Multiphase Study on Fire Fighter Safety and the Deployment of Resources NIST Technical Note 1661 Issued April 2010 Residential Fireground Field Experiments

Agenda Project Overview Experiment Methodology Experiment Results Utilizing the Findings

Project Objectives Optimize a fire service leader’s capability to deploy resources to prevent or mitigate adverse events that occur in a risk/hazard filled environment.

View in Windows Media Player View in Adobe Flash Player If the video does not open, please download the Windows Media Player or the Adobe Flash Player. Windows Media PlayerAdobe Flash Player Project Objectives

Residential Fireground Experiment Part 1 – Design appropriate fuel load Part 2 – Fireground tasks experiments Part 3 – Enhanced fuel load Part 4 – Fire modeling

Part I: The Live Fire NFPA 1403 compliance: Fuel package characterized by full scale compartment tests at NIST (NIST FR 4022) for desired size and repeatability Fire: Four pallets with excelsior for simulated interior/exterior environmental conditions

Part II: Time to Task Tests Burn Room

Part II: Time to Task Tests Response: 3 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Aide –Crew sizes: 2, 3, 4, 5 Effective Fire Fighting Force (EFF) Crew Size # Fire Fighters Chief and Aide On-Scene Total

Part II: Time to Task Tests Experiments: Total of 24 experiments on 22 fireground tasks 2 scenarios for each crew size –Close stagger –One-minute ladder truck lag –One-and-a-half minutes lag for each subsequent engine –Far stagger –Two-minute ladder truck lag –Two-and-a-half minutes lag for each subsequent engine Each scenario ran in triplicate

Part II: Time to Task Tests

View in Windows Media Player View in Adobe Flash Player Part II: Time to Task Tests If the video does not open, please download the Windows Media Player or the Adobe Flash Player. Windows Media PlayerAdobe Flash Player

Results: Time to Task Tests Time (hr: min: sec)

View in Windows Media Player View in Adobe Flash Player Results: Time to Task Tests If the video does not open, please download the Windows Media Player or the Adobe Flash Player. Windows Media PlayerAdobe Flash Player

Part III: Room & Contents Fire Focus areas –Structural Tenability  CO, CO 2, O 2  Temperature  Smoke obscuration –Impact on Victim Rescue –Fire Growth Rate –Arrival Time  Early arrival  Late arrival Fuel Package –Living room configuration –Sufficient for flashover –Total of 16 experiments

Part III: Room & Contents Fire Crew SizeFirst Due Arrival Time 2-PersonEarly Arrival of First Engine (6.5 min) – close stagger 3-PersonEarly Arrival of First Engine (6.5 min) – close stagger 4-PersonEarly Arrival of First Engine (6.5 min) – close stagger 5-PersonEarly Arrival of First Engine (6.5 min) – close stagger 2-PersonLater Arrival of First Engine (8.5 min) – close stagger 3-PersonLater Arrival of First Engine (8.5 min) – close stagger 4-PersonLater Arrival of First Engine (8.5 min) – close stagger No Response (Baseline)N/A

Part III: Room & Contents Fire Tasks Causing Fire Behavior Change 1.Forced entry of the front door 2.Water on fire 3.Second floor burn room window ventilated 4.Second floor front window, near corner ventilated 5.Second floor front window, near front door ventilated 6.First floor window beside the fire ventilated 7.First floor window #2 self-ventilated at flashover NFPA 1403 Compliance –Ventilation performed from outside –Suppression performed via remote monitor

Part IV: Fire Modeling NIST Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) 1.Slow growth rate fire 2.Medium growth rate fire 3.Fast growth rate fire

View in Windows Media Player View in Adobe Flash Player Results: Parts III and IV If the video does not open, please download the Windows Media Player or the Adobe Flash Player. Windows Media PlayerAdobe Flash Player

Results: Parts III and IV

Utilizing the Findings Understand the Report Based on Science Education is Key Tailor Presentation to Your Audience Customize Use of Data Remember the Goal

Questions or Comments