The Effect of Sprinklers on Society - Essay Example

INTRОDUСTIОN TО СОMBUSTIОN АND FIRЕ by Student’s name Code+ course name Professor’s name University name City, State Date The effect of sprinklers on society The sprinkler is an exceptionally important part of a water system that is installed primarily as a precautionary measure against fires, especially in big buildings. The sprinkler has come to be as a result of continuous improvements on the discovery and inventions of Hiram Stevens Maxim. Apparently, Maxim made the discovery in his endeavours to reduce factory fires, something that had become a principal peril (De Bano et al 2008). With the continuous improvement in technology, the simple invention by Maxim has been upgraded and today, the sprinkler is part of a system that functions by sensing the level of temperature within a room or wherever the device is located. The technology works in such a way that the sprinkler releases water at a high pressure stopping a fire that has already started or is about to start. The sprinkler has had quite a number of effects, both positive and negative. Discussed below are the impacts of the sprinkler on society. Apparently, the most notable effect that the sprinkler has had o society is the reduction of the negative effects or outcomes of fires, especially within big commercial buildings and factories. The system, unlike the traditional manual system is effective and acts early before the fire can cause substantial harm. In straightforward terms, the sprinkler, being an automatic technology, saves time by acting without any human intervention or effort (Yeoh & Yuen 2009). This is a definite indication that, even in the absence of a person, the building is safe. Similarly, the sprinkler has served to reduce fatalities in the event that there is a fire break out. In the traditional system, people had to wait for the late appearance of the fire fighters, during which time many fatalities were unavoidable. Comparing the sprinkler to the traditional manual response, it is worth concluding that the sprinkler has improved efficiency in society as they reduce the number of workers and security personnel require in a building. This saves costs, as well. The sprinkler is a significant plus to the fire fighting efforts in society. With the traditional systems, the fire fighters were part of the statistics. In simpler terms, the fire fighters were among those individuals that lost their dear lives in the misfortunes. Currently, with the more efficient sprinklers in place, the fire fighters are well equipped to fight a fire, despite the size of severity of the disaster (Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills 2008). This has, as well, boosted the overall disaster management function of the municipal or urban authorities. Additionally, the sprinkler has enhanced technology in such disaster management efforts as fire fighting. Other effects of the sprinkler on society include the fact that it has created a source of revenue, especially for the manufacturers. Additionally, such manufacturers have contributed a lot to the society through offering employment opportunities to members of the society. Once employed the people can use the income they get on enhancing the eminence of their lives. In effect then, the sprinkler can be said to have impacted on society in two ways. The first way is through improving the disaster management efforts of society, while the second is contributing greatly to the economy. The Positive and Negative Impacts Fires Have On Society Fires are among the worst and most fatal accidents in society today. Even so, fires have both advantages and disadvantages. The positive side of a fire may remain unseen by the layman eye, but remains quite significant. Notably, the negative side of fires outweighs the positive side. Even so, the positive side is an aspect worth noting. One of the most notable negative impacts of a fire is the fact that it leads to destruction of human life (De Bano et al 2008). When a fire breaks out, human life is lost, especially when the fire affects a building housing many people. Although he people don’t all die as a direct result of the fire, they may lose their dear lives as an outcome of the stampede occasioned by escaping masses of people. Additionally, people lose their lives as a result of trauma in the aftermath. Worth noting is the fact that not only entrapped people die as a result of the fire, but also the fire fighters. Related to the first negative impact is the fact that fires are among the most serious causes of loss of property. During a fire outbreak, such expensive things as buildings, machinery and vehicles may get reduced to nothing. This becomes a big below to the owners and stakeholders of such property. Additionally, fires, especially forest fires cause destruction to the ecosystem. They destroy biodiversity in such a way that an imbalance occurs in the natural environment. The most prominent positive impact of fires is the fact that such fires cause the establishment of such things as insurance firms, which in turn offer employment, thereby contributing greatly to economic development (Johnson & Miyanishi 2001). Insurance firms contribute variously to economic growth and development. The first and most notable way through which insurance firms contribute to such growth and development is through creating employment and participating in payment of taxes. Technological advancement is among the most important contributions of fires to the society. Worth noting is the fact that such things as sprinklers are important technologies that can be useful, not only in the fire fighting sector but also such things as agriculture. Additionally, fires enhance safety in the forest areas by burning dead all organisms that may be dangerous to the human society. By burning and completely destroying such things as snakes and scorpions, fires make forests a safe place for such human activities as camping and adventure. Scientists have established that after a forest fire, the vegetation flourishes excellently during the rainy season (Yeoh & Yuen 2009). Such well flourished forests help man in a variety of ways including enhanced tourism and natural resources. Still focusing on forest fires, fires can prevent and mitigate the chances of having overgrown natural forests. Such overgrown forests are a peril to human societies in various ways. The first and most prominent way is the fact that such overgrown forests harbor dangerous wildlife. Secondly, overgrown forests are more dangerous than the small ones in the event that there is a natural fire breaking out. Importance of Fire Statistics and the Changing Trends In Fire Deaths from 2000-2010 Fire statistics are important figures kept and maintained by the government or the municipal authority through proper assessment of fire accidents. The statistical figures indicate the number of deaths occasioned by the fire and other incidental factors. The figures are exceptionally important in the sense that they enable the fire department to develop a time series analysis of the peril. From establishing such a time series, the government will be in a better position to meticulously determine whether or not the fire fighting measure put in place are effectual (Keeley 2012). The second importance of such statistics is the fact that such figures is the fact they encourage people to take precaution, if they are working or living in places where fire outbreaks are a possibility. Worth noting is the fact that such statistics not only indicate the number of people that die and the amount of property lost, but also the places where such fires are rampant. As such, the statistics put relevance to the anti-fire campaigns. In encouraging employers to install fire fighting equipment in their premises, the government relies upon the findings of the statistical researches. The professionals in the field of disaster management rely on the statistics to predict the trend as a way of coming up with suggested solutions to the peril (Quintiere 2008). The statistics as well, may be used in gauging the prominence of such technologies as the sprinkler. This is majorly because the statistics indicate the number of people that die, including the fire fighters. As mentioned earlier, the sprinkler is one of the most important ways of reducing fire fighter deaths. Statistics can as well help the government, through the fire department; analyze the trend in loss of property as a result of fire. The statistical trend since the year 2000 has been an irregular one. Notably, during the year 2000 and 2001, the number of deaths resulting from fires totalled up to 105. The following year, the number of people that lost their lives to fire, totalled 101 people. The year 2003 saw a sharp rise in the number of fatalities with the number rising to 113. There was a further increase in 2004, during which time the number of fatalities rose to 119. The trend went down in 2005 when the fatalities reduced to 115. A significant drop was experienced the following year, with the figure standing at 107. Much like the year 2005, 2008 saw a serious rise in the toll of deaths. The number stood at 119. The years 2009 and 2010 were the years that recorded the lowest levels of fatality with 91 and 87 respectively. Experts have explained the drop in 2009 and 2010 as results of the government campaigns to have employers install safety precautions such as the sprinkler and fire extinguishers. The statisticians have explained the deaths as being the results of many causes. According to the statisticians, the deaths that occurred during fires included such things as direct burning, heart attacks, traumas, as well as the stampedes involved in the panicky situations of a fire scene (Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills 2008). The statisticians as well indicated that not all the people were direct victims. Others were victim of circumstances. For instance, such people as the fire fighters and rescuers were victims of unforeseen circumstances. Even so, they formed part of the sad statistics. Reference List De Bano, L. F., Neary, D. G., & Ffolliott, P. F. 2008. Fire's Effects on Ecosystems. New York, Wiley Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills. 2008. Jones & Bartlett Pub Johnson, E. A., & Miyanishi, K. 2001. Forest Fires Behavior and Ecological Effects. San Diego, California, Academic Press Keeley, J. E. 2012. Fire in Mediterranean Ecosystems: Ecology, Evolution and Management. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press Quintiere, J. G. 2008. Principles of Fire Behavior. Albany, NY, Delmar Publishers. Yeoh, G. H., & Yuen, K. K. 2009. Computational Fluid Dynamics in Fire Engineering Theory, Modeling and Practice. Burlington, Ma, Butterworth-Heinemann Read More