NEWS
Departments
Sprinkler Siameses Need to Be Checked
Ensuring that fire department sprinkler connections are fully functional is vital to fireground operations, and Chief Arthur P. Stearns of the Janesville, Wis., Fire Department offers several suggestions for checking them. First, he recommends having the building owner sign a waiver prior to testing, and having the water utility on standby to open or shut valves. Stearns also suggests using a hydrostatic test when possible.
Other points he makes are: Be certain that the check valve between the Siamese and the sprinkler system is in place before the dry pipe is connected to the main riser. Make sure sprinkler Siamese threads are standard and workable, and the caps are in place to keep the connection clear. A pressure test also should be made to make certain the pipe hasn’t developed a hole from electrolysis or corrosion.
When testing pipes, the National Fire Protection Association manual says to remove the check valve, replace it with a straight pipe, remove the Siamese and back-flush the system so all debris is removed. Pressurizing the pipe is the final check to ensure water passage.
When pressurizing a system, Stearns notes the pressure should be higher on the riser pumps than the pressure in the water main. When this is done, open the main water supply to the building. If the pressure remains the same on the risers, it shows that the check valves are working properly. If it drops, the system will not work properly. Standpipe connections should also be tested.
1981 NFPA Loss Report
According to the National Fire Protection Association’s 1981 report on destructive fire, an estimated 6,823 lives were lost and over $6.5 billion in property was destroyed. Fire fighters killed in the line of duty numbered 123, down 8 percent.
Residential fires caused 83 percent of the fire deaths, and while direct property loss was up 7 percent from 1980, most of this can be attributed to inflation, according to Michael J. Karter Jr., senior statistician in the fire analysis division.
Suspicious structure fires were up 6.5 percent from 1980, estimated at 154,500 for 1981. While fighting almost 3 million fires, fire departments responded to 7.7 million non-fire calls.
Fire Academy Changes
Ten courses at the National Fire Academy will be renamed and Fire Arson Detection will be combined with Incident Command and Fire Prevention Specialist I courses, according to Superintendent Joseph L. Donovan.
A catalog of resident courses for the 1982-83 term is available from Admissions Office, National Fire Academy, National Emergency Training Center, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, Md. 21727.
Tax-Exempt Financing
An FMC Corp. aerial ladder truck has been purchased by The Woodlands, Tex., Fire Department through tax exempt financing, as established by Section 812 of the Economic Recovery Tax Act. of 1981. If requirements are satisfied, a volunteer fire department may purchase fire trucks, or acquire or build fire stations. The Woodlands Fire Department provides fire protection and EMS to over 15,000 residents. The loan was issued under the authority of section 103(i) by The Woodlands National Bank.
Building Code Book
The Building Officials & Code Administration Inti., Inc. (BOCA) has acquired the right to use “National” on its edition of its Basic Building Code. The National Building Code was formerly supported by the American Insurance Association’s Engineering and Safety Service, which stopped publishing it 2 years ago.
BOCA will retitle its 19$4 edition the Basic/National Building Code, as a prelude to omitting the “Basic.” It will not be associated with the American Insurance Association or insurance industry.
Gas Indicator Shows
The care and use of Mine Safety Appliances Company’s combustible gas indicators are shown on slides and videotape, part of a series of mini-seminars produced by MSA. Gascope models 60 and 62 are demonstrated, and maintenance is also explained. ITetails on the video shows are available from MSA, Market Development Group, 600 Penn Center Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15235.
Foundation Expands
Staff and office operations for the Foundation for Fire Safety, a private, nonprofit organization, have been expanded. Andrew C. Casper, the former San Francisco fire department chief, will be the executive director in the Washington, D.C. office. Gordon Vickery, president of the foundation, wll open an office in Seattle.
Also joining the staff are Winifred Carson, an attorney, as administrative assistant, and Dr. Merritt M. Birky, formerly with the National Bureau of Standards, is director of research.
The foundation has been involved in a pilot testing of post mortem protocol for fire victims; preparation of a secondary school fire education program; development of emergency care procedures for people exposed to toxic gas at fires and research on breathing apparatus. The foundation also sponsored the San Francisco Fire Department’s Firehawks program, which provides counseling to juvenile firesetters.
Life Support Champs
Paramedics from the South Trail Fire Department in Sarasota, Fla., rescued their way to the top of the National Advanced Life Support contest in Orlando last July. Sponsored by the Florida Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, teams from Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, New )ersey and New York City participated in the contest, designed to improve the quality of prehospital emergency medical services.
The 22 teams were given specific problems with defined judging criteria and scored according to their ability to function independently in difficult situations. During the second round, lights were turned out to test performance in realistic field conditions.
Escape By Elevator
Elevators are normally banned as an escape route during fires, but for the handicapped there is often no other option. The National Bureau of Standards has done a series of tests on the effect of pressurizing elevator shafts as a means of smoke infiltration protection.
“Elevators as a Means of Fire Escape” is available for $7.50 from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va. 22161.
