3/14/22 Brooklyn 5th Alarm Box 553

Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
1,180
An automatic alarm....a building sprinklered throughout. It goes to a fifth alarm! What did the fire protection engineers fail to take into account? Or, was the system just overwhelmed by something no one could anticipate?
 

FDNY Response Videos

FDNY Response Videos
Joined
Nov 5, 2017
Messages
1,063
An automatic alarm....a building sprinklered throughout. It goes to a fifth alarm! What did the fire protection engineers fail to take into account? Or, was the system just overwhelmed by something no one could anticipate?
Not saying with any certainty but my 2 cents are that it was originally a class 3 that was retrofitted with a sprinkler & alarm system when it became a gym.
 
Joined
Sep 25, 2013
Messages
914
An automatic alarm....a building sprinklered throughout. It goes to a fifth alarm! What did the fire protection engineers fail to take into account? Or, was the system just overwhelmed by something no one could anticipate?
Was the sprinkler system operational? Were the conditions under which it was designed unchanged?
 
Joined
Sep 4, 2016
Messages
181
Sprinklers are designed to keep content fires in check. Sprinklers aren't designed for when the structure is involved. If the fire started in or quickly spread to the voids and the building structure itself, the sprinklers have no real effect.
I have had fires in sprinkler building where the fire started in the walls. Sprinklers aren't doing anything to put that out.
 
Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
1,180
Sprinklers are designed to keep content fires in check. Sprinklers aren't designed for when the structure is involved. If the fire started in or quickly spread to the voids and the building structure itself, the sprinklers have no real effect.
I have had fires in sprinkler building where the fire started in the walls. Sprinklers aren't doing anything to put that out.
The Residential Sprinkler (NFPA-13D) Guidelines make very clear that their primary purpose is to allow safe egress of the home's occupants.
 
Joined
Sep 4, 2016
Messages
181
How about Commercial buildings? I was lowly operations Battalion Chief. Didn't get into NFPA :)
 
Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
1,180
How about Commercial buildings? I was lowly operations Battalion Chief. Didn't get into NFPA :)
No idea Chief. I assume that the cause in this incident was electrical. Electric utility companies are starting to use ground fault predication equipment to allow early identification of failing electrical circuits. I think this being used down to the substation level. As costs come down, this technology will some day be found on your kitchen dishwasher.
 
Top