1. Science-Based Standards
Jason D. Averill
NIST
A Workshop On:
“Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs – Standards for Products and Assistive Devices”
May 25, 2010

2. About NIST Founded in 1901 as NBS Non-regulatory
Part of US Dept. of Commerce
Work in fire goes back to 1904 Baltimore Fire
Non-standard hose couplings
1,526 buildings destroyed

3. Developing Standards is Difficult
Problems
Completeness
Effectiveness
Thresholds
Competing interests
New technology or paradigm
Solutions
Committee Balance
Expert Judgment
Experience
Legacy
Hazard Analysis
Investigations
Science

4. Overview of Case Studies
Bench-Scale Toxicity (Completeness)
Firefighter Deployment (Thresholds)
Stairwells (Competing interests)
Occupant-Use Elevators (New paradigm)
PASS Devices (Serendipity)

5. Bench-Scale Toxicity (Completeness)
Problem
Many devices and standards
Dynamic problem
Pre-flashover (well-ventilated combustion)
Post-flashover (under-ventilated combustion)
Scale effects (complex materials)
No validation of bench-scale to full-scale test data

6. Bench-Scale Toxicity (Completeness)
Solution
Replicate experiments in full-scale using multiple complex materials in both pre- and post-flashover conditions
Compare results from full-scale tests to bench-scale devices using:
Standard procedures
Improved procedures
Publish best practices guide to match materials, combustion conditions, and device

7. Bench-Scale Toxicity (Completeness)
Result:
Manufacturers will have tools to design safer and cost-effective products
Regulators will have enforceable and effective testing program
Engineers will have a validated, quantitative understanding of the toxic hazard various materials introduce to the design environment

8. Firefighter Deployment (Thresholds)
Problem:
Bona-fide need for national deployment standards
Collective experience of fire service and realities of limited local budgets conflict
Little scientific data to support thresholds for arrival time and crew size

9. Firefighter Deployment (Thresholds)
Solution:
Parametric field experiments to evaluate the relative effects of:
First-due engine arrival time
Stagger between engines/trucks
Crew size

10. Firefighter Deployment (Thresholds)
Solution (cont’d):
Statistically generalizable survey of fire department incident data to validate the experimental findings
Result
Combined effect will support a rational basis for NFPA 1710/1720

11. Stairwells (Competing Interests)
Problem:
Technical basis for current stair width requirements traced to 1935 NBS report which found existing stairs had an average width of 44 inches.
Lack of data allow qualitative arguments from business interests for more narrow stairs and safety advocates for wider stairs

12. Stairwells (Competing Interests)
Solution:
Parametric set of fire drill observations considering:
Stair width
Building height
Use group and occupants*
Detailed analysis of historical life-loss incidents involving stairs
* Notably including an assisted-living facility (analysis pending)

13. Stairwells (Competing Interests)
Result:
Develop a consensus around the balance between stair performance and stair size
Technical basis for designers, emergency managers, and modelers

14. Occupant-Use Elevators (New paradigm)
Problem:
How to develop a complete set of code requirements and consensus standards without:
Experience
Data / experiments
Legacy code

15. Occupant-Use Elevators (New paradigm)
Solution:
Massive, multi-year collaboration involving:
Several dozen experts from industry, building owners / operators, academics, government, users, special needs, and codes and standards representatives

16. Occupant-Use Elevators (New paradigm)
Solution: ISO Hazard Analysis Process
Hazard
Mitigation
Residual Hazard
1. Occupants exposed to combustion products
Enclose lobbies
1. Re-enter floor to access stair if elevators become unavailable
2. Smoke control system
1. Power failure
1.1.1 Re-enter floor to access stair if elevators become unavailable
1. Require protected access to stair from elevator lobby
1. Fire department holds doors open when connecting to standpipe in the stairway

17. Occupant-Use Elevators (New paradigm)
Result:
Equal-opportunity for persons with disabilities to escape from tall buildings during fire emergencies
Reduced overall egress time for all occupants
Systematic identification of future research needs

18. PASS Devices (Completeness and Serendipity)
Problem:
Firefighter PASS device certification requirements did not account for:
Heat
Humidity

19. PASS Devices (Completeness and Serendipity)
Solution:
Re-create firefighter occupational exposures
Bench-scale
Full-scale
Serendipity of an alert technician identified critical flaw in PASS design

20. PASS Devices (Completeness and Serendipity)
Result:
PASS devices more likely to operate when they are needed the most
Thermal classes now applied to other key firefighting equipment

21. Assistive Devices & Product Standards
How we maximize the effectiveness of future standards for assistive devices?
Balanced participation should consider full life-cycle (eg, scientific studies through code requirements) including groups who may bear costs or liabilities

22. Assistive Devices & Product Standards
Engage the expert judgment and experience of assistive device developers and users
Research legacy standards in US or standards in other countries to understand what aspects work and which are missing or fail to achieve the desired outcome

23. Assistive Devices & Product Standards
Consider use of a hazard analysis to ensure that the full range of hazards are mitigated rather than simply the obvious hazards
Conduct scale-appropriate experiments using subject matter experts which answer specific research questions which will provide a technical basis for code provisions

24. Thank you