NFPA Journal

Protecting St. Pat’s: An up-close look at the cathedral’s unique new mist suppression system.

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September / October 2014 Cultural and Historical Occupancies

In this issue, NFPA Journal explores the mixed history of fire escapes, which double as safety features and deadly hazards. PLUS: St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s unique new mist suppression system; life safety in foreign U.S. embassies; fire loss and catastrophic fire reports, and more.

FEATURES

2013 Catastrophic Fires

The Yarnell Hill wildfire in Arizona and the ammonium nitrate fire and explosion in West, Texas, top the list of deadliest fire events from last year.

Fire Loss

The number of reported fires in the United States fell to a historic low in 2013, and overall property damage due to fire declined from 2012—but civilian fire deaths increased.

Fire Escapes

100 years ago, an NFPA committee sounded the alarm on fire escapes in its first report. A century later, we’re still wrestling with the problems presented by this Victorian-era technology.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

New York City’s iconic cathedral was a fire disaster waiting to happen. The solution? St. Patrick’s officials decided to build one of the most unique water mist systems in the country.