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Coffee Break Training: Inspection Techniques: What's Wrong with This Picture?
"One of the fire sprinkler industry's trade journals has a monthly feature called 'What's Wrong with This Picture?' where readers are invited to comment on obvious and not-so-obvious errors in fire protection system installations. So, what's wrong with this picture? From a code perspective, nothing, but it's a good opportunity to discuss placement of fire department connections for sprinklers, standpipes, and other water-based fire protection systems that may need pressure and volume supplemented by the fire department."
United States Fire Administration
2009-06-03
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Evacuation of Personnel and Equipment from an Extreme or Catastrophic Hurricane: Developing a Decision Making Process
From the abstract: "The purpose of this research was to identify and implement a process of making the decision to evacuate personnel and equipment in the event of an extreme or catastrophic hurricane."
United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States Fire Administration
Teolis, Mark B.
2009-06
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Coffee Break Training: Inspection Techniques: Keeping Electrical Motors Clean
"The dust- and lint-covered bathroom fan housing suggests a similar unseen condition exists behind the wall and regular housekeeping or preventive maintenance is lacking. While materials and insulation systems have changed, the basic principles and operation of an electric motor have not changed very much over the last century."
United States Fire Administration
2009-05-26
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Sprig Supports
"This 1-inch upright is known as a 'sprig' which is defined in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems' as 'a pipe that rises vertically and supplies a single sprinkler.' For years, there was no requirement in the standard for restraining sprigs against lateral movement, regardless of the pipe's length. When a sprinkler (especially an upright sidewall sprinkler) at the top of an unrestrained sprig operated, the kinetic reaction forces created the potential for the pipe to move in the opposite direction and the sprinkler discharge could be displaced from its intended pattern."
United States Fire Administration
2009-05-19
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Investigation Health and Safety
"Fire investigation health and safety covers a wide variety of issues that are too often ignored or not practiced within the investigative community. All fire investigative personnel should define safety as 'attitude and behavior.' The number one threat to personnel at a scene is 'complacency,' which should never occur, with the number one priority of everyone being 'your personal safety.' The only one responsible for your personal safety is 'you.' To ensure this from the outset, the basis for selection of personal protective equipment (PPE) at a scene is 'hazard and risk assessment.'"
United States Fire Administration
2009-05-14
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Coffee Break Training: Access and Water Supplies: Static Water Supply Calculations
"In many parts of the country, a static water supply like this quarry pond might serve as a community's major fire protection water source. There may be times, though, that an urban area fire department may have to draft from a pond or lake in the local public park if its regular water supply is disturbed by an earthquake, power loss, or other service interruption. To prepare for that contingency, the fire department should do a preincident survey to determine the amount of available water. Determining the volume in a symmetrical container such as a square swimming pool or round tank is simple: there are mathematical formulas in almost every fire protection hydraulics handbook to do the calculations."
United States Fire Administration
2009-05-12
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Coffee Break Training: Exploring Invisible Web Resources: Part I
"It's hard to imagine that a search engine returning many thousands of hits on a topic you're exploring might not actually have access to all that's out there on the Web. Experts estimate that actually some 80 percent of authoritative content on the Web is invisible to search engines. The Invisible or Deep Web is many times larger, in fact, than the 'surface Web' we have access to via search engines like Google. To better grasp what we mean by the term 'Invisible Web' let's first consider what is visible. Basically, the visible or 'surface' Web refers to any online content that can be found and accessed by a search engine. Search engines send out robot programs or spiders, as they are sometimes called, to crawl the Web looking for pages to add to a search engine database. These pages then get passed to the search engine's indexing program which stores the content in its database. This database in turn is what you're actually searching when you use a Web search engine."
United States Fire Administration
2009-05-06
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Coffee Break Training: Hazardous Materials: Carboys for Transporting Hazardous Materials
"Eligible for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at www.nfaonline.dhs.gov For archived downloads, go to: www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/coffee-break/ These metal carboys were used to transport cryogenic fluids. The small containers in the photograph are known as 'carboys' which are vessels used to transport liquid materials. The metal carboys in the illustration were used to hold cryogenic fluids. The word 'carboy' is derived from the Persian word qarabah or from the Arabic word qarraba, which are translated to mean 'big jug'. Carboy capacities generally range in size from 5 to 15 gallons (19 to 56.7 L) and may be made of glass, plastic, or steel. Glass carboys may be installed in a fiberglass or wood box to protect them from breakage."
United States Fire Administration
2009-05-05
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Medical Facility Fires
"These short topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in USFA's [United States Fire Administration] National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information.
Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context."
United States Fire Administration
2009-05
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Medical Facility Fires [May 2009]
Topical Fire Reports "are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, high¬lights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context." This report examines medical facility fires. Findings include: "(1) Between 2004 and 2006, an average of 6,400 fires occurred in medical facilities each year, resulting in over $34 million in losses; (2) Fifty-five percent of medical facility fires are small, confined cooking fires; (3) Medical facilities offering 24-hour care account for 89 percent of medical facility fires. Twenty-four-hour care facilities also account for 94 percent of cooking fires in all medical facilities; (4) Fire peaks coincide with meal preparation times; [and] (5) Automatic extinguishing systems are found more often in 24-hour care facilities than in clinics or medical offices."
National Fire Data Center (U.S.); United States Fire Administration
2009-05
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Ball Drip Orientation
"The brass-colored device in the upper right hand corner of the photograph is called a 'ball drip' valve. A ball drip is one type of automatic drain valve that may be attached to the supply pipe for the fire department connection on a waterbased fire suppression system where a fire department connection is required. This might include sprinklers, standpipes, high-pressure mist systems, water-spray systems, or any other system where it is considered desirable that the fire department has the opportunity to supplement the system's pressure and volume."
United States Fire Administration
2009-04-28
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Coffee Break Training: Building Construction: Separating Sprayed-Foam Insulation
"This eerie looking material is a sprayed-foam insulation product that is popular in single-family dwellings for its ease of installation and insulating properties. A similar product can be poured into building cavities to slow air infiltration. A polyurethane derivative, this particular product is made from two components that are mixed on the job before application. In the liquid spray form, the material expands about 100 times its original volume as it dries into these shapes. Once it has dried, the material can be destroyed by flames, but it will not sustain combustion. The material should not be installed within 2 inches (50 mm) of a heat-emitting device where the temperature can exceed 180 °F (82 °C). It cannot be used in electrical outlet or junction boxes. When tested in accordance with ASTM [American Society for Testing and Materials] E-84, 'Test Methods for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials' (the Steiner Tunnel test), the product has a flame spread index less than 20, smoke development index less than 400, and a fuel contribution of 0."
United States Fire Administration
2009-04-24
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Sprinkler Aboveground Hydrostatic Tests
"Once a sprinkler system has been installed, or has been altered significantly, the work must be pressure tested to find and correct any leaks. This testing is known as 'hydrostatic' testing because the pipe is filled with water and then pressurized. NFPA13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems', requires that the hydrostatic test occur at a minimum of 200 psi (13.8 bar) and there can be no pressure loss for two hours. If the systems are exposed to more than 150 psi (10.4 bar) working pressure, they must be tested at a pressure of 50 psi (3.5 bar) in excess of system working pressure. For example, if the normal water pressure in a neighborhood is 175 psi (12 bar), the sprinkler system must be hydrostatically tested to at least 225 psi (15.5 bar)."
United States Fire Administration
2009-04-14
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Coffee Break Training: Firetalk -- Staying Abreast of Fire Service Trends and Topics Via Podcasts
"This lesson builds upon the Coffee Break Bulletin 'Harnessing the Power of RSS.' The rapid growth of broadband Internet connectivity in recent years has helped make the distribution of rich media, such as audio or video broadcasts, quick and easy. The fire service community has seized upon this capability by offering a variety of highly informative, easily accessible audio programs otherwise known as podcasts. Podcasts are nonmusical audio files that are distributed over the internet automatically through Really Simple Syndication (RSS). Although podcasts were originally developed for the Apple iPod, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts. In fact, all you need is a computer. When you click on a link to a podcast your PC's audio software such as Windows Media Player will begin playing the MP3 file automatically. (An MP3 file is a popular compressed format for audio files). Transferring the podcast to a portable MP3 player is optional."
United States Fire Administration
2009-04-08
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Main Drain Outlets
"The discharge point of the main drain often is an overlooked detail in sprinkler system installation. Owners, designers, and fitters may try to find convenient, out-of-the-way places, without considering the consequences of the decision. NFPA13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems', requires that main drain test outlets be installed at locations that will permit flow tests of water supplies and connections. The outlet should be arranged so the valve can be opened wide for a sufficient time to assure a proper test without causing water damage. It's common to find main drain outlets indoors where it is expected to flow into a recessed floor drain. If you look at the discharge from the 2-inch (51 mm) outlet in the picture, you can see that the amount water and turbulence with which is it discharged may be more than a typical floor drain can handle."
United States Fire Administration
2009-04-07
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America's Fire and Emergency Services Leader: Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report to Congress
"USFA [United States Fire Administration] is an integral part of DHS [Department of Homeland Security] and FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] and it will continue to support FEMA's commitment to all hazards emergency management. Building on the vision of the new FEMA to transform the agency into the Nation's preeminent emergency management and preparedness agency, USFA has developed a five-year Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2009-2013 with its focus and emphasis on the following performance goals: 1) reduce risk at the local level through prevention and mitigation; 2) improve local planning and preparedness; 3) improve the fire and emergency services' capability for response to and recovery from all hazards; 4) improve the fire and emergency services' professional status; and 5) lead the Nation's fire and emergency services by establishing and sustaining USFA as a dynamic organization. USFA will continue to review and revise its Strategic Plan, as necessary, to establish operational plans that best achieve the USFA goals, objectives, and strategies in support of public education and awareness initiatives, training, research, technology development, data collection and analysis, and partnering with other fire safety interests. In accordance with USFA's Strategic Plan 2009-2013, USFA's mission is to provide national leadership to foster a solid foundation for local fire and emergency services for prevention, preparedness and response. This is accomplished in coordination with Federal agencies, and in partnership with fire protection and emergency services in communities nationwide."
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-30
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Coffee Break Training: Means of Egress: Means of Egress Components
"Most people readily acknowledge a pair of marked exit doors as a path to safe egress from a building. In the model building and fire codes, however, the means of egress is more specifically defined so the code official can apply the requirements properly based on individual components. The means of egress is a 'continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way.' The codes treat means of egress as a comprehensive 'system' of components. A means of egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit, and the exit discharge."
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-24
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Coffee Break Training: Hazardous Materials: Bulk LPG Groups
"LPG [liquefied petroleum gas] as storage and transfer depots may have numerous aboveground containers clustered together. When pressure vessels like those pictured (known as ASME containers) have an individual water capacity of 12,000 gal (45 m3) or more and are installed for use in a single location, the number of containers in one group must be limited, and there must be adequate separation from other groups based on the type of fire protection provided."
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-17
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Coffee Break Training: Possible Product Incompatibility
"In many automatic sprinkler installations it is common for the fitter to use both steel and nonmetallic pipe. The steel's durability and the superior friction loss characteristics of plastic together make them a desirable combination in some fire protection applications. However, concerns have occurred recently regarding the use of some antimicrobial coatings found on some steel pipe. The coatings are provided to resist microbiologically influenced corrosion [MIC] (See Coffee Break Training 2008-20 for information on MIC). Research suggests that some of these coatings may contain compounds that can affect nonmetallic sprinkler pipe, resulting in environmental stress cracks."
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-04
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Coffee Break Training: Understanding How Information is Organized -- Subject Searching
"Chances are you've undoubtedly used the yellow pages somewhere along the line. The key, of course, to finding what you're looking for in the yellow pages is knowing under what topic heading it's listed. And that's not always obvious. Say you're looking for paint for your car. Do you look under Paint -- Automobile? Paint -- Car? Well, actually, in my phone book it's found under Automobile -- Parts, Services, and Accessories. The benefit of grouping things under these categories is that once you've found the right term to look under, you can be assured that everything fitting your particular interest can be found there. Searching for things by subject in a database such as the Learning Resource Center (LRC) Online Catalog is really no different. Just as with the yellow pages, you may not always find your topic categorized by the term that seems most obvious to you. If, for example, you browse the LRC Online Catalog subject listing on the topic 'municipal fire protection' you'll find instead that you'll need to look under the term 'urban fire protection.'"
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-04
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Sprinkler Inspections
"Today's illustration identifies two problems with this upright sprinkler in an attic on a 1-inch riser nipple (also known as a 'sprig up'). This damage was discovered by another company on a service call after other portions of the sprinkler system froze and broke. The corrosion resulted from a leak between the sprinkler and pipe. Why wasn't this identified as part of the annual inspection required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 25, 'Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems?' NFPA 25 requires 'Sprinklers shall be inspected from the floor level annually. . . . Sprinklers installed in concealed spaces such as above suspended ceilings shall not require inspection.' The purpose of these inspections is to find and correct obvious deficiencies; in this case, the sprinkler above the ceiling could not have been observed from the floor."
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-03
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Coffee Break Training: Storage Practices: Hogged Fuel Storage Piles
"The pile of wood waste in the photograph is called 'hogged fuel,' and consists of sawdust, shavings, and yard waste mixed with the bark and trim from sawmilling and related raw wood handling operations. Hog fuel generally is wet, usually in excess of 50 percent by weight, but given the right conditions it is highly susceptible to spontaneous combustion from biological decomposition. The model fire codes provide differing regulations on how hog fuel must be stored."
United States Fire Administration
2009-03-03
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Coffee Break Training: Storage Practices: Log Storage Areas
"When felled logs come out of the forest and are brought to the sawmill, they often are stored in piles for a period of time before being cut into lumber. These large log piles are known in the wood products industry as 'cold decks.' The size of cold decks is limited by the fire codes to provide firefighting access and minimize the total amount of combustible materials that might be in one pile."
United States Fire Administration
2009-02-24
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Coffee Break Training: How to Find Executive Fire Officer Program Applied Research Project Papers
"The Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) helps provide senior fire leaders in fire and emergency services an understanding of the value of research and its application in meeting challenges encountered in the practice of their profession. Leaders committed to lifelong learning likely are to be better prepared to both critically analyze problems and find innovative solutions by drawing upon not only their own knowledge but also from the shared insights, experiences, and knowledge of others. EFOP participants must complete an Applied Research Project (ARP) that relates to their organization within 6 months after the completion of each of four required courses. Most EFO papers published since FY98 are now available to download or read online in their entirety via the LRC Online Catalog. Also, you'll see hyperlinks in our online catalog citations to the PDF versions of these EFO papers as they become available. There's a backlog in scanning current year papers, so the most recent titles may still be unavailable online."
United States Fire Administration
2009-02-18
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Coffee Break Training: Hazardous Materials: Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas Container Separation Distances
"Liquefied petroleum gases (LPGs) include propane, butane, and other LPG mixtures that are popular fuel sources for heating, cooking, illumination, and industrial processes. LPG has an ignition temperature in air of 900 ºF to 1,020 ºF (482 ºC to 549 ºC) and a maximum flame temperature in air from 3,595 ºF to 3,615 ºF (1,979 ºC to 1,991 ºC). These hazards require that storage facilities be arranged to minimize catastrophic events. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 58, 'Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code', includes the following distance requirements for separating LPG containers from adjacent containers, important buildings, groups of buildings, or the property line of adjacent parcels where structures can be erected."
United States Fire Administration
2009-02-17
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Coffee Break Training: Commercial Cooking: Cooking Hood Luminaires
"The environment beneath a commercial cooking hood is the perfect place for an unwanted fire to occur: grease-laden vapors suspended in warm air coming into contact with open flames and electrical appliances. One potential ignition source that is addressed by NFPA 70 [National Fire Protection Association], 'National Electrical Code', is the installation of the wiring and the equipment forming the parts of luminaires (fixtures) beneath the hood where grease might accumulate in combustible mixtures. Where illumination is provided inside a commercial cooking hood, luminaires that are identified by Underwriters Laboratories or another approved independent lab for use within the hood can be installed as long as the temperature limitations of the luminaire, the conductors, and the wiring method connected to the luminaire are not exceeded."
United States Fire Administration
2009-02-03
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Health and Wellness Guide
The prevalence of cardiovascular illness and deaths and work-inhibiting strains and sprains among firefighters illustrates the need for a comprehensive health and wellness program in every department. The fire service realizes that health and wellness programs benefit individual firefighters and the fire and emergency services as a whole; such programs can yield safer and more effective action by first responders to emergencies. This guide provides the rationale and suggestions for implementing a health and wellness program successfully in the volunteer fire and emergency services.
United States Fire Administration
2009-02
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U.S. Fire Administration Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
"Firefighting is one of the Nation's most dangerous and hazardous jobs, with heart attacks, high physical stress levels, sprains, and strains all too common. Of all firefighters in the United States, 72 percent are volunteers. The leading cause of on-duty death among volunteers is heart attack. The leading cause of injuries for all firefighters is overexertion and strain. The prevalence of cardiovascular illness and deaths and work-inhibiting strains and sprains among firefighters illustrates the need for a comprehensive health and wellness program in every department. The fire service realizes that health and wellness programs benefit individual firefighters and the fire and emergency services as a whole; such programs can yield safer and more effective action by first responders to emergencies. Many organizations have addressed the issue of health and wellness in the fire service. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) redeveloped its health and wellness standards in 2003. Since 1997, several career departments have worked with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) on a wellness initiative. To address the issues specific to volunteers, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) developed this guide to health and wellness for volunteer departments and members. In 2003, the NVFC launched the ground breaking Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program specifically to address heart disease in the fire and emergency services. This awareness and prevention campaign targets all firefighters and emergency personnel-both volunteer and career."
United States Fire Administration
2009-02
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Coffee Break Training: Learn How to Manage your Information by Harnessing the Power of Really Simple Syndication (RSS)
"You've no doubt heard of RSS by now. You've probably seen those funny orange icons on Web sites? Maybe you've heard coworkers talk about it, but still have no idea yourself what RSS is? Have no fear, there are a lot of other people who haven't either, but this is changing. RSS is not only transforming the way news, media, and Web site owners share information, but it's also rapidly changing the way we all consume it. RSS allows us to get updates to the content of RSS-enabled Web sites without having to visit these sites repeatedly ourselves. Instead, information from such Web sites (typically the title and a description) is piped to us in a process known as really simply syndication."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-28
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Coffee Break Training: Means of Egress: Recognizable Doors
"Interior designers, decorators, and owners often select colors, patterns, and styles to convey a specific message or theme about their business. Occasionally, these design treatments create so much 'visual clutter' that it is nearly impossible to distinguish the means of egress from the adjacent walls. During an emergency, building occupants should have clear visual clues to identify the quickest and safest way out of a building. To avoid problems and prevent confusion, the model fire and building codes require that means of egress doors be 'readily distinguishable' from the adjacent construction and wall finishes so the doors are easily recognizable as doors. Mirrors or similar reflecting materials may not be used on egress doors. No doors in the means of egress may be concealed by curtains, drapes, decorations, or similar materials."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-27
