Impact of Sprinklers on the Fire Hazard in Dormitories: Sleeping Room Fire Experiments.
Impact of Sprinklers on the Fire Hazard in Dormitories:
Sleeping Room Fire Experiments.
(13343 K)
Madrzykowski, D.; Walton, W. D.
NIST TN 1658; NIST Technical Note 1658; 96 p. January
2010.
Sponsor:
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC
Keywords:
sprinklers; impact; fire hazard; dormitories; sleep;
experiments; corridors; fire tests; fire data; heat
flux; gas concentration s; large scale fire tests;
temperature measurements; tenability; doors; smoke
detectors; sprinkler activation; instruments;
uncertainty; fire statistics; sprinkler systems
Abstract:
As part of a U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) initiative
to improve fire safety in college housing, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducted
two series of full-scale fire experiments in abandoned
dormitory buildings. The objective of the study was to
compare the levels of hazard created by room fires in a
dormitory building with and without automatic fire
sprinklers in the room of fire origin. Five experiments
were conducted which included variables such as an
open/closed door between the room of origin and the
corridor, and with/without sprinklers in the room of
origin. Gas temperatures and concentrations (oxygen,
carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) were measured
continuously in each experiment. This report contains
analysis of the data collected and a detailed discussion
of the experimental conditions, such as fuel load in the
room of origin, geometry and construction of the room,
and the locations of instrumentation. The results of
this study demonstrate the potential life safety
benefits of smoke alarms, compartmentation, and
automatic fire sprinkler systems in college dormitories
and similar occupancies. These experiments were
conducted by NIST in cooperation with the University of
Arkansas and the Fayetteville Fire Department. The
other series of experiments was conducted with the fires
initiated in a day room area open to the corridor of the
dormitory. These experiments were conducted by NIST in
cooperation with the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Redevelopment Authority, the Myrtle Beach Fire
Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF). The results of these experiments are
presented in the report, Impact of Sprinklers on the
Fire Hazard in Dormitories: Day Room Fire Experiments,
NISTIR 7120. For further information on the USFA
College Campus Fire Safety Program contact:
www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/college/.
