A New Test to Evaluate the Fire Performance of Residential Sprinklers

Fire tests were conducted using the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) UL 1626 Fire Test for residential sprinklers. The results indicated that sprinkler performance in UL 1626 could not be reproduced due to differences in material flammability properties. This conclusion was reached in a cooperative effort with UL. Factory Mutual Research's Approval fire test that had been redesigned based on UL 1626 was thus subject to the same variability. A new fire test was developed using fuel with controlled material flammability parameters based upon the use of the ASTM E2058 Fire Propagation Apparatus. The new fuel package consists of a wood crib (one half the height of the one which was used in UL 1626) supported over a pan with heptane, two polyether foam cushions (about 60% greater in density than the foam previously used in UL 1626) measuring 34 in by 30 in by 3 in (864 mm by 762 mm by 76 mm) and in (6 mm) Douglas Fir plywood paneling. The new fire test was shown in a series of sprinklered fire tests to provide a reproducible challenge to residential sprinklers comparable to that observed in the Factory Mutual Research and the Los Angeles Residential Test Programs.     

Environmental Impact of Automatic Fire Sprinklers: Part 1. Residential Sprinklers Revisited in the Age of Sustainability

A recent study on the environmental impact of automatic fire sprinklers is documented in a two part series. The current paper provides a background on residential sprinkler technology from its inception until the present, and analyzes the contribution of risk factors, such as fire, on the total lifecycle carbon emissions of one- and two-family dwellings and the reduction to that contribution achieved via the use of automatic fire sprinklers. The analysis shows that the risk of fire increases the carbon emissions of a building over its’ lifecycle. The results illustrate that sound risk management is necessary to achieving sustainability and avoiding unintended consequences. These findings are especially important as society seeks to design and build more energy- and resource-efficient, environmentally sustainable buildings.     

Delayed Fracture of Glass Bulbs Used in Fire Sprinklers

Very rarely, glass bulb sprinkler heads activate when there is no fire or elevated temperatures. In such cases, the bulb fragments are never recovered. Speculation may arise that there was a defect in the bulb from manufacturing or installation, which led to its eventual failure. We investigated the growth of such defects using the principles of fracture mechanics and the well-known laws of slow crack growth in glass. These laws include the existence of a threshold, below which cracks do not grow at all, and above which cracks grow at a velocity that is greater than a minimum value. As a result, bulbs either never fail, or fail within a relatively short time after the crack or defect is created. Finite element and fracture mechanics analyses for a typical bulb indicates that the maximum delay is of the order of hours or weeks, not years. Experiments confirm this phenomenon. Over 100 bulbs were intentionally damaged, then placed under a constant load. A total of 44 bulbs, for which the combination of damage and load happened to be above the threshold for crack growth, failed within days (up to 36 days), while all other 58 bulbs survived over 2 years without failure. The theoretical analysis and the experiments demonstrate that fracture of sprinkler bulbs occurs relatively quickly after the introduction of a defect: if a bulb fractures in service without apparent cause, there must have been some event to damage the bulb or the sprinkler head in the days or weeks before the activation.     

Analysis of Vehicle Fire Statistics in New Zealand Parking Buildings

The risk of fire in parking buildings is dependant on the probability of a fire occurring and the severity of the fire. This paper reviews the research data available on vehicle fires and suggests the severity of such a fire for a risk analysis. The paper then examines the historical data for vehicle fires in New Zealand parking buildings from 1995 to 2003 to determine the probability of the occurrence of such fires and the likelihood of multiple vehicle involvement. It is found that annual vehicle fire frequencies in parking buildings are generally lower than those in buildings of other occupancies but increases with the annual usage ratio.     

新西兰巨灾保险给我们的启示

新西兰南岛2010年9月4日发生里氏7.1级地震,仅造成2人受伤.专家认为,零死亡的主要原因是新西兰国民防灾抗震意识强,该国建筑的抗震能力和安全监管体制都处于世界领先水平,归纳起来就是:轻木结构,重要建筑有隔震;房屋质量,加强立法严追责;防灾教育,遇震不慌知应对,地震保险,多渠道分散风险.其中,巨灾保险很值得我国借鉴.     

广东省博物馆新馆建筑消防设计

广东省博物馆新馆的建筑消防设计是一项特殊的工作,基于项目自身的特殊性,设计师在建筑消防设计方面面临消防登高面的确定、防火疏散设置、人员数量及疏散宽度计算、藏品库房及展览陈列厅人员疏散等许多问题。本文对该项目消防设计过程中遇到的若干问题进行了分析和探讨,并提出了解决问题的思路和相应的技术方法。本文旨在对我国同类建筑在建筑消防设计过程中遇到的问题提出具有建设性的解决方案和处理措施。     

一种新型智能消防泵控制柜

介绍了一种依据国家标准《低压开关设备和控制设备固定式消防泵驱动器的控制器》(GB/T21208-2007)要求设计的新型智能消防泵控制柜,详细阐述了其工作原理和功能特点,并给出了相应的设计框图。在分析传统的消防泵控制柜缺陷的同时提出了该新型控制器的创新点。     

Progress in the study of New Zealand aggregates

Granular roadbases with surfacings of bitumen and crushed aggregate chippings can be used to sustain loadings in excess of 2×10⁶ equivalent 8 tonne axles. Geological and petrological skills suited to predicting the behaviour of lesser quality aggregates have been developed and the effect of water and fine particles on stability and elastic deformation have been studied. Full scale pavement test strips and a 19 m diameter circular test track have been used for performance monitoring of unbound roadbase aggregates. The refinement of aggregate selection criteria and fundamental concepts related to aggregate behaviour are continuing.     

A Method for Estimating the Efficiency of Commanding in the State Fire Service of Poland

A rough method for estimating commanding efficiency of Fire&Rescue officers is presented in the article. The idea is to evaluate the officers in charge and their actions based on the information collected in the incident data reporting system. The criteria for the commanding evaluation is the distribution of durations of the actions conducted by consecutive commanders.     

高层建筑火灾致因因素分析与防火安全对策

随着城市化脚步的快速发展,城市高层建筑越来越多,高层建筑带来的安全隐患也时刻威胁着人们生命财产安全。本文针对高层建筑火灾的发生因素以及防火安全对策进行了分析,希望为相关部门在对高层建筑的救火、防火方面提供帮助。     

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Different Fire Notification Signals in Sleeping Older Adults

No previous research has investigated the responsiveness of older adults (65–85 years) to different emergency fire signals during sleep. In this study the auditory arousal thresholds (AAT) of 45 older adults were compared across four signals; the high pitched T-3 (as in current US smoke alarms), a mixed frequency T-3 (500–2500 Hz), a 500 Hz T-3 and a male voice. Participants were carefully screened, including for hearing, and awoken from deep sleep in a repeated measures design. Sounds increased progressively in volume until awakening occurred. It was found that the median AAT for the most effective signal, the mixed frequency T-3, was 20 dBA lower than the median AAT of the least effective signal, the current US high frequency smoke alarm signal. This finding is consistent with previous research, where the high pitched signal required a significantly louder volume than alternatives to wake sleepers of different ages, including children. Those aged over 75 years are especially at risk for sleeping through high pitched signals, probably due to the normal age-related decline in the ability to hear high pitched sounds. The minimum pillow volume of 75 dBA is inadequate for those over 75 years if a 3000 Hz notification signal is used. It is recommended that the high frequency signal currently found in smoke alarms be replaced by an alternative signal that performs significantly better in awakening most of the adult population, once the nature of the best signal has been determined.

超高层建筑消防设计——以京基金融中心大厦为例

就超高层建筑消防设计方针、防火分区设置及人员安全疏散等方面进行了分析探讨,提供了合理的技术解决方案.     

高层建筑火灾致因因素分析与防火安全对策

随着城市化脚步的快速发展,城市高层建筑越来越多,高层建筑带来的安全隐患也时刻威胁着人们生命财产安全。本文针对高层建筑火灾的发生因素以及防火安全对策进行了分析,希望为相关部门在对高层建筑的救火、防火方面提供帮助。     

浅析工业建筑中的消防设计

工业建筑的消防安全作为消防工作其中一个重要的组成部分，其所存在的一些弊端和问题是造成工业建筑火灾事故的主要原因。本文以工业建筑作为讨论的基础，浅谈在消防设计中需要注意的具体细节，并对其进行了说明。     

Investigating Evacuation Behaviour in Retirement Facilities: Case Studies from New Zealand

Ageing populations are generating new challenges for the safe design of buildings and infrastructure systems in communities around the world. Elderly building occupants are more likely to have mobility impairments, and in turn, require longer times and increased assistance to evacuate buildings compared with able-bodied adults. To date, only a few studies have been carried out to assess the evacuation performance of elderly evacuees in retirement homes. Therefore, it is necessary to collect critical evacuation data, such as pre-evacuation times and evacuation speeds, for these occupancy types.

This work investigates the evacuation behaviour of elderly evacuees and caretaking staff using video recordings of evacuation in retirement facilities. The paper presents three case studies. The first case study includes unannounced drills, which took place in communal areas of retirement homes during a live music exhibition and in a kitchen. The second case study is a series of unannounced drills, which took place in independent living apartment buildings of a retirement facility. The last case study is of a single announced evacuation drill, which took place in a communal area of a retirement building. Qualitative results indicate that the occupants’ behaviours depended on their role (i.e. resident or staff) and on the type of monitored area (i.e. apartment building or communal area). Pre-evacuation times measured in this study are in accordance with values stated in the literature, and walking speeds fall in the range of values reported in past studies of these types of building. Finally, results revealed that there is a significant gap between the data provided in this work and the SFPE design curves used for buildings, since the SFPE design curves do not explicitly account for adults with mobility impairments.

     

城市燃气消防工作中“消”的重要性

结合实际案例,论述了城市燃气消防工作中“消”的重要性,分析了城市燃气火灾爆炸事故的原因、特点、灭火防爆原理,提出了灭火防爆方法和对城市燃气安全管理的建议。     

木材加工行业火灾隐患概述及防火对策研究

木材加工行业本身的特点决定了其具有较高火灾危险性,本文主要结合木材加工本身的特点,探究了该行业可能存在的火灾隐患,针对各隐患类别研究了相应的防火对策。     

消防安全重点单位防火监督管理研究

随着消防监督对象的逐渐多样化发展,消防执法环境也变得越来越复杂,消防监督工作中的各种问题也开始暴露出来。如何做好当前消防安全重点单位的防火监督管理工作,已经成为了消防部门亟待解决的一个重要问题。     

消防安全重点单位防火监督管理研究

随着消防监督对象的逐渐多样化发展,消防执法环境也变得越来越复杂,消防监督工作中的各种问题也开始暴露出来。如何做好当前消防安全重点单位的防火监督管理工作,已经成为了消防部门亟待解决的一个重要问题。