Assumptions, expectations and reality

1. Assumptions, expectations and reality 18 October 2017 Christina Knorr

2. Smoke detection requirements in Germany Source: http://rauchmelderpflicht.net/rauchmelderpflicht-deutschland/ C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

3. Overview C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017 What do apartment occupants do in a fire situation? Why do people do certain things? How long do certain activities take? Why is training necessary? How does training affect egress times? What further work is needed? Questions and Discussion

4. What do apartment occupants do in a fire situation? • Lacrosse Docklands, • 673 – 675 La Trobe Street, Docklands • 25 November 2014 C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

5. What do apartment occupants do in a fire situation? • Unit 53, 4 West Terrace, Bankstown • 6 September 2012 C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

6. What do apartment occupants do in a fire situation? • Calling the Fire Brigade (12%) • Calling family members • Move to exit or leave (9%) • Warn others (9%) Source: Brennan, P 1997, ‘Review of statistical studies by Wood and Bryan of human behaviour’, Fire Code Reform Project 4, Fire Code Reform Research Program C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017 Investigating (12%) Ignoring Undertaking fire-fighting activities (12%) Get dressed (4%)

7. THE FIRST THREE ACTIVITIES IN AN EVENT OF A FIRE? C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

8. Familiarity – Location of fire extinguishers Presence and location of Fire Extinguishers Examples of identified Fire Extinguisher locations C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

9. Familiarity – location and operation of Fire Extinguishers McLeod (2013) Castel, Vendetti and Holyoak (2012) 50% operate fire extinguishers dangerously 13% are not aware of different types of fire extinguishers C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

10. Familiarity – location of fire doors Do you have fire doors in your building? If yes, where are they located? C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

11. Familiarity– lift usage C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

12. EQUIPMENT USAGE – OCCUPANTS OF FIRE BRIGADE? Fire safety equipment for the use by residents Fire safety equipment for the use by the Fire Brigade C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

13. Fire-fighting activities Source: Government Statistical Services 1992, Fire Statistics United Kingdom 1992, Research and Statistics Department. C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

14. EQUIPMENT USAGE – EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING Source: Freeman, M 2010, ‘The Value of Fire Hose Reels in Residential Buildings’, Thesis Report, University of Western Sydney. C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

15. Duration of activities - experiment tBUCKET < tEXTINGUISHER C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

16. Why is training required? C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017 • To explain occupants what to do in a fire emergency: • What is a smoke detector and how to silence it? • When to leave and when to attempt fire attack? • How to leave the building/where do the fire stairs discharge? • What fire safety equipment is available to residents? • When and how to use equipment? • How has the building been designed (compartmentation/fire doors/fire stairs)

17. How could training affect the duration of fire-related activities and the egress time? Source: Zhao, C.M et al 2007, ‘A Post-fire Survey on the Pre-evacuation Human Behaviour’, Fire Technology, vol.45, pp. 71-95. C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

18. How could training affect PRE-EVACUATION TIME? Pre-evacuation time vs training – Post-fire analysis China 2002 Source: Zhao, C.M et al 2007, ‘A Post-fire Survey on the Pre-evacuation Human Behaviour’, Fire Technology, vol.45, pp. 71-95. C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

19. Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Experiments – Fire safety extinguishers usage TRAINING BENEFITS: Less time for initial fire attack TRAINING BENEFITS: Improved Technique C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

20. RSET with and without fire safety training C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

21. Effect of training = Time to complete an action = Time a trained person will need to complete the action = Time an untrained person will need to complete the action = Percentage of trained people in the subject building = Percentage of untrained people in the subject building 20% improvement through training (Poole et.al (2012)) C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

22. Fire-safety awareness (usage of fire-fighting equipment provided within the building) Regular training is being conducted as part of the building management procedures No training is being conducted in the building 10% have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge 90% do not have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge • 90% have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge • 10% do not have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

23. Fire-safety awareness (usage of household tools for fire fighting activities) Regular training is being conducted as part of the building management procedures No training is being conducted in the building 10% have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge 90% do not have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge • 90% have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge • 10% do not have an adequate level of fire-safety knowledge C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

24. Response & Delay Period considering training C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

25. How can we utilise the research results? • Use the times determined for RSET calculations. • Be conscious about the reality when assuming familiarity with fire safety systems within buildings. • Perhaps request regular training and distribution of information material in cases where it is appropriate. • Talk to building managers and residents about the topic when it becomes appropriate. C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

26. Further work • Confirm benefits of training through experiments • Continue collecting data • Observe activities before and after training • Address the usage of Class 2 as Class 3 • Make fire-safety inductions as part of new lease/purchase agreements C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

27. Interesting comments & Responses • “This research really made me aware how little I actually know about fire safety in our building! Thank you!” • “We do have three smoke detectors which go off with my cooking once a week .. We have been evacuated six times I know of .. It bothers me that there has been no inductions” • Question 10. Do you have fire hydrants in your building? If yes, where are they located? • “Don't know how they look” • “Yes, at the ceiling” • Question 12. Do you have fire doors in your building? If yes, where are they located? • “Not sure what fire doors are, but if you are referring to emergency exit stair cases then yes, they are located on each floor near the garbage room” C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

28. Summary • The majority of occupants not aware of the fire-safety equipment installed in their buildings. • The actions and the duration of activities can be influenced by increasing their awareness of fire-safety within their buildings. • Even though training affects the Response and Delay Period, the difference in time is not significant. Education has more benefits than the effect on the egress time. • It is suggested, that regularly conducted training and evacuation programs in residential apartment building can potentially reduce risks of death and injury. C. Knorr – Society of Fire Safety – Evacuation - 18 October 2017

29. Discussion & Questions Any questions, ideas or suggestions? C. Knorr – Importance of fire safety training in residential apartment buildings