NFPA Conference & Expo

Bob Caputo talks NFPA 13 and networking at the NFPA Conference & Expo

Bob Caputo, President/CEO of Consolidated Fire Protection, Inc., is involved in many aspects of NFPA's Conference & Expo. Not only is he teaching a pre-conference seminar on the installation of sprinkler systems, but he is also a part of the CFPS® Exam (June 11) and the Technical Committee for NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems. Both NFPA 13 and 13R, Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height, are up for consideration this year at the Association Technical Meeting in Las Vegas. So there will be lots of discussion!  

While there are innumerable educational sessions at the NFPA Conference & Expo, the learning doesn't stop in the classroom for attendees of the event. Bob Caputo joins Tyler Pyburn to explain the importance of networking with fellow fire professionals, and exchanging real world applications of the ideas shared at the event. Join us in Las Vegas for the most important event of the year! Register now.

Residential sprinkler adoption is only the first step

Jim Narva, executive director for the National Association of State Fire Marshals, says communities should never stop "selling" their sprinkler programs.

As recent news indicates, sprinkler opponents are challenging residential sprinkler ordinances already on the books in certain communities. See NFPA Journal’s recent article on sprinkler provisions nixed in Pennsylvania.

One of today’s sessions provided noteworthy guidance on keeping the momentum going once residential sprinkler provisions become law. “If you have a requirement in place and some of the [implementation and follow-through] isn’t being done and something goes wrong, every time there’s some sort of red flag, it gives opponents the chance to say, ‘We have to get rid of the sprinkler ordinance,’” said speaker Jim Narva, executive director for the National Association of State Fire Marshals.

Mr. Narva highlighted a new guidebook, available through the Residential Fire Safety Institute web site which addresses the permitting process; plan reviews and approval; inspection and testing procedures; and examples of successful implementations across the country.

The guidebook, “Bridging the Gap: A Guide to Implementing a Residential Sprinkler Requirement,” also drives the point home that communities should “never stop selling their sprinkler program,” especially after its implementation, Mr. Narva said.

--Fred Durso, Jr.

Studies show sprinklers offer financial incentives, environmental benefits

NFPA Regional Director Maria Figueroa presents findings of two Research Foundation studies regarding barriers and incentives to installing residential home sprinkler systems

During the education session entitled, “Barriers and Incentives Related to the Installation of Home Fire Sprinklers”, NFPA fire prevention regional director, Maria Figueroa presented the results of two Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) projects related to community-based barriers and incentives for the installation of home fire sprinklers. "We will continue to press and educate folks on the value of home sprinklers" says Ms. Figueroa.

The objective of the first study on the overall value and impact of home fire sprinkler incentives was to identify, characterize, and estimate the approximate value of sprinkler system incentives that are in place in various communities. A wide variety of incentives, such as builder credits, reduced property taxes, and the ability to use narrower roads, were identified in 16 communities and a financial value assigned to them.

The second study showed that home fire sprinklers offer environmental benefits and reduce water infrastructure demand by looking at a specific issue that has been a barrier to the installation of home fire sprinklers — the concerns from water utilities regarding water usage during a fire and associated performance of water meters. Water usage estimates in home fires were collected from selected fire departments and laboratory testing was conducted on water meter performance.

- Karen Wallingford

Smoke alarms, sprinklers are focus of presentation on providing life safety in residential occupancies

James Milke discusses the roles sprinklers and smoke alarms play in life safety

Citing chronological progress of the installation requirement for smoke alarms in all one- and two- family dwellings, and referencing the current battle for fire sprinklers, James Milke of the University of Maryland presented the relative role of smoke alarms and sprinklers in providing life safety in residential occupancies.  

The first serious consideration for residential smoke alarms came in 1962 when Canada conducted a study that showed a 41% death reduction when smoke alarms were present, compared to an 8% reduction when heat detectors were present. At the time, requiring the installation of smoke alarms was as controversial as requiring seat belts in cars would later become. By 1971, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided 17,000 homes with smoke alarms, where over the course of three years, there were no fire-related deaths reported. 

- Karen Wallingford

Reconstructing the Fire Dynamics of the Sofa Super Store Fire

Nelson Bryner, of NIST, led a presentation this morning on how they were able to reconstruct the fire dynamics of the Sofa Super Store Fire in Charleston, South Carolina in 2007. NIST decided to reconstruct this fire and understand what happened, because the fire seemingly spread so quickly, and because it killed nine firefighters.

A computer fire model was used to simulate and visualize the fire conditions that occurred in the Sofa Super Store Fire. Attendees heard about this reconstruction that presented the results of numerical simulations and analyses of fire spread, smoke movement, gas temperature profiles, tenability, and operation of fire protection systems that relate to the conditions in this multiple-fatality fire incident. Simulations also examine the impact of ventilation, fuel type, building geometry, and automatic water sprinklers.

 
Computer simulation showing temperature levels at 1200 seconds from the start of the fire, at which time the oxygen available for the fire was just about depleted.

 
Computer simulation at 1600 seconds when front of the store windows were ventilated, causing the fire to use the new oxygen source to spread throughout the main showroom.

Through these simulations, they were able to develop some key findings. First, the store contained a large amount of foam filled furtniture, providing fuel for the fire. The showroom alone contained 480 GJ (100 gallons of gas is equal to 12 GJ) of energy. Additionally, there were several large open areas that allowed the fire to spread quickly. The store did not have automatic fire sprinklers, which if were present, would have contained the fire within 75 seconds.

-Lauren Backstrom

Live presentation of popular sprinkler plan webinar presented at Boston conference

 
Robert Caputo points out key factors in the sprinkler plan review process

Robert Caputo of Fire & Life Safety America presented a live version of his webinar on the comprehensive and consistent approach to the effective review of sprinkler plans and hydraulic calculations. During the presentation, Mr. Caputo pointed out best practices in reviewing sprinkler plans that will get them approved, as well as get materials and labor for their installation.

The presentation provided plan reviewers, field inspectors and system designers with a detailed outline of NFPA 13 requirements. The audience was also equipped with answers to many of the more complicated questions surrounding plan submittal including; what and why plans should be submitted, when is a plan review required, what codes and standards are involved, and scope of work involved in review. Among other things, Mr. Caputo encouraged attendees to know their local code requirements and the environment into which the sprinklers are to be installed. 

- Karen Wallingford

Antifreeze solutions project wins Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal at NFPA Conference in Boston

On behalf of his project team, Steven Wolin accepts the Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal from NFPA Chair Thomas Jaeger and the Foundation's Kathleen Almand.

The winning project of the 2011 Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal was "Antifreeze Solutions in Home Fire Sprinkler Systems". The award was accepted on behalf of the project team by Project Contractor Steven Wolin, P.E., principal, Code Consultants, Inc.

The Fire Protection Research Foundation Medal recognizes a Foundation project completed in 2010 that best exemplifies the Foundation’s fire safety mission and the collaborative approach to execution that is the hallmark of all Foundation projects.

The Fire Protection Research Foundation plans, manages, and communicates research on a broad range of fire safety issues in collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world. The Foundation is an affiliate of NFPA.

 

NFPA video: Maria Figueroa and Peg Paul talk about fire sprinkler myths

NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems for One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, was first published in 1975. But the U.S. residential fire problem remains unacceptable. NFPA's Maria Figueroa and Peg Paul from the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition talk about common sprinkler myths and resources available to educate consumers, the fire service, and other audiences.

Online resources

• Learn more about NFPA's efforts to require sprinklers in new home.
• Visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Initiative website for educational resources on home fire sprinklers.