‘Fire Safety’ was, about five decades ago, a little neglected aspect of ‘safe living’ and ‘safe industrial operations’. However, since then, introduction of relevant codes, norms, regulations and general awareness of how dangerous and fatal fire hazards can be has done much good towards understanding and realizing Fire Safety.
‘Fire Safety’ is a term that is generally used very loosely – at times, without context and accuracy. In a technical sense, ‘Fire Safety’ can simply be defined as a set of one and all measures taken so as to make sure that the risk of fire hazards is minimized in a given place of residence, business, production, industry and general occupation by people.
This definition, as seen by many, is more or less comprehensive, broad and yet to-the-point and hence, largely, acceptable. The said definition however brings into discussion another loosely technical term – ‘Fire Hazard’.
A ‘Fire Hazard’ can be defined as loss or damage of any and every kind of property and/or human life incurred as a direct result of fire or fire related mishaps.
Fire hazards, it is well in order to mention here, are among the chief causes of domestic as well as industrial mishaps that, more often than not, translate into property damage, and in the most unfortunate of cases cause fatalities. However, it would come as an encouraging realization that, more through awareness and education than anything, fire hazards in many countries around the world have been on the decline in the last decade or so.
At this point, it will only be appropriate to discuss the statistics that surround fire hazards. Readers should note that the statistics furnished below (and the discussion to follow) are limited in scope to the data available from the United States. In case statistics or information provided in this article concerns other places/countries, it will be so mentioned in no uncertain terms.
According to the statistics published the United States Fire Administration, the number of fire hazards reported to all kinds of authorities in the United States, and the number of fire hazards that authorities responded to at their own volition (not reported), cumulatively, have gone down significantly in recent years. For instance, in 2002, the number of fire hazards reported was roughly 1,687,500 (annually), while the same number in 2011 was 1,389,500. The following graph shows how the number of reported fire hazards has reduced in years ranging from 2002 to 2011 (statistics by the USFA and FEMA).
In the same vein, the latest available data, for 2014 (not represented in the chart above) suggests that close to 1,298,000 fire incidents were reported – a decline of more than 22% from 2002.
Fire hazards have an enormous potential to cause damage. This damage is often distributed over two major types:
Fighting fire hazards is not always easy, as fire mishaps can quickly worsen in nature and scale. Hence, the best course of action, here, is to pre-empt fire hazard, and the only way to achieve this is to incorporate proper and technically sound ‘Fire Safety’ measures.
What this article would primarily aim to focus on is the nature of fire hazards, standard industry codes, common protocols and measures that need to be adopted in order to implement ‘fire safety’ and relevant details regarding avoidance of fire mishaps at households and businesses.
The International Building code is the standard code of practice that is adopted all over the world – especially in the United States in regard with various building procedures, including fire safety.
International Building Code is designed and advised by the International Code Council(ICC), an advisory assembly of various autonomous and governmental building and design institutions in the world. The codes advised by the ICC are implemented in various member communities. These codes are known as I-Codes and, are used as definitive guidelines for various aspects of building construction.
International Building Code, even though used in fullness in all American states and over 120 different sovereign countries, does not have a long standing history to boast of. The code, in itself, came into being just over 18 years ago in 1997 when the need for a standard set of guidelines to dictate how buildings were constructed in the United States was felt. Prior to the establishment of the International Code Council, there were many local, regional and state-based institutions that would draft and advise local construction policies. However, this was, quite understandably, far from an ideal practice as differences in regional and local building norms often led to confusion and legal tangles.
To get around this predicament, three of the most prominent building councils of the time, International Conference of Building Officials, Building Officials’ Code Administrators International, and Southern Building Code Congress International decided to merge resources in order to draft a common and extensive building code that would be applicable in all of the American states. This decision was followed by an intensive study and discussion period of three years, at the end of which a common code of practice, also known as a ‘legacy code’, came into existence. This was deemed to be ‘International Building Code’ and had a wide jurisdiction over every imaginable aspect of building construction, from safety of the occupants to beautification.
Following the establishment of this code, many national and international associations of builders, construction companies and architects decided to adopt it, making it a universally accepted building code.
International Building Code has a very wide scope when it comes to approving and advising various construction and design parameters. In that sense, the International Building Code is truly a comprehensive and exhaustive set of norms and advisory statutes.
The scope of this code can be summarized as follows:
Among various safety features suggested, advised and made mandatory by the International Building Code, Fire Safety provisions are the most detailed and elaborate kind. In various versions and amendments of this code published so far, emphasis has been on making buildings ‘safer’ and more ‘friendly’ for the occupants to live in.
In the same vein, it becomes necessary for us to understand various Fire Safety norms present in this code and how they go a long way in ensuring the prevention of fire related mishaps. It should be noted here that Fire Safety clauses in the International Building Code have, so far, been very much unaltered. Even though it is true that minor amendments have indeed been made to increase the effectivity of these clauses, it should be made clear that the core of these clauses is still what it was when the code was drafted in 1997.
The International Building Code relies heavily on identifying and eliminating potential fire hazards in order to minimize the risk associated with them. As a part of this policy, clear stress has been laid on using the most reliable construction material – especially wood. Inferior quality of wood and incorrectly fire-proofed walls have been cited by the International Building Code as two of the commonest reasons for the quick spread of fire inside residential buildings.
Apart from this, the code maintains its emphasis on classical fire prevention techniques like closed electrical systems and well-ventilated indoor spaces. In compliance with all applicable local and federal laws, the use of various fire extinguishing equipment has also been made mandatory.
Indicator assembly (fire alarms, smoke detectors, emergency calling systems etc.) systems, their procurement and design have also been ‘codified’ by the International Building Code. While conceding the influence of the International Building Code on various Fire Safety procedures adopted throughout the world, it should also be noted that a number of prominent American institutions – most notable among them being the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – have chosen to stay distant from the guidelines issued by the I-Codes.
Throughout its tenure, various versions of the International Building Code have had to endure lasting criticism from competent practitioners and institutions, in spite of its widespread adoption and popularity. However, when it comes to discussing Fire Safety, there are truly many noteworthy points that the International Building Code puts forth. These points have not only been lauded by various peripheral organizations, but also used as standard directives all over the world. Some of these points are noted below:
As stated earlier, the International Building Code is a widely used, referenced and adopted code. As of 2015, the International Building Code is used in all 50 American States and Territories. Internationally, it is used in over 120 countries and over 500 various accredited institutions, organizations and communities. The 2015 version of the International Building Code can be purchased from the official website of the ICC by following this link. It should also be noted that the ICC is presently in the process of developing a 2018 version of the code, and all qualified professionals are encouraged to present their views, comments and suggestions to make the 2018 version of the code more impactful and more inclusive.
Just
like the International Building Code, the International Residential Code was drafted by the International Code Council (ICC) and is amended from time to time to keep it relevant over the years.
While the International Building Code was relevant to any and every constructions, regardless of its size, nature or purpose, the International Residential Code is more or less limited in scope and jurisdiction. The major motivation behind the drafting of the International Residential Code was to create a set of legacy rules (norms) that will help dictate the terms of construction and design of ‘dwellings’ (houses) for one or two families and/or small scale occupied buildings (community centers, town houses etc.) that are three stories high at the maximum.
The International Residential Code, thus, concerns itself in being a code that generalizes the terms of design, procurement of materials, construction and safety aspects of buildings used for occupation by one/two families.
The origins of the International Residential Code can be easily traced back to those of the International Building Code and the foundation of the ICC. Like all other I-Codes, the International Residential Code is, in fullness, complies with all relevant state level and federal rules and regulations that concern construction and occupation of buildings. The idea for a specialized code for ‘dwellings’ for one or two families was first put forth in 1996 when the ICC was founded and the first draft for the International Building Code was being constructed. The major impetus behind taking this idea up and see it through to codification was the fact that even today, more than 60% of building space (floor area) constructed in the United States annually is comprised solely of residential spaces, i.e. ‘dwellings’. Because of this high percentage of residential construction, it was thought appropriate by various institutions and members who are a part of the ICC that there should be an exclusive code for such dwellings. After a four year span of intense study, discussions and scrutiny, the first draft of the International Residential Code was finally submitted to the ICC and was approved by the members. The first code came into existence in 2001 and was soon followed by every American State in strict entirety.
The International Residential Code is not as comprehensive in scope as the International Building Code. However, it must be noted that when it comes to the design and construction of residential buildings in the United States, the International Residential Code holds the highest authority in most experts’ opinion. The very reason for this solid reputation is the fact that a lot of research and thought has been given into the drafting of various versions of this code and all possible aspects of residential building construction have been covered in details through various chapters and sub-chapters of the code.
As far as the scope is concerned, the International Residential Code limits itself to the design and construction parameters, unlike the International Building Code that discusses every step of the process – from procurement to repair.
The major aspects covered by the International Residential Code are as follows:
One of the best known features of the International Residential Code is the heavy emphasis it tried to put on safety of residential buildings. It can be argued that because of the widespread adoption of the International Residential Code in recent years, there has been a marked decline in the number of fire related mishaps observed across the United States (as made clear in the introductory part of this article). The International Residential Code tries to advise, advocate and execute the use of the latest technology available in order to curb mishaps that most commonly occur at residential places. These include making structure of the building strong and integrated, introducing newer techniques to quake-proof the base of the building, making enough provisions for hurricane-proofing of the building whenever and wherever necessary and adopting strict Fire Safety norms so as to diminish all chances of fire related mishaps taking place.
Regarding the design of a dwelling for one/two families, specific design criteria have been advised by the International Residential Code. These criteria aim to make the building easier to evacuate in an unfortunate event of mishap. Also, adequate measures are advised to reduce the chances of fire hazards due to electricity and abate fires using various at-hand means of preliminary firefighting (e.g. fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, indoor sprinklers and fire alarms etc.).
The International Residential Code, in spite of its limited scope, is a fairly familiar code of standards across all American states and territories. Most architectural, design and construction institutions, companies and organizations identify themselves as a working partners of the ICC, and hence readily adopt all amendments made from time to time in the International Residential Code.
There are many points of note that the International Residential Code and amendments thereof have. Some of these have been summarized below.
Adoption of the International Residential Code is fairly straightforward. All American residential buildings are legally required to follow the International Residential Code. A formal application to the ICC can easily allow one to get an official permission to use the code as a directive (at their own responsibility). International residential projects wishing to adopt the code may have to pay a certain nominal fee before being able to do so. At present, the 2015 version of the International Residential Code is in effect. It will be amended in 2018 – a procedure that has already gone underway. A detailed scheduled for this amendment and revision process can be accessed here. The present version of the code can be purchased from the official ICC store by following this link.
The International Residential Code is presently used in all American states and territories. However, unlike the International Building Code, there are minor modifications/amendments are required while adopting the code based on the present state of various state laws that dictate the design and construction of residential buildings. This is particularly of importance in relation with laws that concern various safety aspects.
For examples, in a state like Alaska, heavy reliance is on making residential buildings energy optimized so as to battle harsh cold climatic conditions. On the other hands, in a coastal state like Florida, emphasis lies on making residential buildings flood proof, wind proof and hurricane proof. Thus, adoption of the International Residential Code is a direct function of local conditions, and these need to be taken into account while actually executing the code.
Although the International Residential Code is not a government statute or regulation, many states and local authorities make it mandatory for all new residential dwellings for one/two families to adopt the code in order to make sure that the design and construction of residential buildings is safe for occupation. This is particularly important as it has been observed in the past that adoption of the International Residential Code in entirety can be instrumental in avoiding many mishaps and accidents – including fire hazards.
Just like the International Building Code and the International Residential Code, the International Plumbing Code provides a set of exhaustive guidelines for the design, installation and maintenance of all plumbing infrastructure in residential, community and commercial buildings. The International Plumbing Code was first drafted in 1997 when the International Code Council (ICC) was founded. After rigorous discussions and reviews, first edition of the code was brought into effect in 1998. Since then, it has been made customary by the ICC to revise and amend the code every three years.
When the ICC was founded, almost two decades ago, the chief impetus behind the development of various standardized codes was to create a common and non-confusing benchmark for various construction projects around the United States. The first code to be developed in this vein, as mentioned earlier, was the International Building Code. Soon, other codes followed, with the International Plumbing Code being a major addition. The first edition of the code was relatively ‘classical’ in nature, meaning that various customs and traditions in plumbing were codified to meet a diverse set of requirements, without much addition to common knowledge. However, this was changes in the next (and subsequent) editions of the code, as more and more unique and time-relevant additions in technique were addressed through various amendments. The International Plumbing Code is, perhaps, the most widely adopted I-Code published by the ICC. It is universally accepted as a standardized set of directives. Many local authorities around the United States have already made it mandatory to base the piping and plumbing infrastructure of all new constructions on the International Plumbing Code.
Since the International Plumbing Code is a ‘specialty code’, there are certain limitations to its application and adoption. However, for the very reason that plumbing is an essential part of the infrastructure of just about every construction, regardless of its purpose or nature, it becomes quite predictable that the International Plumbing Code is widely used. The scope of the code is limited to various plumbing and piping related aspects of the design and construction of buildings. Following points are touched upon in varying details by the International Plumbing Code.
There isn’t a straightforward or direct connection between the plumbing infrastructure of a building and its Fire Safety. However, since the International Building Code has made it mandatory for every occupied building to have in-house firefighting sprinklers, an inherent consideration to the design and integration of such sprinklers into the existing/new plumbing infrastructure has become essential and pertinent. As an extension of this point, the International Plumbing Code has drafted and updated various guidelines that dictate the installation and maintenance of such sprinklers. Apart from these overhead sprinklers, provisions are also made to connect every building with the local mainframe firefighting water line.
There are certain points of note that need to be mentioned in passing while discussing the International Plumbing Code.
The International Plumbing Code is a popular I-Code and is fully owned by the International Code Council (ICC). As the code draft policy of the ICC explicitly makes clear, all I-Codes are reviews and amended (if needed) at the end of three years. What this means is that all I-Codes, upon publication, have a validity period of three years. The International Plumbing Code is no exception to this rule. Presently, the 2015 edition of the code is in effect. The next edition will be published in 2018, after extensive public discussions and reviews. The official copy of the code can be purchased directly from the website of the ICC.
Another widely adopted and referred to building and construction code that is hosted by the family of I-Codes is the International Mechanical Code. Adopted in over 100 countries and all American States, the International Mechanical Code is generally considered to be the most neutral, standard and technically advanced mechanical code there is.
The idea of the International Mechanical Code was first proposed in 1997, the year in which the International Code Council (ICC) was founded. The motivation behind this idea was to collect, regulate and classify all ‘floating’ mechanical codes in order to prepare a standardized universal version.
It would be well worth mentioning here that there were more than 15 different mechanical codes in existence before the International Mechanical Code was first drafted. However, since then, the number has dwindled as the International Mechanical Code is regarded as the standard authority in its areas of jurisdiction. It should also be noted that the International Mechanical Code enjoys the maximum governmental adoption, with over 25 states making it mandatory for all new constructions to abide by it.
The International Mechanical Code is more akin in scope to the International Building Code than other specialty codes like the International Plumbing Code. One of the primary causes for this wide scope and range is the fact that each and every building/construction project is required to rely solely on mechanical aspects to improve the quality of the indoor atmosphere. Right from essentials like temperature and humidity to other aspects like ventilation and structural integrity of the building, the International Mechanical Code covers it all, thus making it a truly comprehensive mechanical code.
There are many other alternatives to the International Mechanical Code, however, none of them is as well understood or as standardized as the International Mechanical Code.
The discussion is article is mainly centered about Fire Safety. Keeping that in contention, it would be proper to discuss, albeit briefly, how the International Mechanical Code relates itself to various Fire Safety Measures.
The one and only direct way in which the International Mechanical Code concerns itself to Fire Safety is by advocating the design and construction of ‘safer’ buildings. Safer buildings are generally considered to adhere to standard norms of building design and construction (as noted by the International Building Code). By advocating health and safety of the residents, users or occupants of the building, the International Mechanical Code ensures that adequate Fire Safety measures are integrated into the building, helping avoid potential fire hazards and damages that follow.
Apart from being an exhaustive and well-reputed collection of mechanical codes, the International Mechanical Code has numerous other points that should be noted by those who are interested in understanding why it is that many states and organizations have embraced it as a measuring standard.
The most peculiar thing about the family of I-Codes is the fact that all of them have been drafted after a great deal of deliberation and thought. The International Mechanical Code is no exception to this. Every three years, an open amendment process is carried out by the International Code Council to elicit various views and opinions from industry experts and academics, as well as common members of the public to bring the International Mechanical Code up to date with changing practices in design, construction and installation. Also, adequate amendments are made to address various technical and technological innovations and developments, so that the code remains relevant to the times. The present edition of the International Mechanical Code applicable and available till 2018 is the sixth (2015) edition. The amendment process for the seventh (2018) edition is underway, and interested parties can take part in this process to contribute with their valuable inputs.
The latest copy of the International Mechanical Code (2015) can be purchased from the official website of the International Code Council by following this link.
Disposal of sewage in private properties that are not connected with registered housing societies or associations can be a very tricky proposition as sewage disposal is often neglected because it can be an expensive exercise, especially in isolation. Similarly, at a bulk level – that is to say in housing colonies and societies – sewage disposal can often be observed to be carried out in a manner that cannot be classified as methodical in any way whatsoever. To tackle this very problem, the International Private Sewage Disposal Code was drafted.
The International Private Sewage Disposal Code is among the oldest I-Codes. The first printing of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code was carried out in 1995, even before the foundation of the International Code Council (ICC). As noted in the introductory point of this code, the code was initially aimed at creating a flexible framework to oversee various sewage related designs, constructions and maintenance activities so as to ensure quality of work and safety of the personnel undertaking the tasks, as well as benefiting from the works.
The International Private Sewage Disposal Code is adopted in over 20 American states as a mandatory code, while most other states allow for the use of it as a quality-control code (non-mandatory). Various countries (especially Latin American countries) use the International Private Sewage Disposal Code as a mandatory construction quality marker in various civil, governmental and business construction projects.
The scope of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code is quite limited in nature, especially when one is to compare it against the scope of other widely adopted
codes like the International Building Code. Since the application and jurisdiction of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code is mainly limited to sewage design, construction and maintenance, it can be quite easily understood that the code is not exactly a stringent set of norms. It is – as far as industry practices are concerned – seen as a directive, rather than a regulation.
There is no direct relation between fire hazards and sewage disposal infrastructure of a building. Hence, the International Private Sewage Disposal Code doesn’t have any provisions that directly concern themselves with Fire Safety of the construction. In certain cases, albeit very rare ones, custom codes are applied to make sure that effervescent gases from sewage decomposition (most notably, methane) are properly vented out so as to minimize the risk of fire hazards emanating from their spontaneous and natural combustion reactions.
The following points regarding the International Private Sewage Disposal Code are noteworthy.
The International Private Sewage Disposal Code was first drafted over two decades ago in 1995. Since then, a few amendments have been introduced to the code, however, the extent and number of these amendments is strikingly low as compared to other I-Codes. The present version of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code that is applicable and used industry wide is 2015 version. However, in many states and communities, the 2012 version is also considered to be applicable (for residential project).
The 2015 edition of the code can be purchased directly from the official website of the International Code Council by following this link.
An important code in the family of I-Code published by the International Code Council (ICC), the International Fuel Gas Code is a widely adopted and cited code that is critically assessed at technical, academic and industrial levels every three years.
It can be argued that ever since the use of fuel gas for various heating and energy purposes has gone on the decline because of the introduction and improved feasibility of renewable sources of energy, the importance, relevance and dependability of the International Fuel Gas Code has also proportionately reduced in significance. However, the very fact that fuel gas is still one of the major energy sources at residential as well as industrial levels in the United States (and the rest of the world), the International Fuel Gas Code is still considered to be an important set of norms for various equipment and infrastructure that either directly depend on fuel gases or depend on energy forms extracted from fuel gases.
The International Fuel Gas Code was one of the very first codes initiated, drafted and published by the International Code Council. The idea of a common industry and civil code for various fuel gas equipment and infrastructure was first proposed in 1996. A committee of representatives from the designated founding institutions of the ICC (International Conference of Building Officials, Southern Building Code Congress International, Building Officials and Code Administrators International) as well as experienced technical experts from the Oil & Gas Industry and relevant academic fields was formed to create the first draft of the International Fuel Gas Code. The draft was discussed and finally approved by the ICC in 1997.
There has also been a significant contribution in terms of knowledge resources to the development of the International Fuel Gas Code by the American Gas Association (AGA).
The International Fuel Gas Code enjoys a wide and ultimate authority when it comes to installing and maintaining any and every kind of fuel gas equipment or infrastructure apparatus. The code is help in high regard as it applies at every level imaginable – from gigantic oil and gas related industrial operation to small scale residential buildings.
Among all the I-Codes published by the International Code Council, the International Fuel Gas Code is perhaps the only code that relates itself directly to the Fire Safety of buildings in which it is implemented.
Quite understandably, there is a great amount of stress laid by the International Fuel Gas Code on ensuring the safety of occupants, users and operators of all equipment and infrastructure that are dependent on fuel gases for energy.
Ever since it came into effect in 1997, the International Fuel Gas Code has been at the forefront of ascertaining the safety of all fuel gas equipment. In this quest to achieve a reliable, safe and efficient degree of operation, many important points in the International Fuel Gas Code have contributed. Some of these points of note are discussed in short brief below.
In order to remain relevant in fast changing times of technological advancements and newer techniques of manufacturing, assembly and installation, the International Fuel Gas Code has made it a point – like all other I-Codes – to publish newer, up to the date editions every three years.
To incorporate a wide range of ideas, views and opinions, participation from a diverse set of technologists, industry experts, academics, members of common public etc. is sought by the International Code Council, to make every edition of the International Fuel Gas Code more and more consumer-safety oriented and pertinent to the times.
Presently, the 2015 edition of the International Fuel Gas Code is in effect and projects that need to adhere to the code need to refer to it for guidelines. This edition can be purchased from the website of the ICC by following this link.
The next edition of the International Fuel Gas Code will be published in 2018. Amendment exercise for the upcoming edition has already commenced.
The International Fire Code is the second most widely used I-Code in the United States, ranking behind the International Building Code. Drafted for the first time in 1998, the code aims at minimizing the risk of fire hazards and their enormous potential to cause damage to capital as well as life, by presenting a sophisticated set of safeguarding regulations for residential, community and commercial buildings. Regardless of the size of the construction project, the International Fire Code – when adopted in good faith – has the ability to reduce risks of fire hazards to a minimal level through stringent equipment, installation, operation and maintenance regulations.
Just after the foundation of the International Code Council (ICC) in 1997, it was proposed by founding members and associations that a generic code to safeguard the interests of building owners and occupants at every level, a comprehensive set of legacy norms and regulations be enforced.
As the suggestion was accepted by the ICC, the drafting of the first edition of the International Fire Code officially commenced. After an intensive drafting, research and discussion schedule of over 18 months, the code was submitted to the ICC and accepted by the ICC in 1999. Since then, the International Fire Code has played an instrumental role in providing a highly detailed regulation methodology for designers, contractors, operators and occupants of buildings, not only in the United States, but in over 100 different countries.
The scope that the International Fire Code enjoys today is largely a result of efforts made by the ICC to include any and every possibility of fire hazard and deal with it in a systematic manner, without sacrificing the ease of installation, operation or maintenance. Special care has been taken while drafting the code to ensure that end users will not be presented with any increased level of difficulty as equipment and infrastructure is made more and more invulnerable to fire hazards. The scope of the present edition of the International Fire Code is discussed in brief in the following points.
Some of the most noteworthy points about the International Fire Code are mentioned below. These points are more or less common with notable points of other I-Codes discussed earlier.
Just like the International Building Code, the International Fire Code is accepted and adopted in all American states. Some states (Colorado, for example) have also accorded official governmental status to the International Fire Code, making it mandatory for all new construction projects to abide by the provisions made by it.
At present, the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code is in effect. This edition can be purchased by following this link. Open amendment procedure for the next (2018) edition of the code is in process, the developments in which can be followed here.
Vision 20/20, a not for profit organization working for the betterment of domestic health and safety in the United States recently released an advanced report detailing the developments in the National Smoke Alarm Summit that was held in July, 2015.
The summit was carried out in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy.
The report is primarily aimed at addressing the dire need of over 100 million smoke alarms in American households and community centers. It was estimated in the report, compiled by industry experts, NFPA representatives and academics that fire hazard casualties in the country can be as much as halved by installation of efficient smoke alarm systems.
The report can be accessed online here.
MSDSOnline, a private company working in the field of management of chemical information in industries, has planned on revolutionizing the way chemical information is shared to the official First Responders.
Traditionally, such information is shared with First Responders only after they arrive at the scene of the mishap, further delaying their efforts at tackling the situation. What MSDSOnline has proposed is a Common Cloud method of Chemical MSDS sharing, in which all the information of chemicals (in question) will be shared in a real time basis with the official agencies. This is expected to improve the strategy making and execution plans of First Responders by allowing them precious time before actually reaching the site of the mishap.
An exhibitory demo of the technology was held by the company at the NFPA Expo in June this year.
Figure 2: WTC 7 Fire (Image Credit: NBC)
The events that took place on 9/11 in 2001 have, without any shadow of doubt, changed the world forever. The event that unfolded on what many now consider to be the blackest day in the history of the country have been watched, written and talked about, discussed and dissected countless number of times so far.
Despite this widespread global attention, there has not been much discussion surrounding the collapse of the World Trade Center 7 building, in the vicinity of Twin Towers that were hit by the hijacked airplanes.
However, many agencies – especially the ones working in forensic search and fire hazard analysis – have taken up independent studies to probe the mysterious collapse of WTC 7.
Here’s a brief summary of the events that unfolded on that fateful September day in 2001.
Although there have been many opinions expressing different views regarding these events, a largely accepted theory (supported by the 9/11 Commission) explains the causes of the failure of the building as follow:
It doesn’t take much for fire to start, and once started, it can be very difficult to contain, especially indoors. It may sound insubstantial, but seemingly innocuous household appliances like clothes dryers can be a cause of devastating fire accidents.
According to the FEMA, dryer fires are very common all over the United States. The facts and figures published by the agency can be helpful in understanding the gravity of the case.
Simple precautions can suffice to avoid dryer fires. Some of them are mentioned below.
Homes fires, despite diminishing in numbers in recent years, are still a force to reckon with. Following graph shows the number of deaths occurring due to such fires in the United States in recent years (figure 3, courtesy – USFPA).
Along with precious loss of life and injuries, home fires can quickly cause capital damage that can run into millions of dollars. Figure 4 shown below shows an estimation of the trend in such capital losses attributed to home fires in recent years (figure 4, courtesy – USFPA).
Figure 3: Home Fires and Deaths in the US (Courtesy – USFPA)
Figure 4: Home Fires and Associated Dollar Loss in the US (Courtesy – USFPA)
Home fires are, as the graphs above show, quite common in the US. Considering this, everyone needs to be best equipped in terms of knowledge, skills and equipment to face home fires should the need be. In order to achieve that goal, following preventive measures before you encounter a home fire can be life savers.
If at all you have to encounter a home fire, you need to be able to understand what needs to be done. Following points can help you get started on that journey.
Even if you leave unscathed from a fire, home fires can leave a long lasting mental trauma. Please take note of the following points in order to deal with life after a home fire.
Home fires can pose multiple challenges that you need to tackle in order to get to a safe place. What you encounter a home fire, however, you need to be conversant with some of the most rudimentary, yet least known facts about fires.
Embracing the danger of sounding clichéd, it must be mentioned here that prevention is always better than a cure.
In that spirit, all of us should try our best to curb home fires by not allowing them to break out to begin with. Following preventive measures will help readers understand how simple measures can go a long way in preventing home fires.
Fire Safety is a term that is often used quite liberally, without understanding its exact technical significance. As per the definition mentioned and accepted by the USFPA ‘Fire Safety’ is ‘a collection of measures effected in order to minimize prospects of fires and subsequent damage of various kinds’.
Detecting fire can be straightforward in most cases. However, there are rare cases in which all detectors simultaneously fail to detect fire, allowing it to reach dangerous scales.
There are three major ways of fire detection (or prognosis):
Before discussing what the major causes of fire around the world are, we need to understand when fire occurs.
For fire to start, three factors are required. The absence of even one of these is enough for fire to not start.
Here are some of the major causes of fire in the US, as well as other countries.
A fire extinguisher is the very first thing that most people associate with ‘Fire Safety’, and quite rightly so. We see fire extinguishers everywhere, from schools and offices to homes and malls. Despite that being the case, many people don’t know much about how fire extinguishers really work.
Fire extinguishers are portable cylindrical pressure vessels that are to be used to douse fires that are:
It must be noted that fire extinguishers are only emergency means of redress – they are not to be used to douse dangerously large fires. Evacuation is the best idea in such cases.
Fire extinguishers are composed of three main constituents:
In fire extinguishers, the agent is compressed at high pressures. When one removes the safety pin and pulls the actuator (handle/gear) down, it activates the release mechanism inside the vessel. This mechanism releases air/other inert gases at high pressures. These gases further push compressed extinguishing agent out of the nozzle at the top with very high force.
The agent is generally a heavier than air substance. It settles down on the surface of the burning object, cutting its contact with air, thereby dousing the flames.
There are many types of fire extinguishers that can be used in a variety of scenarios. Using the correct type of fire extinguisher is important as wrong extinguishers can prove to be completely ineffective in certain cases. Fire extinguishers are generally classified on the basis of their colors and the agent used. The following table summarizes various types of fire extinguishers and their color codes.
Name | Color Code | Agent Used | Application(s) | Where not to use |
Water Extinguisher | White on Red | Water | Regular organic fires (wood, rubber, clothes, paper etc.) | Electrical, fuel and chemical fires |
Water Mist Extinguisher | Red on White | Water and Organic Additives | Organic fires, electrical fires | Chemical and toxic fires |
Powder Extinguisher | Blue | Dry chemical powder (varies) | Organic, electrical, oil, domestic fires | Explosive fires |
Foam Extinguisher | Cream (off-white) | Chemical foam | Organic, oil, stove, fuel, gas, liquid, electrical fires | – |
Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher | Black | Carbon Dioxide | Most kinds of fires, including electrical fires | Not to be used on oil/grease fires from close distance |
Wet Chemical Extinguisher | Yellow | Various pressurized liquids | Oil fires, kitchen fires, fuel fires, liquid fires, organic fires | Chemical fires |
In the history of indoor fires in the US, the First Interstate Tower fire of 1988 will always be counted among the worst. The fire came as a rude wake-up call to businesses, contractors, designers and legislators that strict compliance with codes is of utmost importance in order to avoid repetition of such ghastly occurrences.
The First Interstate Tower, constructed in 1973, was a prominent high rise building in downtown Los Angeles, CA. Being used as a commercial space by many corporations, the tower was a landmark in the region. At the time of the construction of the building, laws didn’t make it mandatory to have sprinkler systems installed in high rise buildings, although it was a standard practice to install them. On May 4, 1988, when installation of sprinkler systems was underway all over the building, smoke alarms on the fifth floor are known to have gone off. In a short period of up to 30 minutes, over three adjacent floors of the building were engulfed in flames.
The firefighting efforts lasted for over 4 hours. By the time fire was brought under control, over 10 floors had been directly impacted and all of the building was rendered structurally weak. The incident is thought to have cost over $50 million in capital damages.
In the aftermath of the incident, many studies were carried out to draw inferences. The famous case study published by FEMA details the causes and effects of fire in great comprehension. In the wake of the incident, California State Laws for Domestic and Commercial Fire were changed and the use of in-house sprinklers was made mandatory for all buildings, regardless of size and structure. Following lessons were learnt from the First Interstate Tower fire of 1988:
All over the world, children have this extreme attraction for firefighters and fire trucks. Many of them love playing with little fire trucks and pretending to be real firefighters. The reason for this is quite clear. Firefighting is a job that carries a lot of respect in community as firefighters are looked at as life savers, the kind of people who risk their own safety and even life to save others.
Firefighting is still largely a community duty of voluntary basis. However, it can also be looked at as a specialized career option if one has a penchant for bravery and presence of mind. Here are some facts that readers who are interested in knowing more about the occupation of firefighting would find interesting:
There are various types of firefighters who are usually classified based on their specific skill sets. Since fires can be of various types and can entail extremely diverse challenges, it is often considered the best practice to allow specialised firefighters to tackle specific fire types. Some of the commonest types of firefighters are mentioned below:
