A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Ricardo Weewer, DCFO / Strategic Advisor R. Weewer - Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Fire Service of Amsterdam-Amstelland R. Hagen - Professor of Fire Safety, Netherlands Institute for Safety (NIFV)

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Objective Vision –Domestic sprinklers are (in the long term) the most suitable means of improving fire safety Strategic plan –Promote application of residential sprinklers –Short term: application of domestic sprinklers in at least ONE newly built domestic building or bloc in 2012 –Policy change: apply domestic sprinklers in all domestic builings to be built from 2015 Long term goal: domestic sprinklers in all domestic buildings

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Background 90% of fires are in domestic environment Most casualties are in domestic buildings In future more eldery and handicapped people, who are most at risk, will live self-supporting Smoke alarms have limited effect Risks have increased, less chance to be rescued by Fire Service, and risks for firemen also increased Water companies intend to apply smaller tubes

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Initiative Starting a network / expert group of actors to promote domestic sprinklers –Cooperation with Rene Hagen (NIFV) and Jan Vreeburg (Water Research Centre) Goals –Reassess and tune the image of domestic sprinklers –Explore and address possible reasons why domestic sprinklers are not widely applied in The Netherlands –Extent the promotion campagne, gradual growth of group

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Starting - participators Initiators: FS Amsterdam-Amstelland / Netherlands Institute for Safety Nibra (NIFV) / Water research centre (KWR) Dutch fire prevention network Water company (WATERNET) European sprinkler association Fire Sprinkler Association Ministry of building and environment (VROM) Federation of domestic building associations Association of insurance compagnies Association of plumbers (UNETO/VNI) Municipal service of building and environment (DMB) Dutch Fire Burns Association (NBS)

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Planning First personal meetings and introductions First meeting: november 2008 After that: expansion –Mayors / counsel members / mini conference –Inclusion into new strategy for Dutch Fire Service Present state: –New strategy is ready: domestic Sprinklers included –Position Paper is ready –Working on “business case” –Mini conference planned in autumn 2010

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Unexpected opportunity…….

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Unexpected opportunity……. Initiative in Amsterdam: –Monumental block of appartments –How to keep floor beams visible ? Start innovative pilot: domestic sprinklers Main challenge: make a policy including –Frequent check of availability in appartment –Formulate and control responsibilities of occupants –Reduction of other fire safety requirements ?

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Present state

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels

First results Dimensions: pressurization Cost: € 2500 per appartment Maintainance / exploitation costs Inspections / occupant behaviour: contract Smoke alarms in staircase: flooding Downgrading of constructive fire resistence ?

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Conclusions Cost too high for structural application Only for special situations Innovation necessary: cost reduction Risk assessment - discussion about constructive fire resistence (Fire dept) In this way goal will not be met

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands In the second half of the 20th century came the realization that the fire safety problem was in dwelling and not in large and public buildings A domestic sprinkler is a proven innovative solution to this problem, but difficult to implement in the Dutch fire safety policy Cold water fear and ignorance seem to be difficult obstacles

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Why domestic sprinklers? Other fire safety works only partially Behavioral effects Smoke detectors Flame retardant upholstered furniture Fire safe televisions

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Why domestic sprinklers? The number of fires, fire damage, fatalities and injuries don’t drop The time between a fire and a situation you can’s survive reduced the last 30 years from 17 to 3 Minutes The fire brigade will never be in time

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Why domestic sprinklers? Figures from abroad show: 85% less damage 55% less injuries Up to 100% less fatalities

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Reasons for domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands  To compensate for failure to meet the fire prevention requirements  To compensate for non-compliance with the fore fighting requirements  To enhance the fire safety in the home  To continue providing good and safe drinking water

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels The progress in The Netherlands 1998Introduction domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands 2000Attempt to establish a district with 7,000 domestic sprinklers fails 2002First housing project sprinklered 2008New impetus to domestic sprinkler given by Amsterdam-Amstelland Fire Brigade 2010First housing renovation project sprinklered and research to establish a district with 10,000 homes

2002: first domestic sprinklertest in The Netherlands 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels

The position of the stakeholders  Fire Brigades: always token the initiative and since 2009 are domestic sprinklers included in the future vision of the Fire Service  Insurers: were always neutral, but favors from a social view  Dutch Burns Foundation: support the use of domestic sprinklers and see a big impact on the fire safety of people  Water supply companies: always great supporter and closest ally to the fire service

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels The benefits Primary: safety benefits More freedom in zoning area More freedom in buildings More freedom in planning fire stations More freedom in water supply Saver fire fighting

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels The bottlenecks  Costs (from back to euros)  Technical requirements (at the moment to high)  Water flow rate (25 l/m without pressure installation)  Enforcement (certification nescessary)  Installer (sprinkler company or plumber)  Equivalence (to other fire prevention measurements)

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels The myths  Domestic sprinklers provide water damage  Domestic sprinklers are expensive  Domestic sprinklers are ugly  Domestic sprinklers …..

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Forever history ?

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference april 2010 Brussels Future? And what Is this? It’s a “Gardena home sprinkler Installation”: a smoke alarm connected to a garden hose