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Coffee Break Training: Commercial Cooking: Grease Filters for Exhaust Ducts
"Historically, grease filtration and extraction devices have been fire-protection devices intended to keep grease accumulations inside exhaust ducts under control and prevent flames from reaching the grease. Approved grease filters (or grease extractors) must be provided for all hoods over cooking equipment that produces smoke- or grease-laden vapors. Three main types of grease filters and extractors in use today include the baffle filter, water wash filter, and dry-cartridge (or removable) filter. These baffle-style filters have surface areas larger than mesh filters that were predominant for many years. The baffles condense vapor and moisture, and increase centrifugal separation to significantly improve grease collection efficiency."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-20
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Coffee Break Training: Hazardous Materials: Bulk Petroleum Storage and Liquefied Petroleum Gases
"The photograph illustrates two potential hazards at petroleum production or storage sites: bulk flammable/ combustible liquid tanks and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pressure vessels in proximity to one another. The model fire codes establish minimum separation requirements between the two fuel hazards to minimize the risk of exposure problems in the event of a fire, but the requirements require close scrutiny and thoughtful consideration."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-13
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Alarms and Detection: Smoke Detector Placement for Elevator Recall
"The location of this spot-type smoke detector for the adjacent elevator's Phase I Emergency Recall Operation is intriguing and deserves closer scrutiny. According to NFPA 72®, 'National Fire Alarm Code', a lobby smoke detector to initiate Phase I recall must be located on the ceiling within 21 feet (6.4 m) of the centerline of each elevator door within the elevator bank under control of the detector. Spot-type smoke detectors should be located on the ceiling not less than 4 inches (100 mm) from a sidewall to the near edge or, if on a sidewall, between 4 inches and 12 inches. (100 mm and 300 mm) down from the ceiling to the top of the detector. The purpose of Phase I Emergency Recall Operation is to have the elevator automatically return to the recall level before fire can affect its safe operation."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-12
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Coffee Break Training: You Can Search but Can You Find? Part II. Get Better Results -- Google Search Advanced Techniques
"This session builds upon the Google Search Basics we learned about in an earlier lesson. We can avoid information overload by using the following search techniques to better refine our results."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-07
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Coffee Break Training: Access and Water Supplies: Fire Apparatus Access Road Widths
"Often it seems there is an immutable conflict among property owners, land use planners, and emergency response officials over the width of roads in some neighborhoods. Property owners and developers may want to minimize the impact and cost of drivable surfaces while fire officials are concerned about safe, reasonable access to emergency scenes. The two model fire codes, the 'International Fire Code' and 'NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 1','Uniform Fire Code', address the access road requirement similarly. Both require that a minimum 20-foot-(6.1 m) wide road reach within 150 feet (45 m) of all portions of the exterior wall of the first story of a building, measured in an approved route around the exterior. The illustration shows the importance of the minimum 20-foot-width requirement to help in firefighting tactics. Modern fire apparatus, especially large aerial equipment, consume a major part of the driving surface. When ladder trucks or aerial towers have their stabilizing jacks extended, they use even more of the road."
United States Fire Administration
2009-01-06
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Traffic Calming - Speed Humps Effect on Emergency Response Times
This paper is a product of the United States Fire Administration's Executive Fire Officer Program. "In the past several years, the City of Des Plaines has received numerous requests from citizens and public officials for the installation of speed humps. They are viewed as the solution to control speeding vehicles and relieve traffic congestion in residential neighborhoods. The public's lack of knowledge of traffic calming methods has led to the requests for speed humps; when other methods may be more appropriate or beneficial to use. Since the City has no formal traffic calming policy, the requests have been denied, even though they may be valid. As more requests are being received, pressure from the public is increasing for their installation. The fire department is concerned that City will begin to approve the use of speed humps, which have a negative effect on fire apparatus response times to emergencies. Through descriptive research, this study identified the purposes for traffic calming and the most popular methods used in the Chicagoland area. The effects traffic calming has on fire apparatus response times were examined along with criteria required to develop a traffic calming policy. Literature review was conducted to better understand the subject. Surveys were conducted of Chicagoland fire departments to ascertain their experience with traffic calming. Interviews were conducted with individuals that have experience with traffic calming in their municipality. The research results concluded that traffic calming is effective and provides the regulations required to reduce the speed of vehicles and cut-through traffic in targeted areas. It also determined that speed humps absolutely effect response time of fire apparatus. The research outlines what a traffic calming policy should include to provide the desired results for all stakeholders and it is recommended that the City of Des Plaines draft a traffic calming policy."
United States Fire Administration
Jaeger, Randel R.
2009
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Fire Spokesperson's Pocket Media Guide
"As someone who speaks with the news media about residential fires in your community, you play a major role in communicating important fire safety and prevention information to the public. This pocket media guide shows you how to make the most of these 'teachable moments' -- media interviews following a fire, when the public's interest and attention are at a peak. In addition to providing the facts about the fire, you also can share one or more messages that encourage the viewer/reader to take action that could save a life."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); United States Fire Administration; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
2009?
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Coffee Break Training: Standpipe Express Drains
"Standpipe systems are an important fire fighting tool for manual suppression. They must deliver a minimum flow at a specific pressure so fire fighters can have confidence their nozzles will operate properly and there is enough water to control and extinguish a fire. Where higher than normal operating pressures (175 psi or 12 bar) are expected, standpipe systems may be equipped with pressure regulating devices. Class I and III standpipe systems that have pressure regulating device on the hose outlets must have a means for conducting flow tests every five years to verify the pressure regulating device is operating properly and the minimum required flows are available. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 14, 'Standard for the Installation of Standpipes and Hose Systems', the drain must have a 3-inch (76 mm) minimum inside diameter to accommodate the required flow. At every other floor level or intermediate landing where the hose outlet is located, the drain should have a 3-in. x 2-1/2-in. (76 mm x 65 mm) tee with a female-threaded, swivel fitting having National Hose Standard threads and a plug."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-30
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Coffee Break Training: Sprinklers in Corrosive Environments
"Some harsh environments and chemicals may cause sprinkler operating elements or parts to corrode, potentially affecting the sprinklers' performance or resulting in leaks. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems', listed corrosion-resistant sprinklers must be installed in locations where chemicals, moisture, or other corrosive vapors sufficient to cause corrosion may occur. Typical locations where corrosive conditions can exist include bleaching operations, dye houses, metal plating processes, animal pens, chemical plants, and salt air environments such as beneath piers and wharves. A not-so-obvious location is this indoor swimming pool where airborne vapors from water treatment chemicals may have a corrosive effect on the Belleville seal that holds back the water as well as the pipe where the sprinkler is connected."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-23
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Coffee Break Training: You Can Search but Can You Find? Part I. Get Better Results -- Google Search Advanced Techniques
"Today's coffee break training will provide you several important tools for better controlling the kind of search results you get when using the Google search engine."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-17
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Coffee Break Training: Housekeeping
"An occupancy's housekeeping practices often reflect the owner's attitude toward fire safety. This photograph was taken of a storage area beneath exit stairs in a large convention center with an occupant capacity of several thousand persons. The accumulation and variety of combustibles in a small space is surprising. Look closely and you will see ordinary combustible materials, a paint can that may contain a flammable or combustible liquid, cleaning chemicals, two pressure vessels of refrigerant gases, and two portable welding kits that contain oxidizing and flammable gases. If you look even more closely, you will see the edge of a hot water tank in the lower left-hand side of the picture that could be an ignition source for any of these items. The model fire codes require that combustible storage in buildings be orderly and separated from heaters or heating devices by distance or shielding so ignition cannot occur. The codes also prohibit storage in mechanical rooms or electrical rooms."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-16
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Coffee Break Training: Avoiding Unwanted Accidents
"As the winter season approaches, and liquid or gas fuel costs remain unstable, many people may turn to alternative heating sources to keep warm. In addition, many businesses that have open-air storage or operations may turn on their temporary outdoor heating appliances. The combination of alternative fuel and heating appliances illustrated in today's Warning! Hot Coffee may create a condition leading to an unwanted accident. The infrared heater located above the manufactured wood product display caused the wax-coated wrappings to melt. According to the product's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), the manufactured article contains 44 to 60 percent by weight of natural cellulosic materials, and the balance consists of a proprietary blend of fatty acid materials. The manufacturer recommends the products be stored in a cool, dry location."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-11
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Coffee Break Training: Quick Tips for Searching the Learning Resource Center (LRC) Online Catalog
"The LRC [Learning Resource Center] has one of the most comprehensive collections of materials relating to the fire and emergency medical services in the U.S. It's your one-stop source for identifying books, Executive Fire Officer papers, reports, government documents, and magazine articles that cover a topic in which you're interested. However, to ensure a successful search experience with the LRC Online Catalog, you'll want to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with these simple, but essential, search techniques."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-10
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Coffee Break Training: Sprinkler Valve Position Identification
"Who hasn't gone to inspect a fire sprinkler system and momentarily been taken aback by the confusing array of pipes, valves, gauges, fittings, and other trim? Depending upon the system configuration, some control valves should be left in the 'normally open' position, while others should be left in the 'normally closed' position. Sometimes, without tracing out the pipe path by hand, it's hard to tell which is the correct valve in the correct position. In Coffee Break Training 2008-17 (April 22, 2008) we showed how leaving an alarm control valve in the wrong position could have had disastrous consequences. That was a single incident in a small warehouse. Where a facility may have dozens or even hundreds of fire sprinkler systems--such as a college campus--the likelihood of an error in valve positioning is multiplied many times over."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-09
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Coffee Break Training: Heated Air Flow
"Imagine standing on a bridge overlooking the Mississippi River in Iowa and watching Ol' Man River lazily flowing between its banks. Now, imagine standing in the Sierra Nevada and watching the Feather River churn into white water over rocks, downed trees, and sandbars on its way to the Pacific Ocean. What do these mental images have to do with fire? They are simple examples of the dynamics of flow: the Mississippi River in Iowa is an example of smooth or 'laminar' flow, while the roiling Feather River is an example of 'turbulent' flow. Free-burning flames perform the same way and are influenced by many of the same physical factors as water flowing from one point to another. Gases and liquids behave by following the laws of fluid dynamics. A laminar flow is one where the diffuse or premixed flame behaves smoothly. A lighted candle or the burner in an oil-fired furnace are examples of laminar flow. Unless influenced by air currents, any flame up to about 1 foot (305 mm) will appear to have laminar characteristics."
United States Fire Administration
2008-12-02
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Coffee Break Training: Saying it Correctly
"The student shall be able to explain the difference among the terms 'fusible,' 'frangible,' 'friable,' and 'fissile'. Today's Coffee Break Training is a vocabulary lesson. Every industry and profession has its own words and phrases that may be uniquely understood by others in that field. At times, though, we are required to communicate clearly with persons who may not understand our jargon. We should make every effort to choose our words wisely so our message is conveyed. In the fire protection field, there are several 'F words' that may cause confusion among users as well as those with whom we communicate. When giving instructions or issuing correction notices,"
United States Fire Administration
2008-11-25
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Coffee Break Training: Flame Descriptions
"Combustion is a dynamic and complex chemical reaction that research scientists must try to explain and understand. The simple, traditional descriptor of the 'fire triangle' or the more modern 'fire tetrahedron' may serve as simple verbal shorthand to explain combustion to a lay person, but clearly they are not sophisticated enough to describe the intricate chemical decomposition and simultaneous physical changes that occur where oxygen, heat, and fuel merge into that phenomenon we call 'fire.' In the research world, even flame 'types' are described differently: there are 'premixed' flames and 'diffusion' flames. A premixed flame occurs when the fuel gas and oxygen or air are mixed before ignition. A familiar example is the flame from an oxyacetylene cutting torch. The acetylene and oxygen are mixed at the nozzle and ignited by a spark or other source to produce a concentrated, high-temperature, and efficient flame. Other examples in day-to-day life include laboratory Bunsen burners and the burners for a hot water tank or a gas-fire stovetop."
United States Fire Administration
2008-11-18
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Coffee Break Training: Back-to-Back Sidewall Sprinklers
"The sidewall sprinklers in this photograph were installed in this back-to-back configuration to spray water in either direction along means of egress that is open along one side to a multiple story atrium. While this may have been a well-intentioned solution to a particular design challenge, it does not appear to meet the installation guidance of nationally recognized fire protection standards. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems', standard horizontal or extended coverage sidewall sprinklers should not be installed back-to-back without being separated by a continuous lintel, soffit, or baffle. In this example, the baffle extends only a few inches on either side and above the sprinkler."
United States Fire Administration
2008-11-11
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Coffee Break Training: Sprinkler Separation
"For some unknown reason, the sprinklers in the photograph were installed within just a few inches of one another. While it may seem like this is providing an extra amount of protection, the installation does not comply with the requirements of NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 13, 'Standard for the Installation of Automatic Sprinklers'. When a sprinkler system is designed, sprinkler placement is selected based on the sprinkler type, the occupancy hazard classification and potential obstructions to heat collection or water discharge. NFPA 13 and the sprinklers' listings provide strict rules for the sprinkler installer to follow. In this case, the problem is the sprinklers are installed too closely to one another. If one sprinkler were to operate, the water spray from it likely would fall upon the other sprinkler and prevent its heat-sensitive element from operating. This is a condition known in the fire protection industry as 'cold soldering.'"
United States Fire Administration
2008-11-04
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Coffee Break Training: Part VI: Inspecting Modular Construction
"Modular buildings typically are inspected at the factory by a third-party inspection agency. These independent agencies provide certifications and/or certificates to the local code official when the building is delivered to the site. When this is provided, there is no need for local inspectors to perform 'rough-work' inspections or to look behind finished walls--this has all been done by the third-party inspector who attests to the proper completion of the work. Local inspectors are responsible for inspecting foundations and site work, utility installation and connections, and the final assembly of the structure. Most recognized third-party inspection agencies are certified and recognized by the Federal and State governments to provide in-plant inspection and design approval. Modular buildings may have large concealed void spaces in the walls between modules. There also will be a large interstitial space between each story. In each case, the inspector should verify compliance with the draftstopping and fireblocking requirements in the code."
United States Fire Administration
2008-10-28
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Coffee Break Training: Part V: Factory-Built Construction Codes
"Factory-built structures--whether 'modular' or 'manufactured'--must meet construction safety codes. The codes address structural, electrical, fire, plumbing, and mechanical components of factory-built structures. Today's 'Coffee Break Training' summarizes some of the sources for construction code information."
United States Fire Administration
2008-10-21
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Coffee Break Training: Part IV: Fire Response to Modular Construction
"Modular buildings have two unique features that may present unforeseen risks to firefighters. You should be aware of and alert to these differences--note the modular buildings in your community during your inspections and prefire planning. First, there may be larger than expected concealed void spaces between each of the modules of the building. In multistory modular buildings, there is typically a void, or interstitial, space between each story and concealed cavities in the walls where two modules fit together. All of these concealed voids are larger that those found in most buildings constructed using traditional construction techniques, and they have the same potential for spreading fire inherent to all concealed spaces. Because of their larger size, they will have both more fuel available for a fire to burn, and more oxygen available to support combustion. 'This condition is not unique to modular construction--any structure where trusses are present has void spaces that are larger than found in structures where dimensional lumber is used to support floors, ceilings, and other surfaces./ Second, modular buildings are constructed using adhesives instead of nails or screws to attach drywall to the ceiling and wall studs. A fire in the concealed space behind the wall or above the ceiling will burn this adhesive, causing it to lose its ability to support the drywall or sheathing. If this happens, the ceiling could collapse progressively into the room. A collapse by itself could injure or trap a firefighter operating in the room; it also could result in a very rapid flashover condition."
United States Fire Administration
2008-10-14
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Coffee Break Training: Part III: Recognizing Modular Construction
"If you didn't see a structure built, and if you don't have the plans available, how can you tell whether it was built using a modular method? It's not easy. Modular building manufacturers go to great lengths to assure that most people cannot tell the difference between their product and traditional site-built buildings. Identifying them is best done during prefire planning and/or inspections, rather than during an emergency response. Since each module typically has four walls, a ceiling, and a floor, the joints where two modules fit together provide the best visual indication that you are looking at a modular building--they will be wider or thicker than similar building elements built using traditional methods. Looking at doorways or the edges of short walls, you may notice that the wall is wider or thicker than the other walls in the building. Instead of a typical 4-1/2-inch (114 mm) wide wall (3-1/2-inch [90 mm] studs with 1/2-inch [13 mm] drywall on each face), you may notice a wall that is 8 or 8-1/2- (203 to 216 mm) inches thick. This is a very good clue that this wall is the joint between two modules."
United States Fire Administration
2008-10-07
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Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service [October 2008]
"The national security system must be massively reorganized if federal agencies are to cooperate and collaborate more effectively to combat the multitude of threats facing the U.S. in the 21st century, according to recommendations released today by the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR). The PNSR recommendations outlined in Forging A New Shield would replace a national security system created 60 years ago, that despite many marginal attempts to reform, often discourages agencies from working together on joint assignments and policy implementation to respond to crises and effectively manage national security affairs. The recommendations comprise a broad set of mandates to improve the national security system by streamlining integrated strategy and policy among agencies and programs, improving coordination with a newly established network for sharing information, providing better job training for employees and consolidating Congressional oversight, the report says. The life safety of both firefighters and citizens depends on reliable, functional communication tools that work in the harshest and most hostile of environments. Firefighters operate in extreme environments that are markedly different from those of any other radio users. Firefighters operate lying on the floor; in zero visibility, high heat, high moisture, and wearing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) facepieces that distort the voice. They are challenged further by bulky safety equipment, particularly gloves, that eliminate the manual dexterity required to operate portable radio controls. Firefighters operate inside structures of varying sizes and construction types."
United States Fire Administration
2008-10
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Water Supply Systems and Evaluation Methods, Volume II: Water Supply Evaluation Methods
This is volume 2 of a two part series on the use of water supply in fire fighting.
United States Fire Administration
2008-10
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Water Supply Systems and Evaluation Methods, Volume I: Water Supply System Concepts
"Water for human consumption comes from one of two basic sources: 1) Water from a well to supply an individual residence, well water for farmstead properties, and well water for small public sector properties that include schools, public buildings, and small commercial enterprises. 2) Municipal water systems that provide potable water to a wide array of commercial property and domestic use buildings including apartments, condominiums, duplex housing, and single family dwellings. This chapter uses the Washington, DC, Water System as an example in order to introduce concepts associated with a fundamental understanding of water distribution systems. This system was selected because it typifies many of the water systems in the United States that rely on water sources including rivers, lakes, and low-level water retention dams. Other water supply sources are examined under Topic 3 in this chapter. Understanding the fundamentals of a municipal water supply delivery system is essential to closely examining the many features of a water system and the many options in designing a water delivery system."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Hickey, Harry E.
2008-10
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U.S. Fire Administration: Residential Structure and Building Fires: October 2008
This document from the U.S. Fire Administration details the trends involved in residential fires and other predictive data."The residential portion of the fire problem continues to account for the vast majority of civilian casual¬ties. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates show that, while residential structure fires account for only 25 percent of fires nationwide, they account for a disproportionate share of losses: 83 percent of fire deaths, 77 percent of fire injuries, and 64 percent of direct dollar losses.1 Analyses of the residential structure fire problem were published formerly as a chapter in each edition of Fire in the United States. The most recent edition of Fire in the United States, the fourteenth edition published in August 2007, featured an abbreviated chapter on residential structures. This full report is the most current snapshot of the residential fire problem as reflected in the 2005 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data and the 2005 NFPA survey data. In this report, as in previous chapters in Fire in the United States, an attempt has been made to keep the data presentation and analysis as straightforward as possible. It is also the desire of the United States Fire Administration (USFA) to make the report widely accessible to many different users, so it avoids unnecessarily complex methodology."
United States Fire Administration
2008-10
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Coffee Break Training: Part II: Modular Construction
"'Modular construction' is a type of construction in which portions of the building are divided into modules or sections that are manufactured in a remote facility and delivered to a site for final assembly into a building. The modules are assembled into a single building using either a crane or trucks. Most often encountered as modular homes, this method of construction is being used increasingly in multifamily dwellings and commercial and institutional occupancies. Once construction is complete, it is very difficult to tell whether a structure was built using modular construction methods. Modular homes use the same materials for framing, interior finishes, exterior finishes, and the same heating and cooling systems that are used in traditional construction. The appraised value of modular homes typically is identical to that of site-built homes. Modular home designs are customized to comply with local building and zoning codes. For example, homes built for final assembly in a hurricane- or earthquake-prone area will have additional bracing built in to meet local building codes. Modular components typically are constructed within a large indoor facility on assembly lines much like Henry Ford originally instituted for automobile assembly. Such facilities use an assembly-line track to move the modules from one workstation to the next. Independent third-party building inspectors are on site to supervise the construction and ensure that all building codes are adhered to during assembly."
United States Fire Administration
2008-09-30
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Coffee Break Training: Part I: Factory-Built Structures
"Most of us are familiar with site-built, or 'stick-built' construction. These terms are used to describe the traditional method of constructing a building, where individual pieces of lumber or other materials are delivered to the site and are assembled in a logical sequence. Increasingly, buildings are being assembled in a factory and delivered to the site in one or more pieces for final assembly. Once a building is completed, very few people can tell the difference between buildings built using the different construction methods."
United States Fire Administration
2008-09-23
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Coffee Break Training: Clearance from Noncontinuous Obstructions
"Today's photograph illustrates a common challenge for fire sprinkler installers: positioning sprinklers away from potential obstructions to the water discharge pattern. This truss web is defined by NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems' as a 'noncontinuous obstruction': where 'beams, trusses, or other members may impede heat flow or water distribution in a manner that materially affects the ability of sprinklers to control or suppress a fire.' In order to ensure that the sprinkler is located far enough from the structural element to minimize discharge interference, NFPA 13 establishes distance 'rules' based on the sprinkler type and size of the obstruction. For standard spray and large-drop sprinklers, the 'three times' rule applies; for extended coverage and residential sprinklers, use the 'four times' rule."
United States Fire Administration
2008-09-16
