&(t[n]=e[n])}(t,nrWrapper,e),nrWrapper);function nrWrapper(){var o,a,l,d;try{a=this,o=[...arguments],l="function"==typeof n?n(o,a):n||{}}catch(t){u([t,"",[o,a,s],l],e)}i(r+"start",[o,a,s],l,c);try{return d=t.apply(a,o)}catch(e){throw i(r+"err",[o,a,e],l,c),e}finally{i(r+"end",[o,a,d],l,c)}}}function i(r,n,i,o){if(!s||t){var a=s;s=!0;try{e.emit(r,n,i,t,o)}catch(t){u([t,r,n,i],e)}s=a}}}function u(e,t){t||(t=n.ee);try{t.emit("internal-error",e)}catch(e){}}function l(e){return!(e&&"function"==typeof e&&e.apply&&!e[o])}},993:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{ET:()=>o,p_:()=>i});var n=r(860);const i={ERROR:"ERROR",WARN:"WARN",INFO:"INFO",DEBUG:"DEBUG",TRACE:"TRACE"},o="log";n.K7.logging},969:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{TZ:()=>n,XG:()=>s,rs:()=>i,xV:()=>a,z_:()=>o});const n=r(860).K7.metrics,i="sm",o="cm",a="storeSupportabilityMetrics",s="storeEventMetrics"},630:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{T:()=>n});const n=r(860).K7.pageViewEvent},782:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{T:()=>n});const n=r(860).K7.pageViewTiming},344:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{G4:()=>i});var n=r(614);r(860).K7.sessionReplay;const i={RECORD:"recordReplay",PAUSE:"pauseReplay",REPLAY_RUNNING:"replayRunning",ERROR_DURING_REPLAY:"errorDuringReplay"};n.g.ERROR,n.g.FULL,n.g.OFF},234:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{W:()=>o});var n=r(836),i=r(687);class o{constructor(e,t){this.agentIdentifier=e,this.ee=n.ee.get(e),this.featureName=t,this.blocked=!1}deregisterDrain(){(0,i.x3)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName)}}},603:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{j:()=>K});var n=r(860),i=r(555),o=r(371),a=r(908),s=r(836),c=r(687),u=r(289),l=r(154),d=r(944),f=r(969),g=r(384),p=r(344);const m=["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","addRelease","recordCustomEvent","addPageAction","setCurrentRouteName","setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","interaction","noticeError","setUserId","setApplicationVersion","start",p.G4.RECORD,p.G4.PAUSE,"log","wrapLogger"],h=["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","addRelease"];var v=r(863),b=r(614),y=r(993);var w=r(646),A=r(434);const R=new Map;function _(e,t,r,n){if("object"!=typeof t||!t||"string"!=typeof r||!r||"function"!=typeof t[r])return(0,d.R)(29);const i=function(e){return(e||s.ee).get("logger")}(e),o=(0,A.YM)(i),a=new w.y(s.P);a.level=n.level,a.customAttributes=n.customAttributes;const c=t[r]?.[A.Jt]||t[r];return R.set(c,a),o.inPlace(t,[r],"wrap-logger-",(()=>R.get(c))),i}function E(){const e=(0,g.pV)();m.forEach((t=>{e[t]=(...r)=>function(t,...r){let n=[];return Object.values(e.initializedAgents).forEach((e=>{e&&e.api?e.exposed&&e.api[t]&&n.push(e.api[t](...r)):(0,d.R)(38,t)})),n.length>1?n:n[0]}(t,...r)}))}const x={};function N(e,t,g=!1){t||(0,c.Ak)(e,"api");const m={};var w=s.ee.get(e),A=w.get("tracer");x[e]=b.g.OFF,w.on(p.G4.REPLAY_RUNNING,(t=>{x[e]=t}));var R="api-",E=R+"ixn-";function N(t,r,n,o){const a=(0,i.Vp)(e);return null===r?delete a.jsAttributes[t]:(0,i.x1)(e,{...a,jsAttributes:{...a.jsAttributes,[t]:r}}),j(R,n,!0,o||null===r?"session":void 0)(t,r)}function k(){}m.log=function(e,{customAttributes:t={},level:r=y.p_.INFO}={}){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/log/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),function(e,t,r={},i=y.p_.INFO){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/logging/".concat(i.toLowerCase(),"/called")],void 0,n.K7.metrics,e),(0,a.p)(y.ET,[(0,v.t)(),t,r,i],void 0,n.K7.logging,e)}(w,e,t,r)},m.wrapLogger=(e,t,{customAttributes:r={},level:i=y.p_.INFO}={})=>{(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/wrapLogger/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),_(w,e,t,{customAttributes:r,level:i})},h.forEach((e=>{m[e]=j(R,e,!0,"api")})),m.addPageAction=j(R,"addPageAction",!0,n.K7.genericEvents),m.recordCustomEvent=j(R,"recordCustomEvent",!0,n.K7.genericEvents),m.setPageViewName=function(t,r){if("string"==typeof t)return"/"!==t.charAt(0)&&(t="/"+t),(0,o.f)(e).customTransaction=(r||"http://custom.transaction")+t,j(R,"setPageViewName",!0)()},m.setCustomAttribute=function(e,t,r=!1){if("string"==typeof e){if(["string","number","boolean"].includes(typeof t)||null===t)return N(e,t,"setCustomAttribute",r);(0,d.R)(40,typeof t)}else(0,d.R)(39,typeof e)},m.setUserId=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return N("enduser.id",e,"setUserId",!0);(0,d.R)(41,typeof e)},m.setApplicationVersion=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return N("application.version",e,"setApplicationVersion",!1);(0,d.R)(42,typeof e)},m.start=()=>{try{(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/start/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),w.emit("manual-start-all")}catch(e){(0,d.R)(23,e)}},m[p.G4.RECORD]=function(){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/recordReplay/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)(p.G4.RECORD,[],void 0,n.K7.sessionReplay,w)},m[p.G4.PAUSE]=function(){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/pauseReplay/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)(p.G4.PAUSE,[],void 0,n.K7.sessionReplay,w)},m.interaction=function(e){return(new k).get("object"==typeof e?e:{})};const T=k.prototype={createTracer:function(e,t){var r={},i=this,o="function"==typeof t;return(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/createTracer/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),g||(0,a.p)(E+"tracer",[(0,v.t)(),e,r],i,n.K7.spa,w),function(){if(A.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[(0,v.t)(),i,o],r),o)try{return t.apply(this,arguments)}catch(e){const t="string"==typeof e?new Error(e):e;throw A.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,t],r),t}finally{A.emit("fn-end",[(0,v.t)()],r)}}}};function j(e,t,r,i){return function(){return(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/"+t+"/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),i&&(0,a.p)(e+t,[r?(0,v.t)():performance.now(),...arguments],r?null:this,i,w),r?void 0:this}}function I(){r.e(296).then(r.bind(r,778)).then((({setAPI:t})=>{t(e),(0,c.Ze)(e,"api")})).catch((e=>{(0,d.R)(27,e),w.abort()}))}return["actionText","setName","setAttribute","save","ignore","onEnd","getContext","end","get"].forEach((e=>{T[e]=j(E,e,void 0,g?n.K7.softNav:n.K7.spa)})),m.setCurrentRouteName=g?j(E,"routeName",void 0,n.K7.softNav):j(R,"routeName",!0,n.K7.spa),m.noticeError=function(t,r){"string"==typeof t&&(t=new Error(t)),(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/noticeError/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)("err",[t,(0,v.t)(),!1,r,!!x[e]],void 0,n.K7.jserrors,w)},l.RI?(0,u.GG)((()=>I()),!0):I(),m}var k=r(217),T=r(122);const j={accountID:void 0,trustKey:void 0,agentID:void 0,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,xpid:void 0},I={};var S=r(284);const O=e=>{const t=e.startsWith("http");e+="/",r.p=t?e:"https://"+e};let P=!1;function K(e,t={},r,n){let{init:a,info:c,loader_config:u,runtime:d={},exposed:f=!0}=t;d.loaderType=r;const p=(0,g.pV)();c||(a=p.init,c=p.info,u=p.loader_config),(0,k.xN)(e.agentIdentifier,a||{}),function(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All loader-config objects require an agent identifier!");I[e]=(0,T.a)(t,j);const r=(0,g.nY)(e);r&&(r.loader_config=I[e])}(e.agentIdentifier,u||{}),c.jsAttributes??={},l.bv&&(c.jsAttributes.isWorker=!0),(0,i.x1)(e.agentIdentifier,c);const m=(0,k.D0)(e.agentIdentifier),h=[c.beacon,c.errorBeacon];P||(m.proxy.assets&&(O(m.proxy.assets),h.push(m.proxy.assets)),m.proxy.beacon&&h.push(m.proxy.beacon),E(),(0,g.US)("activatedFeatures",S.B),e.runSoftNavOverSpa&&=!0===m.soft_navigations.enabled&&m.feature_flags.includes("soft_nav")),d.denyList=[...m.ajax.deny_list||[],...m.ajax.block_internal?h:[]],d.ptid=e.agentIdentifier,(0,o.V)(e.agentIdentifier,d),e.ee=s.ee.get(e.agentIdentifier),void 0===e.api&&(e.api=N(e.agentIdentifier,n,e.runSoftNavOverSpa)),void 0===e.exposed&&(e.exposed=f),P=!0}},374:(e,t,r)=>{r.nc=(()=>{try{return document?.currentScript?.nonce}catch(e){}return""})()},860:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{$J:()=>u,K7:()=>s,P3:()=>c,XX:()=>i,qY:()=>n,v4:()=>a});const n="events",i="jserrors",o="browser/blobs",a="rum",s={ajax:"ajax",genericEvents:"generic_events",jserrors:i,logging:"logging",metrics:"metrics",pageAction:"page_action",pageViewEvent:"page_view_event",pageViewTiming:"page_view_timing",sessionReplay:"session_replay",sessionTrace:"session_trace",softNav:"soft_navigations",spa:"spa"},c={[s.pageViewEvent]:1,[s.pageViewTiming]:2,[s.metrics]:3,[s.jserrors]:4,[s.spa]:5,[s.ajax]:6,[s.sessionTrace]:7,[s.softNav]:8,[s.sessionReplay]:9,[s.logging]:10,[s.genericEvents]:11},u={[s.pageViewEvent]:a,[s.pageViewTiming]:n,[s.ajax]:n,[s.spa]:n,[s.softNav]:n,[s.metrics]:i,[s.jserrors]:i,[s.sessionTrace]:o,[s.sessionReplay]:o,[s.logging]:"browser/logs",[s.genericEvents]:"ins"}}},n={};function i(e){var t=n[e];if(void 0!==t)return t.exports;var o=n[e]={exports:{}};return r[e](o,o.exports,i),o.exports}i.m=r,i.d=(e,t)=>{for(var r in t)i.o(t,r)&&!i.o(e,r)&&Object.defineProperty(e,r,{enumerable:!0,get:t[r]})},i.f={},i.e=e=>Promise.all(Object.keys(i.f).reduce(((t,r)=>(i.f[r](e,t),t)),[])),i.u=e=>"nr-rum-1.281.0.min.js",i.o=(e,t)=>Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,t),e={},t="NRBA-1.281.0.PROD:",i.l=(r,n,o,a)=>{if(e[r])e[r].push(n);else{var s,c;if(void 0!==o)for(var u=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),l=0;l<u.length;l++){var d=u[l];if(d.getAttribute("src")==r||d.getAttribute("data-webpack")==t+o){s=d;break}}if(!s){c=!0;var f={296:"sha512-zqOtfbjYsGTkQScey1O8Hh9fA1+m2RFxLpfv7BWqqTivgQ6iM13v6QJ4d5xykyDwx1GoMFmngC4SKpFn6VciYg=="};(s=document.createElement("script")).charset="utf-8",s.timeout=120,i.nc&&s.setAttribute("nonce",i.nc),s.setAttribute("data-webpack",t+o),s.src=r,0!==s.src.indexOf(window.location.origin+"/")&&(s.crossOrigin="anonymous"),f[a]&&(s.integrity=f[a])}e[r]=[n];var g=(t,n)=>{s.onerror=s.onload=null,clearTimeout(p);var i=e[r];if(delete e[r],s.parentNode&&s.parentNode.removeChild(s),i&&i.forEach((e=>e(n))),t)return t(n)},p=setTimeout(g.bind(null,void 0,{type:"timeout",target:s}),12e4);s.onerror=g.bind(null,s.onerror),s.onload=g.bind(null,s.onload),c&&document.head.appendChild(s)}},i.r=e=>{"undefined"!=typeof Symbol&&Symbol.toStringTag&&Object.defineProperty(e,Symbol.toStringTag,{value:"Module"}),Object.defineProperty(e,"__esModule",{value:!0})},i.p="https://js-agent.newrelic.com/",(()=>{var e={374:0,840:0};i.f.j=(t,r)=>{var n=i.o(e,t)?e[t]:void 0;if(0!==n)if(n)r.push(n[2]);else{var o=new Promise(((r,i)=>n=e[t]=[r,i]));r.push(n[2]=o);var a=i.p+i.u(t),s=new Error;i.l(a,(r=>{if(i.o(e,t)&&(0!==(n=e[t])&&(e[t]=void 0),n)){var o=r&&("load"===r.type?"missing":r.type),a=r&&r.target&&r.target.src;s.message="Loading chunk "+t+" failed.\n("+o+": "+a+")",s.name="ChunkLoadError",s.type=o,s.request=a,n[1](s)}}),"chunk-"+t,t)}};var t=(t,r)=>{var n,o,[a,s,c]=r,u=0;if(a.some((t=>0!==e[t]))){for(n in s)i.o(s,n)&&(i.m[n]=s[n]);if(c)c(i)}for(t&&t(r);u<a.length;u++)o=a[u],i.o(e,o)&&e[o]&&e[o][0](),e[o]=0},r=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.281.0.PROD"]=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.281.0.PROD"]||[];r.forEach(t.bind(null,0)),r.push=t.bind(null,r.push.bind(r))})(),(()=>{"use strict";i(374);var e=i(944),t=i(344),r=i(566);class n{agentIdentifier;constructor(){this.agentIdentifier=(0,r.LA)(16)}#e(t,...r){if("function"==typeof this.api?.[t])return this.api[t](...r);(0,e.R)(35,t)}addPageAction(e,t){return this.#e("addPageAction",e,t)}recordCustomEvent(e,t){return this.#e("recordCustomEvent",e,t)}setPageViewName(e,t){return this.#e("setPageViewName",e,t)}setCustomAttribute(e,t,r){return this.#e("setCustomAttribute",e,t,r)}noticeError(e,t){return this.#e("noticeError",e,t)}setUserId(e){return this.#e("setUserId",e)}setApplicationVersion(e){return this.#e("setApplicationVersion",e)}setErrorHandler(e){return this.#e("setErrorHandler",e)}addRelease(e,t){return this.#e("addRelease",e,t)}log(e,t){return this.#e("log",e,t)}}class o extends n{#e(t,...r){if("function"==typeof this.api?.[t])return this.api[t](...r);(0,e.R)(35,t)}start(){return this.#e("start")}finished(e){return this.#e("finished",e)}recordReplay(){return this.#e(t.G4.RECORD)}pauseReplay(){return this.#e(t.G4.PAUSE)}addToTrace(e){return this.#e("addToTrace",e)}setCurrentRouteName(e){return this.#e("setCurrentRouteName",e)}interaction(){return this.#e("interaction")}wrapLogger(e,t,r){return this.#e("wrapLogger",e,t,r)}}var a=i(860),s=i(217);const c=Object.values(a.K7);function u(e){const t={};return c.forEach((r=>{t[r]=function(e,t){return!0===(0,s.gD)(t,"".concat(e,".enabled"))}(r,e)})),t}var l=i(603);var d=i(687),f=i(234),g=i(289),p=i(154),m=i(384);const h=e=>p.RI&&!0===(0,s.gD)(e,"privacy.cookies_enabled");function v(e){return!!(0,m.dV)().o.MO&&h(e)&&!0===(0,s.gD)(e,"session_trace.enabled")}var b=i(389);class y extends f.W{constructor(e,t,r=!0){super(e.agentIdentifier,t),this.auto=r,this.abortHandler=void 0,this.featAggregate=void 0,this.onAggregateImported=void 0,!1===e.init[this.featureName].autoStart&&(this.auto=!1),this.auto?(0,d.Ak)(e.agentIdentifier,t):this.ee.on("manual-start-all",(0,b.J)((()=>{(0,d.Ak)(e.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),this.auto=!0,this.importAggregator(e)})))}importAggregator(t,r={}){if(this.featAggregate||!this.auto)return;let n;this.onAggregateImported=new Promise((e=>{n=e}));const o=async()=>{let o;try{if(h(this.agentIdentifier)){const{setupAgentSession:e}=await i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,861));o=e(t)}}catch(t){(0,e.R)(20,t),this.ee.emit("internal-error",[t]),this.featureName===a.K7.sessionReplay&&this.abortHandler?.()}try{if(!this.#t(this.featureName,o))return(0,d.Ze)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),void n(!1);const{lazyFeatureLoader:e}=await i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,103)),{Aggregate:a}=await e(this.featureName,"aggregate");this.featAggregate=new a(t,r),t.runtime.harvester.initializedAggregates.push(this.featAggregate),n(!0)}catch(t){(0,e.R)(34,t),this.abortHandler?.(),(0,d.Ze)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName,!0),n(!1),this.ee&&this.ee.abort()}};p.RI?(0,g.GG)((()=>o()),!0):o()}#t(e,t){switch(e){case a.K7.sessionReplay:return v(this.agentIdentifier)&&!!t;case a.K7.sessionTrace:return!!t;default:return!0}}}var w=i(630);class A extends y{static featureName=w.T;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,w.T,t),this.importAggregator(e)}}var R=i(908),_=i(843),E=i(878),x=i(782),N=i(863);class k extends y{static featureName=x.T;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,x.T,t),p.RI&&((0,_.u)((()=>(0,R.p)("docHidden",[(0,N.t)()],void 0,x.T,this.ee)),!0),(0,E.sp)("pagehide",(()=>(0,R.p)("winPagehide",[(0,N.t)()],void 0,x.T,this.ee))),this.importAggregator(e))}}var T=i(969);class j extends y{static featureName=T.TZ;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,T.TZ,t),this.importAggregator(e)}}new class extends o{constructor(t){super(),p.gm?(this.features={},(0,m.bQ)(this.agentIdentifier,this),this.desiredFeatures=new Set(t.features||[]),this.desiredFeatures.add(A),this.runSoftNavOverSpa=[...this.desiredFeatures].some((e=>e.featureName===a.K7.softNav)),(0,l.j)(this,t,t.loaderType||"agent"),this.run()):(0,e.R)(21)}get config(){return{info:this.info,init:this.init,loader_config:this.loader_config,runtime:this.runtime}}run(){try{const t=u(this.agentIdentifier),r=[...this.desiredFeatures];r.sort(((e,t)=>a.P3[e.featureName]-a.P3[t.featureName])),r.forEach((r=>{if(!t[r.featureName]&&r.featureName!==a.K7.pageViewEvent)return;if(this.runSoftNavOverSpa&&r.featureName===a.K7.spa)return;if(!this.runSoftNavOverSpa&&r.featureName===a.K7.softNav)return;const n=function(e){switch(e){case a.K7.ajax:return[a.K7.jserrors];case a.K7.sessionTrace:return[a.K7.ajax,a.K7.pageViewEvent];case a.K7.sessionReplay:return[a.K7.sessionTrace];case a.K7.pageViewTiming:return[a.K7.pageViewEvent];default:return[]}}(r.featureName).filter((e=>!(e in this.features)));n.length>0&&(0,e.R)(36,{targetFeature:r.featureName,missingDependencies:n}),this.features[r.featureName]=new r(this)}))}catch(t){(0,e.R)(22,t);for(const e in this.features)this.features[e].abortHandler?.();const r=(0,m.Zm)();delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.api,delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.features,delete this.sharedAggregator;return r.ee.get(this.agentIdentifier).abort(),!1}}}({features:[A,k,j],loaderType:"lite"})})()})();</script> <noscript><style>form.antibot * :not(.antibot-message) { display: none !important; }</style> </noscript><script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-HEQ0YF2VYL"></script> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)};gtag("js", new Date());gtag("set", "developer_id.dMDhkMT", true);gtag('set', {'cookie_flags': 'SameSite=None;Secure', 'cookie_domain': 'www.nist.gov'});gtag("config", "G-HEQ0YF2VYL", {"groups":"default","page_placeholder":"PLACEHOLDER_page_location","link_attribution":true,"allow_ad_personalization_signals":false});gtag("config", "G-CSLL4ZEK4L", {"groups":"default","page_placeholder":"PLACEHOLDER_page_location","link_attribution":true,"allow_ad_personalization_signals":false});gtag("event", "custom", {"node_title":"The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires ","node_id":"1840781","blog_author":"Amy Mensch, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith ","content_type":"Blog entry"});</script> <meta name="description" content="Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.nist.gov/node/1840781" /> <meta name="citation_title" content="The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires | NIST" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="NIST" /> <meta property="og:type" content="Article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/social/public/images/2024/02/26/ryan_and_amy_in_lab_020824_web_ready%20%281%29.jpg?itok=41epjCeJ" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.nist.gov/themes/custom/nist_www/img/homepage/nist_mark.png" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1050" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="612" /> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Ryan Falkenstein-Smith and Amy Mensch, both wearing lab coats and gloves, stand in the lab next to a black camera-like device on a table." /> <meta property="article:author" content="Amy Mensch" /> <meta property="article:tag" content="wildfire" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-03-27T08:00-04:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2025-01-31T13:51-05:00" /> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires" /> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Amy Mensch" /> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise" /> <meta name="dcterms.publisher" content="Amy Mensch" /> <meta name="dcterms.contributor" content="NIST" /> <meta name="dcterms.date" content="2024-03-27T08:00-04:00" /> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="text" /> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html" /> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" /> <meta name="dcterms.source" content="NIST" /> <meta name="dcterms.created" content="2024-03-27T08:00-04:00" /> <meta name="dcterms.modified" content="2025-01-31T13:51-05:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="NIST" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="QMu0ODkER3rN5hLcMLqNVf7e3bkjYsNLTuhqfH48jCA" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <meta name="nist_search_modified" class="elastic" content="2025-01-31T13:51:00-05:00" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires", "headline": "The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires", "name": "The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires", "description": "Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/social/public/images/2024/02/26/ryan_and_amy_in_lab_020824_web_ready%20%281%29.jpg?itok=41epjCeJ", "width": "1050", "height": "612" }, "datePublished": "2024-03-27T08:00-04:00", "dateModified": "2025-01-31T13:51-05:00", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/amy-mensch", "name": "Amy Mensch", "url": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/amy-mensch" }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/ryan-falkenstein-smith", "name": "Ryan Falkenstein-Smith", "url": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/ryan-falkenstein-smith" } ], "publisher": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "@id": "https://www.nist.gov/", "name": "National Institute of Standards and Technology", "url": "https://www.nist.gov/" } } ] }</script> <meta name="nist_search_bundle" class="elastic" content="blog" /> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/nist_www/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <title>The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires | NIST</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_JU6GLyX5fD368RLuYyTn99a9u_jV12RnisD8ChgEQDs.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxNTgGOwzAI-1C3PAmRxN3QSKhC2q6_X9bdaZMQwsYGR04P6jZqCfE7kySrUxXv1O8oGJxp5EbFcsjiHBWkUh-TH95Rhtdx6sNNLbJ-vPu-_2M8-1sfclsX1usfnDbB7uHs13F7VQwqwwglItMs0BwafLHqsuFyLj-PCt-qzJKmWbSjhcRLl5HaLQkrFWThd66hUD5s7TSCJ9vQjmAVyX5CFknNXDpeEfRrCA" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_kGS0ApDpFo-_3JI4Ijxg4RCWlTqsImK3lqH7bCv5v2U.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxNTgGOwzAI-1C3PAmRxN3QSKhC2q6_X9bdaZMQwsYGR04P6jZqCfE7kySrUxXv1O8oGJxp5EbFcsjiHBWkUh-TH95Rhtdx6sNNLbJ-vPu-_2M8-1sfclsX1usfnDbB7uHs13F7VQwqwwglItMs0BwafLHqsuFyLj-PCt-qzJKmWbSjhcRLl5HaLQkrFWThd66hUD5s7TSCJ9vQjmAVyX5CFknNXDpeEfRrCA" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_-IXwLuTUdm8IGHxib8GX8wWKw3LjKsNWSYYskZ5fEGg.css?delta=2&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxNTgGOwzAI-1C3PAmRxN3QSKhC2q6_X9bdaZMQwsYGR04P6jZqCfE7kySrUxXv1O8oGJxp5EbFcsjiHBWkUh-TH95Rhtdx6sNNLbJ-vPu-_2M8-1sfclsX1usfnDbB7uHs13F7VQwqwwglItMs0BwafLHqsuFyLj-PCt-qzJKmWbSjhcRLl5HaLQkrFWThd66hUD5s7TSCJ9vQjmAVyX5CFknNXDpeEfRrCA" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_T7rHWP8ukuuvU5uzdrYbPbOK9fHhVpgkMQjQYc60OHI.css?delta=3&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxNTgGOwzAI-1C3PAmRxN3QSKhC2q6_X9bdaZMQwsYGR04P6jZqCfE7kySrUxXv1O8oGJxp5EbFcsjiHBWkUh-TH95Rhtdx6sNNLbJ-vPu-_2M8-1sfclsX1usfnDbB7uHs13F7VQwqwwglItMs0BwafLHqsuFyLj-PCt-qzJKmWbSjhcRLl5HaLQkrFWThd66hUD5s7TSCJ9vQjmAVyX5CFknNXDpeEfRrCA" /> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_GM8kl6wk698qKTTwusj83bCoGHHtOZ1UinjY1sE_Qbk.js?scope=header&delta=0&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxdjmEOwjAIhS-0yZEIXbGitCxtZ9XT206NxoQffI_HA0fLBav1WsF9ezyXKZgFZaREeq-yFPgXpiSl4lG65q0lNfJYcw-RFCDQa1ykssQ125XhXxhXdq2eOHK_a-ooYzQPXgq5HqySLrsHgpojnd8rcGLynD-IrbUfB9_qWASft5X08MbpKp4NOTr2_W1WD0qP-zwef4VGCkmOsnQnt4LnLa4YOW2w8zx4HvwE13N6Sw"></script> </head> <body class="node-1840781"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable" data-elastic-exclude> Skip to main content </a> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>  <section data-elastic-exclude class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official government website"> <div class="usa-accordion"> <header class="usa-banner__header"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="grid-col-auto"> <img class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/us_flag_small.png" alt="U.S. flag"> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text">An official website of the United States government</p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action" aria-hidden="true">Here’s how you know</p> </div> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span> </button> </div> </header> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong> <br/> A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong> <br/> A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewbox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description">A locked padlock</desc><path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"/></svg> </span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section>  <div data-elastic-exclude>  <div class="nist-print-header" style="display:none;"> <p class="nist-print-header__url">https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires</p> <img class="nist-print-header__logo" width="289" height="38" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/nist_logo_sidestack.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology" /> </div> <div class="usa-overlay"></div> <header class="usa-header nist-header--www nist-header--minimal" role="banner"> <div class="usa-navbar"> <div class="usa-logo flex-fill"> <a href="/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" aria-label="Home"> <img src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/logo.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology" width="300px" height="80px" /> </a> </div> <div class="usa-header__right grid-row flex-auto"> <div class="grid-col-fill nist-header__search-group"> <form class="usa-search usa-search--small" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="/search" id="search_form" method="get"> <div role="search"> <label class="usa-sr-only" for="search-form">Search NIST</label> <input class="usa-input" id="search-form" type="search" name="s" placeholder="Search NIST" required="" maxlength="128"> <button class="usa-button" type="submit"><img src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/usa-icons-bg/search--white.svg" class="usa-search__submit-icon" alt="Search"></button> </div> </form> </div> <div class="grid-col-auto padding-left-1"> <button class="usa-menu-btn">Menu</button> </div> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="Primary navigation" class="usa-nav"> <div class="usa-nav__inner"> <button class="usa-nav__close">Close</button> <ul class="usa-nav__primary usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <a class="usa-nav__link" href="/publications">Publications</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-2"><span>What We Do</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-2" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/topics" class="usa-nav__link">All Topics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/advanced-communications" class="usa-nav__link">Advanced communications</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/artificial-intelligence" class="usa-nav__link">Artificial intelligence</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/bioscience" class="usa-nav__link">Bioscience</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/buildings-construction" class="usa-nav__link">Buildings and construction</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/chemistry" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/cybersecurity" class="usa-nav__link">Cybersecurity</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/electronics" class="usa-nav__link">Electronics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/energy" class="usa-nav__link">Energy</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/environment" class="usa-nav__link">Environment</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/fire" class="usa-nav__link">Fire</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/forensic-science" class="usa-nav__link">Forensic science</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/health" class="usa-nav__link">Health</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/information-technology" class="usa-nav__link">Information technology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/infrastructure" class="usa-nav__link">Infrastructure</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/manufacturing" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/materials" class="usa-nav__link">Materials</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/mathematics-statistics" class="usa-nav__link">Mathematics and statistics</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/metrology" class="usa-nav__link">Metrology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/nanotechnology" class="usa-nav__link">Nanotechnology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/neutron-research" class="usa-nav__link">Neutron research</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/performance-excellence" class="usa-nav__link">Performance excellence</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/physics" class="usa-nav__link">Physics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/public-safety" class="usa-nav__link">Public safety</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/quantum-information-science" class="usa-nav__link">Quantum information science</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/resilience" class="usa-nav__link">Resilience</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/standards" class="usa-nav__link">Standards</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/transportation" class="usa-nav__link">Transportation</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-3"><span>Labs & Major Programs</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-3" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/adlp" class="usa-nav__link">Assoc Director of Laboratory Programs</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/laboratories" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratories</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/ctl" class="usa-nav__link">Communications Technology Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/el" class="usa-nav__link">Engineering Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/itl" class="usa-nav__link">Information Technology Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/mml" class="usa-nav__link">Material Measurement Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/pml" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Measurement Laboratory</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/user-facilities" class="usa-nav__link">User Facilities</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/ncnr" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Center for Neutron Research</a> </li> <li> <a href="/cnst" class="usa-nav__link">CNST NanoFab</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/labs-major-programs/research-test-beds" class="usa-nav__link">Research Test Beds</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/laboratories/projects-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Research Projects</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/laboratories/tools-instruments" class="usa-nav__link">Tools & Instruments</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/major-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Major Programs</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/baldrige" class="usa-nav__link">Baldrige Performance Excellence Program</a> </li> <li> <a href="/chips" class="usa-nav__link">CHIPS for America Initiative</a> </li> <li> <a href="/mep" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/oam" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Advanced Manufacturing</a> </li> <li> <a href="/spo" class="usa-nav__link">Special Programs Office</a> </li> <li> <a href="/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">Technology Partnerships Office</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-4"><span>Services & Resources</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-4" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/content/standards-measurements" class="usa-nav__link">Standards and Measurements</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/calibrations" class="usa-nav__link">Calibration Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nvlap" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nist-quality-system" class="usa-nav__link">Quality System</a> </li> <li> <a href="/srm" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/sri" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Instruments (SRIs)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/standardsgov" class="usa-nav__link">Standards.gov</a> </li> <li> <a href="/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-services" class="usa-nav__link">Time Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/pml/owm" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Weights and Measures</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/services-resources/software" class="usa-nav__link">Software</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/data" class="usa-nav__link">Data</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry WebBook</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://nvd.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">National Vulnerability Database</a> </li> <li> <a href="/pml/productsservices/physical-reference-data" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Reference Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="/srd" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Data (SRD)</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="https://shop.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">Storefront</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">License & Patents</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="https://csrc.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC)</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/nist-research-library" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Research Library</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-5"><span>News & Events</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-5" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/news-events/news" class="usa-nav__link">News</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/news-events/events" class="usa-nav__link">Events</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/blogs" class="usa-nav__link">Blogs</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/feature-stories" class="usa-nav__link">Feature Stories</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/awards" class="usa-nav__link">Awards</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/video-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Video Gallery</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/image-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Image Gallery</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/pao/media-contacts" class="usa-nav__link">Media Contacts</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-6"><span>About NIST</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-6" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/about-nist" class="usa-nav__link">About Us</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/director/leadership" class="usa-nav__link">Leadership</a> </li> <li> <a href="/director/nist-organization-structure" class="usa-nav__link">Organization Structure</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about-nist/budget-planning" class="usa-nav__link">Budget & Planning</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/about-nist/contact-us" class="usa-nav__link">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/about-nist/visit" class="usa-nav__link">Visit</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/careers" class="usa-nav__link">Careers</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/iaao/academic-affairs-office" class="usa-nav__link">Student programs</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/about-nist/work-nist" class="usa-nav__link">Work with NIST</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/history" class="usa-nav__link">History</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Digital Archives</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nist-museum" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Museum</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nist-and-nobel" class="usa-nav__link">NIST and the Nobel</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/education" class="usa-nav__link">Educational Resources</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </header>  </div> <div class="grid-container"> </div> <div id="block-nist-www-content" class="nist-block" > <section class="nist-page__content usa-section clearfix" > <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top-full" > <div class="nist-block" > <div class="entity-reference"> <div class="nist-blog-header nist-blog-header--purple nist-blog-header--inner"> <div class="nist-blog-header__bkgrd"> <div class="nist-blog-header__main grid-container"> <div class="grid-row"> <h2 class="nist-blog-header__title"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure"> Taking Measure </a> </h2> <div class="nist-blog-header__tagline"> <p class="text">Just a Standard Blog</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container margin-top-4"> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top" > <div class="nist-block" > <h1 class="nist-page__title">The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires</h1> </div> <div class="font-body-md" > <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2024-03-27T12:00:00Z">March 27, 2024</time> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block" > <span>By: </span> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/amy-mensch" hreflang="en">Amy Mensch</a> and <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/ryan-falkenstein-smith" hreflang="en">Ryan Falkenstein-Smith</a> </div> <div class="nist-block" >  <div data-elastic-exclude class="nist-block nist-social__wrapper"> <h2 class="nist-social__title">Share</h2> <div class="social-media-sharing"> <div class="nist-social__wrapper--share"> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" title="Facebook" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-gray"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> </div> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires&source=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" title="Linkedin" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-gray"> <span>Linkedin</span> </a> </div> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://x.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires&status=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" title="X.com" class="nist-social nist-social--x-gray"> <span>X.com</span> </a> </div> <div> <a href="mailto:?subject=NIST.gov&body=Check out this site https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" title="Email" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-gray"> <span>Email</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container margin-top-4"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-6"> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content tablet-lg:grid-col-8" > <div class="nist-block" > <div class="text-with-summary"> <figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2024/02/26/ryan_and_amy_in_lab_020824_web_ready%20%281%29.jpg?itok=PURlx_k3" data-media-id="701381"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/960_x_960_limit/public/images/2024/02/26/ryan_and_amy_in_lab_020824_web_ready%20%281%29.jpg?itok=YOqa9_n6" width="960" height="560" alt="Ryan Falkenstein-Smith and Amy Mensch, both wearing lab coats and gloves, stand in the lab next to a black camera-like device on a table. " typeof="foaf:Image" /> <figcaption class="nist-image__caption"> <div data-caption-editable="true" class="nist-image__caption-content"> <p>The soot measuring device correlates the noise level to the amount of soot on the surface. The more soot that is present, the louder the noise.</p> </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> R. Eskalis/NIST </div> </figcaption> </figure> <p>Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise.</p><p>Soot is a critical piece of evidence that forensic fire investigators use to learn where and how fires start and grow over time. And when soot is exposed to a bright flash of light, it makes a popping sound. The energy of the light is easily absorbed by the soot, and the result is an audible noise. </p><p>This raises a question — can we measure soot from the sound? For more than a year now, we’ve researched that question, and we created a device and a new approach that will help fire investigators do just that. </p><p>We also hope this technique will help us advance general fire research — something that helps keep us all safer from fires. Fire research is important to everyone’s safety, especially with wildfires becoming more <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-wildfires">common and dangerous</a>. </p><h2>Follow the Soot </h2><p>After a fire, firefighters and forensic investigators may look at a soot pattern to learn about the development of the fire. </p><p>Until now, investigators have had limited tools to know how much soot they are looking at. Fire investigators analyze images of fire scenes using software. Measuring soot deposited on a black surface is challenging for the software because the soot blends into the background. Other methods require soot samples to be collected and sent to a lab for processing, which is very labor-intensive and time-consuming. </p><p>Absorptivity is simply how much energy a surface absorbs, rather than having that energy reflect off or pass through that surface. It’s expressed as a fraction, with the highest possible value being 1. Soot has a particularly high absorptivity, close to the maximum possible value of 1. So, soot absorbs almost all the radiative energy from a light source and converts it to heat. This is similar to the effect of hot, black asphalt in the summer, which absorbs more of the energy from the Sun compared to lighter-colored concrete. </p><figure class=" nist-video" role="group"> <div data-media-id="703541"> <div class="video-embed-field"><div class="video-embed-field-lazy" data-video-embed-field-lazy="<div class="video-embed-field-provider-nist-kaltura video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay *; fullscreen *; encrypted-media *" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.kaltura.com/p/684682/embedPlaykitJs/uiconf_id/55674542?iframeembed=true&amp;entry_id=1_ok0jlb58"></iframe> </div> "><img alt="The Sound of Soot" loading="lazy" src="https://cdnsecakmi.kaltura.com/p/684682/sp/68468200/thumbnail/entry_id/1_ok0jlb58/width/1280" typeof="foaf:Image"> <button class="video-embed-field-lazy-play"></button> <div class="video-embed-field-lazy-title">The Sound of Soot</div> </div> </div> </div> <figcaption class="nist-image__caption">NIST researchers expose a panel of soot to a flash of light, which causes the soot to generate a pop sound. They analyze this sound to discern more information about the nature of the fire that generated the soot. Credit: R. Eskalis/NIST</figcaption> </figure> <p>In our technique, we take advantage of soot’s high absorptivity by exposing the soot to light. </p><p>The light source in our device is a commercial camera flash like the one that professional photographers use with their cameras. When we manually trigger the flash in front of a surface coated with soot, the light energy is absorbed by the soot due to its high absorptivity. This rapidly adds energy to the soot, causing it to expand. It makes a sound that can be heard and measured with a sensitive microphone mounted near the surface. The phenomenon is called a photoacoustic response.</p><h2>Validating Measurements </h2><p>As with all things here at NIST, the measurement is the most important and challenging part of the effort! </p><p>The question we had to answer is: Will the noise be louder when there’s more soot deposited on the surface? And would the noise stay the same if the surface material under the soot changed? If not, our approach wouldn’t be particularly useful for fire investigators. </p><p>We did several experiments with soot on different surfaces, including drywall board and sheet metal. To get an independent measurement of the amount of soot, we adhered thin aluminum foil targets to the surface and weighed them before and after soot was deposited on the surface. We then exposed the soot-laden surfaces to the flash to measure the photoacoustic response. </p> <figure class=" align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" role="group"> <div data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2024/02/26/amy_in_lab_020824_web_ready.jpg?itok=gPyuKdwS" data-media-id="701386"> <img alt="Amy Mensch, wearing a lab coat and gloves, adjusts a black camera-like device in the lab. " height="844" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/2024/02/26/amy_in_lab_020824_web_ready.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="1050"> </div> <figcaption class="nist-image__caption">NIST researcher Amy Mensch works on a soot-measuring device. Fire investigators will be able to use this device to determine where fires start and grow.<div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> R. Eskalis/NIST </div></figcaption> </figure> <p>This allows us to correlate the noise level to the amount of soot on the surface — the more soot that was present, the louder the noise. </p><p>For the different surfaces, we found the photoacoustic response was not affected. This means our device works the same across two different surfaces commonly found in buildings. It’s a safe assumption that our results will be the same on any surface because it’s the soot responding to the light, not the surface. </p><p>The fire research community has given us positive feedback on this work and our product. That’s one of the things we love about working at NIST — we get to interact with the people who will benefit directly from our research. </p><h2>Making a Difference Through Understanding Fires </h2><p>One of the best things about being a fire researcher is the multidisciplinary nature of this field. Our division at NIST has mechanical engineers, mathematicians, chemical engineers, physicists, environmental engineers and more. We all have different backgrounds and areas of expertise, but we work together on these challenging and important research questions involving fires. </p><p>Another aspect of fire research that’s rewarding is being able to see the real-world impact of our work. Fire isn’t abstract; it’s dangerous. Many people’s lives depend on fire safety knowledge and technology. </p> <figure class=" align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" role="group"> <div data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2024/02/26/ryan_in_lab_020824_web_ready.jpg?itok=uYMpvWTs" data-media-id="701396"> <img alt="Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, wearing a lab coat and safety glasses, adjusts a black camera-like device in the lab. " height="591" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/2024/02/26/ryan_in_lab_020824_web_ready.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="1050"> </div> <figcaption class="nist-image__caption">NIST researcher Ryan Falkenstein-Smith looks at a device that can measure the amount of soot based on a sound given off when the soot is exposed to a bright light.<div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> R. Eskalis/NIST </div></figcaption> </figure> <p>Ryan leads our work in <a href="/news-events/news/2022/10/machine-learning-based-solution-could-help-firefighters-circumvent-deadly" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="6098058b-282d-4cdc-8263-483a1bff9df3" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="A Machine Learning-Based Solution Could Help Firefighters Circumvent Deadly Backdrafts">using AI to make firefighting safer</a>. Amy is studying how wildfires spread via pieces of burning wood, known as firebrands. Her work involves measuring the heat transfer from firebrands that can collect on or around buildings and allow wildfires to spread in communities. </p><p>Wildfires have become an important topic area for us here at NIST, not only for their life-threatening destruction of communities and homes but also for their negative effects on air quality. As we’ve seen in the past few summers, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-wildfires">wildfires are becoming more frequent and dangerous</a> as the climate changes. </p><p>We want to use NIST’s expertise in soot and smoke measurements to gain a better understanding of the air quality issues that come along with wildfires. So, we’re researching how best to measure the emissions of a wildfire, how accurate these methods are and what their limitations are. Using very sensitive instruments, we can take samples and understand what’s in that smoke — and what precautions firefighters and affected communities need to take with the air they’re breathing. </p><p>Building fires will always be a serious concern we need to research, and wildfires are becoming an increasingly deadly problem. This research is high-stakes, and we’re committed to learning everything we can to keep communities safer from all types of fires. </p> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block" > <div class="nist-tags"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248586">Fire</a>, <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/2746901">Fire dynamics and science</a>, <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248601">Fire modeling</a>, <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249051">Metrology</a> and <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249106">Optical / photometry / laser metrology</a></div> </div> <div class="nist-block" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >About the author</h2> <div class="nist-field nist-field--label-hidden entity-reference"> <div class="nist-field__items"> <div class="nist-field__item"> <article about="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/amy-mensch" class="nist-teaser" > <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/amy-mensch" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2020/06/15/2019IMECE-headshot5.jpg?itok=iDyp0OLt" width="80" height="100" alt="Amy Mensch headshot" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/amy-mensch"><span>Amy Mensch</span> </a></h3> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"><p><span>Amy Mensch is a mechanical engineer in the Engineered Fire Safety Group at NIST. Amy has worked for over 10 years in NIST’s Fire Research Division on various research topics, such as the thermal performance of firefighter equipment, kitchen cooktop fire prevention, soot and smoke behavior and firebrand (aka ember) ignition. She is an advocate for women in STEM, serving in affinity groups at NIST and the Department of Commerce. Amy is also an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).</span></p></div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="nist-field__item"> <article about="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/ryan-falkenstein-smith" class="nist-teaser" > <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/ryan-falkenstein-smith" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2024/01/02/Profile_Pic_RFS.jpg?itok=mQxFxSSs" width="64" height="100" alt="Ryan Falkenstein-Smith Profile" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/ryan-falkenstein-smith"><span>Ryan Falkenstein-Smith</span> </a></h3> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"><p><span>Ryan Falkenstein-Smith is a mechanical engineer in the Firefighting Technology Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Falkenstein-Smith received his doctorate in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Syracuse University for his research on high-temperature membranes for oxyfuel combustion. As a NIST postdoctoral fellow, he created model validation datasets of pool fire characteristics to support the International Association of Fire Safety Science’s Measurement and Computation of Fire Phenomena (MaCFP) Working Group. His current research focuses on designing technology for smart firefighting, including gas extractive devices for predicting backdraft and non-invasive analytical tools to improve situational awareness.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container nist-block no-print" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Related posts</h2> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-545a7d375669c9e6b803396a952b26d866bc09c9f1a6f12a1aefcdbc0ae40cd0"> <div> <article about="/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life" class="nist-teaser" > <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2024/12/12/2024_EndofYearBlogPost_960x600_v1.png?itok=qqCEC65E" width="100" height="63" alt="Photos of everyday objects like an iron, a gas can and a laptop along with high-tech items like an atomic clock and a mass balance. Label reads: 10 Ways NIST Impacts Your Daily Life. " typeof="foaf:Image" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life"><span>From Safer Skies to Fewer Fires: 10 Ways NIST Impacts Your Daily Life</span> </a></h3> <div class="nist-teaser__date"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2024-12-19T12:00:00Z">December 19, 2024</time> </div> </div> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> If you’ve ever had a medical test, flown on an airplane, or needed to check the time, NIST’s work affects your life every day. </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div> <article about="/blogs/taking-measure/laser-could-offer-peek-insides-our-muscles-or-look-through-fire" class="nist-teaser" > <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/laser-could-offer-peek-insides-our-muscles-or-look-through-fire" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2024/10/08/DSC00834%20%281%29.jpg?itok=r4fbVh31" width="100" height="67" alt="Esther Baumann leans over a lab table, surrounded with wires and scientific equipment." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/laser-could-offer-peek-insides-our-muscles-or-look-through-fire"><span>A Laser Could Offer a Peek Into the Insides of Our Muscles or Look Through Fire</span> </a></h3> <div class="nist-teaser__date"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2024-11-20T12:00:00Z">November 20, 2024</time> </div> </div> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> A NIST-developed laser system might someday check your muscle health when you flex your arm. These lasers can also see how an object changes during heat </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div> <article about="/blogs/taking-measure/safety-moon-shot-how-fire-research-cut-deaths-half-generation" class="nist-teaser" > <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/safety-moon-shot-how-fire-research-cut-deaths-half-generation" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2018/03/15/17el035_christmas-tree-burn-color-corrected.jpg?itok=m4MNbkUk" width="100" height="91" alt="A Christmas tree is engulfed in flames. To the left is a chair. In front is a coffee table, rug and fishbowl. To the right is a tall bookshelf. There are 3 wrapped presents under the tree. A timer reads 8:04 seconds." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/safety-moon-shot-how-fire-research-cut-deaths-half-generation"><span>Safety Moon Shot: How Fire Research Cut Deaths by Half in a Generation</span> </a></h3> <div class="nist-teaser__date"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2024-10-29T12:00:00Z">October 29, 2024</time> </div> </div> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> NIST research helped make the smoke alarm a standard part of our homes, and it’s one of many ways our fire research has made everyone safer. </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block no-print" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Comments</h2> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_TTS4s5Y1LEBszOTm0gV1Nja-JhqFPtNnhQAGd4OlvHI.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxLzCvJTMov0U-E0Hpp-UW5OsmJBSXJGYn6SYnFqTppmTklqUX6KUWlBYk5ehAeAD47FNs&exclude=eJx1UIGuwyAI_CE7P8mgso4NpRFdX__-adtly5IlKtxBjkMP4eGq9LNY_87dXY3_UaIg2cwiM6ODDLxVCmq_CZNJq7tS56KsmQWiq6XLUJ7tDEdZqSKlpcgT7TcxLOxcvWHCPlnYQ3FJoo2k4LswU34Y3bRi6g4V9347s3jgz3w6pewNIWJ5Qbeu62f3Bx4t-FfHABtLW4AvJzRBUsJcX_QJJ79NT8IVixlB7f5eutvGaFQCAbuEkWA4pWAYNmnV9VVCX7ZsVjIGYaMLpH6zFX9tGqDiIejuLS1dIbdDehp4GvjtPVEoMr7wH-pRuUw" /> <form class="comment-comment-node-blog-form comment-form usa-form antibot" novalidate="novalidate" data-drupal-selector="comment-form" data-action="/comment/reply/node/1840781/comment_node_blog" action="/antibot" method="post" id="comment-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <noscript> <div class="antibot-no-js antibot-message antibot-message-warning">You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form.</div> </noscript> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-name js-form-item-name"> <label for="edit-name" class="usa-label"> Your name </label> <input data-drupal-default-value="Anonymous" data-drupal-selector="edit-name" type="text" id="edit-name" name="name" value="" size="30" maxlength="60" class="form-text usa-input" /> </div> <input data-drupal-selector="form-9plcrisklb9vs0k0z1dw0otg-uf2q-hg5yvunemwthk" type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-9plCrISklb9Vs0K0z1dW0otG-uf2q-HG5yVuNEMWthk" class="usa-input" /><input data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-comment-node-blog-form" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="comment_comment_node_blog_form" class="usa-input" /><input data-drupal-selector="edit-antibot-key" type="hidden" name="antibot_key" value="" class="usa-input" /><div class="field--type-text-long field--name-comment-body field--widget-text-textarea js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-wrapper" id="edit-comment-body-wrapper"> <div class="js-text-format-wrapper js-form-item form-item"> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textarea js-form-type-textarea form-item-comment-body-0-value js-form-item-comment-body-0-value"> <label for="edit-comment-body-0-value" class="usa-label form-required"> Comment <span class="usa-label--required"> <span class="usa-sr-only">Required</span>*</span></label> <div class="form-textarea-wrapper"> <textarea class="js-text-full text-full form-textarea required usa-textarea resize-vertical" data-entity_embed-host-entity-langcode="en" data-media-embed-host-entity-langcode="en" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-value" id="edit-comment-body-0-value" name="comment_body[0][value]" rows="5" cols="60" placeholder="" required="required" aria-required="true"></textarea> </div> </div> <div class="js-filter-wrapper filter-wrapper hidden js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-format" id="edit-comment-body-0-format"><div class="js-filter-guidelines filter-guidelines js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-format-guidelines" id="edit-comment-body-0-format-guidelines"><div data-drupal-format-id="plain_text"> <h4>Plain text</h4> <ul> <li>No HTML tags allowed.</li> <li>Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.</li> <li>Lines and paragraphs break automatically.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <fieldset data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha" class="captcha captcha-type-challenge--image"> <legend class="captcha__title js-form-required form-required"> CAPTCHA </legend> <div class="captcha__element"> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-sid" type="hidden" name="captcha_sid" value="645249481" class="usa-input" /><input data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-token" type="hidden" name="captcha_token" value="PnmJ3NJ0eIlGNZ34rUohg2lI2U8xBc6OzNGRs5XVmLI" class="usa-input" /><div class="captcha__image-wrapper js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-image-wrapper" id="edit-captcha-image-wrapper"><img data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-image" src="/image-captcha-generate/645249481/1740154934" width="180" height="60" alt="Image CAPTCHA" title="Image CAPTCHA" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-captcha-response js-form-item-captcha-response"> <label for="edit-captcha-response" class="usa-label form-required"> What code is in the image? <span class="usa-label--required"> <span class="usa-sr-only">Required</span>*</span></label> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-response" aria-describedby="edit-captcha-response--description" type="text" id="edit-captcha-response" name="captcha_response" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-text required usa-input" required="required" aria-required="true" /> <div id="edit-captcha-response--description" class="description help-block"> Enter the characters shown in the image. </div> </div> </div> <div class="captcha__description description">This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.</div> </fieldset> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" id="edit-actions--2"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Save" class="button button--primary js-form-submit form-submit usa-button" /></div> <div class="comments__disclaimer padding-top-2"> <em>Please be respectful when posting comments. We will post all comments without editing as long as they are appropriate for a public, family friendly website, are on topic and do not contain profanity, personal attacks, misleading or false information/accusations or promote specific commercial products, services or organizations. Comments that violate our comment policy or include links to non-government organizations/web pages will not be posted.</em> </div> </form> </section> </div> </div> <aside class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--sidebar-second tablet-lg:grid-col-4"> <div> <div class="nist-block" > <div> <div about="/blogs/taking-measure"> <div class="nist-block no-print" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Our Science in Your Inbox</h2> <div class="text-long"><p>Subscribe to our weekly emails.</p> <form action="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscribers/qualify" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post"> <input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"> <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="GleKn0r3EFkuIRsIWsyLN6Mrqim4qc3U7eIUCWGqBFz2ziQ/qv0gnQTJUhVbKHMSlmrsC7UHIm6S8IfK6qk9EQ=="> <input type="hidden" name="topic_id" id="topic_id" value="USNIST_309"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-1"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-8"> <label class="usa-sr-only" for="email">Enter Email Address</label> <input class="usa-input" type="text" name="email" id="email" title="email" placeholder="Your Email Address"> </div> <div class="tablet:grid-col-4"> <input type="submit" name="commit" value="Sign Up" class="usa-button margin-top-1"> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="views-exposed-form usa-form filters nist-block" novalidate="novalidate" data-drupal-selector="views-exposed-form-search-blog-taking-measure-search-page" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Search</h2> <form action="/blogs/taking-measure/search" method="get" id="views-exposed-form-search-blog-taking-measure-search-page" accept-charset="UTF-8" class="usa-form"> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-k js-form-item-k form-no-label"> <input placeholder="Search this blog" data-drupal-selector="edit-k" type="text" id="edit-k" name="k" value="" size="30" maxlength="128" class="form-text usa-input" /> <div id="edit-k--description" class="description help-block"> Put exact phrase in quotes (e.g., "artificial intelligence") </div> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" id="edit-actions"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit-search-blog" type="submit" id="edit-submit-search-blog" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit usa-button" /></div> </form> </div> <div class="nist-block no-print" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Stay connected</h2> <div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook" title="Facebook" ><span>Facebook</span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin" title="LinkedIn" ><span>LinkedIn</span></a><a href="https://www.x.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--x" title="X (Twitter)" ><span>X (Twitter)</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--youtube" title="Youtube" ><span>Youtube</span></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nist/" class="nist-social nist-social--instagram" title="Instagram" ><span>Instagram</span></a><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new?topic_id=USNIST_309" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope" title="GovDelivery" ><span>GovDelivery</span></a></div> </div> <div class="views-element-container nist-block" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Categories</h2> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-d51711793e91157394e3a741466df9649abe9fda4a5e71855f6ae3536b41a86c"> <div> <select class="usa-select ViewsJumpMenu js-viewsJumpMenu" title="-- Choose --" id="blog-categories-takingm-jump-menu"> <option>-- Choose --</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249466">Advanced communications</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248321">Bioscience</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248371">Buildings and Construction</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248416">Chemistry</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248486">Electronics</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248531">Energy</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248561">Environment</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248586">Fire</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248616">Forensic Science</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248651">Health</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249421">Information technology</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/2748236">Infrastructure</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248866">Manufacturing</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248946">Materials</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249011">Mathematics and statistics</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249051">Metrology</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249126">Nanotechnology</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249451">Neutron research</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249241">Physics</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249461">Public safety</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249456">Resilience</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249341">Standards</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/2813456">Technology transfer</option> <option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249396">Transportation</option> </select> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container"> </div> </section> </div> <div data-elastic-exclude>  <footer class="nist-footer padding-bottom-4"> <div class="grid-container nist-footer__info"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-6"> <div class="nist-footer__logo"> <a href="/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" rel="home"> <img class="nist-footer__logo-img" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/NIST-Logo-Brand-White.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology logo" width="300px" height="42px" /> </a> </div> <div class="nist-footer__contact"> <h3 class="nist-footer__contact-heading">HEADQUARTERS</h3> <address> 100 Bureau Drive<br> Gaithersburg, MD 20899<br> <a href="tel:301-975-2000">301-975-2000</a> </address> <p> <a href="mailto:do-webmaster@nist.gov">Webmaster</a> | <a href="https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us">Contact Us</a> | <a href="https://www.nist.gov/visit">Our Other Offices</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="tablet:grid-col-6"> <div class="nist-footer__social-links"> <a class="nist-social nist-social--x-white" href=" https://x.com/NIST"> <span>X.com</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-white" href=" https://www.facebook.com/NIST"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-white" href=" https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist"> <span>LinkedIn</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--instagram-white" href=" https://www.instagram.com/nist/"> <span>Instagram</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--youtube-white" href=" https://www.youtube.com/NIST"> <span>YouTube</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--giphy-white" href=" https://giphy.com/nist"> <span>Giphy</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--rss-white" href=" https://www.nist.gov/news-events/nist-rss-feeds"> <span>RSS Feed</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-white" href=" https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new"> <span>Mailing List</span> </a> </div> <div class="nist-footer__feedback"> How are we doing? <a class="usa-button" rel="nofollow" href="/form/nist-gov-feedback?destination=/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires" title="Provide feedback">Feedback</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="nist-footer__nav" role="navigation"> <ul> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/privacy-policy">Site Privacy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/oism/accessibility">Accessibility</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/privacy">Privacy Program</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/oism/copyrights">Copyrights</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy">Vulnerability Disclosure</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/no-fear-act-policy">No Fear Act Policy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/office-director/freedom-information-act">FOIA</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/environmental-policy-statement">Environmental Policy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/summary-report-scientific-integrity">Scientific Integrity</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.nist.gov/nist-information-quality-standards">Information Quality Standards</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/">Commerce.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="http://www.science.gov/">Science.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="http://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://vote.gov/">Vote.gov</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer>  </div> </div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1840781","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"back_to_top":{"back_to_top_button_trigger":100,"back_to_top_speed":1200,"back_to_top_prevent_on_mobile":false,"back_to_top_prevent_in_admin":true,"back_to_top_button_type":"image","back_to_top_button_text":"Back to top"},"google_analytics":{"account":"G-HEQ0YF2VYL","trackOutbound":true,"trackMailto":true,"trackTel":true,"trackDownload":true,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|bsh|c|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|dw(fx|g|gd)|dxf|eps|epub|exe|f(90)|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|m1v|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mobi|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|pl|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|rfa|rtf|rvt|sch|sea|sit|swf|tar|tgz|tif|txt|txz|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|wrl|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|xsd|z|zip"},"nist_search":{"clickTracking":"search-report-click","isDebug":false,"clickTrackEnabled":true,"message":"NIST Search in debug mode. Check the browsers network inspector for Click Track reporting results..."},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":false,"extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"\\.gov\\\/|\\.mil\\\/|\\manufacturingusa\\.com\\\/","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":".ck-editor, .nist-social, .nist-video-thumbnail__lightbox-trigger, a.nist-icon--mail-blue","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"Thank you for visiting NIST. We hope your visit was informative. We have provided a link to this site because it has information that may be of interest to our users. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on this site. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on this site. Click OK to be directed to your link.","mailtoClass":"0","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"after","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","whitelistedDomains":[]}},"viewsJumpMenu":{"blog-categories-takingm-jump-menu":{"new_window":false}},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"\/blogs\/taking-measure\/search":true,"\/comment\/reply\/node\/1840781\/comment_node_blog":true},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"bd6a443844dbe99b4e6942f3b1397526e760137efd2b1ee6b2d588fc414dff20"},"antibot":{"forms":{"comment-form":{"id":"comment-form","key":"8s3HerPNUiBWAup-NU0eICdfN5XSJ1VRGAW7gyEytXD"}}}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_rnOOmNSt7ajEjUoVK2f_5XZpUnl2twzPuKgH6tTydQs.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxdkIGuwiAMRX-I2U8iZXRYLXQBJvq-_sE2ozEhKedy29vgcL7bqv2s4D53eysmqAYhiwnlVXku8CuYxKXahbvmtSVR9LbmPoRTgIDHc-FKHNesD4JfYaTsWr1SpJ6r4jDbqB48F3R9sHC67x4Iog5lOlvgSugpv9G21r4c9KyjEXzeVpTLiebBntRSdOT72iQeBP9e01j8GBoxJF547k5qxd62uNpIaYOdp8HTYIOpstMKZ70smqPpP1Epv0MP-gdBq4qH"></script> <script src="https://siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_6017546.js" async></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_XB1dr4yvZ-O9pJ6LVBj8Q7DDIczByy0t_dxd4Sw4OpA.js?scope=footer&delta=2&language=en&theme=nist_www&include=eJxdkIGuwiAMRX-I2U8iZXRYLXQBJvq-_sE2ozEhKedy29vgcL7bqv2s4D53eysmqAYhiwnlVXku8CuYxKXahbvmtSVR9LbmPoRTgIDHc-FKHNesD4JfYaTsWr1SpJ6r4jDbqB48F3R9sHC67x4Iog5lOlvgSugpv9G21r4c9KyjEXzeVpTLiebBntRSdOT72iQeBP9e01j8GBoxJF547k5qxd62uNpIaYOdp8HTYIOpstMKZ70smqPpP1Epv0MP-gdBq4qH"></script> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"37b7ccb661","applicationID":"1089704227","transactionName":"YFxUN0sADEdYVkBaClkWdwBNCA1aFnFGRhVWVWoNVgUHaHpaWkcXWFVaBks9LFtdUGJaAEB6WQ1NEw1YVVBGHltBUFMU","queueTime":5,"applicationTime":1048,"atts":"TBtXQQMaH0k=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}</script></body> </html>

CINXE.COM

The Sound of Soot: How a Strange Noise Can Keep Us Safer From Fires | NIST