4.
PATTON REPORT NO. 43
DOES CORRUPTION RULE THE FIRE CODES?
0 1976 Patton Life Safety Systems, Inc.
STOOPING LOW
"Say NFPA,* I have a complaint."
"Yes.
"Most fire deaths occur in dwellings. Most are children. Why
don't you have a solution?"
"We do. We recommend an emergency escape plan. Get out
fast."
"Why don't you tell the homeowner about flashover?"
"Flashover?"
"Yes. The fire builds up slowly. No noise, very little smoke.
Everyone is still asleep. Then, WIIAMO! Flashover occurs.
Flames roar up the stairway. The father is now awake. In panic
he takes two steps across the hallway toward his son's room,
and BINGO, he falls dead. Escape plan A is all screwed up."
"Oh, we've done something about that."
"What?"
"We went on National TV and told them to bend over and
walk low."
"Great! Now they won't have so for to fall."
THE CORRUPTION PROBLEM
Within the past four years we have become more aware of
widespread corruption and deceit in government. We had always
known corruption existed, but we were surprised at its scope and
extent. We believed that some policemen and even some police
departments were corrupt, but we considered the FBI above
reproach. We knew that 6 billion dollars a year was probably
buying a lot of covert activities with the CIA, but we did not
know so much of it was being spent in our own backyard.
A MATTER OF OPPORTUNITY
If a man walks around with his money in his billfold, perhaps
on very rare occasions, someone will point a gun in his face and
take his wallet. But it doesn't happen very often. However, if a
man has a habit of leaving $20 bills on the bar in unfamiliar
taverns when he walks back to the washroom, he may lose quite a
few.
Dishonesty and corruption are to a large degree a function of
opportunity. Few men buy guns to rob openly in the streets. It's
too dangerous. But many men will be tempted when you lay the
money out before them. If some of our men in government end
up being dishonest, it is mainly because the opportunity is so
great.
Let's look at it this way. Congressmen are prime movers in
*National Fire Protection Association
tremendous cash transfers. Congress passes the laws that create
the agencies which dispense the funds. Billions flow. It's easy to
be dishonest when all it takes is a vote. Administrators and key
men in Federal Agencies also make daily decision affecting the
flow of billions of dollars. It's easy for them to be influenced too.
THE FIRE SAFETY CONGRESS
The National Fire Protection Association is a congress in
charge of billions of dollars. Probably 30 billion dollars of cash
flow per year is directly influenced by NFPA codes. The NFPA
codes bring about great profits for some organizations. In fire
safety sometimes more than 90% of all the sales of a product can
be directly tied to an NFPA code, a code that requires under law
the product to be installed. If the code does not require the
product, the product doesn't sell. If the code is changed to
require the product, millions are sold. This represents great
power.
It is said, "power corrupts, and absolute power currupts
absolutely." the power of NFPA is great indeed and prudence
demands that their activities be investigated.
"Sit down, what can we do for you, sir?"
"I understand you sell pumps, water pumps."
"The best! Want it to run 30 years steady, heavy duty?"
"Well, actually, except for testing, it will need to run an hour
or two, once or twice a year, if that."
"A piece of cake."
"I need 100 GPM, 60 psi, centrifugal."
"Here's the one, compact, reliable, quality is superb."
"How much?"
"$450 including the drive."
"Looks like I could install that myself in half a day."
"No sweat — just set it down and hook it up."
"There's just one problem, though."
"What's that?"
"I'm not sure I can get it approved without a fire label."
"Oh! That's another ballgame. Here, we've got fire pumps with
all the approvals."
"How much?"
"Well, the small one here sells for $4,500."
"Wow!"
"But there's other special equipment. And, of course, you
need an approved installer. Figure $10 to $12 thousand
installed."
 "Holy Smokes! How'd we get from $500 to $10,000?"
"Well, man, now you're talking fire pumps."
A NON-ELECTED GOVERNMENT
Our Congress in Washington is made up of legally elected men.
Every few years, if not sooner, we get a chance to vote them out
if they have not performed properly. The press watches them in
between. They work in public view. The Democrats watch the
Republicans, and visa versa. Laws require that the influence
peddlers (the lobbyists) be registered. Television covers the
Congressional proceedings. All these, and many other safeguards
are provided — and yet, the dishonest man still appears. Why?
Because the opportunity is there! The cash flow is in the billions!
Where billions flow, the men controlling the valves receive a lot of
attention.
But think what it would be if we did away with the elections,
if we did not require the lobbyist to register if we did not require
open hearings, if we did not have a watchful press, if we let the
legislators operate without controls. THINK WHAT WE WOULD
THEN HAVE. BILLIONS INVOLVED — BUT NO CONTROLS!
THE NFPA IN MANY WAYS FITS THE DESCRIPTION.
NFPA, THE LAWMAKER
Probably every legal government in the United States has
adapted into law one or more NFPA codes. State governments
reference NFPA codes in their Building Codes. Fire departments
enforce the NFPA codes. Some Federal agencies have all but gone
beserk with power enforcing the NFPA codes.
It is common practice to enforce the most recent code. This
means that each year the NFPA system produces thousands of
new regulations which then immediately have the force of law
throughout much of the Nation. This is lawmaking by proxy.
It is lawmaking involving billions of dollars. It is lawmaking
that often will skyrocket construction costs. It is lawmaking that
results in thousands of small businessmen being forced out of
business each year because, if they do not comply with the latest
code revisions — often they are declared "unsafe."
In other countries, buildings built centuries ago are still "safe,"
but due to the constant never ending propogation of new and
more costly codes by NFPA, we are demolishing our older
buildings at an alarming rate.
NFPA, the lawmaker, impacts on our lives just as our Federal
Congress does — just as our President does. If Congress and our
President are not above open and public criticism — then neither
is NFPA.
We often question the honesty and integrity of our public
elected officials. We should especially question the honesty and
integrity of powerful people who intimately affect our lives —
and who work in that gray area between profit taking and elected
government.
NFPA, THE POWER BROKER
The opportunity for NFPA and its executives to be corrupt
exists. The codes represent billions of dollars of expenditures.
The right requirements in the right codes can bring many firms
millions of dollars of profits. Yet, NFPA itself, operates on a
relative shoestring. It depends on money from membership fees
and the sale of the codes to survive.
The codes are produced with volunteer expertise and labor.
Firms that sell fire safety products not only buy memberships,
they pay the salaries and travel expenses for the men they send
off to the NFPA meetings to write the codes. Why? Because they
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are interested in human safety — or because they want the codes
written to sell their products? If they are humanitarians all, how
come only one half of one percent of the 10th edition of the
NFPA "Fire Protection Handbook" was specifically concerned
with human safety by an actual page count?
The NFPA is a "poor man" at the controls of a multi-billion
dollar freight train, and route taken is not thru humanitarian pass.
"This is a fascinating research report."
"What's it say?"
"Even after fire in a room has progressed to flashover — the
entire room involved — it takes only 20 gallons of water to
fully extinguish it."
"How come we can't use this water in an NFPA approved
suppression system?"
"You can! All you need is 50,000 gallons or so."
"But, who can afford Lake Michigan installed on a hundred
foot tower?"
"They're the rules."
"How come a small 50 pound CO2 system is fully approved?"
"It's a special hazard!"
"Oh! Are the kids who die ordinary hazard?"
"Well, CO2 is no big deal. I've heard some claim the failure
rate is sometimes near 50%."
"Even more reason for recognizing water. It's 99.9% effective,
if designed right."
"I can think of one good reason why they don't want to
recognize water in small amounts."
"Why?"
"It's free — who would buy the other things?"
THE SUSPICIOUS MIND AND STRANGE EVENTS
The watchman who broke open the Watergate case found a
door unlocked that should have been locked. He locked it and
moved on. Later, when making his next round he discovered it
once again unlocked. Now he was suspicious. From his suspicion
led great and strange events. Such were the results of a suspicious
mind and an odd set of circumstances. A key here is the odd set
of circumstances.
A door unlocked but once can be an oversight. But unlocked
twice on the same evening — now that's suspicious. Where events
are most strange — events are often worth investigating.
AMERICA LEADS THE
WORLD IN FIRE DEATHS
Each year, in France, approximately 200 Frenchmen die from
fire. In New Zealand 30 die, in Norway 90 die, in Belgium 80 die,
and in Japan, noted for its flimsy combusible construction, nearly
1300 die from fires in one year's time.
In modern progressive America, our annual fire toll is 12,000
lives. Now this is strange indeed. But this is only the tip of the
iceberg. Nearly 300,000 Americans are injured by fire. Fifty
thousand of these lie in hospitals for from six weeks to two years,
and many live out their remaining lives horribly scarred in body
and mind.
Most horrible of all most are children. The death rate for
children under five years old is three times that of other
Americans. AMERICA IS BURNING UP ITS SMALL
CHILDREN AT AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC RATE. This is 's-
not only strange — it is catastrophically strange.
 AMERICA LEADS THE
WORLD IN FIRE REGULATIONS
No other nation on earth has a better organized and more
nrolific producer of fire codes than the United States. The NFPA
roduces more than 200 fire safety codes, plus dozens of other
works. These 200 odd fire codes are revised so extensively each
year, that it is necessary to purchase from NFPA a whole new
multi-volume set to keep abreast.
The annual changes in the codes are so extensive that literally
thousands of existing buildings become "obsolete" each year
from a "code compliance" viewpoint. This constant, never ending
revising of the codes, not only means that each year one must
purchase a whole new set of codes from NFPA, it also means that
throughout America building owners and managers must
continually buy new fire safety products and upgrade their
buildings with new systems.
With all these billions of dollars being poured out annually in
fire safety expenditures, how come we keep burning up our
children at a never lowered rate?
Strange, isn't it?
WHAT'S THE SCORE?
The National Fire Protection Association one recent year
passed rules that greatly increased wiring costs in buildings.
Wiring methods that were approved but inexpensive suddenly
were declared unsafe. The cost of wiring new buildings jumped
upward. Existing buildings that had been previously considered
"safe" were now "non code complying" because the wire was
"non standard."
But NFPA allowed this same (unsafe?) wiring method to
continue to be used in dwellings. But most of our fire deaths
ccur in dwellings. Strange, isn't it?
— If the wire is unsafe, why is it allowed in the dwellings where
our children sleep?
If it is not unsafe, why rule it out at all?
Is NFPA taking aim at saving life? Or is NFPA taking aim at
selling products?
AN EVIL BEYOND RECKONING
The fire codes are weird. Some are so weird as to defy any
semblance of engineering logic. No sense at all! Except — except
if the intent is directly opposite to that which it appears to be on
the surface.
If the regulations are examined not from the intent of
eliminating fire — but rather from the intent of preserving a
market place for fire safety products, then they make some sense.
Can it be that years ago greed slowly infiltrated the code
making process — that gradually year by year distortions and
corruptions grew — so slowly that each corruption could be
rationalized by those who planned them? So slowly that the
corruptions became normal and the accepted? Can it be this
process continued to that point where the fire codes are now
maintaining markets by guaranteeing fire remains a national
problem? But no, this is too evil to even speculate upon. But yet,
what other explantion?
"I can't figure this equipment they approve for use by building
occupants. I can't figure it at all."
"Why?"
"Well, this research proves that to control a room-size fire you
need a 6 GPM water spray for three minutes, maybe a little
more."
"Do the job with 20 gallons?"
"That's right — but with water spray — not straight stream."
"So?"
"Well, a fire extinguisher shoots water for 50 seconds, then it's
done."
"Yeh, and straight stream too, the least effective way."
"So why not use a garden hose?"
"Well, they have "approved" hoses, haven't they?"
"Yeh, but so big it takes two husky firemen to handle them."
"Knock you on your kibonza?"
"You said it! If the fire doesn't kill you — the hose will do it
sure."
"So, your point is, I suppose that maybe 50 million buildings
are equipped with extinguishers too small to be effective, or
hose too large to handle."
"That's the way I see it."
"How many fires a year do you figure get away because the
first guy in can't handle it with the equipment provided?"
"I hate to think about it. Why don't they use garden hose — it
is just the right size — light, flexible, enough water, and
everybody knows how to use it? You don't have to sit down
and read the instructions while the fire gets away."
"I can think of one good reason."
"What?"
"How are you gonna put a label on a fire hose and sell it for
$150 if they have it in the supermarket for $4.98?"
THE DEATH CODE
The NFPA publishes a building code — NFPA 101 — popularly
known as the "Safety to Life Code." I call it the Death Code.
The Death Code is founded on old and outdated ideas of
"fireproof" construction. The basic intent, presumably, is to
define an "inherently safe" structure — a building that acts as its
own fire-control system.
This code leads to severe restrictions and prohibitions against a
multitude of materials. It results in extremely high cost con-
struction. It requires virtually everything to be "laboratory tested
and certified" (for a fee, of course). Even the carpeting on the
floor has been declared a menace. The Federal HEW has adopted
this code and is currently in the process of putting perhaps 5,000
small nursing homes out of business because they were not built
(years ago) to comply with this recent code. This code is a true
bonanza for the tire safety profiteers.
But it doesn't do much for the people inside. The combustible
interior contents burn like fuel within a furnace. The firemen
term the "fireproof building" a "heat trap."
I consider the "Death Code" a primary factor in America's
awesome death rate.
We fireproof the structure and let the people burn. I consider
this very strange.
THE FALL GUYS
Whenever there is a phony operation, one thing is necessary —
the fall guy. When things go wrong and a catastrophy occurs, it is
essential that a fall guy be immediately set up to take the blame.
Otherwise, the system itself might be questioned.
It is my belief that all of the following have served as fall guys
of fire safety: The carpet industry, nursing home administrators,
the plastics industry, the high rise building owners, nightclub
owners, the fire chief, the restaurant owner, the state fire
marshal, the architect, the so-called "dishonest contractor" and a
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goodly number of poor suckers who have discovered a small fire,
tried to fight it with the questionable equipment provided, and
who suddenly had to run like hell to escape, and who were
blamed for the "delayed alarm."
WHERE, OH WHERE, THE CONSUMER IS:
NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW
The fire safety field consists of two types of people, namely:
1. Profiteers
2. Consumers
The profiteers are the people who make their profits in the fire
safety field.
The consumer is the guy who buys the stuff. Usually, he is
forced, under threat of law, to purchase the "proper" materials
and systems. Usually, at inflated prices for "listed" items. I have
to think there are more consumers in this world than profiteers.
Otherwise, how could the profiteers make their profits?
But when I look at the membership lists of the NFPA
committees — where are all the consumers?
It seems to me that most of those involved in the NFPA codes
somehow — someway — earn their living or earn their profits
from the codes. Maybe that's why NFPA is sometimes held in
PATTON LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC,
6075 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43229
high esteem. Those who are most intimately involved are not
complaining.
DOES CORRUPTION FILL THE CODES
Today we see 4,000 children burn to death each year. Year in
and year out, 4,000 burn. What horror! And worse yet, thousands
more lie in pain for months in hospitals, then live their remaining
lives scarred horribly in body and mind.
If the codes that are intended to protect them — if these codes
are the product of scheming minds who build their profits
sacrificing safety for gain, then the horror is magnified beyond
comprehension.
Is there corruption in the fire codes? Well, the opportunity is
there. The lack of supervision is there. The profiteers are there.
The markets are there. The 100%, 200%, 500%, 1,000%, over-
pricing is there. The taxing system that denies a market without a
label is there. Can corruption be far behind? I believe that where
there's smoke there's fire. I believe that one day the wraps are
going to be peeled off this fire safety game, and when it is, we
may well find a stench that will make Watergate look like
Kiddieland.