Fire Prevention & Safety University Libraries July 17, 2003

Fire Prevention & Safety

University Libraries

July 17, 2003

Environmental Health & Safety Fire Prevention & Safety

Steve Sellie

Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Water Based Fire Protection Systems

Mike Drosky

Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Electric Life Safety Equipment and Systems.

Environmental Health & Safety Fire Prevention & Safety

Student AssistantsTrained student assistants responsible for inspection and maintenance of more than 3,000 portable fire extinguishers.

POP quiz

TRUE or FALSE?Fahrenheit 451 – the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns . . .

Fire Prevention & Safety

Fires in Libraries

UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Fire Prevention

Classroom MS PowerPoint! Presentation

National Fire Protection Association Video

“Hands On” Portable Fire Extinguishers

“Fire Extinguishers: Fight or Flight?”

Fires in Libraries

Fires In Libraries

Megalé Bibliotheke, Alexandria, Egypt

48 B.C.

Fires In Libraries

Bibliotheca Alexandria

March 2003

Opened October 2002

$230 million

240,000 volumes

Planetarium, Museums

Fires In Libraries

Bibliotheca Alexandria

March 2003

Fire in March 2003

Cause: Electrical Short, Office Floor

Extinguished in 45 minutes by Fire Dept.

29 Injuries due to smoke inhalation.

Fires In Libraries

Library of Congress fire 1851

LOST

2/3 of 55,000 Volume Jefferson Collection

Fires In Libraries

Library of Congress fire

April 30, 1999

Cause: Electrical

Problems:

Failure of alarm system to activate.

Failure to maintain electrical equipment.

Defective fire sprinkler system.

Multiple fire hazards at the Library of Congress pose a "serious potential threat" to human life and to the valuable Library collections, according to a report issued by the congressional Office of Compliance.

Fires In Libraries

New York State Capital Fire

March 29, 1911

New York State Library

LOST

400,000 books

270,000 manuscripts

Fires in Libraries

Yale University Bomb Explosion May 21, 2003

Bob Child/AP Photo

NATHAN FRANCIS/Yale Daily News

300 Rare Law Books Damaged

Fires In Libraries

National Fire Protection Association

ARSON #1 Cause of Library Fires

Annual average 40% of all library fires.

Fire Problem = Security Problem

Be Aware – Report Suspicious Behavior to 911

NFPA 909-2001 Code for the Protection of Cultural Resources

Fires in Libraries

Injury and Loss of Life

Loss of Rare Books and Manuscripts

Loss of Expensive Equipment

Damage to Building & Closure of Building The Fire Problem

Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention

What YOU can do

BEFORE

the Fire Department is needed . . .

Fire Prevention

Electrical Fire Safety

Use properly sized bulbs in lighting appliances.

2nd leading cause of library fires.

Fire Prevention

Electrical Fire Safety

Use extension cords and power strips properly:

1. Do not overload circuits.2. Use only listed cords.3. Do not run under carpet, or

through doors or windows.4. Extension cords are for

temporary electrical use only.

5. Do not use multiple-plug adapters.

6. Do not “train” extension cords.

2nd leading cause of library fires.

Fire Prevention

Means of Egress

Keep ExitsClear and Unobstructed.

Fire Prevention

Smoke & Fire Containment

Do not prop open fire and smoke control doors.

Fire Prevention

Report problems

EMERGENCIES Dial 911Blue Light telephoneManual Pull Box

Fire Prevention

In case of fire . . .1. EVACUATE building

without delay.

2. ACTIVATE alarms to alert others.

3. NOTIFY emergency responders of KNOWN problems.

Pre-Plan . . . KNOW what to do

Fire adversely impacts others . . .

Family

Friends

Co-workers

Firefighters & their families

2001 Father’s Day Fire - 3 FDNY firefighters dead

YOU can make a difference in their lives and in yours!

YOU decide . . .

Fire Prevention

UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety

UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety

CONTAINMENTDETECTION

SUPPRESSION

UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety

Fire Containment

Fire Suppression

Fire Detection

Fire-rated walls.

Fire-rated doors.

Firestopped penetrations of rated assemblies.

UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety

Fire Containment

Fire Suppression

Fire Detection and Notification

Addressable heat and smoke detection.

Audible and visual notification devices.

UAlbany Buildings & Fire Safety

Fire Containment

Fire Suppression

Fire Detection and Notification

Fire sprinkler systems.

More on Fire Sprinklers

Heads act as a heat detector.

Only heads activated by heat from fire will discharge water.

90% of fires controlled by activation of six or fewer heads.

More on Fire Sprinklers

Water Discharge

FIRE DEPT. 50 - 125 GPM

SPRINKLER 8 - 24 GPM

More on Fire Sprinklers

One Meridian Plaza, Philadelphia

February 3, 1991

Fire on 22nd floor of 38 story high-rise.

Gutted eight floors.

Burned for more than 19 hours.

Fire stopped by ten sprinkler heads on the 30th floor.

Cause: housekeeping – oil soaked rags.

More on Fire Sprinklers

Yale University Bomb Explosion

“The explosion damaged the classroom and adjacent alumni lounge, and about 300 rare law books in a room below were soaked with water from the sprinkler system, but no one was injured.”

Diane Scarponi, Associated Press

May 21, 2003

More on Fire Sprinklers

Yale University Bomb Explosion

The damaged books included volumes printed in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, said Roberta Pilette, who oversees preservation for Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. A freeze drying system at the library will be used to dry out the books, she said.

``The books will be useable. I don't think we lost anything at all,'' Pilette said.

May 21, 2003

Portable Fire Extinguishers

WHEN IN DOUBT . . .GET OUT!

ACTIVATE THE ALARM ON THE WAY OUT TO ALERT OTHERS

Parts of a Fire Extinguisher

Handle & Operating Lever

Locking Pin

Pressure Gauge

Discharge Nozzle, or Horn

Label

Classes of Fire

KNOW WHICH FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO USE

FIRST,

CHECK THE LABEL

Classes of Fire:“A” Common Combustibles

• WOOD

• PAPER

• MANY PLASTICS

• CLOTH

• RUBBER

Classes of Fire:“B” Flammable Liquids

• LIQUIDS

• OILS

• GREASES

• GASES

• TARS

• OIL-BASE PAINTS

Classes of Fire:“C” Electrical Fires

Fires Involving Energized Electrical Equipment

Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.

Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.

“P”Pull the Pin

Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.

“A”Aim Extinguisher

at Base of Fire

Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.

“S”Squeeze Handle

Using a Fire Extinguisher:P.A.S.S.

“S”Sweep

from side to side

When to Use a Fire Extinguisher

• First, activate fire alarm to evacuate the building, and to notify fire department.

• Select the proper extinguisher.• Use only if you know how, and are

confident about using the extinguisher.• Use only if fire is small and contained.• Always keep a clear exit to your back.• Stay low to avoid breathing in smoke.

WHEN IN DOUBT . . .GET OUT!

ACTIVATE THE ALARM ON THE WAY OUT TO ALERT OTHERS

“Hands On” Fire Extinguishers

• Fire behavior can be UNPREDICTABLE.• Growth and behavior patterns can differ greatly

from one fire to the next.• 100 trained and experienced firefighters are killed

annually fighting fires.• Interior fires generate heat, smoke and toxins in an

enclosed space which can quickly affect persons in that space.

• WHEN IN DOUBT . . . GET OUT!

“Hands On” Fire Extinguishers

Will be done SAFELY.

You will be assisted by EH&S Staff

Questions?

University at Albany

Department of Environmental Health & Safety

Chemistry Bldg., Room B73

(518) 442-3495

Answer: TrueIgnition temperature of paper between 425° and 475ºF.

S.H. Graf study, 1949.

University at Albany

Department of Environmental Health & Safety

© 2003

University at Albany

Department of Environmental Health & Safety

© 2003

Karl G. Kilts

Fire Protection Specialist/Code Coordinator

University at Albany

Department of Environmental Health & Safety

Tel. (518) 442-3495

Kkilts@uamail.albany.edu