- Author
- Stephan, R.
- Title
- Ideal Detector for the Fire Service.
- Coporate
- Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, MD
- Report
- NIST SP 1051; NIST Special Publication 1051, December 2007,
- Book or Conf
- Real-Time Particulate Monitoring: Detecting Respiratory Threats for First Responders. Workshop Proceedings. Appendix 3: Workshop Presentations. Appendix 3.G. May 3-4, 2007, Gaithersburg, MD, 59-62 p., 2007
- Keywords
- first responders | respiratory systems | health hazards | fire fighters | fire departments | fire detectors | particulates | fire detection systems | combustion | air sampling | toxic gases | toxic hazards | toxic products
- Abstract
- The fire environment is a highly hazardous environment that contains hundreds of unknown ,vapors and gases and particles of unknown size distribution and toxic composition. The ideal detector for the fire service must be functional in both high and low temperature extremes. It must be lightweight and durable, and must be operable by a user wearing heavy gloves and in the dark. It should not need frequent cleaning or be easily clogged, The detector must be able to function n the significant amounts of steam produced by firefighting. The most dangerous compounds should be detectable in real time. The device must capture multiple samples for analysis after the fire. Skin samples and nose swabs are alternative methods for getting more exposure data after firefighting. Particles can affect the respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and digestive system, although absorption of typical fire contaminants through the skin is not currently considered by the fire service.