A simple form of meter is required to measure the heat flux conditions
in and around experimental mass fires. The instrument should be robust and
easy to use in the field, and also inexpensive because a large number will
be needed. High accuracy is not very important. This paper describes how
a block of wood may be used for this purpose by measuring the extent of
thennal damage to an exposed block or by measuring its surface temperature.
An inherent advantage of a standardized wood block is that it is a material
whose ignition and thermal damage are of direct importance in practice
because in real situations fires spread by ignition of wood. The
investigation is not complete, but sufficient work has been carried out to
enable the effectiveness of the methods to be assessed.
