Center for Firefighter Safety Research and Development

Management Team

• MFRIInternationally recognized firefighting training Institute Outreach to firefighters and policymakers Demonstrations and training Product assessment and end-user input

• Fire Protection Engineering DepartmentUnique national resource in fire science education over thepast 50 years Research coordination Project management Fire dynamics, fire modeling, burn injuries, smoke movement, toxicity

Key Contributors

• Small Smart System CenterA multi-disciplinary center for research and education in small and highlyintegrated systems with physical and Information components Sensors Data analysis

• Electrical & Computer EngineeringResearch programs that cover a wide spectrum of activities in Communications, Computer Engineering, Electrophysics, Microelectronics, and Nanotechnology

• Department of KinesiologyStudy of human physical activity from a variety of perspectives and at many levels of analysis

Goals

• Bring together University based resources in a coordinated fashion to generate solutions using proven research methodologies

• Develop solutions incorporating new and current technology in all aspects of firefighter safety

Goals

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions utilizing real world fire incidents and scenarios

• Make the solutions and technologies available for commercialization in a cost range affordable to fire departments

R&D Process

• Identification of firefighter safety needs• Research, development and prototyping• Interactive assessment at MFRI• Product refinement and manufacturing• Product performance assessment by

end-users at MFRI• Technology transfer

Technology Transfer

• Engineering Research CenterDevelopment and commercialization organization within UM

•Technology Advancement ProgramUniversity based incubator that provides business and technical support for technology-based start- up companies (750 new jobs created while securing $325 million in investment funding)

•MIPS programMatching grants for industry/ university research projects leading to product or process development (more than 150 projects brought to commercialization)

Homeland Security

• Firefighters are the first responders to acts of terrorism

• The proposed research directly addresses operational deficiencies identified in the 9/11events

• The outcomes of this research are applicable within the entire first responder community

Past Research Efforts

• Environmental and physiological analysis of over 200 firefighters in live-fire training evolutions

• Provides guidelines for the national fire service on health management of firefighters during training

• Funded by DHS Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

Past Research Efforts

• Greater appreciation of hypo- hydration in firefighters

• Better understanding of hydration needs of firefighters

• Published Hydration Policy for Firefighter Training

Current Projects

Firefighter AccountabilityTechnology

Thermal Performance Indicator

Firefighters and IntensiveResistive Exercise

Firefighter Accountability

TRX Sentinel Tracking System• Mobile unit and remote command station• Provides seamless tracking indoors and

outdoors• Requires no antenna setup-deploys rapidly

during emergencies• Allows incident replay for training and lessons

learned

Thermal Performance Indicator

• Designed to timely alert firefighters to excessive heat exposure

• Dual sensors on the gear outer surface sample once per second

• Processors predict up to five scenarios based on each sample

• Head’s up display communicates information to the firefighter

F.I.R.E. Study

• Assessing a broad range of physical attributes thought to be important for firefighter performance

• Will establish the efficacy of a strength training program designed to improve these physical attributes and performance in CPAT

Future Projects

• Firefighter Accountability Technology

• Vapor Dynamics and Smart Garment Technology

• Physiological Effects of Structural Firefighting

Center for Firefighter Safety Research and Development

4500 PAINT BRANCH PKWY

COLLEGE PARK, MD

20742

301.226.9960

www.mfri.org/fireresearch