GBH International

 

Expertise & Experience
Dr. Hirschler serves as president and technical director for GBH. His vast experience in the field of fire safety includes the following:
Authored over 400 publications on fire related topics including:
  • Fire hazard and fire testing
  • Fire and electrical cables
  • Fire retardants and smoke suppressants
  • Smoke corrosivity and toxicity
  • Fire and furniture or furnishings
  • Cigarette combustion
  • Fabric flammability
  • Plastics
  • PVC

Chairs the following ASTM Groups

  • Subcommitte on Fire and Interior Furnishings and Contents (ASTM E-5.15) (1990-1995)
  • Subcommitte on Fire Terminology and Editorial (ASTM E-5.31) (2000-2005)
  • Subcommitte on Smoke and Combustion Products (ASTM E-5.21) (2004- )
  • Subcommittee on Terminology and Editorial (ASTM D-9.94) (2008- )
  • Smoke Obscuration on Burning of Electrical Cables (ASTM D-9.21.3) (1987- )
  • Heat Release for Electric Insulating Materials (ASTM D-9.21.7) (1992- )
  • Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments (ASTM E-5.13.1) (1992- )
  • New Practice for Full Scale Heat Release Fire Tests (ASTM E-5.13.8) (1997- )
  • Fire Hazard Assessment for Rail Transit Vehicles (ASTM E.5.17.94) (1991- )
  • Full Scale Testing of Upholstered Furniture (ASTM E-5.15.8) (1989-)
  • ASTM E84 Steiner Tunnel Mounting Methods (ASTM E-5.22.02) (2002- )
  • Fire Hazard Assessment of Floor Coverings (ASTM E-5.15.3) (1987-1992)
  • Vandalized Mattresses for Correctional Institutions (ASTM E-5.15.12) (1991-1993)
  • Fire Hazard Assessment of Upholstered Furniture (ASTM E-5.15.13) (1994- )
  • ASTM E906 (OSU Rate of Hear Release Apparatus) (ASTM E-5.21.33) (1994-2004)
  • Examples of Fire Hazard Assessment Standards (ASTM E-5.35.2) (1989-1991)
  • 1990 Symposium on Fire Hazard and Fire Risk Assessment (ASTM 5-32.2) (1988-1992)
  • Smoke Toxicity for Flashover Fires (ASTM E-5.21.13) (1993-)
  • Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ASTM E-5.21.34) (1997-2004)
  • Rate of Heat Release Apparatus by Thermopile Method (ASTM E-5.21.35) (1995- )
  • ISO 5659-2 Smoke Chamber (ASTM E-5.21.3) (1995-2004)
  • Furnishings within Detention Occupancies (ASTM F33.05) (1997- )
  • Fire Hazard Assessment of Electrotechnical Products (ASTM D-9.21.1) (1995- )
  • ASTM D-9 Symposium on Electrical Materials and Fire (ASTM D-9.97) (2004)
  • 90th Anniversary Symposium on Electrical Insulating Materials: International Issues (ASTM D-9.97.1) (1997-1999)
  • Task Group on Uncertainty (ASTM E-5.31/91) (2002- )

Chairs the following NFPA Technical Committees

  • Hazard and Risk of Contents and Furnishings (2001- )
  • Committee on Glossary of Terms (2007- )

Member of the following NFPA Technical Committees

  • Life Safety Technical Committee on Furnishings and Contents( 1991- )
  • Hazard and Risk of Contents and Furnishings (1991- )
  • Fire Tests (1996 - )
  • Merchant Vessels (1998 - )
  • Fixed Guideway Transit Systems (Alternate, for Society of the Plastics Industry) (2001)
  • Air Conditioning [NFPA 90A-B] (for American Fire Safety Council, Plenum Cable Association) (2002- )
  • National Electrical Code Panel 15, on Places of Assembly (1993 -2001)

International Assignments

  • Principal Assigned Expert for USA to International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee TC'89 Working Group 1 (now part of WG 10), on Terminology for Electrotechnical Products (1993-2001)
  • Assigned Expert for USA to International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee TC'89 Working Group 8 (now part of WG 12), on Heat Release and Flame Spread for Electrotechnical Products (1993-2001)
  • Principal Assigned Expert for USA to International Standardization Organization Technical Committee TC92, on Terminology for Fire Standards (1999- )

Received the following awards

  • Interflam Trophy (1988)
  • ASTM E-5 Certificate of Appreciation (1989)
  • Wire Association International Best Electrical Paper (1989)
  • ASTM Society Frank W. Reinhardt Award for Fire Terminology (1990)
  • ASTM E-5 Award of Recognition (1995, 1998)
  • CSA International Award of Merit (1999)
  • ASTM D-9 Award of Appreciation (2001)
  • ASTM E-5 Wayne Ellis Award from Society Chairman (2002)
  • ASTM E-5 Award of Appreciation (2005)
  • ASTM E-5 Award of Special Recognition (2006)
  • ASTM D-20 Award of Appreciation (2006)
  • ASTM E-5 Award of Appreciation (2007)