fire prevention & safety university libraries july 17, 2003
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Fire Prevention & Safety
University Libraries
July 17, 2003
Environmental Health & Safety Fire Prevention & Safety
Steve Sellie
Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Water Based Fire Protection Systems
Mike Drosky
Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Electric Life Safety Equipment and Systems.
Environmental Health & Safety Fire Prevention & Safety
Student AssistantsTrained student assistants responsible for inspection and maintenance of more than 3,000 portable fire extinguishers.
POP quiz
TRUE or FALSE?Fahrenheit 451 – the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns . . .
Fire Prevention & Safety
Fires in Libraries
UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Fire Prevention
Classroom MS PowerPoint! Presentation
National Fire Protection Association Video
“Hands On” Portable Fire Extinguishers
“Fire Extinguishers: Fight or Flight?”
Fires in Libraries
Fires In Libraries
Megalé Bibliotheke, Alexandria, Egypt
48 B.C.
Fires In Libraries
Bibliotheca Alexandria
March 2003
Opened October 2002
$230 million
240,000 volumes
Planetarium, Museums
Fires In Libraries
Bibliotheca Alexandria
March 2003
Fire in March 2003
Cause: Electrical Short, Office Floor
Extinguished in 45 minutes by Fire Dept.
29 Injuries due to smoke inhalation.
Fires In Libraries
Library of Congress fire 1851
LOST
2/3 of 55,000 Volume Jefferson Collection
Fires In Libraries
Library of Congress fire
April 30, 1999
Cause: Electrical
Problems:
Failure of alarm system to activate.
Failure to maintain electrical equipment.
Defective fire sprinkler system.
Multiple fire hazards at the Library of Congress pose a "serious potential threat" to human life and to the valuable Library collections, according to a report issued by the congressional Office of Compliance.
Fires In Libraries
New York State Capital Fire
March 29, 1911
New York State Library
LOST
400,000 books
270,000 manuscripts
Fires in Libraries
Yale University Bomb Explosion May 21, 2003
Bob Child/AP Photo
NATHAN FRANCIS/Yale Daily News
300 Rare Law Books Damaged
Fires In Libraries
National Fire Protection Association
ARSON #1 Cause of Library Fires
Annual average 40% of all library fires.
Fire Problem = Security Problem
Be Aware – Report Suspicious Behavior to 911
NFPA 909-2001 Code for the Protection of Cultural Resources
Fires in Libraries
Injury and Loss of Life
Loss of Rare Books and Manuscripts
Loss of Expensive Equipment
Damage to Building & Closure of Building The Fire Problem
Fire Prevention
Fire Prevention
What YOU can do
BEFORE
the Fire Department is needed . . .
Fire Prevention
Electrical Fire Safety
Use properly sized bulbs in lighting appliances.
2nd leading cause of library fires.
Fire Prevention
Electrical Fire Safety
Use extension cords and power strips properly:
1. Do not overload circuits.2. Use only listed cords.3. Do not run under carpet, or
through doors or windows.4. Extension cords are for
temporary electrical use only.
5. Do not use multiple-plug adapters.
6. Do not “train” extension cords.
2nd leading cause of library fires.
Fire Prevention
Means of Egress
Keep ExitsClear and Unobstructed.
Fire Prevention
Smoke & Fire Containment
Do not prop open fire and smoke control doors.
Fire Prevention
Report problems
EMERGENCIES Dial 911Blue Light telephoneManual Pull Box
Fire Prevention
In case of fire . . .1. EVACUATE building
without delay.
2. ACTIVATE alarms to alert others.
3. NOTIFY emergency responders of KNOWN problems.
Pre-Plan . . . KNOW what to do
Fire adversely impacts others . . .
Family
Friends
Co-workers
Firefighters & their families
2001 Father’s Day Fire - 3 FDNY firefighters dead
YOU can make a difference in their lives and in yours!
YOU decide . . .
Fire Prevention
UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety
UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety
CONTAINMENTDETECTION
SUPPRESSION
UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety
Fire Containment
Fire Suppression
Fire Detection
Fire-rated walls.
Fire-rated doors.
Firestopped penetrations of rated assemblies.
UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety
Fire Containment
Fire Suppression
Fire Detection and Notification
Addressable heat and smoke detection.
Audible and visual notification devices.
UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety
Fire Containment
Fire Suppression
Fire Detection and Notification
Fire sprinkler systems.
More on Fire Sprinklers
Heads act as a heat detector.
Only heads activated by heat from fire will discharge water.
90% of fires controlled by activation of six or fewer heads.
More on Fire Sprinklers
Water Discharge
FIRE DEPT. 50 - 125 GPM
SPRINKLER 8 - 24 GPM
More on Fire Sprinklers
One Meridian Plaza, Philadelphia
February 3, 1991
Fire on 22nd floor of 38 story high-rise.
Gutted eight floors.
Burned for more than 19 hours.
Fire stopped by ten sprinkler heads on the 30th floor.
Cause: housekeeping – oil soaked rags.
More on Fire Sprinklers
Yale University Bomb Explosion
“The explosion damaged the classroom and adjacent alumni lounge, and about 300 rare law books in a room below were soaked with water from the sprinkler system, but no one was injured.”
Diane Scarponi, Associated Press
May 21, 2003
More on Fire Sprinklers
Yale University Bomb Explosion
The damaged books included volumes printed in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, said Roberta Pilette, who oversees preservation for Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. A freeze drying system at the library will be used to dry out the books, she said.
``The books will be useable. I don't think we lost anything at all,'' Pilette said.
May 21, 2003
Portable Fire Extinguishers
WHEN IN DOUBT . . .GET OUT!
ACTIVATE THE ALARM ON THE WAY OUT TO ALERT OTHERS
Parts of a Fire Extinguisher
Handle & Operating Lever
Locking Pin
Pressure Gauge
Discharge Nozzle, or Horn
Label
Classes of Fire
KNOW WHICH FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO USE
FIRST,
CHECK THE LABEL
Classes of Fire:“A” Common Combustibles
• WOOD
• PAPER
• MANY PLASTICS
• CLOTH
• RUBBER
Classes of Fire:“B” Flammable Liquids
• LIQUIDS
• OILS
• GREASES
• GASES
• TARS
• OIL-BASE PAINTS
Classes of Fire:“C” Electrical Fires
Fires Involving Energized Electrical Equipment
Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.
Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.
“P”Pull the Pin
Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.
“A”Aim Extinguisher
at Base of Fire
Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.
“S”Squeeze Handle
Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.
“S”Sweep
from side to side
When to Use a Fire Extinguisher
• First, activate fire alarm to evacuate the building, and to notify fire department.
• Select the proper extinguisher.• Use only if you know how, and are
confident about using the extinguisher.• Use only if fire is small and contained.• Always keep a clear exit to your back.• Stay low to avoid breathing in smoke.
WHEN IN DOUBT . . .GET OUT!
ACTIVATE THE ALARM ON THE WAY OUT TO ALERT OTHERS
“Hands On” Fire Extinguishers
• Fire behavior can be UNPREDICTABLE.• Growth and behavior patterns can differ greatly
from one fire to the next.• 100 trained and experienced firefighters are killed
annually fighting fires.• Interior fires generate heat, smoke and toxins in an
enclosed space which can quickly affect persons in that space.
• WHEN IN DOUBT . . . GET OUT!
“Hands On” Fire Extinguishers
Will be done SAFELY.
You will be assisted by EH&S Staff
Questions?
University at Albany
Department of Environmental Health & Safety
Chemistry Bldg., Room B73
(518) 442-3495
Answer: TrueIgnition temperature of paper between 425° and 475ºF.
S.H. Graf study, 1949.
University at Albany
Department of Environmental Health & Safety
© 2003
University at Albany
Department of Environmental Health & Safety
© 2003
Karl G. Kilts
Fire Protection Specialist/Code Coordinator
University at Albany
Department of Environmental Health & Safety
Tel. (518) 442-3495