Environmental Impact of Automatic Fire Sprinklers: Part 2. Experimental Study

Abstract

A recent study on the environmental impact of automatic fire sprinklers is documented in a two part series. The present paper examines the relationship of automatic fire sprinkler technology to environmental sustainability. Large-scale fire tests were conducted using identically constructed and furnished living rooms. In one test, fire extinguishment was achieved solely by fire service intervention, and in the other, a single residential automatic fire sprinkler was used to control the fire until final extinguishment was achieved by the fire service. Comparisons of the total greenhouse gas production, quantity of water required to extinguish the fire, quality of water runoff, potential impact of wastewater runoff on groundwater and surface water, and mass of materials requiring disposal between the two tests were made. The results show that in addition to providing life safety and limiting property damage, the use of automatic fire sprinklers is a key factor in achieving sustainability.

Drinking water contamination from the thermal degradation of plastics: implications for wildfire and structure fire response

“…It is well established that VOCs can be released into the air from burned structures, and have been found in water used to extinguish structure fires as well. 27,28 Temperatures caused by wildfire and structure fires can thermally damage plastic pipes (Fig. 1), and as a result may provide a reasonable source for the observed water contamination.…”

Healthcare Costs of Burn Patients From Homes Without Fire Sprinklers

“…The use of automatic fire sprinklers reduce green house gas emissions by 98% and the carbon emissions accompanying reconstruction of a home and its furnishing. 7 …”

Environmental Impact of Automatic Fire Sprinklers: Part 1. Residential Sprinklers Revisited in the Age of Sustainability

“…A recent study on the environmental impact of automatic fire sprinklers [13] is documented in a two part series. The current paper provides a background on residential sprinkler technology from its inception until the present, and analyzes the contribution of risk factors, such as fire, on the total lifecycle carbon emissions of one-and two-family dwellings and the reduction to that contribution achieved via the use of automatic fire sprinklers.…”

“…The current paper provides a background on residential sprinkler technology from its inception until the present, and analyzes the contribution of risk factors, such as fire, on the total lifecycle carbon emissions of one-and two-family dwellings and the reduction to that contribution achieved via the use of automatic fire sprinklers. In support of this analysis, an experimental effort was conducted to quantify the reduction in the environmental impact via the use of sprinklers [13], the experimental work is presented in a companion paper [12].…”

“…In a companion paper, Environmental Impact of Automatic Fire Sprinklers: Part 2. Experimental Study [12], an experimental study aimed at the quantification of the environmental benefits achieved by the use of automatic fire sprinklers is detailed. The complete study can be found in Ref.…”