BOCES students get lesson in fire safety
Students look at benefits of home sprinklers during demonstration
Students at Questar III BOCES were able to learn and get a first-hand look at a home fire sprinkler demonstration.
The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, with help from members of the Troy Fire Department, conducted a live fire demonstration during Fire Prevention Week Thursday morning at the Rensselaer Educational Center on Colleen Road to emphasize the effectiveness of home sprinkler systems in saving lives and reducing damage from fire.
Officials set fire to two simulated residential room “pods,” with one protected by a sprinkler system and the other nonsprinklered. The demonstration showed that a room without sprinklers quickly reaches a temperature that causes flashover, or the spontaneous combustion of all the contents in the room. Then the room protected by sprinklers, the fire will not grow out of control, which gives residents time to safely escape, minimize risks to firefighters who respond, and significantly reduces property damage.
The room pods were built by students from Questar III BOCES and they were able to gain practical construction experience, the students also learned about fire codes and fire safety, the importance of home fire sprinklers, and how a sprinkler system is installed and functions.
For more information on the benefits of home sprinklers, visit NYSAFC’s online Home and Fire Sprinkler Advocacy and Awareness Toolkit at www.nysfirechiefs.com.