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On the evening of June 18, 2007, a fire occurred in the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, SC that resulted in the deaths of nine fire fighters. NIST analyzed the fire ground, consulted with other experts, and performed computer simulations of fire growth and fire protection alternatives. This program training module for Certified Fire Investigators (CFI) focuses on the fire analysis portion of the NIST technical investigation. Recommendations based on NIST's simulation of events are also presented.

Nelson Bryner, the lead researcher on the study, provides an overview of the incident including a discussion of the building and fuel load, the timeline relative to the spread of the fire, and how the fire ground tactics played a role in the fire spread. The importance of fire prevention programs, such as building inspections, and fire protection systems, such as automatic fire sprinklers are also discussed. To view the program go to www.cfitrainer.net.

CFITrainer.Net® is produced by the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). The website has more than 30 online training modules covering a wide variety of topics for fire investigators. The training modules can be viewed free of charge. CFITrainer.Net® has more than 37,000 registered users. Primary funding for CFITrainer.Net® is through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

NIST has collaborated with IAAI in the development of several programs currently available on CFITrainer.Net® including Introduction to Fire Dynamics and Modeling and An Analysis of the Station Nightclub Fire.

The complete text of NIST's final report, Volumes I and II,* may be downloaded as Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. For a detailed summary of the Sofa Super Store study, its findings and recommendations, and links to supporting materials such as graphics and video segments from computer simulations of the fire, go to "NIST Study on Charleston Furniture Store Fire Calls for National Safety Improvements" at www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/charleston_102810.cfm.

* Volume I: http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=908200Volume II: http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=908201

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The results of these experiments provide knowledge for the fire service to examine their standard operating procedures and training content. Several tactical considerations were developed utilizing the data from the experiments to provide specific examples of changes that can be adopted based on a departments current strategies and tactics.

View the entire article for more information, including a short video, an online training program, and the full report. To learn more about UL and the Fire Service, visit www.ul.com/fireservice.

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Credit:

The revisions did not alter the study team's main finding: the major factors contributing to the rapid spread of the fire at the Sofa Super Store were large open spaces with furniture providing high-fuel loads, the inward rush of air following the breaking of windows, and a lack of sprinklers.

Based on its findings, the study team made 11 recommendations for enhancing building, occupant and firefighter safety nationwide. In particular, the team urged state and local communities to adopt and strictly adhere to current national model building and fire safety codes. These codes are used as models for building and fire regulations promulgated and enforced by U.S. state and local jurisdictions. Those jurisdictions have the option of incorporating some or all of the code's provisions but often adopt most provisions.

If today's model codes had been in place and rigorously followed in Charleston in 2007, the study authors said, the conditions that led to the rapid fire spread in the Sofa Super Store probably would have been prevented.

Specifically, the NIST report calls for national model building and fire codes to require sprinklers for all new commercial retail furniture stores regardless of size, and for existing retail furniture stores with any single display area of greater than 190 square meters (2,000 square feet). Other recommendations include adopting model codes that cover high fuel load situations (such as a furniture store), ensuring proper fire inspections and building plan examinations, and encouraging research for a better understanding of fire situations such as venting of smoke from burning buildings and the spread of fire on furniture.

Two of the recommendations in the draft report were slightly modified to increase their effectiveness. The recommendation "that all state and local jurisdictions ensure that fire inspectors and building plan examiners are professionally qualified to a national standard" was improved by listing three nationally accepted certification examinations as examples of "how professional qualification may be demonstrated." Another recommendation has been enhanced by urging state and local jurisdictions to "provide education to firefighters on the science of fire behavior in vented and non-vented structures and how the addition of air can impact the burning characteristics of the fuel."

NIST is working with various public and private groups toward implementing changes to practices, standards, and building and fire codes based on the findings from this study.

The complete text of the final report, Volumes I and II,* may be downloaded as Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. For a detailed summary of the Sofa Super Store study, its findings and recommendations, and links to supporting materials such as graphics and video segments from computer simulations of the fire, go to "NIST Study on Charleston Furniture Store Fire Calls for National Safety Improvements" at www.nist.gov/el/fire_research/charleston_102810.cfm.

* Volume I: http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=908200,Volume II: http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=908201.

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Credit:

(4/28/2010) A landmark study issued in April by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that the size of firefighting crews has a substantial effect on the fire service's ability to protect lives and property in residential fires.

Performed by a broad coalition in the scientific, firefighting and public-safety communities, the study found that four-person firefighting crews were able to complete 22 essential firefighting and rescue tasks in a typical residential structure 30 percent faster than two-person crews and 25 percent faster than three-person crews...

*View full article*

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