The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has provided funding for the start of four new research projects, which have just begun at the testing lab at the Building Research Establishment (BRE).  This is in partnership with a range of key industry companies and bodies, placing a higher emphasis on research for the betterment of the fire protection sector.

For those in the fire industry, the results from these four new projects will be eagerly anticipated, since the results from recent research that the FIA sponsored has led to significant discoveries: a recent project uncovered what was long-suspected to be true – that multi-sensor detectors are more effective at rejecting false alarms.  Another recent research project gave some clarification about the spacing of optical beam detectors by investigating the stratification layers of smoke via a complex computer programme that analysed all the potential ways that the smoke could move through a space.  This latter project was in partnership with experts at the University of Edinburgh, providing a partnership between those within the industry and higher education institutions capable of carrying out vital research.

Research proposals 

The four new research projects were proposed by members within the Councils of the FIA, covering a wide range of topic areas that will benefit the industry by providing further insight.  The four projects are named: Fire Deaths and Fire Injuries, proposed by the FIA’s Fire Risk Assessment Council; Biomass Fires (Phase 2), proposed by FIA’s Extinguishing Council’s Working Group Foam; Video Fire Detection (VDF) – Further research on Performance Sensitivity Test/Assessment Methods, proposed by the FIA’s FDWG03 group; and Performance of older smoke detectors, proposed by the FIA’s Fire Detection and Alarm and Services Councils.

All of the FIA’s Councils are run by its members and contain a wide range of key industry stakeholders with extensive knowledge and expertise.  Membership to the FIA is open to any fire company with Third Party Certification, large or small, and Councils are made of elected members.  As such, the research proposed by the Councils of the FIA are given by companies that give a good representation of the wider industry. Research proposals usually stem from a long history of industry experience and debate with other professionals within the Councils over a specific topic that may require a deeper level of clarification.  As such, the research projects are well placed to benefit the wider industry.

One of the projects proposed and due to start is Fire Deaths and Fire Injuries,which will be used to advise UK Government about fire protection issues.  Other research projects will advise the industry about things such as the uses of firefighting foams, and the expected performance of video fire detection.

Here is a run-down of the four projects:

Project 1 – Fire Deaths and Fire Injuries

This data gathering research project will use expert analysis to analyse recent fire deaths and fire injury statistics from 2013-2017, due to an upward trend being observed in the last two years.  This proactive investigation will identify whether there are measures that could be made to reduce fire deaths and fire injuries.

The project aims to provide guidance to government to reduce fire deaths and serious injury from fire, as well as giving input to future standards, Codes of Practice, and building regulations.

One area of investigation will be to identify digital technologies and methods to protect vulnerable people.  This should hopefully help in the effort to reduce the number of fire deaths and injuries across the UK, which is one of the reasons why this study is so important.

For those in the fire sector, the results may spur a new interest in fire protection and fire prevention methods.

Project 2 – Biomass Fires (Phase 2)

This is the second phase of a research project that began back in 2017 (read our blog about Phase 1 https://bit.ly/2v7urgF).  The overall goal is to provide a definitive firefighting process and procedures for the use of foams/wetting agents to effectively suppress and extinguish biomass/waste fires.

Phase 1 looked at the effect of plain water versus wetting/foam agents on selected biomass materials in the absence of fire; Phase 2 is to run a series of small scale fire tests that are repeatable to validate the phase 1 findings, i.e. that wetting agents/class A foams will be more efficient in extinguishing fires than water.  The small tests will help develop a test protocol for Phase 3 tests, which will be full scale fire tests. 

The big benefit here will be for waste recycling centres where biomass fires occur most often – where some fires burn for days before being extinguished.  If firefighting foams do prove to be more effective at extinguishing fires, then fires will be extinguished much faster.  This project is looking to reduce costs and demands on resources, whilst reducing the impact on the environment from biomass and waste fires.

Project 3 – Video Fire Detection (VFD) 

This research and testing project will delve further into this relatively new form of technology, looking at further research on performance and ways to assess the sensitivity of this method of detection.

The purpose of the initial VFD research work was to identify suitable benchmarks and operational performance test methods for VFDs to enable their detection capabilities to be reliably assessed. Previously, test methods have been developed and successfully tested, but it is clear that more work is required to find a suitable test methodology.  

This piece of research will finalise a methodology by using four test fires in controlled conditions, assessing the performance of video fire detectors to each test four times.  This will ensure that each detector is rigorously tested.

The good news to look forward to once the results are published is that system designers and end users will gain a better understanding of the expected performance of installed products.  In addition, a consistent product standard can be developed.

Project 4 – Performance of older smoke detectors

If you’ve ever wondered if older smoke detectors will function in the same way as the day they were installed, then the results of this research project will help give a better understanding of the effects of age on detection products.

Carried out through lab tests and expert analysis, this research project will investigate changes in sensitivity of old domestic smoke alarms and commercial smoke detectors. This may lead to provision of guidance to UK government on the working life of smoke detectors and alarms, input into future standards, and advice that will potentially contribute to the reduction of false alarms from these and yet more reliable warning in the event of a fire.

Results

It will be a while before we begin to hear about the results of these four projects since they have only just started being investigated by researchers at BRE and partners.  Some of these projects have more than one phase of research to be carried out, but as a rough guide results may start to be available in the next 6-8 months, since each project will vary in length to complete and some will be quicker to complete than others.

Nevertheless, the results will no doubt have an impact on the rest of the industry.

Funding research

One of the main aims of the FIA is to provide the industry with the highest possible levels of industry knowledge and understanding, and it does this through providing training, qualifications, and through funding research.

As a not-for-profit organisation, the FIA places a great emphasis on providing funding for research projects, providing £100,000 a year for various vital projects.  The results of these undertakings funnel down into the industry via the technical guidance documents that the FIA produces (check out our publication library on our website).  

More research is good for the industry. It provides more guidance, and helps our industry to be led by science, not just experience and educated guesswork.  This way we are able to prove (or disprove) current thinking about specific areas of fire protection with scientific fact and change or make additions to the British or European Standards if necessary.  This leads the way to higher levels of fire safety for all.