Welcome to Residential Fire Safety Institute

The Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI) is a public interest group created in 1982 to promote fire-safe homes through built-in fire protection and fire safety education. The U.S. has one of the worst records for residential fire deaths in the industrialized world. Residential fires account for 80 percent of all fire deaths. Our mission is to improve that dubious record. Originally known as Operation Life Safety, our name changed to the Residential Fire Safety Institute in June, 1999.

This site contains information for consumers and fire departments about fire safety in all residential occupancies from single-family homes to high-rise hotels. The specific items covered are residential fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and heat detectors.

Email the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI) at info@firesafehome.org

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2009 Life Safety Achievement Award Application Period Closing July 31, 2010

In partnership with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, The NASFM Foundation and Residential Fire Safety Institute are pleased to have the opportunity to recognize your agency for your outstanding efforts on behalf of fire and life safety. The Life Safety Achievement Award has recognized fire prevention efforts since 1994 and is pleased to offer you the opportunity to apply.

The Life Safety Achievement Award campaign for 2009 is for the period January 1-December 31, 2009; all submitted applications must be received no later than July 31, 2010. Award notification will be made in September, so that you will have it in time for Fire Prevention Week.

To apply for the Award, the chief of the fire department must submit this application, bearing his or her signature, along with all necessary documentation in support of the application. The application includes brief space for describing the fire prevention activity. The LSA Award criteria and application can be found at www.firesafehome.org.

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Fatal fire raises concern about antifreeze

July 6, 2010 - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) today issued a safety alert recommending that residential fire sprinkler systems containing antifreeze should be drained and the antifreeze replaced with water. The alert follows a research study and an initial set of fire tests conducted after a fire incident raised concerns about antifreeze solutions in residential sprinkler systems. The incident involved a grease fire in a kitchen where a sprinkler with a high concentration of antifreeze deployed. The fire resulted in a single fatality and serious injury to another person.

"Fire sprinklers are one of the most effective ways to save lives and property from fire," said James M. Shannon, president of NFPA. "Until we can provide further information based on additional research that is currently underway, we are urging the public to continue the use of sprinklers but to follow our interim safety guidelines by removing antifreeze if it is in their sprinkler systems.

According to NFPA, the home is the place where most fire fatalities occur, and when home sprinklers are present, the risk of dying in a home fire decreases by 83%.

Shannon said based on testing conducted, 70/30% glycerin and 60/40% propylene glycol antifreeze may provide an unacceptable risk of harm to occupants in certain types of fire scenarios, in particular kitchen grease fires. There were successful tests where kitchen grease fires were extinguished or contained with a 50/50% glycerin solution but it was felt there should be additional testing to more fully understand if there is a risk associated with 50/50% glycerin solution.

NFPA offers the following interim guidance on residential sprinklers - click here to download the full safety alert

Fire sprinklers are extremely effective fire protection devices, significantly reducing deaths, injuries and property loss from fire.
These systems should not be disconnected.
Until the results of further testing on antifreeze are available, NFPA recommends the following:

• If you have, or are responsible for, a residential occupancy with a fire sprinkler system, contact a sprinkler contractor to check and see if there is antifreeze in the system.
• If there is antifreeze in the system, as an interim measure, drain the system and replace it with water only. Problems associated with freezing of sprinkler pipes can be mitigated by alternative measures such as insulation. NFPA hopes to provide further guidance based on additional testing before the winter freezing months.
• If you are putting in a new residential sprinkler system, design and install a system that does not require antifreeze.
• "We are providing this safety alert as interim guidance based on the information we have right now," said Shannon. "As soon as more information is available, we will update the public."

NFPA also reminded the public about basic fire safety tips for kitchen fires.

All consumers should take important fire safety precautions regarding kitchen fires.

• Have and maintain smoke alarms in your home.
• Pay attention when you are cooking.
• Should you have a grease fire on your stovetop, smother the fire by sliding a lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until the pan cools completely.
• Never put water on a grease fire or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire.
• Never attempt to carry a flaming pan across the kitchen.

The NFPA Safety Alert Regarding Antifreeze in Residential Sprinklers and more information on this topic can be found at www.nfpa.org/antifreeze

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