Welcome! A trade association wholly supported by members

Welcome!

A trade association wholly supported by members.

www.nfsa.org

National Fire Sprinkler Assn

Rhode Island Nightclub Tragedy “Lessons Learned”

Presented by: Dominick G. Kass CFPS

Northeast Regional Manager© Copyright NFSA 2003

National Fire Sprinkler Association National Fire Sprinkler Association (The “(The “NFSA”NFSA”))•Construction Trade AssociationConstruction Trade Association

–Engineering ServicesEngineering Services

–Training and EducationTraining and Education

–Labor RelationsLabor Relations

–Promoting the concept of sprinkler system installationPromoting the concept of sprinkler system installation

•ManufacturersManufacturers

•SuppliersSuppliers

•ContractorsContractors

•Professional (Architects, Engineers)Professional (Architects, Engineers)

•Subscribers (Code Officials, Insurance)Subscribers (Code Officials, Insurance)

What We’ll Look At

What doesn’t (or didn’t) work

Aspects of the “Station Fire”

What does work

What Didn’t Work

The Tragedy

RI Nightclub Fire “The Station” 20 Feb 03

To date, 100 people have perishedPyrotechnics display at a rock concert

Code changesDeadliest fire in Rhode Island's historyNation's worst nightclub fire in 25 yrs.

The Station Nightclub

Constructed in 1950.

An addition was built in 1975.

Town records indicate 4,484 ft2 of rentable space

Total of 6,278 ft2

Value was assessed at $268,400.

The Station Nightclub

Total of four exits;Main entrance facing North to the street1 Northwest portion by the bar 1 located exiting the kitchen1 located Northeast by the Stage.

The Station Nightclub

“Total of four exits”Human nature:

Attempt egress at original entry point,

Main entrance facing North to the street:

handled 80% to 90% of occupants attempting to exit.

Contributing Factors

Unfamiliar with other exits and paths

Darkness

No suppression, automatic or manual

Delayed alert to occupants

These are all typical and identifiable factors

“The Station” Staff

Reported:

Stage exit was blocked by staff;

“for band members only”.

Bar exit used by only a few.

“Great White” Performing at the Station Nightclub

Pyrotechnics were running at the upper leftPyrotechnics were running at the upper left

Simulation and Test Conducted

NFSA member and N.E. R.M. conducted a simulation of the nightclub using similar foam to show the effectiveness of fire sprinklers in an A-2 Occupancy.

3-inch thick uncovered polyether (pure polypropylene oxidepolyol) foam cushions having a density of 1 to 1.25 pounds per cubic foot measuring 36 by 40 inches.

R.I. Fire Simulation

NIST Report

Fire Model

The StationThe Station

Without Sprinklers

Five Foot Level

Without Sprinklers

With Sprinklers

Five Foot Level

With Sprinklers

Unfortunately, History Repeats Itself:

Some of the deadliest U.S. fires in clubs and dance halls:

-491 dead, Cocoanut Grove club, Boston, Nov. 28, 1942. Cause unknown.

-198 dead, Rhythm Night Club dance hall in Natchez, Miss., April 23, 1940. Cause unknown.

Unfortunately, History Repeats Itself:

Some of the deadliest U.S. fires in clubs and dance halls:

-164 dead, Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky., May 28, 1977. Defective wiring.

-87 dead, Happy Land Social Club in The Bronx, New York, March 25, 1990. Arson.

Unfortunately History repeats itself!!

-40 dead, dance hall in West Plains, Mo., April 13, 1928 (explosion). Cause unknown.

-32 dead, Upstairs Bar in New Orleans, June 24, 1973. Cause unknown.

Unfortunately History repeats itself!!

-25 dead, an ethnic Social Club, Bronx, New York, Oct. 24, 1976. Arson.

-24 dead, Gulliver's Discotheque, Port Chester, N.Y., June 30, 1974. Arson fire in nearby bowling alley spread to disco.

What lessens have we learned?

There would have been a major impact on the outcome had the building been fully protected by an automatic Fire Sprinkler system.

We must look at the current Fire and Building Codes being used in all states and determine if the occupancy load thresholds are too high.

What lessens have we learned?Overdue to examine the triggers in which an

automatic fire sprinkler system would be installed such as the square footage, occupancy load, occupancy uses.

Education of architects, engineers, and designers in fire sprinkler “Trade-Ups” available in model building codes.

The obvious…?

NIST- All Places of Assembly should be protected by an automatic sprinkler system regardless of square footage or occupant load.

“Fire cannot read building codes!”

Code Development

Consensus Code Process

Process is a form of negotiating. (Everyone comes out of process giving up something.)

AHJs should remember that codes are “minimal” codes. (But let’s not go nuts here.)

Min/Max state codes tie the hands of local control.

BCNYS/FCNYS

A-2 Nightclub- 903.2.1.2- An automatic Sprinkler System shall be provided for group A-2 occupancies where (1) of the following conditions exist:

1. The fire area exceeds 5,000 Square Feet (464.5 M).

2. The fire area has an occupant load of 100 or more.

3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge.

Imagine…your day starts out as any typical work day…

“My name is Raymond Mattera. The last time I kissed and hugged my beautiful daughter Tammy, she was in a black body bag. Tammy was 29 years old…..”

...and what did work…

“Fine Line” Night club

7 Fire Sprinklers activated,

2 over fire, 5 “down wind” due to front door left open after egress,

Fire sprinklers were approx 18 inches below ceiling level, why?

Drop ceiling removed months before when new tenant moved in.

“Fine Line” Night club results?

Minimal loss (considering)

No injuries

NO FATALATIES!!!

“Fine Line” Staff

Trained in evacuation

Pointed patrons to exit

Trained in fire extinguishers

Checked to make sure everyone was out.

Occupancy has fire sprinklers throughout!

OverviewIf Codes and general fire safety procedures are unknown, misunderstood or not enforced? Potential…

Trauma (physical and mental)

Fatalities

High Dollar Losses

Vacant buildings

Degradation of neighborhoods

Crime rate increase

Law suits

NFPA

ROP Meetings for 2006 edition

Definition of “bars” modified to include “bars with live entertainment”.

Fire ModelingStudy prepared for NFPA 101 meeting.

Modeling included many factors-

Fire growth, obstructions, speed of occupants, turning rate, smoke layer, 140º F.

Study done for 5,000 sq ft building

Before untenable at 6 ft. above floor

150 people could escape with one 32” exit

300 people- 2 exits

Under the modeled conditions.

Code Updates

NFPA 101

Fire Sprinklers in Assembly Occupancies

New- 50 or more occupants

Existing- 100 or more

Egress issues and egress inspections

Crowd management

NFPA 5000

New Assembly Occupancies- Festival seating changes identical to NFPA 101.

Supervised Automatic Fire Sprinklers

16.3.5.1.1

NFPA 1/UFC

Fire Sprinklers

13.3.2.4.1 New Assembly Occupancies

13.3.2.5.1 Existing

ICC

Group A-2 Fire Sprinkler requirements changed from 300 to 100 occupants.

Proposal to fire sprinkler all existing A-2 was denied.

Multiple proposals to fire sprinkler other occupancies denied, to include Educational.

Changes to State Legislation

Rhode Island

Assy Occup- 100 or more: Sprinkler Retro

Eff. 01 Oct 2004- Employee Training

Massachusetts

Legislation signed 17 Aug 2004

Assy Occup, 100 or more: Sprinkler Retro

Employee Training to start in 2005

Change to Massachusetts Tax Code!!!

Employee TrainingCrowd count- prevent overcrowding

Exits marked and clear

Open flame use (permits, firewatch)

Fire extinguishers

Panic control/egress routes

Area assignments- evac restrooms, etc.

Decorations- only tested flame resistive materials

Changes to State Legislation

New York State?

Was ahead of the game in 2003:

NYSBC Section 903.2.1.2 A-2 Occupancies

Must have fire sprinklers if:

5,000 ft2

Load of 100 occupants or more (A-1,2,3,4)

NYSFC Section 404 Fire Safety & Evac Plans

NYSFC Section 406 Employee Training & Response Procedures

The “3 E”s

Education

Engineering

Enforcement

Consider a 4th-

Evaluation

What’s the answer?

Ya can’t fix “stupid”!

But we can address the results of “stupid”.

Federal Legislation

HR 1131 / SB 512

Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2005

Contact Info

Office (518) 373-9392

Fax (518) 383-3950

Kass@NFSA.org

www.NFSA.org

“60 Minutes II” investigates…