NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR FIRE AND BURN SAFETY

1
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR FIRE AND BURN SAFETY

• DAVID J. BARILLO, MD, FACS

• MEDICAL UNVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
• CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

2
HOUSE FIRES
REF NFPA FIRE PROTECTION HANDBOOK
3
REF Barillo Goode JBCR 199671-6
4
REF Barillo Goode JBCR 199671-6
5
SMOKE DETECTORS

• KNOWING THAT THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE IS NOT
  HELPFUL TO PEOPLE THAT CANNOT ESCAPE
• UP TO 25 DO NOT ALARM IN PRESENCE OF
  SMOKE
• MILLIONS OF SMOKE DETECTORS ARE OVER 10
  YRS OLD
• SMOKE DETECTORS DO NOT DETECT CARBON
  MONOXIDE
• SMOKE DETECTORS ARE THE LEAST USEFUL TO
  THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM THE MOST

REF NFPA JOURNAL 9/10 1997
6
NEW TECHNOLOGY

• CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
• RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

(used IN ADDITION to smoke detectors)
7
(No Transcript)
8
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MULTIPLE (gt3) LOSS
OF LIFE IN A FULLY SPRINKLERED BUILDING
!
9
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• Expanded role from property protection to life
  safety
• Development funded by USFA, 1976
• Fast response
• Different pattern (1 head per room)
• Covers 400 square feet

10
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS
Required by law

• San Clemente CA (1980) (prop 13) all new
  residential construction
• Orange and Los Angeles Counties (residences-4
  million people in 1993)
• Greenburgh, NY (1982) all new construction
• Prince George County, MD (1992) all new
  construction
• Florida (1983) all public lodging and time share
  bldgs 3 stories or higher, all existing
  structures by 1988
• 1980s Atlanta GA, Connecticut, Mass require
  retroactive sprinkler installation in existing
  high rise residential buildings
• Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act 1990
• Scottsdale, AZ 1985
• Federal Fire Safety Act- all Fed assisted high
  rise residences over 3 stories
• ADA areas of rescue assistance

11
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• ISO recommendds 15 insurance reduction
• Alaska (1981) 2 tax exemption for structures
  with fire protection systems
• 2 20 reduction from State Farm and Allstate for
  installing sprinklers,
• deadbolts, smoke detectors and
  central monitoring

12
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• Operation Life Safety (IAFC) tracks residential
  sprinkler activations
• 1983 1995 551 activations, 35 kitchen, 15
  bedroom
• Nearly all
  were one head activation
• There has not been a single fire fatality in
  residences equipped with sprinklers in Napa, CA,
  or Cobb Co, GA since inception of these programs
• There has been no fire fatality in any
  sprinklered building in PG County
• Scottsdale 52 lives saved by sprinklers since
  1985

13
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• If one goes off, they all go off not true
• They cause water damage
• They are expensive typical new installation
  costs are 0.58 - 1.25 per
• square
  foot. THIS IS USUALLY CHEAPER
• THAN THE
  COST OF CARPET !
• They go off accidentally FM experience is 1
  failure in 1 to 16 million
• 
  sprinkler/years

onset time
flow time flow rate total
flow Sprinklers immediate
2 8 min 30 GPM 240
GAL Firefighters who knows ? 6
8 min 300 GPM 3200 GAL

14
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

• Should comply with NFPA 13D
• Should be designed and installed by professional
  sprinkler contractors
• House main water feed optimally should be 1.5
  inch pipe
• Storage tank and pump with at least 10 minute
  flow capacity
• Can share common pipe with domestic water system

15
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS
PROMOTING A SPRINKLER ORDINANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

• Be realistic
• Build your case
• Work out the technical details
• Know when to back off
• Sprinkler your own home
• Keep up the public education

REF NFPA JOURNAL MARCH/APRIL 1998
16
RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS
RESOURCES

• National Fire Protection Association
• American Fire Sprinklers Association
• National Fire Sprinklers Association
• USFA

17
IT SAYS PREVENTION !!