Sprinkler Systems in

Sprinkler Systems in
Hospitals
Hospitals
Lisbon 6 November 2008
Some Statistics from NFPA
Some Statistics from NFPA
USA 1994
USA 1994
-
-
1998
1998
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 NFPA
More Statistics from NFPA
1994
1994
-
-
1998
1998
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
Its the right thing to do!
Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?
Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?
Patient Safety
Patient 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 Protection
Property Protection
26 May 2007 VU
26 May 2007 VU
Medisch
Medisch
Centrum Amsterdam
Centrum Amsterdam
8 operating theatres badly damaged 50 million
Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?
Why Sprinklers in Hospitals?
Business Continuity
Business Continuity
2 January 2008 Royal
2 January 2008 Royal
Marsden
Marsden
London
London
5 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 68C 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 68C) 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 Sprinklers
Reliability 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 in
Benefits of Sprinklers in
Room of Fire Origin
Room 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 starts
leave the room where the fire starts
Sprinklers Reduce Fire Damage
Sprinklers 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
sprinklered
sprinklered
, proving
, proving
these fears to be groundless!
these fears to be groundless!
Two
Two
Sprinklered
Sprinklered
Hospitals
Hospitals
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 Chicago
Downtown Chicago
Hospital Reception
Hospital Reception

sprinklered
sprinklered
!
!
Alarm Panel in Reception
Alarm Panel in Reception
Alarm Tie to Fire Brigade
Alarm Tie to Fire Brigade
Sprinklers below Overhead Walkway
Sprinklers below Overhead Walkway
Sprinkler Pump Room
Sprinkler Pump Room
Sprinkler System Alarm Valves
Sprinkler System Alarm Valves
Sprinklers in
Sprinklers in
Ward Corridor
Ward Corridor
Pre
Pre
-
-
Action
Action
System in New
System in New
Stem Cell
Stem Cell
Laboratory
Laboratory
Control Cabinet
Heat and Smoke Detectors
Sprinklers in Operating Theatre
Sprinklers in Operating Theatre
Sprinklers in Operating Theatre
Sprinklers in Operating Theatre
British Hospital Fire Safety
British Hospital Fire Safety
Code
Code

HTM 05
HTM 05
-
-
02
02
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: 12090; 9060; 6030
Distance from a fire main outlet on floors higher
than 18m may be increased from 45m to 60m
University College Hospital
University College Hospital
Central London
Central London
Sprinklers in Corridors
Sprinklers in Corridors
Sprinklered
Sprinklered
Lift Lobby
Lift Lobby
Sprinkler Pumps
Sprinkler Pumps
Sprinkler System Water Tank
Sprinkler System Water Tank
Alarm Valve and
Alarm Valve and
LPCB Certificate
LPCB Certificate
Sprinklers in Delivery Bay
Sprinklers in Delivery Bay
Sprinklers
Insulated Pipes
Summary
Summary
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