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A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers

A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers. Ricardo Weewer, DCFO / Strategic Advisor. R. Weewer - Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Fire Service of Amsterdam-Amstelland R. Hagen - Professor of Fire Safety, Netherlands Institute for Safety (NIFV).

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A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers

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  1. A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers Ricardo Weewer, DCFO / Strategic Advisor R. Weewer - Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Fire Service of Amsterdam-Amstelland R. Hagen - Professor of Fire Safety, Netherlands Institute for Safety (NIFV) 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  2. Objective • Vision • Domestic sprinklers are (in the long term) the most suitable means of improving fire safety • Strategic plan 2008-2012 • Promote application of residential sprinklers • Short term: application of domestic sprinklers in at least ONE newly built domestic building or bloc in 2012 • Policy change: apply domestic sprinklers in all domestic builings to be built from 2015 • Long term goal: domestic sprinklers in all domestic buildings 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  3. Background • 90% of fires are in domestic environment • Most casualties are in domestic buildings • In future more eldery and handicapped people, who are most at risk, will live self-supporting • Smoke alarms have limited effect • Risks have increased, less chance to be rescued by Fire Service, and risks for firemen also increased • Water companies intend to apply smaller tubes 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  4. Initiative • Starting a network / expert group of actors to promote domestic sprinklers • Cooperation with Rene Hagen (NIFV) and Jan Vreeburg (Water Research Centre) • Goals • Reassess and tune the image of domestic sprinklers • Explore and address possible reasons why domestic sprinklers are not widely applied in The Netherlands • Extent the promotion campagne, gradual growth of group 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  5. Starting - participators • Initiators: FS Amsterdam-Amstelland / Netherlands Institute for Safety Nibra (NIFV) / Water research centre (KWR) • Dutch fire prevention network • Water company (WATERNET) • European sprinkler association • Fire Sprinkler Association • Ministry of building and environment (VROM) • Federation of domestic building associations • Association of insurance compagnies • Association of plumbers (UNETO/VNI) • Municipal service of building and environment (DMB) • Dutch Fire Burns Association (NBS) 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  6. Planning • First personal meetings and introductions • First meeting: november 2008 • After that: expansion • Mayors / counsel members / mini conference • Inclusion into new strategy for Dutch Fire Service • Present state: • New strategy is ready: domestic Sprinklers included • Position Paper is ready • Working on “business case” • Mini conference planned in autumn 2010 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  7. Unexpected opportunity……. 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  8. Unexpected opportunity……. • Initiative in Amsterdam: • Monumental block of appartments • How to keep floor beams visible ? • Start innovative pilot: domestic sprinklers • Main challenge: make a policy including • Frequent check of availability in appartment • Formulate and control responsibilities of occupants • Reduction of other fire safety requirements ? 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  9. Present state 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

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  13. First results • Dimensions: pressurization • Cost: € 2500 per appartment • Maintainance / exploitation costs • Inspections / occupant behaviour: contract • Smoke alarms in staircase: flooding • Downgrading of constructive fire resistence ? 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  14. Conclusions • Cost too high for structural application • Only for special situations • Innovation necessary: cost reduction • Risk assessment - discussion about constructive fire resistence (Fire dept) • In this way goal will not be met 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  15. Domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands In the second half of the 20th century came the realization that the fire safety problem was in dwelling and not in large and public buildings A domestic sprinkler is a proven innovative solution to this problem, but difficult to implement in the Dutch fire safety policy Cold water fear and ignorance seem to be difficult obstacles 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  16. Why domestic sprinklers? Other fire safety works only partially • Behavioral effects • Smoke detectors • Flame retardant upholstered furniture • Fire safe televisions 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  17. Why domestic sprinklers? The number of fires, fire damage, fatalities and injuries don’t drop The time between a fire and a situation you can’s survive reduced the last 30 years from 17 to 3 Minutes The fire brigade will never be in time 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  18. Why domestic sprinklers? Figures from abroad show: • 85% less damage • 55% less injuries • Up to 100% less fatalities 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  19. Reasons for domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands • To compensate for failure to meet the fire prevention requirements • To compensate for non-compliance with the fore fighting requirements • To enhance the fire safety in the home • To continue providing good and safe drinking water 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  20. The progress in The Netherlands 1998 Introduction domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands 2000 Attempt to establish a district with 7,000 domestic sprinklers fails 2002 First housing project sprinklered 2008 New impetus to domestic sprinkler given by Amsterdam-Amstelland Fire Brigade 2010 First housing renovation project sprinklered and research to establish a district with 10,000 homes 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  21. 2002: first domestic sprinklertest in The Netherlands 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

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  23. The position of the stakeholders • Fire Brigades: always token the initiative and since 2009 are domestic sprinklers included in the future vision of the Fire Service • Insurers: were always neutral, but favors from a social view • Dutch Burns Foundation: support the use of domestic sprinklers and see a big impact on the fire safety of people • Water supply companies: always great supporter and closest ally to the fire service 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  24. The benefits • Primary: safety benefits • More freedom in zoning area • More freedom in buildings • More freedom in planning fire stations • More freedom in water supply • Saver fire fighting 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  25. The bottlenecks • Costs (from 2000-4000 back to 1000-1500 euros) • Technical requirements (at the moment to high) • Water flow rate (25 l/m without pressure installation) • Enforcement (certification nescessary) • Installer (sprinkler company or plumber) • Equivalence (to other fire prevention measurements) 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  26. The myths • Domestic sprinklers provide water damage • Domestic sprinklers are expensive • Domestic sprinklers are ugly • Domestic sprinklers ….. • Domestic sprinklers ….. 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  27. Forever history ? 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

  28. Future? And what Is this? It’s a “Gardena home sprinkler Installation”: a smoke alarm connected to a garden hose 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

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