National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 249

Domino’s reminds everyone to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks this weekend

NFPA is actively supporting Domino’s annual spring campaign, reminding everyone to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks for daylight saving time this Sunday, March 13. “Domino’s reaches thousands of people through delivery on a daily basis, and we want to use that opportunity to share fire safety tips with families across the country,” said Jenny Fouracre, Domino’s spokesperson. “Daylight saving time is a great time to remember to change your smoke alarm batteries after you set your clocks ahead. This small step is an easy one, but it can help save lives.” Working smoke alarms reduce...

Research Foundation releases new report on lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (ESS)

How can lithium ion battery energy storage systems (ESS) be installed safely, and what are appropriate emergency response tactics? The Fire Protection Research Foundation (the Foundation) has released its Fire Hazard Assessment of Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems report, which provides an overview of lithium ion battery usage in ESS. The report works to establish safe installation requirements for ESS integrators and installers, along with appropriate emergency response tactics for standards developers, AHJs and emergency responders. Report co-author Andrew Blum, P.E., CFEI, Exponent, Inc., will be hosting a free webinar training on this issue on April 19, 12:30-2:00 p.m....

Nuisance Alarms: What else can we do?

According to the NFPA report “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires”, "Half of smoke alarm failures in reported home fires were due to missing or disconnected batteries. Nuisance alarms are the leading cause of occupants disconnecting their smoke alarms. Cooking is the leading cause of nuisance alarms." Two SupDet 2016 presentations focused on this issue. Thomas Cleary (pictured below), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is conducting research on how current smoke alarm models react to the new polyurethane foam and nuisance tests in ANSI/UL 0217 Standard for Smoke Alarms (8th Ed.). In his presentation, Impact of Smoke Alarm...

Nuisance Alarms: What else can we do?

According to the NFPA report “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires”, "Half of smoke alarm failures in reported home fires were due to missing or disconnected batteries. Nuisance alarms are the leading cause of occupants disconnecting their smoke

How do I find...?

Those of us not blessed with a keen sense of direction and a solid mental map are deeply grateful for the now ubiquitous addition of GPS navigation to our lives. Long car trips have been shortened as we’ve avoided getting lost. “Marriages,” Lance Rütimann asserts, “have been saved.” Unfortunately, that saving grace deserts us when we go inside. In yesterday’s SupDet 2016 “Indoor Positioning Systems Enhance Safety and Security in Buildings” presentation authored by Oliver Zechlin and Lance Rütimann, Siemens Switzerland Ltd., Rütimann outlined the possibilities inherent in creating in indoor positioning system. Buildings would be thoroughly mapped and users...

Do we have enough good data to make evidence based choices for smoke alarms?

Joseph M. Fleming, Boston Fire Department, argues that we don’t. In his presentation at SupDet 2016, “Improving Data Collection of Smoke Alarms in Fires,” Fleming points out the investigators may be prone to bias, assuming fire alarms did or didn’t go off based on their expectations regarding survival likelihood. If no one escapes, they might simply assume that the alarm was not triggered. Investigators may even code the NFIRS Detector Operation Field as “failed to operate” or “undetermined” based on their assumptions despite witness testimony to the contrary. Regarding the “Detector Failure Reason” coding, he states, “Most fire chiefs are...

Indoor positioning systems help answer the question "How do I find...?"

Those of us not blessed with a keen sense of direction and a solid mental map are deeply grateful for the now ubiquitous addition of GPS navigation to our lives.  Long car trips have been shortened as we’ve avoided getting lost. 

Today in fire history: 9 dead, eight residents and five firefighters were injured in a board and care facility

On, March 4, 1991 a fire of accidental origin occurred at Crystal Springs Estate, a board and care facility, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Nine of the building's 25 elderly residents died during the fire. In addition, eight other residents and five firefighters were injured. The single-story masonry and wood structure, with two separate partial basements, was divided into three fire compartments by noncombustible walls, and the corridor openings in these walls were protected with fire doors. A fire alarm system using heat detectors as the primary initiating device protected all rooms, closets, and attic spaces. Manual pull stations and smoke...

Do we have enough good data to make evidence based choices for smoke alarms?

Joseph M. Fleming, Boston Fire Department, argues that we don’t.  In his presentation at SUPDET 2016, “Improving Data Collection of Smoke Alarms in Fires,” Fleming points out the investigators may be prone to bias, assuming fire

SupDet 2016 Workshop Highlighted the Opportunities for Big Data to Inform ITM of Fire Protection Systems

Wednesday afternoon at SupDet was dedicated to a Workshop on Big Data and Fire Protection Systems focused on identifying the opportunities for big data to inform inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) decision making. The on‐going reliability of built‐in fire protection systems is related to ITM of these systems. Nathaniel Lin (pictured below), NFPA's new director of data strategy and analytics, gave a presentation on “Big Data Analytics and Decision Making” where he highlighted the need for analytics to turn raw data into insights and solutions that can be acted upon. “True analysis,” he said, “leads to predictions. It uses the...