Office of the State Fire Marshaland the State Fire Code

State Fire Marshal Larry MatkaitisGeorge Korda, Legislative LiaisonKevin Schott, Senior Policy Advisor

www.sfm.illinois.gov

Mission of the OSFM

The State Fire Marshal's Office provides professional personnel and programs for the citizens of Illinois and is committed to saving life and property from

fire and explosions through inspection, investigation, training, education, data processing

and statistical fire reports.

What does OSFM do?

• OSFM is made up of 9 divisions: o Arsono Boilerso Elevatorso Fire Preventiono Management Serviceso Public Educationo Personnel

Standards/Educationo Petroleum & Chemical

Safetyo Technical Services

• Each enforce corresponding acts and rules

Small Equipment Grant Program

• $4 million program $26,000 max per grant• Small Equipment Grant Committee• Tier 1: SCBA, turnout gear, air filler equipment,

personal safety• Tier 2: Vehicle extrication equipment• Tier 3: Vehicle and station equipment• Tier 4: Specialized equipment

$2 million awarded last year covered1/3 of applicants

2012 applications for Small Equipment Grant 271 applications received

Fire Truck – Ambulance Loans

• Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program • 9 members

• Blind application process based on need and ability pay

• 0% interest loan• Fire Trucks $250,000

for 20 years, 5%• Ambulances $100,000

for 10 years, 5%

Equipment Exchange Program

• Fire departments with larger budgets will donate used equipment to departments in need

• For information contact: Terry Ford 217-785-7487

• OSFM is user friendly and we are there for you

History of the State Fire Code

• OSFM was created by statute in 1909 via the Fire Investigation Act

• Primary duties of the act at the time were code enforcement and the investigation of fires, for origin and cause

• Through the years, the State’s fire code has always been adopted by the OSFM through the administrative rule process - the last update occurring in 2002 to adopt the 2000 edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code

What is the State Fire Code?

• NFPA 101, Life Safety Code (LSC) is adopted to protect the public, it is not a building code

• LSC addresses construction, protection, and occupancy features to minimize danger to life from fire

• Local officials are responsible to enforce the LSC, but they have the right to adopt their own code as long as it is equal to or more stringent then OSFM/ LSC

The OSFM has concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the State Fire Code

anywhere in the State

Alarming Statistics

• In 2012, Fire Departments responded to 1,375,000 fires in the U.S.• 76% occurred in one and two family homes

and apartments• 2,380 civilian fire deaths occurred in home

fires• A civilian death in a home occurs every 3 hours and

41 minutes

• An estimated $12.4 billion in direct property loss• $7.0 billion of property loss occurred in home

fires

Source: NFPA report: “Fire Loss in the United States During 2012”

Fire Departments: Challenges

• Budget cuts (can lead to slower response times)

• Volunteer firefighter numbers are down 18% since 1984

• 75% of firefighters in Illinois are volunteers

• While the number of volunteer firefighters is declining, the age of volunteer firefighters is increasing

Source: National Volunteer Fire Council

Fire Departments: Challenges

• Lightweight ConstructionoHome builders are using

manufactured/composite structural members

o Structural collapse occurs more rapidly when lightweight construction materials are exposed to heat and fire¹

Source: ¹UL study, Report on Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions, 2009

Fire Departments: Challenges

• Lightweight ConstructionoWhen exposed to the same fire, an

unprotected legacy (traditional full dimensional lumber) construction floor assembly collapsed at approximately 19 minutes as compared to 6 minutes for an unprotected lightweight constructed floor assembly

Source: UL study, Report on Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions, 2009

Fire Departments: Challenges

• Room Furnishings

o The challenge of rapid fire spread is exacerbated by the use of building contents that have changed significantly in recent years, contributing to the decrease in time to untenable (life threatening) conditions• Predominate use of synthetic materials• Use of plastic (petroleum based) vs. wood in furniture• Open floor plans that allow fire to more rapidly

spread

Source: UL Analysis of Changing Residential Fire Dynamics and Its Implications on Firefighter Operational Timeframes

Fire Departments: Challenges

• Room Furnishingso Flashovers: Modern vs. Legacy

Furnishings• Legacy room transitioned to flashover at 29

min and 30 seconds after ignition• Modern room transitioned to flashover in 3

min and 40 seconds after ignitionSource: UL Analysis of Changing Residential Fire Dynamics and Its Implications on Firefighter Operational Timeframes

New vs. Old Homes

Fire Departments: Challenges

• Water Supplyo Many subdivisions are being built with rural water

supply (wells)o Sprinklers require less water than fire departments to

put out fires because they are activated near the source and while the fire still is small¹• Sprinkler systems discharged an average of 341 gallons of

water per fire• 2,935 gallons of water per fire were released by firefighter

hoses

Source: ¹Scottsdale Report, “Automatic Sprinklers, a 10 Year Study”

Home Fire Sprinklers

Residential Sprinklers

• Installation Costso National Average in 2013: $1.35 per sq.ft.¹

2000 sq ft. home = $2700• Average cost in Illinois to install lawn sprinkler:

$3,687²

• NOTE: Sprinklers are Green!Sources:

¹The Fire Protection Research Foundation report “Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment – 2013

²www.homeadvisor.com

Faces of Fire

Conclusion• OSFM Mission is to Save Lives and

Property• By adopting and enforcing codes,

training and educating, inspecting and investigating.

• The OSFM supports training initiatives to ensure Firefighter Safety and Efficiency• Financially supports the Illinois Fire

Service Institute Cornerstone Training program• Fire Marshal Matkaitis ensured firefighters

will have training available through IFSI for Fracking

Contacts• George Korda• george.korda@illinois.gov• 312-814-2365

• Kevin Schott• kevin.schott@illinois.gov• 217-558-6846

• Technical Services: • 312-814-8960

Questions?

THANK YOU