ii 1 alan brinson

Sprinkler Systems in Sprinkler Systems in HospitalsHospitals

Lisbon – 6 November 2008

Some Statistics from NFPASome Statistics from NFPAUSA 1994USA 1994--19981998

• 2,600 fires/year in healthcare facilities• Causes of fire:

– Other equipment 20%– Cooking equipment 18%– Appliances/tools/air-conditioning 15%– Electrical distribution equipment 12%– Incendiary or suspicious 11%– Smoking 8%– Open flame, ember or torch 7%– Heating Equipment 5%

More Statistics from NFPAMore Statistics from NFPA19941994--19981998

• 69% of these fires in sprinklered buildings

• Sprinklers reduce fire death rate by 86%

• Sprinklers reduce fire losses by 72%

Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?

• Patient safety

• Property Protection

• Business Continuity

• Insurance discounts

• It’s the right thing to do!

Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Patient SafetyPatient Safety

• Usual approach is to divide the hospital into fire compartments and in a fire to evacuate from one compartment to another on the same floor

• How long will this take – how long do you have?

• Doctors say it can be life-threatening to move patients connected to certain devices

• Is this approach realistic? Fire deaths in Almelo, Hamburg, Liverpool, Pfastatt; fire injuries there and at many other hospitals...

Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Property ProtectionProperty Protection

26 May 2007 VU 26 May 2007 VU MedischMedisch Centrum AmsterdamCentrum Amsterdam8 operating theatres badly damaged – €50 million

Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?Business ContinuityBusiness Continuity

2 January 2008 Royal 2 January 2008 Royal MarsdenMarsden LondonLondon5 operating theatres closed > 6 months

Why are Sprinklers not Why are Sprinklers not installed in Hospitals?installed in Hospitals?

• Misperception among doctors and managers that sprinklers could go off without a fire�Hospitals have a major issue with false alarms from

fire detection systems – very costly disruption

�But sprinklers only react to heat. If the temperature is over 68°C at the ceiling something is wrong

• Misperception that all the sprinklers will operate together to cause huge water damage�Sprinklers react individually to heat

Why are Sprinklers not Why are Sprinklers not installed in Hospitals?installed in Hospitals?

• Misperception that water from sprinklers could damage equipment�In operating theatres place sprinklers at periphery so

a slow leak will not drip onto equipment

�If there is still concern install a pre-action system, which only releases water if the electronic fire detection system AND the sprinklers detect a fire

�It is very rare for a sprinkler to operate without a fire – you are more likely to win the lottery!

How do Sprinklers Work?How do Sprinklers Work?• Glass bulb contains a liquid with a vapour bubble

• Liquid expands as the temperature rises, compressing the vapour bubble

• At a set temperature (usually 68˚C) the bubble has gone and the bulb breaks, releasing the water seal

Sprinklers do not:Sprinklers do not:

• React to smoke from toast or a cigarette

• Open all at once (usually 1 or 2 sprinklers operate)

• Cause major water damage (system sprays less water than a single fire hose)

• Operate without reason (this is very rare)

� 1 in 1.6 million sprinklers for all reasons including end user or contractor damage (FM Global in 1977)

� 1 in 16 million sprinklers due to a manufacturing error (FM Global in 1977)

Reliability of SprinklersReliability of Sprinklers

• Sprinklers release water when they get hot and control or extinguish fire

• Statistics show properly designed and maintained sprinkler systems control/extinguish 98% of fires

� Swiss Cantonal Insurance Federation 100% in 2000

� LPC 99% in 2000

� Danish Institute of Fire Technology 98% in 2003

� German Property Insurers 97.9% in 1971-92

� APSAD of France 97% in 2000

Benefits of Sprinklers inBenefits of Sprinklers inRoom of Fire OriginRoom of Fire Origin

• Sprinklers sensitive to heat and respond quickly before conditions become life-threatening

• Prevent fire growth => less toxic gases• Keep temperature at survivable level• Often extinguish fire• 2004 report for UK Government found with sprinklers

it is usually possible to survive in room of fire origin

=> Sprinklers offer the only hope to those who do not => Sprinklers offer the only hope to those who do not leave the room where the fire startsleave the room where the fire starts

Sprinklers Reduce Fire DamageSprinklers Reduce Fire Damage

• Respond before arrival of fire brigade

• Fire is still small and is not allowed to grow

• Less water is needed to deal with a small fire

• Average fire damage is reduced by over 85%

• Scottsdale (88% commercial buildings; 96% residential)

• Vancouver (92% residential)

• NFPA (72% in healthcare facilities)

Around the World thousands of Around the World thousands of Hospitals, including many in Hospitals, including many in

Europe, are Europe, are sprinkleredsprinklered, proving , proving these fears to be groundless!these fears to be groundless!

Two Two SprinkleredSprinklered HospitalsHospitals

• Northwestern Memorial hospital, Chicago• Opened 1999

• Insured value $2.5 billion

• Sprinklers required by code and by insurer

• University College Hospital, London• Opened 2005

• Sprinklered to compensate for inadequate compartmentation

Downtown ChicagoDowntown Chicago

Hospital Reception Hospital Reception –– sprinkleredsprinklered!!

Alarm Panel in ReceptionAlarm Panel in Reception

Alarm Tie to Fire BrigadeAlarm Tie to Fire Brigade

Sprinklers below Overhead WalkwaySprinklers below Overhead Walkway

Sprinkler Pump RoomSprinkler Pump Room

Sprinkler System Alarm ValvesSprinkler System Alarm Valves

Sprinklers in Sprinklers in Ward CorridorWard Corridor

PrePre--Action Action System in New System in New

Stem Cell Stem Cell LaboratoryLaboratory

Control Cabinet

Heat and Smoke Detectors

Sprinklers in Operating TheatreSprinklers in Operating Theatre

Sprinklers in Operating TheatreSprinklers in Operating Theatre

British Hospital Fire Safety British Hospital Fire Safety Code Code –– HTM 05HTM 05--0202

• “the design team is expected to consider the advantages that might be gained by installing life-safety sprinklers throughout the building”

• Fire resistance of structural elements may be reduced by 30 minutes: 120→90; 90→60; 60→30

• Distance from a fire main outlet on floors higher than 18m may be increased from 45m to 60m

University College HospitalUniversity College HospitalCentral LondonCentral London

Sprinklers in CorridorsSprinklers in Corridors

SprinkleredSprinklered Lift LobbyLift Lobby

Sprinkler PumpsSprinkler Pumps

Sprinkler System Water TankSprinkler System Water Tank

Alarm Valve and Alarm Valve and LPCB CertificateLPCB Certificate

Sprinklers in Delivery BaySprinklers in Delivery Bay

Sprinklers

Insulated Pipes

SummarySummary• Hospitals can suffer major fires, with the potential

for deaths and injuries, very costly damage and lengthy disruption to services

• Sprinklers are the most effective way to prevent minor fires from becoming major fires

• Worldwide thousands of hospitals are fitted with sprinklers but most in Europe are not

• Sprinklers do not operate without a fire and they cause far less water damage than the fire brigade

Thank You!Thank You!

Alan Brinson

brinson@eurosprinkler.org

www.eurosprinkler.org