READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.
https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/copyright
Vous avez des questions? Nous pouvons vous aider. Pour communiquer directement avec un auteur, consultez la
première page de la revue dans laquelle son article a été publié afin de trouver ses coordonnées. Si vous n’arrivez pas à les repérer, communiquez avec nous à PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
Questions? Contact the NRC Publications Archive team at
PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. If you wish to email the authors directly, please see the first page of the publication for their contact information.
NRC Publications Archive
Archives des publications du CNRC
This publication could be one of several versions: author’s original, accepted manuscript or the publisher’s version. / La version de cette publication peut être l’une des suivantes : la version prépublication de l’auteur, la version acceptée du manuscrit ou la version de l’éditeur.
Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at
The Pros and cons of protect-in-place
Proulx, G.
https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/droits
L’accès à ce site Web et l’utilisation de son contenu sont assujettis aux conditions présentées dans le site LISEZ CES CONDITIONS ATTENTIVEMENT AVANT D’UTILISER CE SITE WEB.
NRC Publications Record / Notice d'Archives des publications de CNRC:
https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=11f908a7-3915-4b0f-9a73-933516fdce2e https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=11f908a7-3915-4b0f-9a73-933516fdce2e
The Pros and Cons of Protect-In-Place
Proulx, G.
A version of this document is published in / Une version de ce document se trouve dans : Fire Australia 2002 held in Brisbane, Australia, June 26, 2002, pp. 1-66
www.nrc.ca/irc/ircpubs
The Pros and Cons of
Protect-in-Place
Guylène Proulx, Ph. D.
Fire Risk Management Group
Summary
•
Background
•
Case study: the North York Fire
•
Conditions for protect-in-place
Is it wise to evacuate a highrise building?
My position:
In highrise buildings, unless the fire
is in your compartment, all
occupants should stay on location,
doing protect-in-place activities,
Over 15 years ago...
Macdonald, J., “Non-evacuation in compartmental fire resistive
buildings can save lives and makes sense”, Proceedings of the International Conference on Building Use and Safety
Technology, Los Angeles, 1985.
– He looked at 20 fires
– 82% died while attempting to evacuate
– Concluded “unless the fire is in your unit, it is safer to
stay than evacuate”.
Keep in mind...
To my knowledge, no specific study on
this question has been conducted.
Information for this presentation is based
on human behaviour studies for a few
What is the Current Fire Safety Procedure?
Full evacuation
•
At the sound of the fire alarm
•
Leave from the closest exit
•
Do not use the elevators
•
If you encounter smoke, use an alternative exit
Phased evacuation
•
At the sound of the fire alarm be alert or go to meeting
point
•
Evacuate when instructed to or when hearing the
continuous evacuation signal
Are the Evacuation Procedures Effective?
Full Evacuation or Phased-Evacuation
•
Yes, during drills, for occupants to gain experience
with the procedure and for mangment to assess their
fire safety systems.
Discussion on the North York Fire
•
30-storey residential buiding
•
Fire in January 1995 at around 5:00 am
•
Starte in unit 509
•
Six casualties in the two stairwells
– People between the age of 16 and 35
– Without limitation
Statistics: Location of Fatalities
NFPA data for highrise fires 1993-97
•
74% Room of orignin
•
Corridor on the floor of fire origin
•
Stairwell, any stairwell at any floor
Case study: the North York Fire
•
30-storey residential buiding
•
Fire in January 1995 at around 5:00 am
•
Started in unit 509
•
Six casualties in the two stairwells
– People between the age of 16 and 35
– Without limitation
Summary of the Event
•
Cigarette on the couch•
Occupant tried to extinguish with pots of water•
Opened patio door to drag couch on balcony•
Left, leaving front door open (no door closer)•
Door to stairwell not latched, damaged by fire•
Alarm not audible in all units•
Complex scissors stairs•
Occupants attempted to leave•
Firefighters kept stairwell door open for fire attackEvacuation Attempted
•
155 stayed in their unit (71%)
•
64 attempted to evacuate (29%)
Above fire floor
•
9 succeeded
•
5 took refuge
•
41 went back home
Where do People Die in Highrise Fires?
•
Compartment of fire origin
•
Adjacent compartments
•
Floor above
•
Floor below
Arguments in Favour
•
delay time to start is too long•
limited response to fire alarm signal•
travel distance is too long•
occupants with mobility limitations cannot evacuate•
means of egress get contaminated by smoke•
occupants most at risk will have more chances to escape•
suite offers means to defend-in-place•
allow fire department to concentrate on fire fightingWhat are the Conditions for Protect-in-Place?
1- Highrise building
2- Non-combustible construction 3- Self-closers on all entry doors 4- Central alarm system
5- Voice communication system with good intelligibility in each comptartment
Where could it be Implemented?
•
Highrise: residential, hotel and dormitory
– occupants in an enclosed compartment – tools to protect-in-place
– access to a window from the compartment
•
Probably not for highrise office buildings
– open-concept / no compartment – occupant ready to evacuate
New Fire Safety Procedure...
At the sound of the fire alarm:
•
Stay in your unit, be alert•
Wait for instructions from the voice communication system•
Seal main door and vents to prevent smoke from entering your unit•
Go onto your balconyWill the Occupants Buy into it?
•
Already little response to the sound of fire alarm•
It is easier to stay on location than evacuate a highrise building•
At the moment, occupants tend to start evacuation when they percieve smoke or notice the arrival of the fire department; will they still do that?•
What is the impact of the images of the World Trace Center; attack, fire and collapse? Already little response to the sound of fire alarmWill the Management and Staff Buy into it?
•
A lot simplerWill the Fire Department Buy it?
•
Less people in their way for fire attack and controlOttawa Fire Department
•
In favour of Protect-in-Place
•
Training of firefighters
•
Cue cards for voice communication messages
– what is the problem – where is the problem
Montreal Fire Department
•
Startled by the idea, 3-4 years ago
•
Now it makes sense in some specific circumstances
Alternatives for Highrise Buildings
•
Full Evacuation
•
Phased-Evacuation
•
Refuge area
•
Refugee floors
•
Safe elevators
•
Protect-in-place
•
Anything else?
Is Protect-in-Place Applicable in Australia?
Questions, comments, suggestions...
More information:
