John Pagliaro, Ph.D., P.E., CFEI
Senior Managing Engineer @ Gexcon US
Location: Bethesda
Office: +1 (301) 915 9930
Email: john.pagliaro@gexcon.com
Expert in combustion, fire dynamics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and experimental design.
About Dr. Pagliaro
Dr. John Pagliaro is a Managing Engineer at Gexcon US who specialises in combustion, fire dynamics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and experimental design.
Dr. Pagliaro applies his expertise to the investigation and analysis of fires, explosions, carbon monoxide exposures, chemical releases, and failures involving gas delivery systems, industrial and residential gas-fired appliances, dust handling equipment, heavy machinery, self-reactive materials, and electronic components. He uses numerical and experimental methods to formulate and test cause and origin hypotheses and supports incident investigations through review of safety codes and standards and technical product literature.
Dr. Pagliaro also performs fire and explosion consequence/mitigation studies. He has coordinated and carried out experimental and CFD campaigns to quantify the hazards associated with flammable refrigerants and to determine appropriate mitigation measures. He also applies CFD to assess the severity of combustible dust explosions and to determine effective deflagration venting designs for complex dust-handling equipment.
Prior to joining Gexcon, Dr. Pagliaro was a guest researcher in the Fire Research Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His research focused on characterizing the performance of chemically active gas-phase fire suppressants for use in commercial aircraft, as well as characterizing the flammability of new environmentally friendly refrigerant working fluids. While at NIST, he designed, built, and operated experiments to measure the fundamental properties of premixed flames, including flammability limits, minimum ignition energy, laminar burning velocity, and flame response to stretch.
In addition, Dr. Pagliaro used detailed chemical kinetic models to study halogenated flame chemistry and to understand the suppressing effectiveness of halogenated fire suppressants and the reduced reactivity of halogenated refrigerants. He still holds guest researcher status at NIST and continues to collaborate on projects related to refrigerant flammability.
More information
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1Area of expertise
Aerospace engineering.
Carbon monoxide.
Chemical engineering.
Combustion, thermal and fluid processes.
Dust explosion.
Explosion.
Fire cause and origin.
Hydrogen.
Industrial fire.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Lithium-ion battery.
Mechanical engineering.
Process safety and risk management.
Residential fire.
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2Academic credentials
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland
M.S., Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland
B.S., Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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3Licences
Licensed Professional Engineer, Maryland
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4Professional affiliations
National Association of Fire Investigators – (member)
Society of Fire Protection Engineers – (member)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers – (member)
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers – (affiliate member)
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5Publications and conference proceedings
Pagliaro, J.L, & Davis, S.G. (2020). Comparison of simple and complex methods for determining refrigerant/air laminar burning velocities from the pressure rise in constant-volume experiments. Science and Technology for the Built Environment. doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2020.1715249
Hegetschweiler, M.J., Pagliaro, J.L., Berger, L., Hesse, R., Beeckmann, J., Pitsch, H, & Linteris, G.T. (2020). Effects of stretch and radiation on the laminar burning velocity of R32-air flames. Science and Technology for the Built Environment. doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2020.1717244
Davis, S., Pagliaro, J., Botwinick, D., DeBold, T., van Wingerden, K., Allason, D., & Johnson, D. M. (2019). Do not believe the hype: Using case studies and experimental evidence to show why the HSE is wrong about excluding deflagration‐to‐detonation transitions. Process Safety Progress, 38(2). doi.org/10.1002/prs.11998
Davis, S. G., & Pagliaro, J. L. (2019). Importance of properly designing dust explosion protection systems: Case study–2014 plywood manufacturing facility fire and explosion. Process Safety Progress, 38(4). doi.org/10.1002/prs.12036.
Burrell, R. R., Pagliaro, J. L., & Linteris, G. T. (2019). Effects of stretch and thermal radiation on difluoromethane/air burning velocity measurements in constant volume spherically expanding flames. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 37(3), 4231-4238. doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2018.06.018
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Botwinick, D (March 2019). Fire hazards and mitigation measures of ASHRAE Class A3 refrigerants in commercial refrigeration applications. International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration 2019 Natural Refrigeration Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
Davis, SG, Pagliaro, JL, Botwinick, D, and van Wingerden, K (March 2019). How Effective Are Safety Gaps at Mitigating Explosions: Large Scale Testing of Safety Gaps to Prevent DDTs. 15th Global Congress on Process Safety. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Davis, S.G. and Pagliaro, J.L. (September 2018). Investigation findings and lessons learned in the 2014 Georgia Pacific Corrigan facility fire and explosion. 9th International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology (ISFI 2018). Itasca, Illinois.
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Debold, T.F. (September 2018). Propane safety: Investigation findings and lessons learned in the 2014 Philadelphia food truck explosion. 9th International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology (ISFI 2018). Itasca, Illinois.
Davis, S.G., Debold, T.F., Pagliaro, J.L. (September 2018). Are liquid propane leaks really 270 times larger than vapor? Case study regarding the physics of liquid and vapor propane leaks. 9th International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology (ISFI 2018). Itasca, Illinois.
Debold, T.F, Pagliaro, J.L., Davis, S.G. (September 2018). Could this gas leak have caused the explosion? Case study showing why air infiltration needed to be considered to explain flammable gas accumulation. 9th International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology (ISFI 2018). Itasca, Illinois.
Davis, S.G., Botwinick, D., Pagliaro, J.L., Engel, D., van Wingerden K., Johnson, M. (August 2018). Advanced technique to study deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) at large scales. 12th International Symposium on Hazards, Prevention, and Mitigation of Industrial Explosions (ISHPMIE). Kansas City, USA.
Davis, S.G. and Pagliaro, J.L. (April 2018). Importance of properly designing dust explosion protection systems: Case study – 2014 Georgia Pacific Corrigan facility fire and explosion. AICHE 14th Global Congress on Process Safety. Orlando, Florida.
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Botwinick, D., van Wingerden, K., Allanson, D., Johnson, D.M. (April 2018). Don’t believe the hype: Using case studies and experimental evidence to show why the HSE is wrong about excluding DDTs. AICHE 14th Global Congress on Process Safety. Orlando, Florida.
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Debold, T.F, van Wingerden, M., van Wingerden, K. (March 2018). Large scale flammability and explosivity testing of ammonia: Impact on ammonia safety in refrigeration applications. International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration 2018 Natural Refrigeration Conference. Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Davis, S. G., Pagliaro, J. L., Debold, T. F., Van Wingerden, M., & Van Wingerden, K. (2017). Flammability and explosion characteristics of mildly flammable refrigerants. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 49, 662-674. doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2017.05.019
Pagliaro, J. L., & Linteris, G. T. (2017). Hydrocarbon flame inhibition by C6F12O (Novec 1230): Unstretched burning velocity measurements and predictions. Fire Safety Journal, 87, 10-17. doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2016.11.002
Pagliaro, J.L., Davis, S.G., van Wingerden, K. (October 2017). Is my facility at risk? Understanding the risks associated with low burning velocity compounds. Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center International Symposium. College Station, Texas.
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Debold, T.F., van Wingerden, M., van Wingerden, K. (March 2017). Large scale flammability and explosivity testing of low burning velocity gases: Validity of prediction tools and impact on siting studies and risk assessments. AICHE 13th Global Congress on Process Safety. San Antonio, Texas.
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Botwinick, D., Engel, D., van Wingerden, K., Merilo, E., Ziemba, A., Groethe, M. (March 2017). Large scale testing confirms: A deflagration to detonation transition needs to be considered when facility siting. AICHE 13th Global Congress on Process Safety. San Antonio, Texas.
Pagliaro, J. L., Bouvet, N., & Linteris, G. T. (2016). Premixed flame inhibition by CF3Br and C3H2F3Br (2-BTP). Combustion and Flame, 169, 272-286. doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2016.04.017
Linteris, G. T., Babushok, V. I., Pagliaro, J. L., Burgess Jr, D. R., Manion, J. A., Takahashi, F., ... & Baker, P. T. (2016). Understanding overpressure in the FAA aerosol can test by C3H2F3Br (2-BTP). Combustion and Flame, 167, 452-462. doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2015.10.022
Pagliaro, J. L., Linteris, G. T., & Babushok, V. I. (2016). Premixed flame inhibition by C2HF3Cl2 and C2HF5. Combustion and Flame, 163, 54-65. doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2015.08.015
Davis, S.G., Pagliaro, J.L., Debold, T.F., van Wingerden, M., van Wingerden, K. (July 2016). Flammability and explosion characteristics of marginally flammable refrigerants. 11th International Symposium on Hazards, Prevention, and Mitigation of Industrial Explosions (ISHPMIE). Dalian, China.
Pagliaro, J.L. and Linteris, G.T. (March 2016). Burning velocities of marginally flammable refrigerant-air mixtures. Spring Technical Meeting, Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute. Princeton, NJ.
Pagliaro, J. L., Linteris, G. T., Sunderland, P. B., & Baker, P. T. (2015). Combustion inhibition and enhancement of premixed methane–air flames by halon replacements. Combustion and Flame, 162(1), 41-49. doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2014.07.006
Pagliaro, J.L., Linteris, G.T., Sunderland, P.B. (May 2015). Enhancement of premixed methane-air flames by Halon 1301 replacements. 9th U.S. National Meeting of the Combustion Institute. Cincinnati, OH.
Babushok, V. I., Linteris, G. T., Meier, O. C., & Pagliaro, J. L. (2014). Flame inhibition by CF3CHCl2 (HCFC-123). Combustion Science and Technology, 186(6), 792-814. doi.org/10.1080/00102202.2013.878709
Pagliaro, J.L., Linteris, G.T., Babushok, V.I., Sunderland, P.B., Baker, P.T. (October 2014). Reduced-scale experiments for screening, model validation, and understanding full-scale results of marginally flammable mixtures. NIST Workshop “Exothermic Reaction of Halogenated Hydrocarbons. Gaithersburg, MD.
Linteris, G. T., Manion, J. A., Tsang, W., Burgess Jr, D. R., Babushok, V., Katta, V. R., ... & Pagliaro, J. L. (December 2013). Overpressure in the FAA aerosol can test with halon replacements. 7th Triennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference. Federal Aviation Administration Atlantic City, NJ.
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6Selected technical reports
Davis, S.G., Engel, D., Pagliaro, J.L. Combustible Gas Detection in Residential Occupancies and Detector Location Analysis. 2020, Fire Protection Research Foundation Report No. FPRF-2020-09.
Davis, S.G. and Pagliaro, J.L. Experimental Study on the Consequences of Full-Scale Ignition Events Involving the A2L Refrigerant R-454C. 2019, AHRTI Report No. 9013.
Pagliaro, J.L. and Linteris, G.T. Burning Velocities of Marginally Flammable Refrigerant-Air Mixtures. 2018. NIST Technical Note 1988.
Linteris, G.T., Pagliaro, J.L, Sunderland, P.B. Test Results Prepared for Honeywell: Igniter Material Effects in the Japanese High-Pressure Gas Law Test. 2016. NIST Technical Note 1902.
Linteris, G.T. and Pagliaro J.L. Burning Velocity Measurements and Simulations for Understanding the Performance of Fire Suppressants in Aircraft. 2016. NIST Technical Note 1904.
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7Prior experience
Guest Researcher, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Energy and Environment Division (2016-2020)
Guest Researcher, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Fire Research Division (2011-2016)
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8Peer reviewers
Reviewer for Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, International Journal for Hydrogen Energy, Science and Technology for the Built Environment, Journal of Testing and Evaluation
