A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels Ricardo Weewer, DCFO / Strategic

A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers

8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels

Ricardo Weewer, DCFO / Strategic Advisor

R. Weewer - Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Fire Service of Amsterdam-AmstellandR. Hagen - Professor of Fire Safety, Netherlands Institute for Safety (NIFV)


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


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


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


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)


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


Unexpected opportunity…….


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 ?


Present state





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 ?


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


Domestic sprinklers in The NetherlandsIn 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 inthe Dutch fire safety policy

Cold water fear and ignorance seem to be difficult obstacles


Why domestic sprinklers?

Other fire safety works only partially

• Behavioral effects• Smoke detectors• Flame retardant upholstered

furniture • Fire safe televisions



The number of fires, fire damage, fatalities and injuriesdon’t drop

The time between a fire and a situation you can’s survive reducedthe last 30 years from 17 to 3 Minutes

The fire brigade will never be in time



Figures from abroad show:

85% less damage

55% less injuries

Up to 100% less fatalities


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


The progress in The Netherlands

1998 Introduction domestic sprinklers in The Netherlands

2000 Attempt to establish a district with7,000 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

2002: first domestic sprinklertest in The Netherlands




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


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


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)


The myths

Domestic sprinklers provide water damage

Domestic sprinklers are expensive

Domestic sprinklers are ugly

Domestic sprinklers …..

Domestic sprinklers …..


Forever history ?


Future?And whatIs this?

It’s a “Gardena home sprinklerInstallation”: a smoke alarmconnected to a garden hose

Documents

A pilot Project to Retrofit Residential Sprinklers 8th International Fire Sprinkler Conference 21-22 april 2010 Brussels Ricardo Weewer, DCFO / Strategic