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Marcelo Hirschler

Picture of Marcelo Hirschler

Marcelo Hirschler has many years of experience with fire safety issues. For example, by providing technical assistance with codes and standards issues (emphasis on fire), as well as consulting services for fire-related legal cases.

Dr. Hirschler has a strong background in fire performance of plastics (such as PVC or foam plastics) and the effects of flame retardants and has published almost 500 papers and six books. He is very active on proposals for development and amendment of codes (leading to regulation), including the building codes (IBC and NFPA 5000), the life safety code (NFPA 101), the national electrical code (NEC, NFPA 70), the mechanical codes (IMC, UMC), the fire codes (IFC, NFPA 1), the residential code (IRC) and the wildland code (IWUIC).

Furthermore, Marcelo Hirschler is very active in the development of standard fire tests, practices, specifications and guides (nationally and internationally) within ASTM, NFPA, CSA, ISO and IEEE. In addition, Dr. Hirschler has been appointed to a number of positions of responsibility within codes and standards committees and has received several awards. He was appointed by ICC to the IBC Fire Safety committee for 3 code development cycles.

Member of the following ASTM Committees:

  • E05 (Fire Tests)
  • C16 (Thermal Insulation)
  • D07 (Wood)
  • D09 (Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials)
  • D11 (Rubber)
  • D13 (Textiles)
  • D20 (Plastics)
  • E34 (Occupational Health and Safety)
  • F07 (Aerospace and Aircraft)
  • F08 (Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities)
  • F15 (Consumer Products)
  • F23 (Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment)
  • F24 (Amusement Rides and Devices)
  • F25 (Ships and Marine Technology)
  • F33 (Detention and Correctional Facilities)

Chairs (or Former Chair) several ASTM Subcommittees and multiple task groups, including:

  • E05.91 (Planning and Review)
  • E05.17 (Transportation)
  • D09.21 (Fire performance standards)
  • D09.94 (Editorial)
  • D20.20 (Plastic lumber)
  • F15.15 (Wallcoverings)
  • E05.22.02 (Mounting Methods for ASTM E84 Steiner tunnel)
  • E05.21.60 (Cone calorimeter)
  • E05.21.80 (Large scale heat release tests)

Other ASTM Activities:

  • ASTM E05 First vice chairman
  • ASTM E05 former recording secretary and former membership secretary
  • ASTM E05 former subcommittee chairman for E05.15 (Furnishings and contents), E05.21 (Smoke and combustion products) and E05.31 (Terminology and editorial)

Member of the following NFPA Technical Committees:

  • Air Conditioning
  • Building Code/ Structures, Construction, and Materials
  • Building Code/Safety to Life: Interior Finish and Contents
  • Fire Tests
  • Merchant Vessels
  • Hazard and Risk of Contents and Furnishings (former chair)
  • Glossary on Terminology (Chair)

ISO Technical Committees:

  • TC61 SC4 (Plastics, Burning behavior)
    • Convenor WG8 on Ignitability and Fire Growth
  • TC92 (Fire Safety)
    • Convenor WG8 Fire terms and definitions

Member of the following NFPA Technical Committees:

  • Building Code/Safety to Life: Interior Finish and Contents
  • Fire Tests
  • Merchant Vessels
  • Hazard and Risk of Contents and Furnishings
  • Fixed Guideway Transit & Passenger Rail System