Fires in convalescent homes and elderly care facilities represent a statistically significant threat to their residents, who tend to be less mobile and therefore less able to escape harm. This threat is expected to increase as demographics shift and more people move into this type of facility. A study has been conducted in Sweden to investigate the means by which fire protection and response can be improved with respect to burning clothing and furniture. Small scale ignition and flame spread tests were conducted on a variety of clothing articles. The heat release rate, mass loss, flame spread, and fabric temperature were measured for cotton, wool, polyester, and blended fabrics. The small scale results were used to estimate a time to injury and to provide guidance for clothing ensembles that were subsequently used in full scale tests. The full scale tests consisted of a manikin having a heated circulatory system and simulated skin. Thermocouples were attached in 13 locations. The manikin was dressed in summer and winter ensembles and was seated for three tests and lying in a bed for one test. These tests were performed in a two-sided "corner" arrangement having a ceiling upon which smoke detectors were installed in two and three locations, respectively. Results of the full scale tests show that second-degree burns are likely to occur on a significant portion of the skin surface at about the same time as the smoke detectors activate. Further skin damage occurs during the ensuing time interval until help can arrive.

Traditionally, the only parameter used to measure the performance of total compartment (i.e. total flooding) water mist or water spray systems during fire testing has been the time to extinguishment. However, the use of a single parameter has been criticized since it can result in poor system designs. This study evaluates additional parameters in order to improve the characterization of system performance. Two series of fire tests were conducted with a number of water mist and water spray fire protection systems: the former in a 500 m3 test compartment using three different systems; the latter in a 250 m3 compartment using four different systems. The heat release rate of the fire and the gas temperatures inside the test compartment were measured. Based on these measurements, the fire suppression capability of the systems, their temperature reduction capability and their ability to mix water vapor, water droplets and combustion gases within the compartment were determined. The tests revealed that the time to extinguishment varies several tens of percent under identical conditions. It was also observed that the relative performance of the systems was influenced by the size of the fire. The results obtained with the additional parameters were much more repeatable and consistent than using time to extinguishment alone. It is concluded that fairly simple and inexpensive measurements can improve current fire test procedures.