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This article seems unbalanced in it's emphasis on fire stops. It should be re-written from an NPOV standpoint (I agree with much of the below mentioned previous NPOV comments), with balance provided between all goals and disciplines that contribute to a comprehensive approach.
The 'systemic problems' section should be reorganized to reflect a broader approach to possible failure modes. Also, some overly strident wording should be revised, such as, "If any one of the three components of Fire Protection fail, the fire safety plan can be immediately and severely compromised." In fact, if sprinklers are properly designed and operating, in the vast majority of commercial and industrial occupancies, an open fire door, or a compromised fire stop, or an inoperative fire alarm, would result in the same scenario endpoint: a fire which is controlled in size and duration, which is eventually extinguished. I'm not saying all of the different objectives of fire protection aren't important, but the article should be factual within the limitations of the discussion, without unnecessary intensification. Fireproeng 04:07, 25 February 2007 (UTC)
RESPONSE - I am not a proponent of promoting APF without a balance with PFP and education. Rather than characterizing my viewpoint without adequate basis, please ask me next time, and I’ll be glad to discuss the basis of my positions.
Your response covered a lot of ground, so I’ll stay focused on the main points.
Most importantly, the existing wording is not written in NPOV. It is more of a soapbox style, as an advocacy for PFP. That observation does not make me an advocate of AFP over PFP. You have done a great job in providing lots of information on PFP. Nothing wrong with that, I guess that’s the area in which you have experience. But in the spirit of a General Encyclopedia, the article is unbalanced in that a layperson, not knowing anything about fire protection, comes away from reading the present article with the impression that PFP is the most important issue involved, if for no other reason than the sheer length of text regarding PFP. I am only suggesting the article’s balance should reflect the real world experience of constructors, fire protection professionals, and building owners encountered in the vast majority of industrial and commercial projects
As a specific point, I did not us the example above, "…if sprinklers are properly designed and operating, in the vast majority of commercial and industrial occupancies, an open fire door, or a compromised fire stop, or an inoperative fire alarm, would result in the same scenario endpoint: a fire which is controlled in size and duration, which is eventually extinguished." as a debating point for AFP over PFP. I used it, as I explained, only as one example in which NPOV wording is needed for better balance. You did not refute this statement. I qualified the scenario with stating that the AFP system must be operating, which as we both know, is not always the case, which is why PFP is so very important.
Your viewpoints are also argued as being unassailable because a small minority of fire protection professionals, of which you are a member, have a monopoly on the correct opinion. In other words, it is impossible for anyone other than yourself to have a valid position based on experience, because only your experience is valid. This itself is the opposite of a NPOV attitude. The result is a viewpoint which is heavily skewed to one occupancy, the nuclear power industry, in which PFP is much more important than as compared to other industrial and commercial occupancies, which make up the vast majority of new construction and existing installations in which AFP and PFP play a role.
Finally, the tone of your discussion is dismissive, arrogant, overlly generalizes, and is full of assumptions. Examples are:
Finally, NPOV also applies to Discussion pages. Please try and be more open to discussion, as opposed to getting on your soapbox. Fireproeng 13:11, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
You too have done lot of writing, so I'll try to shorten matters:
By no means did I indicate that I am the only one with experience similar to mine. The point is that the assumptions on which the work of your trade is based cannot be accurately judged by your trade. Were it different, the US would not have the history it has in this subject. It is not exactly admirable. Browns Ferry caused a lot of belly laughs in German speaking countries for instance. A real knee-slapper - completely and utterly unthinkable over there. Why? Plants have to answer not only to the federal regulator but also to the local inspectors and their codes - both. The more severe of the two always applies and case closed. Not so in the US and Canada. People would be locked up for stuff like that in Germany, despite all the professionally written justifications.
I summary, I mention items in my prose, be it on Wikipedia or elsewhere, which seeks to point those who wish to know, in the direction which debunks common items that I know are sources of deficiencies and trouble. If you and I spent a day or two together, I could show you a lot of stuff that would probably floor you. You might then in retrospect think back with concern about things you have approved with good intention in the past and with incomplete knowledge to the best of your ability. And still, whilst on the job, what option do you have BUT to accept the status quo, such as, for example, certain listings?
So, if you found any of what I have written offensive, I can assure you that it was not my intention to insult you. But I know exactly what I am talking about and I can back up what I write.-- Achim 00:57, 20 March 2007 (UTC)
Achim,
Thank you for your measured response. We seem to be two of the more experienced folks discussing these issue (no offense intended to any others, I’m sure there are a bunch out there), so if we can share the common ground, I’ll bet we can add a lot to this project.
Overall, I think we need to get on a different playing field with the discussion. Debating these issue to this level of detail is not efficient, as our respective positions cannot be ultimately proven, we can only spiral down ever increasing levels of references and ad-hoc examples, which will not resolve anything.
If we can agree on some general principals, we can get something done, so here is my proposal (which responds to your latest, but is meant to offer some common ground, and not to refute).
First, I’m willing to stipulate that you have forgotten more about PFP systems than I will ever know. That does not mean I don’t (or on a broad brush, FPE’s) have something to offer in the forum of a general encyclopedia. Similarly, I’m willing to stipulate to the facts of all of your examples.
I am sure there are lots of examples of PFP systems being installed incorrectly. From the standpoint of an expert like yourself, this must be frustrating. I see incorrect PFP system installations regularly, but I think the main difference in our reaction to industry is in the reality of the current situation in construction. The result of imperfect (or even bad) PFP installations is dependant on a scenario based analysis of a fire event. In the case of a nuclear reactor installation, the effects could be catastrophic. In an apartment building not protected with sprinklers, the results are similarly very severe. In the case of an office building with sprinklers, the PFP is likely to be critical only if something fails (e.g., the sprinkler control valve is closed). If the sprinklers are operational, the fire will likely be controlled, and the PFP does not come into play.
My point is that I might not like where we are in the current construction environment PFP and AFP balance, and agree with you that PFP systems are often not designed, installed, or maintained correctly, but – that is the current construction environment, and it is not producing regular catastrophes. That doesn’t make it completely right, or mean we should not lobby for changes. But from the standpoint of a general encyclopedia, it seems to me to reflect what the average Joe should find when they read the article.
Our professions do not determine our individual viewpoints about certain issues, or the ultimate Wikipedia article content. That is too broad a brush. I personally believe that PFP is very important. I do not believe the only reason for being an advocate of AFP is an immoral one, or only for cost savings. A counter argument could be made that PFP system manufacturers and contractors, having a vested interest in the installation of PFP, also skew the reality of it's importance. That is capitalism, and is determined in the imperfect world of consensus code making. Maybe not the best theoretical system possible, but it is the reality of the one in force today. Additionally, the FPE profession in in general doe not have a vested interest in AFP over PFP, as different subcontractors in the construction business do. FPE's generally represent an impartial viewpoint, and make no money on any one system being installed over another. This is written into our code of ethics.
By the way, I’m one of the FPE's who has in the past fought with the architect to determine in the contract documents to award the fire stopping subcontract to a qualified subcontractor, and not to the general – and then held their feet to the fire on submittals and field installations. Some FPE’s do this, because we agree with you - it’s important.
In summary, I think my main points are based on current general practices – shouldn’t Wikipedia articles represent mainly what’s going on today, with a balance of opinion regarding potential problems? Fireproeng 02:49, 20 March 2007 (UTC)
Alrightythen, I suppose you're right that this may not be the most effective medium for us to communicate and I like you a lot better after your last bit of prose. So, how about this, whatever changes you wish to propose, why not send it to me via e-mail and we can exchange contact information? We must be able to share some entertaining yarns? -- Achim 21:47, 20 March 2007 (UTC)
Okiedokie. Pity. You CAN send e-mail to me from Wiki. Unlike you, I have that enabled. So whatever you imagine as a means forward, why don't you let me know what it is you want to change? -- Achim 21:41, 22 March 2007 (UTC)
I created this article as a stub with the intention of expanding it later. The following is said about stubs on Wikipedia (refer to Wikipedia:stubs): "A stub is an article that's obviously too short, but not so short as to be considered useless. In general, it must be long enough to at least define the article's title, which generally means 3 to 10 short sentences." If the complaint is that this article is an obvious dictionary definition, and stubs are supposed to at least define the title of the article that it seeks to have expanded, then it follows that the stub would be an obvious dictionary definition to start. -- backburner001 05:43, 20 February 2006 (UTC)
Since both Active fire protection and Passive fire protection are subsets of fire protection, I suggest that these two articles be merged into Fire protection. -- backburner001 00:33, 9 April 2006 (UTC)
The second section starts to look like an essay at points and while talking about asking people questions about their building. I have no problems with outlining the potential fragility of a fire protection system and the need for everyone to know what's going on with it, however parts of that section make very broad and general accusations against people (IE. "absolutely no idea", etc). 68.39.174.238 00:16, 17 July 2006 (UTC)
This article full of NPOV, unencyclopedic wording. The latter half, in particular, is full of accusatory language and broad-based assumptions. A major rewrite is definitely in order. - Rikoshi 01:27, 31 July 2006 (UTC)
The text is based on decades of experience in the field with picture and other data for back-up. I invite any critic to debate me on the merits of the text, specifically. For instance, if you have no copy of the code, you have absolutely no idea what is going on and that is simply an indisputable fact. That's why inspectors always have codes handy. No-one can be expected to know everything - but you have to know what to look up where. If, as an owner, you say you rely on your irregular fire inspection report by the municipality, you know in the back of your mind that the inspector does not see everything... Without the code text, you have nothing to compare your installed configurations against. This is an indisputable fact. The code points you to testing and certification requirements for your installed configurations. Inevitably, that leads you to UL listings, etc. If you are unable to walk up to a fireproofed beam and compare the installed configiration against the certification listing that covers it, then you cannot possibly have the remotest idea whether it meets the code or not. If you believe for one moment, that simply because you have an occupancy permit, that your municipal building and fire inspectors, let alone your consultants checked every little thing, you are sadly mistaken. So, if the coating is damaged doe to remedial work in plumbing, without the listing, how do you know what to do to fix it? Who would make that decision? Furthermore, I submit, and challenge you to rebuttal, that if you actually believe, that, without any spot checks, where you walk up to an installed system, be it a fire extinguisher, an alarm panel, a fire door, a firestop or an intumescent coated column, and if you're unable to match it to a listing that bounds the installed configuration, that all must be well anyway, simply on the sayso of people who absolve themselves legally six ways to breakfast (and they all do because in a court of law they all blame each other - I know because I have provided expert testimony and post-mortem investigations for legal cases in fires) then your beliefs are really just that - faith - or, wishful thinking. In reality, it's the owner's responsibility to maintain the building in accordance with the fire code. If the owner is lacking the proper listing information, it is a physical impossibility for him or her to do such maintenance because he or she has no idea in the slightest, what the bounding is really based upon. It follows, for instance, that if you insist on farming out firestopping to a dozen subtrades, all with different products, who may submit literature and a copy of listings, but nothing to tie the individual listings to the actual holes, then it is a physical and clericsal impossibility for the owner to keep up with matters afterwards. It is simply not possible. If you believe otherwise, say how. In reality, you have dozens of different products with different textures and colours, no labels after the installation and then what do you have? Likewise, if you paint over your fire door labels, who can blame the thoroughly untrained hotel clerk for wedging the fire door open with a "fusible" rubber door stop, and then running a combustible rug through it? If you think that this is minor, what of the rating of the compartment and what that compartment meant to the whole fire safety plan for the place? All of these things are completely and 100% obvious. It follows, that if things are farmed out in such a complex and haphazard manner during construction, that chaos must necessarily result. If you walk up to a fire-resistance rated wall, lift a ceiling tile, see a penetration firestop and no label, to identify bounding and location within an organised inventory, you have absolutely no idea whatsoever what you're facing and - especially a few years after the occupancy permit has been issued - who installed it and which listing bounds it. This goes for any system, be it active fire protection or passive fire protection. When a fire happens, in particular, it's a matter of what you can prove. That's when the finger-pointing begins. So, if your goal is proper fire protection, you better have the back-up to prove your case. On what basis would you defend parties unable to prove their cases in front of a judge? Furthermore, on what basis would you defend construction methods that result in anything less than back-up to cover installed configurations? If that were acceptable, then tell me one good reason, why you would accept a sprinkler system without the hydraulic calculations? Would you accept a backflow preventer with a Jamaican approval when you're installing it in France or Canada or Australia? Certainly not. Everything has to fit. That goes for all of fire protection - not just AFP. It follows that parties without the proper back-up must have reasons for producing field systems without demonstrable bounding. And what would those reasons be? How do you defend negligence? More importantly, what this article does, is to point out those hairy little issues that help a person to SPOT negligence. This is the ounce of prevention, which is the Education part of fire protection. And that is where it can get uncomfortable. I have the field experience and the expert testimony experience. If you check a building on the grounds described here, and you find that all is well, you have nothing to worry about, do you? If you cannot prove bounding, you cannot prove anything at all and you will be found negligent in a court of law, if you contributed to the inability to document bounding for all installed configurations. That being said, there are limited ways to build a place such that you will have that back-up. So, what causes the discomfort here?-- Achim 05:07, 2 August 2006 (UTC)
So, absent your subject knowledge and absent any answers to the specifics, what do you intend to do then? You will not answer any specifics but criticise the text and put an NPOV tag on and suggest a re-write. You could say this for any number of articles. I could see if you could challenge even one single detail on merit, but you cannot and avoid every direct question I posed to you. So, what do we do next? Just leave the tag and wait for others to sort it out? What's your plan then? My suggestion is that if you know better, answer my questions in the text above. Defeat my arguments on merit or explain how without any subject knowledge whatsoever, you can critique the text. If there's something proven to be wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. So, I challenge you to step to the plate with something other than a single sentence reply, avoiding pointed questions, or remove the tag-- Achim 22:20, 2 August 2006 (UTC)
I removed two links to a consulting company seeking to be hired to advise people on fire protection matters. I would not mind a neutral article on matters, but not a service for hire.-- Achim 05:11, 2 August 2006 (UTC)
I noticed that you didn't have any information on products that can be sprayed directly onto the wood or painted onto the walls that reduce fire damages dramatically. I don't have all the information on it my self, but there are companies that provide these safety features for very reasonable prices. No-Burn is one such product and they are used on Extreme Makeover- Home Edition houses nationwide. If you have the time I'd suggest adding No-Burn and company's like it's information to Wikipedia as I'm sure this is the future in home protection.
I'm trying to decide whether to remove this completely, as it's not relating to fire protection at all, but rather fire fighting. I'd appreciate some feedback/opinions.
But I've removed the "x-alarm" classification subsection immediately, (leaving the letter classing system) for a more universally unarguable reason: It's false. There is no standardized x-alarm system.
Not only is it silly to suppose that fire services would send an EXACTING amount of vehicles, divided EXACTLY to these standards for different alarm levels -- a 2nd alarm fire always gets 5 pumpers, 2 aerials, 1 squad, 1 hazardous materials truck, 2 district chiefs, 1 platoon chief, 1 air supply vehicle, and 1 incident command vehicle? Are you sure about that? -- it's just plain wrong completely. Different cities, regions, and departments have different definitions and standards.
And to suggest that a hazmat vehicle ALWAYS gets dispatched to anything above a one alarm fire? Please.
Today I saw a 6-alarm fire (Toronto, February 20th, 2008, Queen Street Fire -- do a google search) result in the dispatch of 96 different vehicles ( Toronto Fire Services maintains a public log of all active dispatches in the city on their website) to the scene.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_fighting#Categorizing_fires has it right, if you would like to take a look.
Fires are sometimes categorized as "one alarm", "two alarm", "three alarm" or even "four alarm". There is no standard definition. In some cities, the numeric rating refers to the number of fire stations that have been summoned to the fire. In others, the number counts the number of "dispatches" for additional personnel and equipment
I've adapted that definition to this article.
Please, shoot me an e-mail if you have a problem or question concerning this.
-- Recoil42 ( talk) 10:50, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
I am surprise to see that both entries are not linked to each other when the should be the same. I propose a merge. Opinions?
Fire protection is the preferred term in USA and Fire safety in the UK, with other counties choosing theirs arbitrarily. Grein Grein ( talk) 00:12, 24 January 2010 (UTC)
In their current format and content there is an argument to merge them - the engineering focus of both is undeniable. However I would argue that the engineering aspects should be merged leaving room for the human behavioural aspects of fire safety to be drawn out, especially in residential fires where most fire fatalities occur (32,365 residential fatalities 1996 - 2005 USA, p6 US Fire Administration, Residential Structure and Building Fires, October 2008). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Robtaylor ( talk • contribs) 01:16, 8 November 2010 (UTC)
Before you all shout at me I think this article is good, however alot of the definitions and terms are those used in the US / America. Where any reference is made to american standards, codes, job titles they should be preceeded with "In america" or "in the USofA" or something to that effect otherwise readers will assume that those terms are universal. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.177.235.78 ( talk) 17:21, 21 April 2012 (UTC)
Do you think it would be possible to include references to the design requirements for dealing with people who may have a disability. Examples are refuge points, intercoms between refuge point and master FA panel, vibrating deaf alerters that can be issued to staff and visitors (I believe these can now be linked to mobile phones) and flashing beacons. I believe there is a Fire Evacuation (Drill) Wiki article and perhaps this could be incorporated as well?
Sidpickle ( talk) 09:29, 10 March 2013 (UTC)
Fire signage
Not sure if this is covered in any of the associated articles but should be. Again if not perhaps it could be included?
Sidpickle ( talk) 07:49, 13 March 2013 (UTC)
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