Abstracts EDITOR'S NOTE: F o r i n f o r m a t i o n on how to s e t up y o u r o w n a b s t r a c t file a n d i n f o r m a t i o n r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m i n c o r p o r a t i n g a b s t r a c t s f r o m FIRE TECHNOLOGY a n d o t h e r sources, see t h e article, " I n f o r m a t i o n R e t r i e v a l - T h r e e P r a c t i c a l M e t h o d s , " on page 69 o f t h e F e b r u a r y 1965 issue. I n c l i p p i n g t h e s e a b s t r a c t s for m o u n t i n g on file cards, t h e r e v e r s e side of e a c h page s h o u l d b e p h o t o c o p i e d to r e t a i n the a b s t r a c t s a p p e a r i n g thereon.

KEY WORDS: airflow, convection, free burning, mass fires. ABSTRACT: An analysis of convection columns generated in a series of experimental free burning fires revealed a relationship between the lapse of low-level temperature and the smoke column's volume vs. time. The rate of rise of the convection columns above the experimental fires depends on the rate of average atmospheric temperature lapse in the lower 1000 meters. The t y p e of fuels used in these fires will p r o b a b l y produce a mass fire if the burning area is 2 7 : 3 : 2 hectares or larger and if the winds are light. REFERENCE: "Convection Columns Above Large Experimental Fires," Thomas Y. Palmer and Lee I. Northcutt, Fire Technology, Vol. 1t, No. 2 ( M a y 1975), pp. 1 1 1 - 1 1 8 .

Abs: 7 5 - 1 6 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, MA KEY WORDS: models, response time, fire stations, fire protection. ABSTRACT: A systematic method of allocating fire companies to regions in a city has been developed. The allocatlons are based an a compromise between the strategy of equal coverage to oil regions of a city and that of minimizing the total citywide fire risk. The degree of trodeoff between these strategies is determined by fire depczrtment management. Data from the city of Yonkers, New York are used to illustrate the allocation method. REFERENCE: "lntroductlon to a Method for the Allocation of Fire Companies," Kenneth Lloyd Rider, Fire Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2 ( M a y t 9 7 5 ) , pp. 9 9 - 1 1 0 .

Abs: 7 5 - 1 7 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, MA KEY WORDS: urethanes, insulation, fire losses, water curtains. ABSTRACT: A fire in a 430-foot-long galvanized, corrugated steel tunnel structure at a particle accelerator facillty spread along the tunneVs sprayed-in-place, closed cell, rigid polyurethane insulation. Fire involved the entire length of the tunnel in approximately eight minutes. Sprinklers, intended to function as a water curtain between the end of the tunnel and the main building, were shut off at the time. Release and burning of gases was so rapid that material on the enclosure wails two to three feet from the floor was scorched, but not actually burned. Heat from the fire removed the galvanized coating from the corrugated metal. An oxyacetylene cutting torch was thought to be the source of ignition. REFERENCE: "Foamed Plastic Fire," John Sharry, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston, M A 0 2 2 1 0 ) , V o L 69, No. 1 (January 1 9 7 5 ) , p p . 5 - 6 , 5 6 .

Abs: 7 5 - 1 8 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, M A

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140

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KEY WORDS: walls, penetrations, fire tests, cables, sleeves. ABSTRACT: Four, small-scale fire resistance tests have been carried out on wails penetrated by telephone cables. A failure criterion was arbitrarily adopted that temperatures should not exceed t000 ° F at the unexposed surfaces of the cable, sleeve or wall nor should substantial openings (i.e. greater than 0.1 square inch) develop. It was concluded that almost any arrangement would be satisfactory with the furnace operating under negative pressure, but that, under positive pressure, only carefully sleeved and packed penetrations are acceptable. Thin steel sheet proved to be the most desirable means of sleeving tested u n d e r positive pressure. REFERENCE: "Small-Scale Fire Tests of Walls Penetrated by Telephone Cables," J. H. McGuire, Fire Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1975), pp. 7 3 - 7 9 .

Abs: 7 5 - 1 9 , Fire Technology, May 1975; Boston, MA

KEY WORDS: extinguishing agents, radiation, pyrophoric metals, lithium, magnesium, sodium, uranium, plutonium. ABSTRACT: Controlled fire tests were made with 50-gram quantities of uranium m e t a l powder to assess the degree of airborne alpha contamination associated with the burning and extinguishing this material. Test fires were attacked with graphite powder, treated sodium chloride, and carbon microspheres. Airborne alpha contamination was the least when carbon microspheres were used. Neutron absorbers can be incorporated in the carbon microspheres to minimize the criticality hazard of fissionable material. REFERENCE: "Carbon Microspheres as Extinguishing Agents for Fissionable M a t e r i a l Fires," C. R. Schmitt, Fire Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1975), pp. 95-98.

Abs: 7 5 - 2 0 , Fire Technology, May 1975; Boston, MA

KEY WORDS: pilot ignitionj radiation, time, wood, calculations. ABSTRACT: This paper discusses a three-part study of the piloted ignition of w o o d that is exposed to time-dependent radiation emitted by finite sized burning pools of burning fuel. The end result of the study is that, given the identity of the wood, its location from the burning pool, and the initial mass of the burning fuel, one can calculate the time at which the wood ignites. The limits of applicability of the results are discussed, and the high flux limit of the ignition time is presented. REFERENCE: "Piloted Ignition Time of Wood Exposed to Time-Dependent Radiation from Pools af Burning Fuel," C. Stuart Kelley, Fire Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May 1975 ), pp. 119131.

Abs: 7 5 - 2 1 , Fire Technology, May 1975; Boston, MA

KEY WORDS: smoke, gases, hazards, fire development, combustibles. ABSTRACT: There is a trend toward the use of smoke production as a partial measure of the hazards of fire gases. The prediction of smoke concentrations and photometric properties during actual fires requires many important and rather critical assumptions. Because o f this, it is suggested that present smoke test methods may be best used to provide indications o f possible smoke production. Large quantities of smoke will result from the combustion of small quantities of most combustibles. Because of this, there is little opportunity for the elimination o f the smoke hazard during fires through establishment of any but the most dramatic limitations on the smoke development characteristics of materials considered acceptable. REFERENCE: "Estimating

Smoke Production During Buildlng Fires, '~ A. F. Robertson, Fire

Technology, VoL 11, No. 2 (May 1975), pp. 8 0 - 9 4 . Abs: 7 5 - 2 2 , Fire Technology, May 1975s Boston, MA

Abs tracts

141

KEY WORDS: high-rise buildings, hotels, delayed notification, fire dampers, ABSTRACT: Equipment failure, delayed notification, and a 30-mph wind contributed to the spread of fire and the loss of one life in this hlgh-rise hotel fire. The alarm failed to transmit the alarm to the fire department, There was a 30-minute delay in notifying the fire department, while hotel employees attempted to fight the fire. A 30-mph wind entering the room through open plate glass doors to the balcony drove the fire into the h a i l Later the eight-inch supply to the standpipe system broke at a ioint underground, rendering the system useless. A fire damper in a bathroom exhaust duct also malfunctioned. REFERENCE: "High-Rise Hotel Fire," John A. Sharry, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 4 7 0 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 0 2 2 1 0 ) , V o L 69, No. 1 (January 1975), pp. 2 0 - 2 3 .

Abs: 7 5 - 2 3 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, MA

KEY WORDS: nursing home fires, smoke detectors, heat detectors, smoke stop doors, signaling systems. ABSTRACT: A combination heat and smoke detection system was credited with holding the death roll to two in this earty morning nursing home fire. The system detected the fire, notified the fire department and operated a pair of smokestop doors, which prevented smoke from spreading thro~sghout the structure. Prompt notification enabled fire fighters to rescue the remaining patients. One victim was found in the room of origin, and the other, in a room directly across the hall. Both had roommates who were awakened by the alarm betl and were able to escape. REFERENCE: "Nursing Home Montesano, Washington," NFPA Fire Analysis Department, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston, M A 0 2 2 1 0 ) , VoL 69, No. 1 (January 1975), pp. 39, 46.

Abs: 7 5 - 2 4 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, M A

KEY WORDS: delayed notification, combustible, acryllcs, compartmentation, entertainment centers, automatic fire extinguishing systems.

open spaces,

ABSTRACT: Fifty people Iost their ~ives and a ~ike number were iniured in a fire that destroyed the upper levels of the Summer~and entertainment center on the Isle of Man. Among the factors contributing to fire spread were delayed notification of the fire department, combustible exterior and interior wails, absence of firestopping within the voids, lack of compartmentation, extensive use of acrylic material in walls and roof. A number of these factors existed because of the waiving of certain building bylaw (code) requirements. REFERENCE: "The Summerland Fire," James K. Lathrop, Fire Journal {National Fire Protection Association, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 0 2 2 1 0 ) , VoL 69, No. 2 (March 1975), pp. 5 - 1 2 .

Abs: 7 5 - 2 5 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, M A

KEY WORDS: hospitals, fires, fire causes, fire prevention. ABSTRACT: A survey of seventy-flve hospitals in Massachusetts indicates that hospitals do not experience many high-loss fires. However, the frequency of low-loss-nuisance fires is higher than available statistics indicate. The cause of the majority of hospital fires is tittle different from that for other industrial complexes. However, the idiosyncracies of the hospital environment require more comprehensive educational programs directed toward the persons most likely to be involved. Codes and regulations should be based on the knowledge of the actual conditions surrounding the majority of hospital fire situations. REFERENCE: "The Frequency, Cause, and Prevention of Hospitat Fires," Charles K. Spalding, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 4 7 0 Atlantic Ave., Boston, M A 0 2 2 1 0 ) , Vol. 69, No° 2 (March 1975), pp. 3 5 - 3 8 .

Abs: 7 5 - 2 6 , Fire Technology, M a y 1975; Boston, MA

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KEY W O R D S : hlgh-rise buildings, fire safety, organizations, fire protection, equipment.

ABSTRACT: A pilot survey was conducted to determine the current status of f~re safety organizations in typical high-rise and other large buildings. The sample included t w e n t y high-rise buildings - - three hospitals, two industrial (newspaper) occupancies, three single organization occupancies, three hotels, four private general office buildings, four apartment buildings, and one federal government office building. Hospitals received the highest scores for both equipment availability and manpower allocationp Apartment buildings received the lowest. REFERENCE: "Fire Safety Organization and Management of High-Rise Buildings," F:. R. F. W. Crossman and I. Wirth, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 470 At|~ntic Ave., Boston, MA 022 I 0 ) , Vol. 69~ No. 2 (March 1975), pp. 7 5 - 8 1 .

Abs: 7 5 - 2 7 , Fire Technology, May 1975; Boston, MA

KEY W O R D S : water supply, automatic sprinkler systems, exposure hazards, hoses.

ABSTRACT: Water supply requirements for a building or occupancy vary widely, depending on one's viewpoint. In general, insurance groups require enough water and pressure t o proper{y operate an automatic sprinkler system, plus a small amount for hose streams to augment the sprinkler system. The fire department, on the other hand, may require a water supply large enough to confine a fire to the building or block of origin and to avoid conflagrations, earning the community a 'no deficiency' number for its fire protection water supply. REFERENCE: " W h a t Are the 'Real' Fire Flow Requirements," Paul D. Smith, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210 ), Vol. 69, No. 2 (March 1975), pp. 93-96.

Abs: 7 5 - 2 8 , Fire Technology, March 1975; Boston, MA

KEY WORDS: helicopters, fires, fuel systems, fire deaths, burns, injuries.

ABSTRACT: U. S. Army field commanders in southeast Asia expressed concern a b o u t the number of alrcrew and passenger personnel being killed or seriously injured from burn trauma in what would otherwise have been survivable helicopter mishaps. As a result, work w a s begun on research and development of a crashworthy fuel system. The use of such systems drastically reduced the number of post crash fires and virtually eliminated thermal casualties in incidents involved in a computer data study between April 1970 and August 1974. By 1985, all army aircraft will be equipped with crashworthy fuel systems. REFERENCE:"Crashworthy Fuel Systems for Helicopters," W. F. Gabella and W a d e Young, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 0 2 2 1 0 ) , Vol. 69, No. 2 (March 1975), pp. 4 0 - 4 3 .

Abs: 7 5 - 2 9 , Fire Technology, May 1975; Boston, MA

KEY WORDS: smoke detection, ionization, false alarms, sensitivity°

ABSTRACT: Unwanted alarms from early warning detectors may be inconvenient or, if the detector is used to trigger an extinguishing system, expensive. A method, called cross-zoning, has been used to prevent an extinguishing system from being actuated until a second detector goes into alarm. Sometimes it is difficult to achieve cross-zoning without going to considerable ad~ ditional expense. A method, called priority matrix, has been devised to prevent two detectors that are for apart and on separate zones from calling for actuation as a result of two unwanted and unrelated alarms, if a detector in the priority matrix goes into alarm, actuation of the extinguishing system is brought about by the operation of any adiacent detector. REFERENCE: "Reappraising Early Warning Detection," Roger R. Cholin, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 470 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210 ), Vol 69, No. 2 (March 1975 )~ pp. 5 4 - 5 5 , 58.

Abs: 75-30~ Fire Technology, May 1975; Boston, MA