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Fire Protection & the Environment: Regulatory Implications

Explore regulatory impacts on fire protection engineers, water & energy use, building design, and climate change. Learn to meet regulatory challenges to safeguard individuals and property, following SFPE's Code of Ethics. Discover innovative approaches and global climate change initiatives.

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Fire Protection & the Environment: Regulatory Implications

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  1. 2016 SFPE SAC Conference FIRE PROTECTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A PERSPECTIVE ON REGULATORY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER Paul E Rivers PE FSFPE SFPE President Elect Senior Fire Protection Specialist 3M Company St Paul MN USA Leaders in engineering a fire safe world

  2. 2016 SFPE SAC Conference Special thank you to: Ali Moktar, Chairman, Board of Directors, Safety Engineering Section, Saudi Council of Engineers Assistants; BadrAlthwainy, Bader Al Roudian Jamil Al Bqawi, President SFPE Saudi Arabian Chapter Leaders in engineering a fire safe world

  3. Agenda • SFPE International activity to address regulatory pressures, develop a position statement and why • Key issues – examples of regulatory activities affecting fire protection • Activities responding to increased regulatory risk relating to… • water use • energy use • building construction/design • air emissions/climate change • Conclusion

  4. What does an FPSE need to do… …to minimize risk from fire …to minimize risk from increased regulatory requirements …assure the FPSE can perform unencumbered the job of protecting people and property?

  5. Society of Fire Protection EngineersCODE OF ETHICS FOR FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERS Canon 4 Fire protection engineers shall perform their professional duties in such a manner that considers the consequences to the environment.

  6. Key issues for the FPE related to Canon 4 • Potential water-based system limitations • Design phase consideration of environmental effects • Power/energy intensive system management • New designs and technologies ahead of current codes • Increased or changing regulation of all types • ICC Green Building Code • Global emissions regulations • Ozone depletion and greenhouse gas legislation

  7. Water use

  8. Limitation of water usage for FP • Australia in a decade long drought • Mexico City – portions sinking due to aquifer depletion • Parts of AU and USA permanently restricting water use • Reduction in testing frequency/quantity of water • Lowering supply pressure for municipal systems to minimize leakage • Atlanta GA water supply crisis averted in 2008 • Evacuating the city seriously considered • Lake Mead NV down nearly 150 feet • Concern that water supply insufficient for Las Vegas • North American Great Lakes Pact • Eight US States, two Canadian Provinces • Limitation on water transmission from basin • Conservation measures • Massive urbanization in developing nations – China’s water shortages reportedly estimated at 6bn m3 (1.6x1012 US gals) • Development in desert lands (ie: Middle East)

  9. Example: FP water usage and restriction SUPDET 09

  10. AS 1851 Standard – “frugal” water supply testing Thomas - SUPDET 09

  11. NFPA 25 fire sprinkler flow testing requirements 5.3.3 Alarm Devices. 5.3.3.1 Mechanical waterflow devices including, but not limited to, water motor gongs, shall be tested quarterly. 5.3.3.2* Vane-type and pressure switch–type waterflow devices shall be tested semiannually.

  12. “Catch and Cart” flow testing Thomas - SUPDET 09

  13. Water recycling • Development of permanent, sustainable water reuse testing over and above the existing. • Up to 90% reduction in water use anticipated • AS-2118-2006 now requires pump tests with tank return lines: Thomas - SUPDET 09

  14. Fire Pump performance testing Minimizing water use during the annual test Thomas - SUPDET 09

  15. Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) • Possibly due to discontinuation of certain water treatment • Five(5) possible steps to addressMIC in a fire sprinkler system* • Water analysis and deposit analysis testing – considered as “a best practice” • Detailed assessment of system condition • Correcting system deficiencies to prevent further corrosion. • Proper system cleaning and treating • Corrosion monitoring program *Huguenot Laboratories

  16. Example: Aircraft Hanger Protection* • Innovative method for protection of high demanding application • Canadian DND considering alternatives to foam • Key features: • Unique application method • Discharge from above but also from the floor below • Apply water where the fire is • Dramatic water demand reduction – still need significant containment • Elimination of the need for foam • Significant reduction in containment requirement * Dye, Marioff Hi-Fog 2010 NFPA WSCE Aviation Section: Hanger Protection Using High Pressure Water Mist

  17. Global Climate change regulatory activity • Concern for HFC Growth • EU and Montreal Protocol Activity • U.S. Government Initiatives • The Montreal Protocol

  18. EU - Substitutes exist for HFCs in Fire Suppression September 2011 In fire protection, replace HFCs in most, but not all applications. Some EU countries have banned HFCs altogether. EU has HFC-23 (GWP 14800) banned in 2016. Inert gas has always had a major share of the EU market.

  19. U.S EPA SNAP USEPA SNAP program rulemakings “provide additional low or no-GWP options Inert Gases Water Mist Fluoroketone Technologies available enabling >99.9 % reduction in CO2 impact

  20. Four Proposals to Amend the Montreal Protocol to include a Phase-down in HFC Production Proposals advanced in 2009-2015. • Takes HFCs out of the Kyoto Protocol • Montreal Protocol has proven record of success • Technical Committees already exist for ODS and HFC market sectors • November 2015 - (MOP) in Dubai, all 197 countries agreed to “work within the Montreal Protocol to an HFC amendment in 2016”  Sources: 31st Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, 27th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol

  21. Leaders from 100+ Countries Call for Ambitious Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to Phase Down HFCs • White House Press Release Sept. 22, 2016 Supported by Call to Action from over 500 companies • "By avoiding up to 0.5°C of warming by the end of the century, a Montreal Protocol hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown amendment is the most significant single step the world can take now to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement. Today, we call upon world leaders to adopt in October an ambitious amendment to the Montreal Protocol, including an early first reduction step for Article 2 countries and an early freeze date for Article 5 countries, and we declare our intent to work to reduce the use and emissions of high-global-warming-potential HFCs and transition over time to more sustainable alternatives.” Signature companies engaged in the fire suppression industry: • 3M • The ChemoursCompany • Johnson Controls • SEVO Systems • Honeywell White House Press Release Sept. 22, 2016 https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/22/leaders-100-countries-call-ambitious-amendment-montreal-protocol-phase

  22. HFC Phasedown under the Montreal Protocol – Oct. 14, 2016 197 countries reached the landmark deal Amendment to the Montreal Protocol • Ratified in 1990s, no further Senate ratification is required More developed countries like the United States to start cutting HFC use by 2019; and Less developed countries and countries with higher ambient temperatures will have more time to adopt newer technologies. • Developing countries cap their HFC use by 2024 • Developing HAT countries cap HFC use by 2028 • e.g. India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan HFC substitutes in fire suppression sector enables immediate progress for all countries U.S. EPA is already using SNAP regulations as the tool to meet their reduction commitments The Kilgali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

  23. Energy use

  24. Impact of building energy use* In the USA alone, built environment accounts for: • 72% of electricity consumption • 29% of energy use • 38% of carbon dioxide emissions • 30% of waste output(136 MMTs annually) • 14% of potable water consumption *US Green Building Council

  25. Energy: Implications for FPSE • Need/drive to minimize energy use • “Green” buildings • Indoor air quality • natural ventilation • less compartmentation • Natural light • lots of voids • Increased use of glazing • Double skin facades – fire and smoke spread challenge • Building system consisting of two skins, or facades for air flow in an intermediate cavity via natural, fan or mechanical. Foley, Arup Fire – NFPA WSCE 09

  26. Building construction/design

  27. “Green” Buildings • Natural Light and ventilation • Interconnected spaces and floors • Displacement air • Open atria • Large open floor plans • High density floors • Reuse of existing facilities Foley, Arup Fire – NFPA WSCE 09

  28. Demographics: Implications for FPE • Aging population and aging workforce • Lower fitness and mobility – implications for egress • Increasing expectations for accessibility – implications for egress or defend in place • Healthcare increasing • Technology demand and increasingly technology • Urbanization in developing countries Foley, Arup Fire – NFPA WSCE 09

  29. Example: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi* • $22Bn, eight(8) year project – a new city • “Zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city” • 50,000 people, 1500 businesses • LRT/walking above ground; below 30km of driverless PRT tunnels, utilities • Buildings clustered, close proximity • Unique fire protection challenges • FP water usage, demand, testing • Recyclable materials used • Buildings in close proximity for energy efficiency – fire separation issues • Fire department response challenges • UG city services difficult to access • Bottom line: Design/tech ahead of codes *Lamont, Arup Fire, 10 NFPA WSCE

  30. International Green Construction Code (IgCC) • Institute of Architects (AIA) • ASTM International • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) • Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) “…a code governing the impact of buildings and structures on the environment.” http://www.iccsafe.org/IGCC/

  31. Current Data Centers • Data centers account for about 2% of the planet’s entire electricity consumption • 30 billion watts of electricity (equivalent to 30 nuclear power plants are used for data centers • Government and social pressure to reduce energy use from any source.

  32. Traditional air cooling • Inefficient thermal conductor, used as insulator • Fans create a lot of noise and blow dust into IT • Low density – wasted space • Bulky heat sinks, thousands of fans, raised floors • Energy-intensive and expensive computer room A/C (CRAC), 990 L/sec(1940 ft3/min) cooled air for 20kW/rack (APC) • Excessive electricity need only to cool down IT hardware • Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) is the ratio offacility electricity incl. cooling vs. IT electricity • Very inefficient and often PUE's of 2.0 (50% of electricity wasted on cooling etc.) in tropical climate. • PUE = 1.0 is optimum.

  33. Considerations for the FPE • High density, efficient, low Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) data centers are here. • How does one fire protect data center with emerging immersion cooling data centers: - Three methods of direct liquid cooling; 1. Water 2. Non-flammable fluoro-chemical liquid immersion 3. Class IIIB combustible liquid(s) immersion - What fire protection challenges are there for oil based immersion cooling. - How will the fire protection data/telecom (ie: NFPA 75/76) occupancy standards address these challenges. These tanks in the CGG data center in Houston are filled with 42 servers submerged in a liquid coolant, similar to mineral oil, developed by Green Revolution Cooling. (Photo: Rich Miller) 33

  34. Li Ion Batteries – Problem Definition • Lithium-ion batteries are subject to a catastrophic failure mode known as thermal runaway when certain conditions create an internal short within a cell. These conditions commonly include: • electrical over-charge • thermal over-heat • manufacturing defects or impurities • dendritic lithium formation • mechanical damage

  35. Li Ion Batteries – Problem Definition • While the internal short failure rate is very low • 1 : 10,000,000 to 1 : 40,000,0001 • The current annual production of cylindrical and flat polymer cells is estimated to be greater than $1.3 billion2 • This equates to a possible failure rate of 32 to 130 annually • Growth rate: The worldwide market of $28 billion in 2013 is growing rapidly and could reach $41 billion by 20183 D. Doughty, E.P. Roth, “A general Discussion of Li Ion Battery Safety”, p 37 – 44, The Electrochemical Society Interface, Summer 2012 Lithium-ion battery. (2014, September 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:06, October 6, 2014 Murray, C., 2014. Design News - News - Growth Could Be on the Way for Lithium-Ion Battery Market. [online] Available at: http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?

  36. Problem Definition - Cell to Cell Thermal Runaway Cell to Cell Thermal Runaway – No suppression Temperatures measured during cell to cell thermal runaway

  37. So, what does an FPSE need to do… …to minimize risk from fire …to minimize risk from increased regulatory requirements …assure the FPSE can perform unencumbered the job of protecting people and property? SFPE CODE OF ETHICS FOR FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERS Canon 4 Fire protection engineers shall perform their professional duties in such a manner that considers the consequences to the environment.

  38. Questions/Comments? Thank you for your attention! FIRE PROTECTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A PERSPECTIVE ON REGULATORY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER Questions Paul E Rivers PE FSFPE SFPE President Elect Senior Fire Protection Specialist 3M Company St Paul MN USA Leaders in engineering a fire safe world

  39. Extra slides

  40. U.S EPA SNAP Honeywell Total Flooding SNAP Submission Sept. 29th 2016 Pre-publication version of a new U.S. EPA SNAP notice that includes a listing of trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene (HFO-1233zd(E), Solstice FS) as acceptable as a substitute for total flooding uses in normally occupied spaces. https://www.epa.gov/snap/snap-regulations#notices

  41. 2016 SFPE SAC Conference • Officers • Immediate Past President –MiloshPuchovsky, PE FSFPE, Professor of Practice, Worcester • Polytechnic Institute • President – Paul Rivers, PE FSFPE, Senior Fire Protection Specialist, 3M Company • President-Elect – John “JC” Harrington, PE FSFPE, Assistant Vice President, FM Global • Secretary Treasurer – Jack Poole, PE FSFPE, Principal, Poole Fire Protection • New/Reelected Members, Board of Directors – 2017-2019 three-year term • John Campbell, PE PEng, CFPS, FIFireE, EVP Engineering, Global Fire Protection Group • Wan Ki Chow, Ph.D., FSFPE, Chair, Professor of Architectural Science and Fire Engineering, • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University • Amanda Kimball, PE, Senior Project Manager, Fire Protection Research Foundation SFPE International Elections for 2017

  42. 2016 SFPE SAC Conference • Board members to Continue • Daniel Arnold, P.E., FSFPEPartnerSeneca Fire Engineering, LLC • Michael A Crowley, P.E., FSFPE, Vice President, Jensen Hughes • Stephen Kerber, P.E., UL Research Engineer, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. • Beth Tubbs, P.E., FSFPE, Senior Staff Engineer, Codes and Standards Development, • International Code Council (ICC) • Leaving the Board • MICHAEL STRÖMGREN , Fire Safety Engineer, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden  • Victoria Valentine, P.E. Director of Engineering, National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) • Hired as SFPE’s new Director of Professional Qualifications and Industry Alliances • SFPE Board to appoint Board member to replace Ms Valentine. • John Woycheese, P.E., Ph.D., Fire Protection Engineer, Saudi Aramco SFPE International Elections for 2017

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