Fire Safety Technology

COMPETENCE

"Fire safety technology produces fire safety design and assessment methods for the needs of industries and society. These methods can be used to describe the operation of products and systems in case of fire, as well as the related risks. VTT develops the simulation of fire development, evacuation and extinguishing, as well as other tools for the assessment of fire safety. The fire safety research conducted by VTT has an extensive field of application: the research subjects vary from the ignition and burning of materials to the overall fire safety of large objects and even social aspects. Modeling and simulation competence combined with experimental research and scientific and practical expertise makes holistic fire safety management possible".

CHALLENGES

"Climate change and energy efficiency goals induce changes to construction processes. New products, structures and building methods lead to new fire technology issues and fire risks. The overall functionality of products and buildings always requires consideration of fire performance. The production, storage, transfer and use of new forms of energy set new challenges for fire safety management. Minimizing the fire risks related to human behavior requires interdisciplinary research".

SOLUTIONS & BENEFITS

Simultaneous simulation of fire development and evacuation
Probability based fire risk analysis
Development of concepts for fire safety assessment for various premises
Experimental fire safety research in laboratory and in field conditions
Calculational and experimental methods in product development
Fire safety assessment and management of large objects using calculational methods
Performance-based fire safety design enables innovative construction solutions
Reasonable product development costs

Close cooperation with the authorities and the industry enhances safety, well-being and the smooth running of society.

www.vtt.fi/img/research/tic/liekki_230.jpg
http://www.vtt.fi/research/technology/fire_safety_technology.jsp?lang=en

Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment

Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) construction of today has come a long way since early firefighter gear that was made from wool and a rubber outer liner(1).Today’s PPE firefighting gear construction, performance and maintenance is governed by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, 2007 edition. The components must consist of a coat, pants, hood, gloves, boots, helmet and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) The ensemble must protect the firefighter for fifteen minutes in an environment of 105-203 degrees F, five minutes in an environment of 204-482 degrees F and about 10 seconds in an environment of 483-1500 degrees F. Typical temperatures in a structure fire can reach 900 degrees F and
1500-2000 degrees F in a flashover condition. A flashover is when superheated gasses ignite as fresh air is introduced into a building. (2).
The PPE coat and pants consist of an outer shell, thermal liner and moisture barrier. The outer shell is water, cut, tear, flame, and puncture resistant. The outer shell is usually made from a blend of Polybenzimidaxazole (PBI™), Kevlar®, Aramid and Nomex® fabrics. The thermal liner is several layers of Nomex® and Kevlar® sandwiched between an inner and outer layer of woven Nomex®. Next to the firefighter is a moisture barrier made of GORTEX™ which keeps out water but allows the release of perspiration and body heat. Globe brand firefighting gear integrates webbing in the coat called a “Drag Rescue Device” (DRD) to easily pull a firefighter to safety. Webbing can also be installed in the pants so a firefighter can repel themselves safely out a window if egress from the fire building is blocked (3). A Nomex® hood is worn to protect the neck and head from fire and heat. The collar of the coat provides another layer of protection to the neck and ears. A helmet is worn to deflect any falling debris and acts as another layer of thermal protection to the top of the head. Nomex® gloves and waterproof rubber or leather boots complete the ensemble. Yearly inspections by a third party are conducted on the PPE to detect any defects. With proper cleaning and maintenance the gear can last up to eight years. After eight years the gear is retired from service.
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) (not to be confused with Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus [SCUBA]) components such as air cylinder, hoses and face mask, must meet the same temperature requirements as the PPE clothing. The SCBA must also have a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device that signals if a firefighter stops moving for 15-20 seconds. The PASS device also allows the firefighter to manually activate the alert if he or she is in trouble. Bottles are hydro-tested yearly as are regulators and masks.
The cost to equip a firefighter with PPE is around $5500.00. Firefighting coat, pants, boots, helmet and gloves are around $2000.00 and SCBA is around $3500.00 depending on the manufacturer.


1) http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print.html?id=331803&bPool=FE.pennnet.com%
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2) Cote, Arthur E. NFPA Fire Protection Handbook,pg 12, 143-160. 20th ed. Vol. II.
Quincy:National Fire Protection Association, 2008.

3) http://globefiresuits.com/globe/

Flight Safety Technology - SOCRATES™

SOCRATES™ Sensor for Optically Characterizing Remote Atmospheric Turbulence Emanating SoundThe U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes that a major problem in aviation today is airport congestion, caused by the inability to keep pace with the growth of air traffic. A major contributor to this problem is wake turbulence, also known as a wake vortex, which is strongest and most dangerous when planes take off and land. Our patented SOCRATES™ technology is being developed to identify the strength and location of wake turbulence by measuring changes in the speed of laser beam light waves. Upon completion of our development and test program, we believe the system will be trained to recognize the acoustic signatures of different air disturbances as far as two nautical miles away, and provide pilots and Air Traffic Control personnel with advanced warning of the nature and location of these potential hazards. Based on our prototype tests, we believe SOCRATES™ will be:

• Reliable in most weather conditions
• Highly accurate
• Eye safe
• Able to detect even small disturbances
• Able to detect disturbances without the presence of large atmospheric particles such as rain or ice crystals

Due to wake turbulence, the FAA restricts take offs and landings behind heavier aircraft, expending precious minutes of runway time in each affected pair of aircraft. According to recent estimates, these delays are part of an estimated $5.2 billion per year in unnecessary costs. Other remedies, such as new runway construction, are costly and environmentally disruptive. Upon successful completion of development, the benefits of SOCRATES™ technology could include:

• The ability for airports and airlines to streamline flight schedules using "adaptive spacing"
• Substantial cost savings generated for airports, airlines and passengers
• Improved flight safety for passengers and airline personnel

http://www.flysafetech.com/advancing_technologies/socrates.asp

Food Quality Monitoring Software - Automated Protection

Food borne illness puts your customers and your business at risk. While most restaurant chains have HACCP programs, most are ineffective and time-consuming.
Take the worry out of food safety.
iQuality is a powerful web-based tool for managing HACCP and inspection programs for large food service organizations. Combining the best technology in PDAs (handheld computers), temperature data acquisition, and .NET web-based software, iQuality automates the monitoring of quality risk factors while dramatically lowering the potential for human error.
Critical information is centralized through web-based reporting, audit trails, and checklist-management tools. Corrective actions are provided when unsafe conditions are detected. Paperwork is eliminated. Through iQuality's efficient inventory recall alert system, any problem can be addressed before an outbreak occurs.

• Inputs temperature probe data directly into the PDA


• Ensures checkpoints are actually visited


• Prompts with corrective actions whenever a critical limit is exceeded


• Manages multi-step processes such as cooling


• Makes reports instantly available via web-browser


• Ensure critical food handling procedures are followed via automated checklists, action prompts, and audit trails


• Streamline regulatory reporting with paperless data capture


• Stay on top of the latest safety procedures with centralized configuration and automatic change distribution


• Improve awareness of food safety with instant alerts and enterprise reports


• Avoid initial acquisition costs with PAR hosting of the enterprise component


• Simplify support with centralized configuration tool and easy-to-use hardware/and software


• Deploys easily with .NET web-based architecture

http://www.partech.com/en/solutions/restaurant/food-safety-monitoring/haccp.html

Laser Technology & Tailgaiting Enforcement

Tailgating, also known as a traffic violation for following too close, has historically relied upon the visual judgment of the traffic officer or has been the result of a rear-end crash. Laser Technology has developed a patented software code that offers a unique measurement calculation unlike any other laser on the market. It's called DBC (Distance Between Cars) and it calculates the time and distance between two moving vehicles when one is following the other in the same lane.

Just like in speed enforcement, traffic officers still need to first visually determine if a vehicle is following too close before they even attempt to validate it with the appropriate police equipment. The UltraLyte 100LR laser with DBC makes these measurements possible and instantly validates the visual determination of the officer.This technology can help law agencies around the world crack down on aggressive driving. Departments have used DBC to promote a public awareness campaign with the intent to remind drivers about the 2-second following rule. Take an active role in reducing crashes and fatalities in your community by integrating a program that promotes safety from the dangers in tailgating and aggressive driving.

According to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, "Speeding reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation. The economic cost of speeding-related crashes is estimated to be $40.4 billion each year."

http://www.lasertech.com/Tailgating-Enforcement.aspx

Sensor Safety Technolgy

Bircher America Inc.manufactures a complete line of presence and motion sensors. Electronic sensor technology enhances safety and comfort in industrial manufacturing facilities, shipping warehouses, commercial properties, medical treatment centers, hospitals, train stations, bus depots, and airports.

Machinery and Robot Safety
Automatic Door Safety
Industrial Door Safety

Public Transport SafetySafety in today's highly automated world. Our society has come to expect high levels of safety and comfort while moving about in public and the workplace. Companies take measures to avoid occupational hazard and ensure workplace safety, building owners and transit authorities need to ensure the safety of the general public entering or leaving buildings, buses or trains through an automatic door.

Products such as safety mats, door sensors, microwave sensors, infrared sensor and loop detector manufactured by Bircher can be used to meet those challenges. The integration of electronic sensor technology is easily achieved in these applications: automatic sliding door, revolving door, industrial door, industrial garage door, industrial safety equipment, motion control system and machine control.

http://www.bircheramerica.com/

Breakaway Saddle Stirrups

Horse back riding can be a very dangerous sport. One of the most dangerous problems associated with horseback riding is getting a foot stuck in a stirrup while falling off your horse. A stirrup is the piece of the saddle that the riders foot goes in. Draggings are depicted on many western films, when the rider falls off and is drug behind the horse as the horse is running away.(The horse is spooked and runs because there is something following it ) A dragging can result in serious injury or death to the rider.

A company called "Saddle Technology Incorporated"(STI) has developed a modern stirrup system that breaks away from the saddle when the stirrup is rotated out of its normal downward position. CEO Mike McCoy has been in the cattle business all his life and rode in professional rodeos for sixteen years. Mike had witnessed a man die after being dragged behind a horse and was fearful this could happen to his children. Mike developed the breakaway stirrup system to protect his children. Others saw his invention and requested that Mike make them a pair for their saddle. Soon Mike formed the STI company and marketed his invention for the safety of other riders. Tim Feland, a Profession Rodeo calf roper endorses the STI breakaway stirrup and boasts its design enhances his performance in competition.

Author of the article Michael J. McCoy states that proper horsemanship and the correct equipment can help prevent riding accidents. Rider's attire such as tight fitting clothes or material that tears easily can help prevent the rider from becoming stuck on a fence post or tree branch and pulled from the saddle. Proper riding boots( also known as cowboy boots), can greatly reduce the chance that the riders foot will become stuck in the stirrup and the rider drug behind the horse. Check out the website for testimonials and more information on breakaway stirrups.

http://www.breakawaystirrups.com/