Workshop Proceedings: Technology Needs for Fire Prevention FINAL PROCEEDINGS: National Fire Protection Association 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA Held: 11 September 2017, College Park Marriott Hotel, College Park, Maryland October 2017 2017 Fire Protection Research Foundation 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7417, USA Email: foundation@nfpa.org Web: nfpa.org/foundation
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Executive Summary On Monday, September 11, 2017, 40 members of the fire prevention community met in College Park, Maryland at a workshop hosted jointly by Vision 20/20 and the Fire Protection Research Foundation. The goals of the workshop were to review the state of the art in technology for fire prevention, with a particular focus on cooking fire prevention and smoke alarm technologies, and to explore how further technology developments might meet the needs of the community. Presentations from industry, academia and codes and standards bodies laid the framework for the state of the art and its implementation. The second half of the workshop focused on the needs of the community: what are some of the limitations of current technology and other unmet needs; what are the barriers to the implementation to new technology; and finally, what is the role of the fire prevention community in driving toward technology solutions for fire safety. That role is threefold: as a communication bridge for new technology to the fire service and to high risk groups who might benefit from it; as an advocate for new technology solutions in regulation and with industry; and as a field data collection resource for the effectiveness and needed enhancements of technology. ----- Page ii -----
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Acknowledgements This workshop has been sponsored by National Fire Protection Association in cooperation with Vision 20/20. The Vision 20/20 project is hosted by the Institution of Fire Engineers-USA Branch. The information contained in this workshop summary report is based on the input of multiple professionals and subject-matter-experts. While considerable effort has been taken to accurately document this input, the final interpretation of the information contained herein resides with those presenting at the workshop. The content, opinions and conclusions contained in this report are solely those of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the views of the Fire Protection Research Foundation. The Fire Protection Research Foundation and NFPA make no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein. About the Fire Protection Research Foundation The Fire Protection Research Foundation plans, manages, and communicates research on a broad range of fire safety issues in collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world. The Foundation is an affiliate of NFPA. About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free. NFPA's membership totals more than 55,000 individuals around the world. Keywords: fire prevention technology, cooking fires, smoke alarm, NFPA 72, UL 217, UL858, smart homes Report #: FPRF2017-17 ----- Page iv -----
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Project Steering Committee Kathleen Almand, NFPA Jim Crawford, Vision 20/20 Steve Peavey, Altamonte Springs Greg Rogers, Spokane Valley Fire Department Robert Dawson, Chesterfield County Lynne Kilpatrick, Sunnyvale, California David Kerr, Plano Fire Rescue Mike Love, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Steve Sawyer, NFPA Mike Young, City of Plymouth, MA ----- Page vi -----
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Table of Contents Executive Summary... ii Acknowledgements... iv Project Steering Committee... vi Table of Contents... viii List of Tables... ix 1) Background and Workshop Goal... 1 Background... 1 Workshop Goal... 1 2) Agenda and Presentation Overview... 3 Workshop Agenda... 3 Presentations Overview... 4 3) Breakout Group Outputs/Summary Observations... 7 Annex A: Workshop Attendees and Break-Out Groups Participants... 11 Annex B: Workshop Presentations... 13 Presentation 1: Overview of the Home Fire Loss Problem by Marty Ahrens... 13 Presentation 2: Recent Changes to U.S. and Canadian Smoke and Fire Alarm Standards by Dan Grosch... 24 Presentation 3: NFPA 72 Residential Smoke Alarm Installation Requirements Recent Changes by Laurence Dallaire... 35 Presentation 4: Detection and Signaling Industry Initiatives by Maria Marks... 45 Presentation 5: Recent Smoke Alarm Research and New Technologies on the Horizon by Tom Cleary49 Presentation 6: UL 858, Update for Household Electric Ranges by Robert DellaValle... 59 Presentation 7: Appliance Industry Initiatives related to Safety of Cooking Appliances by Randy Cooper... 66 Presentation 8: Current Research Activities at NIST related to the Performance of Cooking Fire Mitigation by Anthony Hamins... 72 Presentation 9: Overview of Cyber Physical Systems and their Potential Application to the Fire Problem by Casey Grant... 82 Annex C: Break-Out Group Discussions... 101 Group 1... 101 Group 2... 102 Group 3... 103 Group 4... 104 ----- Page viii -----
List of Tables Table 1 Workshop Agenda... 3 Table 2 Workshop Attendees... 11 ----- Page ix -----
1) Background and Workshop Goal Background Vision 20/20 and the Fire Protection Research Foundation have a long history of collaboration on technology for fire prevention. The focus of that work began with cooking fire mitigation: the Foundation facilitated a workshop and subsequent research work to develop an evaluation methodology for cooktop shut off devices to address a long term Vision 20/20 focus on the home cooking fire problem. More recently, the Foundation has collaborated with Vision 20/20 and CPSC on home smoke alarm technology issues, including addressing nuisance sources. In early 2017, Vision 20/20 s Technology strategy task group identified the need for outreach to the community to determine where future advocacy and research efforts should be focused. On Monday, September 11, 2017, 40 members of the fire prevention community met in College Park Maryland at a workshop sponsored jointly by Vision 20/20 and the Fire Protection Research Foundation. Workshop Goal The goals of the workshop were to review the state of the art in technology for fire prevention, with a particular focus on cooking fire prevention and smoke alarm technologies, and to explore how further technology developments might meet the needs of the community. ----- Page 1 of 104 -----
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2) Agenda and Presentation Overview Workshop Agenda The agenda for the workshop is illustrated in Table 1: Workshop Agenda. This was structured to provide an overview of previous work, review on-going relevant work, discuss data gaps, reflect on areas for future work, and consider recommendations on effective next steps. Table 1 Workshop Agenda Workshop Agenda: Technology Needs for Fire Prevention ----- Page 3 of 104 -----
Presentations Overview The following provides a brief overview of the workshop presentations. Please see the Appendix for the PowerPoint presentations from each speaker. Marty Ahrens, NFPA, presented an overview of the home fire loss problem. She provided an analysis of trends based on data reported from fire departments to the National Fire Incident Reporting System. Of particular relevance to this workshop, she reported that fires associated with cooking equipment continue to be the largest single cause of home fires and result in more injuries and property loss than other causes. Further, 3 of 5 home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Dan Grosch, UL LLC, provided an overview of recent changes to U.S. and Canadian smoke and fire alarm standards. A new edition of UL 217, Standard for Smoke Alarms, was published in late 2016. Key revisions include provisions for multi criteria smoke alarms, nuisance alarm resistance requirements and both flaming and smoldering polyurethane foam fire sources. Laurence Dallaire, Office of the Architect of the Capitol, presented an overview of recent changes to NFPA 72 Residential Smoke Alarm Installation Requirements. He described the evolution of the location requirements for smoke alarms in homes, reviewing the current requirement for smoke alarms in bedrooms, including existing homes. Nuisance resistance requirements have recently been introduced to require spatial separation between alarms and cooking sources. The requirements for carbon monoxide alarm installation are now integrated into the most recent edition of NFPA 72. Maria Marks, Siemens Industry, presented an update from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association on initiatives to promote correct installation of smoke and CO alarms and to advocate for wireless technology and interconnected devices. She reviewed emerging signaling and power source technologies and challenged the audience to consider how the emerging Internet of Things can improve home fire smoke alarms and home fire safety. Tom Cleary, Fire Research Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, provided an update on recent smoke alarm research and new technologies on the horizon. He provided the research background behind the changes in NFPA 72 and UL 217 described by previous speakers and then described a current project to evaluate the ability of current smoke alarm technologies to meet these requirements. He concluded that an across the board increase in the level of performance to that specified in ANSI/UL 217-2015 would significantly improve the overall performance of smoke alarms by expanding range of fire scenarios alarms must respond to while requiring resistance to nuisance alarms. He identified some possible technology approaches. Robert DellaValle, UL LLC provided an overview of UL standards addressing cooking appliances and provided detail on the new requirements in UL 858, Household Electric Ranges, for a Coil Surface Unit ----- Page 4 of 104 -----
Cooking Oil Ignition Test. The new requirement for electric coil burners (effective 2018) is no ignition of a cast iron pan with canola oil, achieved through burner shut off, with an alternate dry pan test with a thermal requirement. He also described UL 858 operational feature requirements for attendance-sensing devices, when present. Randy Cooper, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, provided an update on appliance industry initiatives related to safety of cooking appliances. In addition to home safety education programs, AHAM has sponsored a number of safety related standards changes in the past five years. He described a current initiative to enhance electric coil unit safety, and new initiatives related to gas, smooth top, and radiant heating technologies. He highlighted the need to address emerging connected/smart home technologies and their impacts on safety. Anthony Hamins, Fire Research Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, presented an overview of current research activities at NIST related to the performance of cooking fire mitigation technologies. Summary findings include the ultra-fast growth nature of cooking fires which result in uneven performance of commercially available suppression technologies, and smoke alarms. Cooktop ignition prevention technologies were demonstrated to be effective for both gas and electric ranges. Casey Grant, Fire Protection Research Foundation, provided an overview of cyber-physical systems and their potential application to the fire problem. He reviewed the results of a recent Summit on Smart Homes which brought representatives of the IoT and fire protection communities together to discuss opportunities. ----- Page 5 of 104 -----
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3) Breakout Group Outputs/Summary Observations The second half of the workshop consisted of a series of breakout sessions which focused on the needs of the community: What are some of the limitations of current technology and other unmet needs? What are the barriers to the implementation to new technologies? What is the role of the fire prevention community in driving toward technology solutions for fire safety? The following is a summary of the collective input of the breakout groups. Details of each breakout group s input can be found in Annex C. Needs New technology, its implementation and the human dimension, including education, were the key needs identified. Smoke alarm technology Power source - battery powered interconnected alarms, rechargeable batteries without removal, longer battery life, 10 year tamper proof batteries only Nuisance alarm reduction validation incorporated into other systems (eg security cameras, voice validation), two sensor types for validation, smoke density sensors Notification standardized signals; signals for high risk groups in home smoke alarm technology Cooking technology Means to address distracted cooking Solutions for smooth top and gas ranges General Technology Simple solutions for consumers Enhanced battery life Furniture fire solutions Fire safe smoking materials New generation of sensors Human dimension Improved ergonomics, human interface Targeted technologies for targeted high risk groups Focus on aging population and cultural dimensions Technology implementation ----- Page 7 of 104 -----
Means to incorporate new technology in existing products Clear metrics for success Integrate with other non-fire technologies and with sprinklers Use of smart technology Education Other Checklists/roadmaps for consumers Targeted messaging Messaging for policy makers Economic analysis for political support Recruit our replacements Be proactive, not reactive Barriers The breakout groups identified technological, regulatory and human behavior/cultural barriers to implementation. Technology Reliability and complexity Cost Technology software updates, Data privacy, quality, quantity Performance loss at the price of fire safety Integration of new techno with existing systems Lifespan Cyber risk and security Sensor technologies that cannot discriminate cooking from fire Physical extremes of cooking Affordability, maintainability reliability durability stability interoperability, compatibility sustainability Lack of widespread IoT implementation Regulation Rate of change of standards Code slow adoption and slow integration lack of mandatory requirements retrofit Human Behavior Ongoing maintenance requirements Cultural differences it s not going to happen to me ----- Page 8 of 104 -----
Age of consumer technology resistance After market devices that promote unintended use Disabling and defeating intended safety features Smoke alarm test button accessibly to all Learning curves to understand new technologies Culture Manufacturer s resistance The term fire prevention Risk aversion and reluctance to change Legal liability Competing for funding Competing agendas Lack of engagement of battery manufacturers Lack of engagement of retailers Cost for adopting emerging technology Market forces (e.g. counterfeit equipment) What Can the Fire Prevention Community Do? Workshop participants acknowledged their leadership role in education and outreach, advocacy and data collection to drive and enable new technology solutions. Education and Outreach Education messaging More effective outreach Repetitive education for seniors Educate operational crews of fire departments Improve fire fighter 1 and 2 training Partnerships to seniors and associations. Incorporate community risk reduction Advocacy Enabling broad organizational support Economic analysis for political support Lead by example early adopter Encourage industry to develop better batteries Market Advance regulatory structure for homes Data Data collection (at source for policy and other strategic decisions) ----- Page 9 of 104 -----
Data collection and research evidence based stories Improved data collection and reporting On the ground information related to specific buildings ----- Page 10 of 104 -----
Annex A: Workshop Attendees and Break-Out Groups Participants Table 2 Workshop Attendees Marty Ahrens, NFPA Kathleen Almand, NFPA Steve Bass, Electrolux Kevin Callahan, Pioneering Technology Corporation Peg Carson, Vision 20/20 Tom Cleary, NIST Randy Cooper, AHAM Jim Crawford, Vision 20/20 Teresa Ann Crisman, Prince George s County Fire/EMS LJ Dallaire, Architect of the Capitol Robby Dawson, Chesterfield Fire and EMS Bob DeLaValle, UL Earl Diment, Diment Consulting Sandy Facinoli, U.S. Fire Administration Wendy Gifford, Nest Labs Dan Gorham, Fire Protection Research Foundation Casey Grant, Fire Protection Research Foundation Dan Grosch, Underwriters Laboratories Anthony Hamins, NIST Stephen Hrustich, Gwinnett County Fire Bill Kehoe, Institution of Fire Engineers David Kerr, Plano Fire and Rescue Maria Marks, Siemens Roger Marks, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service George Morgan, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Jim Resnick, Montgomery Fire & Rescue Institute Greg Rogers, Spokane Valley Fire Department Lance Rutimann, Siemens Building Technologies Steven Sawyer, NFPA Christopher Switala, Mt. Lebanon Fire Department Nancy Trench, Fire Protection Publications Eero Vartiainen, Innohome Oy Christl Wigner, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Neal Zipser, Kidde ----- Page 11 of 104 -----
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Annex B: Workshop Presentations Presentation 1: Overview of the Home Fire Loss Problem by Marty Ahrens ----- Page 13 of 104 -----
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Presentation 2: Recent Changes to U.S. and Canadian Smoke and Fire Alarm Standards by Dan Grosch ----- Page 24 of 104 -----
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Presentation 3: NFPA 72 Residential Smoke Alarm Installation Requirements Recent Changes by Laurence Dallaire ----- Page 35 of 104 -----
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Presentation 4: Detection and Signaling Industry Initiatives by Maria Marks ----- Page 45 of 104 -----
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Presentation 5: Recent Smoke Alarm Research and New Technologies on the Horizon by Tom Cleary ----- Page 49 of 104 -----
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Presentation 6: UL 858, Update for Household Electric Ranges by Robert DellaValle ----- Page 59 of 104 -----
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Presentation 7: Appliance Industry Initiatives related to Safety of Cooking Appliances by Randy Cooper ----- Page 66 of 104 -----
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Presentation 8: Current Research Activities at NIST related to the Performance of Cooking Fire Mitigation by Anthony Hamins ----- Page 72 of 104 -----
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Presentation 9: Overview of Cyber Physical Systems and their Potential Application to the Fire Problem by Casey Grant ----- Page 82 of 104 -----
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Annex C: Break-Out Group Discussions After the presentations, the second half of the workshop consisted of a series of breakout sessions which focused on the needs of the community: What are some of the limitations of current technology and other unmet needs? What are the barriers to the implementation to new technologies? What is the role of the fire prevention community in driving toward technology solutions for fire safety? The needs, barriers and recommendations from each break-out group have been identified as the following: Group 1 Led by Dan Gorham Needs Battery powered inter connected smoke alarm longer battery life means to incorporate new technology into existing products addressing distracted cooking with technology rechargeable batteries without removal home fire sprinkler requirements in building codes improved ergonomics human interface, cultural inclusion/diverse and aging population be proactive, not reactive clear metrics Barriers Reliability and complexity Rate of change of standards Manufacturer s resistance Cost The term fire prevention Risk aversion and reluctance to change Legal liability How can the fire prevention community contribute? On the ground information tied to sites ----- Page 101 of 104 -----
Incorporate community risk reduction Group 2 Led by Wendy Gifford Needs improving ergonomics and human interface Cultural including/divers population (also barrieor0 Using outside technology Focus on subgroups needs of specific groups target loss reduction Look at aging demographic Barriers Competing for funding Competing agendas Cost Code slow adoption and slow integration Technology software updates, Data privacy, quality, quantity How can the fire prevention community contribute? outreach and communication new ways to use technology Steve s Group Needs Only 10 year tamper proof batteries get rid of the 9 volts Consumer education better info at Walmart Nuisance reduction technology in current technology cameras in security system, voice notification that says I m only cooking Multiple different technologies to confirm Combine suppression and detection in a system Put safety features into essential products e.g. ceiling fans or lighting Smart technology Barriers Performance loss at the price of fire safety ----- Page 102 of 104 -----
lack of mandatory requirements retrofit Ongoing maintenance requirements Cultural differences it s not going to happen to me Age of consumer technology resistance Lack of widespread IoT implementation Cyber risk and security Get battery mfrs engaged Get retailers involved How can the fire prevention community contribute? Market Partnerships to seniors and assns. Improved data collection and reporting Repetitive education for seniors Educate operational crews of fire departments don t know what s out there. Improve fire fighter 1 and 2 Group 3 Led by Marty Ahrens Needs Working alarms in the house Standardizing notification - easily detect which alarm is going off, standardized T3 and T4 but the flash and the air alerts are different Address high risk populations ADA, seniors, children Simplify technology - simple roadmap for consumers/checklists Recruit our replacements attract youth Barriers Cost for adopting emerging technology Integration of new techno with existing systems Lifespan Learning curves for understand new technologies Liability Smoke alarm test button accessibly ty Resistance to change ----- Page 103 of 104 -----
How can the fire prevention community contribute? Lead by example early adopter Encourage industry to develop better batteries Data collection and research evidence based stories Group 4 Led by Casey Grant Needs Solutions for gas and smooth top cooking fire prevention Nuisance free smoke alarm Smoke density sensors ultra sensitive Targeted Education/ messaging - Policy messaging New technology development Furniture fire solutions. Fire safe smoking materials New generation of sensors Economic analysis for political support longer battery life, means to incorporate new technology into existing products, Barriers Sensor technologies that cannot discriminate cooking from fire Physical extremes of cooking Cost of new technology After market devices that promote unintended use Disabling and defeating intended safety features Market forces (e.g. counterfeit equipment) Affordability, maintainability reliability durability stability interoperability, compatibility sustainability How can the fire prevention community contribute? Regulatory structure for homes Education messaging More effective outreach Data collection (at source for policy and other strategic decisions) Enabling broad organizational support Economic analysis for political support ----- Page 104 of 104 -----