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Fire Service Professionals

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Fire Service Professionals

Facts On Fire

• 3140 civilian fire deaths in residential occupancies, 80 in non-residential.

• 84% of all fire deaths occur in the home.• 81% of fire deaths occur in single-family dwellings.• 103 Firefighters died in the line of duty (this does not

include the 343 who died in the WTC Terrorist attack.• The South has the highest fire death rate per-capita

with 17.8 civilian deaths per million population compared to the average of 13.4.

• Direct property loss annually to fire is estimated at $10.6 billion.

20042004

U.S. Fire StatisticsU.S. Fire StatisticsSource NFPA Fire Journal Sept -Oct - 2005Source NFPA Fire Journal Sept -Oct - 2005

Over 1.55 Million FiresOver 1.55 Million Fires

More Than 3,900 Civilian DeathsMore Than 3,900 Civilian Deaths

17,785 Thousand Civilian Injuries17,785 Thousand Civilian Injuries

Over 8.3 Billion Dollars in Property LossOver 8.3 Billion Dollars in Property Loss

Total Cost of Fire Exceeds 88 Billion Total Cost of Fire Exceeds 88 Billion

Dollars Dollars

Additional Fire FactsAdditional Fire Facts

Every 82 seconds fire occurs in a U.S. residence.Every 82 seconds fire occurs in a U.S. residence.

Every 31 minutes a civilian is injured by fire.Every 31 minutes a civilian is injured by fire.

Eight out of ten fire deaths occur in the home.Eight out of ten fire deaths occur in the home.

Fire Death and Injuries in Fire Death and Injuries in One- & Two-family Dwellings* One- & Two-family Dwellings*

(Percentage of Residential)(Percentage of Residential)

• Fire deaths:Fire deaths: 83%83%

• Fire injuries:Fire injuries: 74%74%

• Fire property damage:Fire property damage: 83%83%

• Fireground firefighter deaths:Fireground firefighter deaths:70%70%

*2004 NFPA*2004 NFPA

Young children, older adults, and physically and Young children, older adults, and physically and mentally challenged people face the highest risk ofmentally challenged people face the highest risk of injury or death in residential fires.injury or death in residential fires.

Too often, people fail to respond appropriately to Too often, people fail to respond appropriately to the sound of a smoke detector, because they the sound of a smoke detector, because they assume it is a false alarm. Rather that exiting the assume it is a false alarm. Rather that exiting the building, they search to confirm the existence of a building, they search to confirm the existence of a fire, wasting the few precious minutes they may fire, wasting the few precious minutes they may have to escape.have to escape.

More Fire FactsMore Fire Facts

Fire sprinkler facts

• Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire.

• Each sprinkler is individually activated by heat.

• 90% of all home fires are contained with a single sprinkler.

• The odds of accidental activation are 1 in 16 million.

How does a home fire sprinklers’ discharge compare to a fire hose attack line discharge?

•A residential low flow pendant sprinkler head delivers approximately 13 to 18 gallons per minute of water

•A fire hose attack line delivers 200 gallons per minute (this does not include a backup line which would double the flow of water)

Sprinkler systems represent a choice, a little water when the fire starts or a lot of water when the fire department arrives

•Average water usage for sprinklered home - 341 gallons

•Average water usage for unsprinklered home 2935 gallons

•Average repair costs for sprinklered home $2,166 dollars

•Average repair costs for unsprinklered home $45,019 dollars

With both smoke detection and sprinklers, death, injury by fire is reduced by 82%

Sprinklers also have a “green value”. Since lesswater is applied to the fire, less contaminated runoff is produced, additionally water mains arenot disturbed creating water clarity issues.

But what about Water Damage?

• Respondents indicating they thought home fire sprinkler systems were either very effective or somewhat effective were asked if they would consider installing a sprinkler system if they were building a new home.

Yes, WouldConsider

64%

No, Would Not Consider

32%

Don’t Know

5%

21% 19%

13%16%

5%

43%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Reasons for Not Considering

Base: 457 Base: 146

Too Expensive

Water Damage/

Accidental Release

Not Needed/

Fire Unlikely

Alarms Adequate

All Others

Don’t Know

Consideration of Home Fire Sprinkler System Installation

12%

6%

37%

43% 45%48%

33%

24%

35%

20%

32%

14%14%

3%

22%

18%

24% 25%

1%

12%10%

15%12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Base: 500RealtorHome

BuilderFirefighter

Building SupplyStore

HomeBuildingMedia

A lot

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

Friend/Relative

Degree of Trust Concerning Informationabout Home Fire Sprinkler Systems

Respondents were asked how much they would trust the following individuals or organization to give them reliable information about home fire sprinkler systems.

Firefighters garnered far and away the greatest amount of trust.

It is time to realize that firefighting involves fighting time, not fire.

The standard time-temperature curve shows that temperatures can reach over 1,000°F in five minutes and

flashover can begin as early as 7½ minutes after ignition.

2 minutes 4 minutes. 7 minutes.

How does time affect the Fire Department’s ability to deliver

service?

Detection Set Up

Reactionand

ResponseTime

Receipt ofAlarm andDispatch

Reportof

Alarm

Not Directly Manageable by theFire Department

Manageable byFire Department

Inceptionof

Emergency

Applicationof

ExtinguishingAgent

Home Fire Sprinklers and Firefighter Safety

Firefighter Injuries / Deaths by Occupancy

• More injuries to firefighters occur in one and two family dwellings than any other occupancy

• 44% of all Line of Duty deaths occur in one and two family dwellings

• One and two family dwellings are a greater danger to firefighters than all other occupancies combined

Effects of Injury / Death

• The costs to the community to rehabilitate a firefighter from injuries sustained in the line of duty are 10 times greater than that of a death

• This does not factor in the emotional issues to the family, friends, loved ones and fire department

But what about Smoke Detectors?

• Smoke detectors have a 10 year life expectancy

• It is stated that there are more non functioning / aged out smoke detectors in homes than there are homes without any smoke detectors.

• When is the last time you personally checked your smoke detectors and what is the age of your device(s)?

But what about Smoke Detectors (cont.)

• Smoke detection is a “passive” device that only warns of impending danger

• Dependent on the type of fire and the specific smoke detection device, response to the condition could provide little time to initiate escape

How well does smoke detectors work?

• From 1989 to 1999, a fatality occurred in 1 of every 5 residential fires with working smoke detectors

• From 1999 to 2001, a fatality occurred in 1 of every 3 residential fires with working smoke detectors

How well does smoke detection work (cont.)

• Only 58% of children ages 6 to 12 was awakened by the sound of a smoke detector activation

• Of this 58%, only 38% of those awakened successfully evacuated the residence

What about Residential Sprinklers?

• The purpose is to prevent Flashover, control / contain the fire, but will often extinguish same

• Keeps smoke, heat and products of combustion at a survivable level for occupant egress

• Temp. at eye level 200 degrees• Temp. at ceiling level 500 degrees• Maximum CO level 1500 ppm

How does NFPA 13 systems compare with NFPA 13 D systems?

NFPA 13 Systems• NFPA 13 systems are designed for commercial occupancies

• The average sprinkler head (SSP, SSU) discharges 25 to 35 gallons per minute.

• Sprinkler heads are located “everywhere” – attics, basements, crawl spaces, closets and concealed spaces

• Systems are designed for the flow of multiple heads (12-15 on average)

• Required FDC and hydrostatic test of 200 psi

• Designed primarily for property conservation

• Life safety is a byproduct of the system

NFPA 13D systems

• Are designed for 1 and 2 family dwellings

• The average sprinkler head discharges 13 to 18 gallons per minute

• Required Sprinkler heads are located in paths of function / egress only – bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, dining rooms and laundry rooms - none in attics, crawl spaces - closets (size dependent, does not exceed 24 square ft. & least dimension does not exceed 3 ft.) or bathrooms (size dependent, 55 square ft. or less )

• This coverage provides fire protection from 83% of all areas fire originates – (Living room 41%, Bedroom 27%, Kitchen 15%)

• Systems are designed for the flow of 1 to 2 sprinkler heads – (typical k-factor 4.5 to 4.9). This represents a density of .05 gpm per square foot

• Typically, no required FDC and hydrostatic test done at normal system operating pressures

• Designed primarily for life safety only but will contain or frequently extinguish the fire

How are Residential How are Residential Sprinklers Different ?Sprinklers Different ?

Respond Approx. 5 Times FasterRespond Approx. 5 Times Faster Less Water NeededLess Water Needed Different Water ApplicationDifferent Water Application Lower Cost to InstallLower Cost to Install More Aesthetically PleasingMore Aesthetically Pleasing

Standard SpraySprinkler

Residential

Sprinkler

High Wall Wetting Capability

High Wall Wetting Capability

30”30”

36”

Standard Spray

Sprinkler

Residential

Sprinkler

Sprinkler Sprinkler Activations Per FireActivations Per Fire

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Total1 Sprinkler2 SprinklersMore Than 2

365 326

32 7

What do Residential What do Residential Sprinklers Cost ?Sprinklers Cost ?

Average cost of 1% - 1.5% of new construction

1 1

1 1ONE DOLLAR

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ONE

NFPA 13D Sprinkler system costs

• Typical cost for new construction in a single family home with a good municipal water supply – between $.50 and $2.00 per square foot

• Auxiliary water supply is not needed due the domestic water supplying the sprinkler system**

• With the sprinkler system supplying the cold water distribution, additional cost is negligible**

• ** multi-purpose system (sprinkler system is designed with a 5 gpm background demand for domestic water use)

What if I am on a Well?

• While a municipal water supply is the best water supply source, a stored water source is also permitted. A 10 minute water supply is needed for a 2 head activation (generally 300 to 400 gals.) The addition of a storage tank and pump assembly adds approximately $1,500 to 2,000 to the system cost.

Typical connection to municipal water

1” feed or greater

Additional Bonuses for Multi- Purpose systems

• Sprinkler system cannot be shut off independent of the domestic water use

• With domestic water service being supplied by sprinkler system, the chance of system freezing is greatly reduced

• With the domestic system supplying the sprinklers, additional swing check or backflow prevention valves are not necessary. This gives addition pressure and volume to the sprinklers and saves money on the installation of the system

Typical Layout of an NFPA 13D Compliant multi-purpose home fire sprinkler system

Sprinkler Heads

Cold water domestic feed

Point of attachment of sprinkler system to domestic water entry

Feed from water meter

To sprinkler system loop and all cold water domestic uses

To water heater

Manifold assembly – point of attachment of cold water domestic supply

Cold water feed off sprinkler loop providing supply to water closet, shower and sink

How Are We Going to Reduce Costs?

Reduce the number of sprinklers in the design to two(We know over 90% of the time only two go off, so only design for two)

This results in less water required

This results in less pressure required to push it

This results in smaller (less expensive) pipe

How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?

Reduce the cost of materials and installation

• Lower schedules of steel pipe

• CPVC or PEX plastic pipe

Use non listed components where not critical to life safety

•Tanks pumps, hangers, waterflow detection devices & waterflow valves

How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?

Omit sprinklers in certain locations

• Areas not critical to life safety

How do we know where to omit them?

• We need to know, not just where fires start, but where fires start that KILL people

Where Fires Start That KILL People in 1 & 2 Family

Dwellings & Mfg. Housing• Living Room 41%• Bedroom 25.6%• Kitchen 15%• Storage Area 4%• Heating Equipment Room 3%• Structural Area 2%• Other Areas 8%

Here’s What’s At the Bottom of the List(other)

Sprinklers shall be installed in all areas Except:

• Bathrooms less than 55 ft.2

• Clothes closets, linen closets and pantries less than 24 ft.2 least dimension 3 ft.

• Garages, carports & open attached porches• Attics, crawl spaces and concealed spaces• Entrance foyers (if a second exit is provided)

How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?

Reduce the water supply requirements

We’ve already reduced the number of heads in our design to two

• Lower the flow requirements from .10 to .05gpm/ft2

• Lower the duration requirement to 10 minutes (7 mins. if it is a single story home < 2000 ft.2)

How Else Are We Going to Reduce Costs?

Regardless of what we do with the water supply,

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE ALWAYS DESIGNED TO MEET THE ABILITIES OF THE WATER SUPPLY, NOT VICE VERSA

Improve Aesthetics

• Make them smaller

• Make them concealed, recessed

• Offer them in various colors / shades

From this To These

Within this project firefighters and

homeowners learn about sprinklers.

Homes with 13D SprinklersChief Dan Jones – Chapel Hill FD

Habitat Home – Southern Pines

Lee Home - Mocksville

Pictures of sprinklers

Can you spot the sprinkler?

Do we want this?

OR……

Do we continue

to protect

our citizens

like this?

Questions?Questions?

Promoting Home Fire Sprinklers by Education

Who needs to be educated?

• Fire Service

• Code officials

• Homeowners

• Elected officials

• Insurance agents/agencies

• Homebuilders

• Technical and Community colleges

• All Stakeholders

Promoting Sprinklers

• Educate yourself and firefighters in your dept

• Advertise

• Mention sprinklers to press every opportunity

Resources

• Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition– Free Educational Kit for public educators– Built for Life Builder Kit– Brochures

HomeFireSprinkler.org

• Marble Mountain DVD Orange Co Fire Authority

Resources

• Fire Team USA www.fireteamusa.com– Radio psa’s– Scottsdale report– Flyers- all reproducable– Ordinances – Power point presentations

• Motivating Fire Chiefs• A New Perspective• Community Fire Protection• Residential Sprinklers-Not Rocket Science

– NAHB Point/Counterpoint