Ever struggle with finding methods to present data visualizations and/or results to non-technical audiences in a coherent and engaging manner? In this talk, Joseph Willi will share how he overcame such a challenge by using Dash to build an interactive app for firefighters to use while testing rescue equipment.

It is not uncommon to hear that structure fires are hotter today than they were years ago. How do furnishings and ventilation affect the fire and the temperature inside the structure? Does the type and movement of the hose stream matter when fighting a structure fire? Do basement fires require different approach? This presentation will discuss how building geometry, materials, furnishings, ventilation and firefighting tactics can influence fire growth and spread. Fire behavior will be reviewed in basic terms to provide the building blocks to characterize and describe the thermal environment that civilians and firefighters may be exposed to. The importance of size-up and the need to coordinate suppression and ventilation tactics will be discussed. Come hear from one of the pre-eminent researchers in our industry, Daniel Madrzykowski of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute as he talks on the science behind the art of firefighting.

The risks we face as firefighters are constantly evolving as we respond to fires that progress more rapidly and produce more toxic smoke than ever before. In addition to the hazards from rapid fire progression, building collapse and PPE limitations, there are other insidious threats that we face that may not be as evident as implementation tactics or even developing policies. Cancer is a primary chronic health concern associated with firefighting. Sudden cardiac events are the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the Fire Service and a primary acute health concern. In an on-going series of projects between IFSI Research, UL FSRI and NIOSH, we have developed a deeper understanding of the exposure risks associated with firefighting activities. This presentation will review the critical results from those efforts with a focus on the impact of fireground decisions on firefighters operating in different roles.

The risks we face as re ghters are constantly evolving as we respond to res that progress more rapidly and produce more toxic smoke than ever before. In addition to the hazards from rapid re progression, building collapse, and PPE limitations, there are other insidious threats we face that may not be as evident while implementing tactics or even developing policies. Cancer is a primary chronic health concern associated with re ghting. Sudden cardiac events are the leading cause of line-of- duty deaths in the Fire Service and a primary acute health concern. In an ongoing series of projects between IFSI Research, UL FSRI, and NIOSH, we have developed a deeper understanding of the exposure risks associated with re ghting activities. This presentation reviews the critical results from those e orts with a focus on the impact of reground decisions on re ghters operating in di erent roles.

Changes in home construction materials, contents, and geometry have resulted in changes on the fire scene. Today, structure fires are predominantly fueled by synthetic fuels and commonly become ventilation-controlled. How and where the fire receives oxygen impacts the fire dynamics and resulting fire patterns. This presentation will include videos, photos, and data from full-scale fire experiments conducted at the UL Large Fire Laboratory. A one-story and a two-story structure were used for the experiments. The test scenarios ranged from room fires with no exterior ventilation, to room fires with flow paths that connected the fires with remote intake and exhaust vents throughout the structures. Elevated fires originating in the kitchens were also examined. This project was supported by a grant from the U.S. DoJ NIJ.

We are inviting you to attend our Visitor Day on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at our test site located at the Skyway Shopping Plaza, 1067-1090 Kauffman Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio 45324. Register by September 10th to attend!

UL Xplorlabs is an educational platform designed to take middle school students through their own fire forensics investigation and teach them the basics of fire dynamics. Join the interactive workshop to learn more about this free program and get an update on the UL Close Before You Doze public fire safety campaign.

The risks we face as re ghters are constantly evolving as we respond to res that progress more rapidly and produce more toxic smoke than ever before. In addition to the hazards from rapid re progression, building collapse, and PPE limitations, there are other insidious threats we face that may not be as evident while implementing tactics or even developing policies. Cancer is a primary chronic health concern associated with re ghting. Sudden cardiac events are the leading cause of line-of- duty deaths in the Fire Service and a primary acute health concern. In an ongoing series of projects between IFSI Research, UL FSRI, and NIOSH, we have developed a deeper understanding of the exposure risks associated with re ghting activities. This presentation reviews the critical results from those e orts with a focus on the impact of reground decisions on re ghters operating in di erent roles.

More details coming soon...

More details coming soon...

For Fire Service Innovation in Safety Symposium (NFFF) attendees only (must register). UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute will offer demonstrations and tours of their laboratory and experimental buildings at the Delaware County Emergency Training Center from 9 am to 12 pm on Friday, September 27th. The training facility is approximately 12 miles from the Wyndham.

Over the past several years, the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute has been working with the fire service to examine fire dynamics and firefighting tactics. More than 300 experiments have examined the changes in the fire environment over time, the impact of ventilating ventilation-limited fires, and the implications of flow control and effectiveness in suppression tactics. These experiments were conducted with firefighters from across the country from departments of different types with varying levels of staffing, resources, and operating procedures. The UL studies have produced tactical considerations that have become common themes over several studies that may change the way you view your standard operating guidelines. This presentation will review the Top 20 tactical considerations from the last decade of fire research and discuss how they can be adapted for use in your standard operating guidelines.

Changes in home construction materials, contents, and geometry have resulted in changes on the fire scene. Today, structure fires are predominantly fueled by synthetic fuels and commonly become ventilation-controlled. How and where the fire receives oxygen impacts the fire dynamics and resulting fire patterns. This presentation will include videos, photos, and data from full-scale fire experiments conducted at the UL Large Fire Laboratory. A one-story and a two-story structure were used for the experiments. The test scenarios ranged from room fires with no exterior ventilation, to room fires with flow paths that connected the fires with remote intake and exhaust vents throughout the structures. Elevated fires originating in the kitchens were also examined. This project was supported by a grant from the U.S. DoJ NIJ.

More details coming soon!

Local government decision makers often alter fire department resources faster than fire service leaders can evaluate the potential impact. These decisions can leave a community without sufficient resources to respond to emergency calls safely, efficiently, and effectively. The Fire Community Assessment/Response Evaluation System (FireCARES) enables fire departments to add a technical basis to what has historically been an anecdotal discussion regarding community hazards and risks as well as the impact of changes on fire department resource levels. FireCARES provides three scores for each community based on the available data: the Community Risk Score (fire and EMS), the Fire Department Performance Score, and the Safe Grade. These scores are generated from exploiting an expansive, multilayered data set combining fire incidents, outcomes, and community risk characteristics. Fire and EMS incident data are not without flaws, as they primarily rely on firefighters for data entry. Additionally, there is a two-year data lag on the national level. To overcome this obstacle, we have built the National Fire Operations Reporting System (NFORS), a real-time data analysis tool that leverages modern data practices while removing firefighters from data entry. This presentation highlights both projects and provides a live demonstration of each.

This presentation will share the numerous evolutions that have taken place in homes and how they compound to impact fire safety. Research will be shared that shows this impact and what can be done to intervene.

More information coming soon...