Putting Fireworks to the Test
Fireworks-fueled fires could overwhelm sprinkler systems, research shows
Large retail stores in the United States that sell consumer fireworks could be exposed to a greater fire risk, according to a new study by FM Global.
The study was done on behalf of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), which was looking for a better understanding of the fire risk consumer fireworks pose to retail stores.
"Fireworks are a unique commodity because they are designed to be very energetic," explains FM Global's Ben Ditch, senior lead research engineer. "What we want to know is, does a retail store's existing fire protection system adequately protect the building from a hazard like fireworks? What we learned is that the water supply traditionally used in small dedicated retail buildings can be acceptable. But in a large big box store, the water supply could be insufficient for fireworks."
Sprinkler systems are designed to respond to a fire by activating only the sprinklers nearest to the fire. This allows water to be applied where it is needed most, suppressing the fire. Because of the combustible, explosive nature of fireworks, the test showed a fireworks-fueled fire spreads quickly and can easily activate more sprinklers than in a typical retail fire.
In the United States, consumer fireworks are regulated by the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, which places limits on their construction and their explosive power, and some states restrict the type of fireworks allowed within their borders. But the sheer volume of consumer fireworks sold at large retailers, grocery stores and even pharmacies raised concerns for the NASFM.
"The impetus to do the testing was the lack of information on the subject."
Ben Ditch, Senior Lead Research Engineer, FM Global
258 million pounds sold each year
According to the American Pyrotechnic Association (APA), U.S. consumers spend US$885 million a year on fireworks, purchasing over 258 million pounds (117 million kilograms) of items that flash, sparkle and go boom. The busiest season for fireworks sales is ahead of the Fourth of July, where many backyard cookouts and neighborhood gatherings are highlighted by homegrown pyrotechnics.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the fire safety authority in the U.S., offers guidelines for the design of retail sprinkler systems, including the number, spacing, size and type of sprinklers, but it does not currently provide guidelines for consumer fireworks in retail stores. The NFPA removed its guidance on the subject in 2013. That guidance was based on research using smaller amounts of pyrotechnics and was removed until more work could be done to address facilities storing larger volumes of fireworks. FM Global's research, which pitted large amounts of fireworks against a typical retail fire protection scheme, will help fill that knowledge gap.
Results presented at NFPA Conference
The test results were presented at the NFPA's Annual Conference & Expo in San Antonio, Texas, USA, in June 2019 and could help guide the fire protection standard developed by the NFPA.
FM Global has a long history of doing research in collaboration with the NFPA, trade groups and fire protection organizations. FM Global uses the research in developing its own standards and shares the results to advance fire safety knowledge and influence codes and standards worldwide.
The FM Global research will give the NFPA the information it needs to help develop the retail fireworks standard and also provide the National Association of Fire Marshals with guidance while the standard is under development. NFPA standards can take several years to be developed and must go through a thorough public review process before being adopted.
"The impetus to do the testing was the lack of information on the subject. We are always looking to help advance the understanding of fire safety and fire protection," Ditch adds.
Visit fmglobal.com/researchreports to read the full report.
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