new technology for fire and burn safety david j. barillo, md, facs medical unversity of south...

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR FIRE AND BURN SAFETY

DAVID J. BARILLO, MD, FACS

MEDICAL UNVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

HOUSE FIRES

REF: NFPA FIRE PROTECTION HANDBOOK

REF: Barillo & Goode JBCR 1996:71-6

REF: Barillo & Goode JBCR 1996:71-6

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

NEW TECHNOLOGY

• CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

(used IN ADDITION to smoke detectors)

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A

MULTIPLE (=>3) LOSS OF LIFE

IN A FULLY

SPRINKLERED

BUILDING !

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

RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• 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

Required by law:

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

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

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 GALFirefighters who knows ? 6 – 8 min 300 GPM 3200 GAL

RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• 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

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• Be realistic

• Build your case

• Work out the technical details

• Know when to back off

• Sprinkler your own home

• Keep up the public education

PROMOTING A SPRINKLER ORDINANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

REF: NFPA JOURNAL MARCH/APRIL 1998

RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

• National Fire Protection Association

• American Fire Sprinklers Association

• National Fire Sprinklers Association

• USFA

RESOURCES

IT SAYS

PREVENTION !!

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

CARBON MONOXIDE

• A natural byproduct of combustion, present whenever fuel is burned

• Colorless

• Odorless

• Same density as air (but rises if warm)

CARBON MONOXIDEinjuries

• # 1 cause of poisoning in US

• Approximately 1500 deaths annually including 200 deaths

from CO produced by home heating equipment

• 10,000 annual emergency room visits

• Children and elderly at higher risk

CARBON MONOXIDEsymptoms

• Headache

• dizziness

• nausea

• shortness of breath

• fatigue

• Flu-like symptoms

CARBON MONOXIDEprotection

• Make sure that all fuel-burning appliances work properly

• Have central heating systems inspected annually

• Never burn charcoal or use portable camping equipment indoors

• Never use the stove, oven or clothes dryer to heat the house

• Never operate vehicles or gasoline powered tools inside the garage

• Install carbon monoxide detectors

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• Cost $25 to $100

• Do not detect smoke, propane or natural gas

• CPSC: ‘carbon monoxide detectors are as important to home safety as smoke detectors are’

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• CPSC: every home should have at least one detector installed outside of sleeping areas

• Additional detectors on every level and in every bedroom provide additional protection

• Do not install above or near CO producing appliances

• Best installed on ceiling

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• About 6 million households now have CO detectors

• Chicago, IL: required in all new residential construction and when new heating equipment installed (1994)

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• Compliant with UL standard 2034

• Compliant with IAS 6-96 standard

• Compliant with NFPA Suggested Practice 720 (1998)

• AC power with battery backup

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORSUL Standard

• Alarm must sound before an average, healthy adult begins to experience symptoms

• OSHA 8 hr exposure = 35 PPM

• 200 PPM X 2-3 hr: Headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness

• Alarm must sound before CO reaches 100 PPM over 90 minutes

• Alarm must sound before CO reaches 200 PPM over 35 minutes

• Alarm must sound before CO reaches 400 PPM over 15 minutes

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

• 650,000 Kidde Nitehawks

- mfg between 11/8/98 and 3/9/99

- labeled in front ‘carbon monoxide alarm’

- units labeled ‘carbon monoxide detector’

are OK

• 350,000 Kidde Lifesavers model 9CO1 or

9CO-1C mfg between 6/1/97 and 1/31/98

• 18,700 Sinostone SC-01 detectors recalled in 1996 by CPSC

CPSC RECALL, MARCH 1999

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

AC Battery

• Cost = $30 - 50

• Requires wiring

• No maintenance required

• Sensor gets more sensitive with age

• Gives continuous display of CO level

• Updated every few minutes

• Resets immediately when CO level OK

• Same

• Install anywhere

• Battery change

• Sensor needs changing every 2-3 yr

• Reaction time depends on concentration

and duration of exposure

• Reset time depends on exposure time and may require removal of sensor

• Silence buttons now required

???

IT SAYS

PREVENTION !!