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

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/

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 s: 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 $ $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

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 !!