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Coffee Break Training: Emerging Issue of Fire Service Ethics
"Coffee Break Training" is a series of short lessons within the National Fire Academy's Fire Protection Curriculum. According to this training's learning objective: "The student shall be able to identify a source for the National Society of Executive Fire Officers and Congressional Fire Services Institute Code of Ethics."
United States Fire Administration
2012-09-05
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Coffee Break Training: Standpipe Systems: Standpipe System Reliability
"Coffee Break Training" is a series of short lessons within the National Fire Academy's Fire Protection Curriculum. According to the learning objective: "The student shall be able to summarize the inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for standpipe systems."
United States Fire Administration
2012-09-04
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Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)
From the document: "From 2008 to 2010, portable heater fires in residential buildings--a subset of heating fires in residential buildings--accounted for an estimated average of 900 fires in the United States each year. These fires resulted in an annual average of approximately 70 deaths, 150 injuries, and $53 million in property loss. The term 'portable heater fires' applies to those fires that are caused by catalytic heaters, oil-filled heaters, or other heaters that are designed to be carried or moved for use in a variety of locations. Portable heaters are a subset of space heaters--small heaters designed to heat specific areas or rooms of a building. While portable heater fires in residential buildings were small in number, representing only 2 percent of all heating fires in residential buildings, their consequences were substantial: they accounted for 45 percent of fatal heating fires in residential buildings. Moreover, many of these fires were preventable as human error--placing the heater too close to combustible items or leaving the heater unattended--was a contributing factor to the fire. This topical report addresses the characteristics of portable heater fires in residential buildings reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) from 2008 to 2010. For a broader overview of heating fires, see the companion topical report, 'Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)' (Volume 13, Issue 8). For the purpose of this report, the term 'portable heater fires' is synonymous with 'portable heater fires in residential buildings.' 'Portable heater fires' is used throughout the body of this report; the findings, tables, charts, headings, and footnotes reflect the full category, 'portable heater fires in residential buildings.'"
United States Fire Administration
2012-09
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Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)
"From 2008 to 2010, an estimated average of 50,100 heating fires in residential buildings occurred in the United States each year and resulted in an annual average of approximately 150 deaths, 575 injuries, and $326 million in property loss. The term 'heating fires' applies to those fires that are caused by central heating units, fixed or portable local heating units, fireplaces, heating stoves, chimneys, and water heaters. From 2008 to 2010, heating was the second leading cause and accounted for 14 percent of all residential building fires responded to by fire departments across the Nation. Previously, especially during the late 1970s and early 1980s, heating was, by far, the leading cause of residential building fires. Stimulated, in part, by an energy shortage, this surge in heating fires was the result of the sudden increased use of alternative heating, particularly wood heating stoves and space heaters. Since then, the overall numbers of heating fires have substantially decreased. In 1983, there were 200,000 heating fires, but by 2010, that number had fallen to an estimated 46,800."
United States Fire Administration
2012-09
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Dynamics: Fire or Thermal Plumes
"In the space directly above a fire, a column of hot gases and combustion products rises upward. This column is known as a fire or thermal 'plume.' As the hot gases rise, cooler air is drawn in or entrained into the plume; this is known as 'entrainment.' This cooler air is drawn from around the base of the fire and the boundaries between the plume and the surrounding air. The temperature of the plume decreases with the height above the fire due to cooling effects of the entrained air. As long as the environment around the plume is relatively stable and not influenced significantly by ventilation, the plume will rise in the shape of a cone. (When this pattern remains on a vertical surface after a fire, investigators often describe it as a V-pattern.) If doors or windows are opened, or a smoke management system operates, the path of the plume may vary dramatically. Likewise, if the fuel array within the space is irregular, the plume may follow it."
United States Fire Administration
2012-08-28
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Coffee Break Training: Portable Extinguishers: Overview of 'Class D' Agents
"Today's manufacturing materials and processes are vastly different from those used in the past. Special metals like titanium, magnesium, sodium, and lithium have become a part of our daily lives. These materials and manufacturing techniques present special challenges for today's firefighters. The burning characteristics of most combustible metals have both similarities and differences when compared to more common 'Class A' materials like wood or paper. Like 'Class A' materials, the energy required to ignite a metal depends on the configuration of the fuel; large solid blocks will require much more heat to ignite than will finely divided dust or chips from a lathe. However, unlike common combustibles, burning metals react violently when water is applied. Therefore, it is crucial that the fire protection expert understand the material being protected, its configuration, and its burning characteristics."
United States Fire Administration
2012-08-21
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Coffee Break Training: Inspection Techniques: Water Supply Check Valves
"To the untrained eye, the sprinkler system riser assembly in today's illustration appears typical and in a ready-to-go condition: it is a wet pipe system configured as what is often called a 'shotgun' riser. A shotgun riser eliminates the need for an alarm check valve because the backflow prevention device stops water in the sprinkler pipe from flowing back into the potable supply, and the electric switch provides a water flow alarm. Closer examination reveals the presence of supervisory switches on the backflow preventer's outside stem and yoke (OS&Y) valves, a water pressure gauge measuring about 150 pounds per square inch (psi) (10.3 bar), a main drain assembly, and a water metering assembly on the backflow preventer. The OS&Y valves are open-as evidenced by the visible stems-and the water pressure gauge appears to measure a positive static pressure. The electronic supervisory switches are attached to the fire alarm system through a zone module mounted on the wall and, if operable, will signal if anyone tries to close or tamper with one of the water supply control valves."
United States Fire Administration
2012-08-14
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Coffee Break Training: Portable Extinguishers: Clean Agents for Streaming Applications
"Clean agents are used in total flooding applications, where the agent completely fills a room to a desired concentration level, and in streaming applications, where the agent discharges from a hand-held or wheeled extinguisher. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, defines 'clean agents' as 'electrically non-conducting, volatile, or gaseous fire extinguishants that do not leave a residue upon evaporation.' Clean agents are effective for use on Class A, B, and C fires and are available from numerous portable fire extinguisher manufacturers in various sizes and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ratings. In addition to being effective extinguishants, the biggest value of clean agents is that they do not cause any additional post-fire collateral damage. This is particularly important when dealing with sensitive electronic equipment and other high-value assets. Clean agents have proven effective in extinguishing fire in computer and data center operations, telecommunication control hubs, laboratory environments, libraries and museums, and other environments where the use of water or solid, powder-based extinguishing agents could cause secondary damage equal to or exceeding that caused by the fire itself. Another significant advantage of clean agents is that they help limit business interruption and equipment downtime. In these cases of opportunity cost, the positive financial impact of the clean agent can outweigh higher upfront investment costs."
United States Fire Administration
2012-08-07
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Developing a Defendable Hazardous Materials Fee Schedule: A Recommendation Report for the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority
"The Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) has rule-making authority to create regulations and the ability to create a process by which a public entity, political subdivision of the state, or unit of local government claiming reimbursement shall establish that the costs attributed to a hazardous substance incident are reasonable, necessary and documented. The problem is that the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority (DFRA) has not developed and adopted a fee schedule associated with the deployment of hazardous materials rolling stock. The purpose of the research is to compare and contrast available equipment schedules that already exist, and construct or adopt a defendable internal fee schedule. The following questions were used as a framework to conduct this descriptive research: 1. What elements are needed in a comprehensive equipment fee schedule? 2. What recognized fee schedules exist and are in use by other emergency response organizations? 3. What methodologies do private sector companies use to determine equipment rental and lease rates? 4. What laws, regulations, and rules are in place that may impact emergency response organizations' ability to develop a fee schedule? 5. What is the actual agency cost when compared to the current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fee schedule? The procedures-including literature review, survey, personal communications, and evaluation of other established fee schedules-led to a recommendation for the DFRA to create and implement an internal rolling-stock equipment fee schedule for hazardous materials response."
United States Fire Administration
Quick, Mark C.
2012-08?
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Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)
"For many households and other establishments, the clothes dryer is an indispensable convenience and necessity. However, damaging fires can occur if clothes dryers are not properly installed and maintained. Eighty-four percent of clothes dryer fires that occurred in buildings took place in residential buildings. Because the residential building portion of these fires predominates, the primary focus of this analysis addresses the characteristics of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The focus is on fires reported from 2008 to 2010, the most recent data available at the time of this analysis. From 2008 to 2010, fire departments responded to an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings each year across the Nation. These fires resulted in an annual average loss of 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. For the purpose of this report, the term 'clothes dryer fires' is synonymous with 'clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.' 'Clothes dryer fires' is used throughout the body of this report; the findings, tables, charts, headings, and footnotes reflect the full category, 'clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.'"
United States Fire Administration
2012-08
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Smoke Detection in Duct Systems: Part 2
"Another important consideration of duct detector installation is the device's location in relation to duct bends or return-air inlets. As air changes direction in a duct, or as it first enters the duct from a room, it tends to have excessive turbulence. In order to ensure a good laminar flow and mix with products of combustion across the detector sensing element, light beam, or sampling tube, the detector should be installed between 6 and 10
'duct diameters' downstream of the duct bend or return-air inlet. Thus, if the detector is installed in an 8-inch (203 mm) diameter duct, it should be located not less than 48 inches (1,220 mm), nor more than 80 inches (2,032 mm), from the duct bend or return-air outlet. For extremely large ducts (greater than 36 inches (914 mm) wide or tall), additional detectors may be required. Students should refer to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code for guidance on detector placement."
United States Fire Administration
2012-07-31
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Smoke Detection in Duct Systems: Part 1
"Smoke detection is installed in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct networks to prevent smoke from migrating through a structure's air handling system. Circulating, closed-air handling systems often use the terms 'supply' and 'return.' Supply air is that air which has been conditioned (heated or cooled) and is being supplied to an occupied space such as a classroom, bedroom, kitchen, etc. Return air is taken from the space and is returned to the air handling system for conditioning. Generally, those air handling systems where the return air volume equals or exceeds 2,000 cubic feet per minute (56,700 Lpm) require smoke detector shutdown and local mechanical codes or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems to provide specific requirements. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code recommends the use of wall- or ceiling-mounted open area detectors for smoke control in buildings because of the chance that smoke in the HVAC systems will be diluted by the air movement. Detectors may be ionization type, photoelectric, or both."
United States Fire Administration
2012-07-24
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Rate Compensated Heat Detectors
"A rate-of-rise device is a common type of heat detector that responds when there is a rapid temperature increase in the space where it is located. In some cases, however, a spot-type rate-of-rise detector may not be suitable for the environment that needs to be protected. A rate compensated detector may offer an appropriate alternative. A rate compensated detector operates when the ambient air temperature reaches a predetermined level, regardless of the rate at which it increases. The detector will operate at its design temperature during slow-building fire conditions or will respond promptly during rapid fire buildup. A rate compensated detector relies on the physical property
that metals expand when heated. Rate compensated detectors have typical temperature ratings between 135 °F and 220 °F (57 °C and 104 °C). These are spot-type detectors that have a sealed, external metallic tubular casing. Inside, there is a pair of electrical contacts that are attached to the sealed end of the tube. The alloys of the external tube and internal struts are different materials that heat and expand at different rates. Designed to resist thermal energy absorption and sealed inside the outer tube, the struts respond to temperature changes more slowly."
United States Fire Administration
2012-07-17
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Line-Type Heat Detectors
"Spot-type heat detectors-those that are installed on a specific ceiling location and protect an area of listed spacing- may not be suitable for all applications. For example, if an electric utility wanted detection in its cable trays, or a wood processor on its conveyor, or even a bulk flammable liquid storage operator around its tanks and valves, spot detectors would not be suitable. In those cases, and similar unique situations, a line-type heat detector may be an appropriate selection. Line-type heat detectors are installed in a looped, continuous configuration from the fire alarm control panel, throughout the protected asset or premises, and back to the fire alarm control panel."
United States Fire Administration
2012-07-10
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Coffee Break Training: Commercial Cooking: Exhaust Clearance from Fresh Air Intakes
"The vapors emitted from commercial cooking equipment often are flammable and should be discharged in a way that prevents them from reentering a building. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, rooftop discharge to the atmosphere is always preferable to horizontal discharge like that shown in today's illustration. When a wall-mounted outlet is installed, the exhaust flow should be discharged perpendicularly from the wall or upward. The outlet should be through a noncombustible wall with a minimum of 10 feet (3 meters (m)) of clearance from the outlet to adjacent buildings, property lines, grade level, combustible construction, and electrical equipment or lines, with the closest point of any air intake or operable door or window at or below the plane of
the exhaust termination. When the fresh air intake is located on the same plane or below the level of the exhaust outlet, a minimum 10 feet (3 m) of clearance should be provided between the closest edges of the outlets and the fresh air intake."
United States Fire Administration
2012-07-03
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Providing an Improved Pre-Incident Planning Program for the Garner Volunteer Fire-Rescue
"The Garner Volunteer Fire-Rescue, Inc. (GVFR) provides fire protection to both the Town of Garner and the southern parts of Wake County. The protection district is 60 square miles serving 50,000 citizens. The Town of Garner has grown over the years and target hazards have been added to the fire district. The GVFR has recently developed a pre-incident planning program to employ that obtains the appropriate information for an effective program. The problem is the current system is not effective and does not meet the department's needs. The purpose of this research was to update the policy through an action research method by answering the following questions: a) What or who gives the Garner Volunteer Fire Rescue the legal authority to perform a pre-fire plan? b) What information will be collected for the pre-fire plan? c) Who will conduct the pre-fire plan surveys? d) How will the information be stored? e) How will the information be retrieved? Questionnaires were used to identify what other fire departments were employing to gather the information needed, how they were using the information, and how fire officers felt about the system employed by the fire department. A literary review was also used to identify the gaps between the policy, industry standards, and best practices of the fire service. The results showed that the department needed an updated policy that was more in line with industry standard and best practices."
United States Fire Administration
Godwin, Robert Shawn
2012-07
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Risk Assessment for Health-Related Line of Duty Death and Line of Duty Injury
"Prior to this research it was suspected that members of the Sandy Fire Department might have significant risk factors present, which would pre-dispose them to line of duty death (LODD) or injury. The problem was that while nationwide statistics confirm that firefighters throughout the nation continued to experience preventable, health-related line of duty deaths and line of duty injuries (LODI), the Sandy Fire Department had not taken sufficient proactive measures to reduce the likelihood that a Sandy firefighter would suffer a similar fate. The purpose of this research was to determine if Sandy firefighters were at increased risk for preventable, health-related line of duty death or injury, and what actions could be taken to minimize this risk. The questions researched were: 1. Nationwide, what preventable risk factors for health-related firefighter line of duty death or injury have been identified? 2. Are risk factors for health-related firefighter line of duty death or injury prevalent among firefighters in the Sandy Fire Department? 3. What actions can be taken at a local level to minimize firefighters' risk for health-related line of duty death or injury? 4. What challenges exist, which may hinder efforts to implement a program designed to improve firefighter health and wellness and reduce health-related risks for LODD or LODI? Historical and descriptive research methods were used to determine that the Sandy Fire Department did indeed have increased risk factors present in the firefighter population, consequently increasing the likelihood that a Sandy firefighter might suffer an LODD or LODI. Recommendations included the implementation of a comprehensive program designed to decrease identified risk factors closely associated with LODD and LODI."
United States Fire Administration
Dawson, Christopher W.
2012-07?
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Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2011
"For 35 years, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and con-ducted an annual analysis. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward finding solutions to reduce the number of fire-fighter fatalities in the future. This information is also used to measure the effectiveness of current programs directed toward firefighter health and safety. Several programs have been funded by USFA in response to this annual report. For example, USFA has sponsored significant work in the areas of general emergency vehicle operations safety, fire department tanker/tender operations safety, firefighter incident scene rehabilitation, and roadside incident safety. The data developed for this report are also widely used in other firefighter fatality prevention efforts. In addition to the analysis, USFA, working in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), develops a list of all onduty firefighter fatalities and associated documentation each year. If certain criteria are met, the fallen firefighter's next of kin, as well as members of the individual's fire department, are invited to the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Service. The service is held at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, MD, during Fire Prevention Week in October of each year. [...] The specific objective of this study is to identify all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates in 2011 and to analyze the circumstances surrounding each occurrence. The study is intended to help identify approaches that could reduce the number of firefighter deaths in future years."
United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Homeland Security
2012-07
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Reducers and Bushings
"The hexagonal pipe element in today's illustration is a threaded reducer bushing. It is inserted in the end of the branch line to reduce the pipe size from the larger tapered fitting to the smaller diameter pipe at the right hand side of the picture. Generally, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, prohibits the use of these bushings and allows only one-piece tapered reducers where pipe size transitions occur. The threaded bushing increases the friction loss and turbulence in the pipe which affects water distribution onto a fire."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06-26
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Hydraulic Nameplate Data Sources
"Coffee Break Training 2012-16 described the information that is required on hydraulic nameplates by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. The nameplate provides an important record of the system design criteria and expected performance. What can the inspector do when confronted with the situation shown in today's illustration where there is no obvious information about the system? How can the inspector evaluate whether the system design is appropriate for the hazard it protects? Where can the inspector find additional information? A little detective work might go a long way toward solving the mystery. One step might be to check the spare sprinkler box that should be mounted near the riser. While it may not contain the hydraulic design data, there is a fair chance the system installer's contact information may be posted there. The inspector can contact the installing company to obtain design information and request that the installer complete the information on the hydraulic nameplate as required by NFPA 13."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06-19
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Coffee Break Training: What is Human Performance Technology? Part 2 of 2
"We left our last discussion with the Analysis of Human Performance. [...] Human Performance Technology has always been and always will be about people, and how well they do what they do every day. When we start looking at the whole picture and not just the knowledge piece, it's easy to gain a better understanding of how our organizations actually accomplish work. We must always remember that knowledge is a wonderful thing, and we need to gain as much of it as we possibly can. However, until we get it from the gray matter to the fingertips, it remains only knowledge and not performance."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06-14
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Fire Alarm System Battery Inspection and Tests: Part II
"When secondary power for fire alarm systems is provided by batteries, the following tests should be conducted at the frequency recommended in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code® to evaluate the condition of the battery and make changes as needed. Fire alarm system tests and maintenance should be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, so it is important for the service technician to have that documentation available for review and comparison; and to answer any questions the code official might present."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06-12
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Coffee Break Training: What is Human Performance Technology? Part 1 of 2
"According to the International Society for Performance Improvement, Human Performance Technology (HPT) is a systematic approach to improving productivity and competence. It uses a set of methods and procedures (and a strategy for solving problems) for realizing opportunities related to the performance of people. More specifically, it is a process of selection, Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of programs to most cost-effectively influence human behavior and accomplishment. It is a systematic combination of three fundamental processes: performance analysis, cause analysis, and intervention selection, and can be applied to individuals, small groups, and large organizations."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06-07
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Fire Alarm System Battery Inspection and Tests: Part I
"Fire alarm systems must undergo regular inspections, testing, and maintenance to enhance their reliability and correct problems. (See Coffee Break Training 2012-17 for a
distinction among these services.) An essential component of the fire alarm system is its
secondary power supply. When secondary power is provided by batteries, the following general inspections and tests should be conducted at the frequency recommended in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code® to enhance reliability."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06-05
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Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)
"Between 2008 and 2010, an estimated annual average of 7,600 smoking-related fires occurred in residential buildings in the United States. These smoking-related fires accounted for 2 percent of residential building fires responded to by fire departments across the Nation and resulted in an average of approximately 365 deaths, 925 injuries, and $326 million in property loss each year. The term 'smoking-related fires' applies to those fires that are caused by cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and heat from undetermined smoking materials. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) differentiates between smoking as a cause of fires and fires ignited by smoking materials. Smoking and smoking-related fires are considered a behavioral cause. Fires ignited by smoking materials are considered as a group of fires where smoking materials were the heat source. The two sets are similar but not identical. A deliberately set fire with smoking materials as the heat of ignition would be considered an 'intentional' fire; a fire unintentionally set by someone smoking (cigarettes, cigars, or other smoking materials) would be considered a 'smoking-related fire.' This report addresses the characteristics of residential building smoking-related fires as reported to the USFA's National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) between 2008 and 2010."
United States Fire Administration
2012-06
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Batteries for Fire Alarm Secondary Power
"Storage batteries provide one method of fire alarm system secondary power as required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®. (See Coffee Break Training 2012-21 for alternatives. Storage batteries must be located so that the equipment, including overcurrent devices, is not adversely affected by
escaping battery gases that could result in corrosion of critical electrical components. The batteries must be protected against excessive load current by overcurrent devices. Batteries should also be mounted in a way that protects them from physical damage. If they are not located inside the fire alarm control unit (panel), the batteries and their charger location must be permanently identified at the control unit."
United States Fire Administration
2012-05-29
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Fire Alarm System Power Supplies
"Fire alarm systems must be provided with at least two independent and reliable power supplies: one primary source that powers the system in normal mode and a secondary power source to take over in the event of failure of the first (standby mode). Most fire alarm systems are connected to the local light and power utility as their primary power source. Once the electrical power service enters a building, it normally is distributed through a main electrical panel and one or more subpanels. The subpanels have individual branch circuits within them that provide power to outlets, switches, and fixed electrical equipment. In the event of a loss of primary power, the fire alarm system has to be equipped with a secondary means of supply that will energize the system within 30 seconds without losing any signals. The secondary power also has to operate if the primary power (line voltage) drops below acceptable limits."
United States Fire Administration
2012-05-22
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Fire Alarm Control Unit Overview
"Fire alarm and detection systems are outfitted with a fire alarm control unit (panel) (commonly called an FACP) that is considered the 'brain' of the system. The FACP takes inputs from the various alarm and supervisory devices that may be located throughout a protected property, interprets the inputs, processes outputs in the form of audible or visual alarm signals and ancillary actions, and reports to monitoring services to summon the necessary human intervention that identifies and solves the fire problem. FACPs can be simple or very complex. They may consist of a cabinet that houses small microprocessors, electrical terminals, batteries, light emitting diodes, relays, and fuses or they may be a sophisticated computerized terminal that employs touch-screen technology and provides controls for an endless variety of fire protection and life safety systems within a building."
United States Fire Administration
2012-05-15
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms & Detection: Presignal and Positive Alarm Sequence Functions
"Fire detection and alarm systems often serve as the first line of awareness and warning of a fire inside a building. In many cases, as soon as a fire is detected, an alarm sounds alerting occupants to a threatening condition. There may be times, however, when the code official agrees it is not warranted to have a general fire alarm sound throughout an entire building right away. In those circumstances National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, National Fire Alarm Code®, permits what is called a 'presignal' feature. In 'presignal' systems, activation of the fire alarm system does not sound an alarm throughout the building immediately. There is either a built-in delay of at least 1 minute from system activation or the initial fire alarm signals sound only in department offices, control rooms, fire brigade stations, or other constantly attended central locations. Then, someone must intervene to sound a general fire alarm."
United States Fire Administration
2012-05-08
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One- and Two-Family Residential Building Fires (2008-2010)
"From 2008 to 2010, fire departments responded to an estimated 240,500 fires in one- and two-family residences each year across the Nation. These fires resulted in an annual average loss of 2,050 deaths, 8,350 injuries, and 5.8 billion dollars in property loss. One- and two-family residential building fires account for the majority of all residential building fires (66 percent) and dominate the overall residential building fire profile. One- and two-family residential buildings include detached dwellings, manufactured homes, mobile homes not in transit, and duplexes. The vast majority of fire deaths in the Nation occur in these one- and two-family dwellings. Because these fatalities occur all over the Nation and throughout the year, they do not often make national headlines. Nevertheless, fire deaths in one- and two-family dwellings account for far more deaths in most years than all natural disasters combined."
United States Fire Administration
2012-05
