Fog Tests Held in Arlington, Ohio
Fire fighters from ten states and more than 50 Ohio communities participated in fog fire fighting experiments held in Upper Arlington, Ohio, on April 4th, last.
The tests, to determine the efficacy of fog application, Were held in a 13room, two story dwelling. The tests were sponsored by the Franklin County (Ohio) Fire Fighters Association (Sam Foster, President) and the Ohio Inspection Bureau. The Columbus, Ohio, Fire Department also participated.
Despite the inclement weather, crowds estimated into the thousands were present during the day. Four persons, two of them firemen, required medical treatment during the tests.
The three-story dwelling was donated to the County organization by the Ohio Oil Company for the purposes of the test. It was stocked with furniture to approximate conditions that would apply in an average dwelling. Temperatures were recorded by instruments, and tests were supervised by Emmett Cox of the Western Actuarial Bureau and Fire Chief Samuel Foster of Upper Arlington. Present, also, was former Chief Lloyd Layman, recently named head of the Fire Division, Federal Civil Defense Administration.
SUMMARY
UPPER ARLINGTON FIRE TESTS
APRIL 4, 1954
*1 Original program called for 10 pounds loading per square foot but more normal loading of 6 pounds was used.
*2 This was the temperature at the time indirect application of water was started.
3 This was the length of time of indirect application; firemen entered immediately after lines were shut off.
*4 This is the estimated amount of water that would have been necessary to use if straight streams were used to prevent extension of fire to other rooms. As can be seen, this would have been impossible in almost all cases. For example, in Test #6, it would have been necessary to have had approximately 30 2 1/2″ lines in operation at one time.
NOTE: Nozzle pressure was estimated at lOO pounds for 1″ and 60 pounds for 1 1/2″ (originally stated to be 100 pounds). throughout; straight stream used for direct application; engine pressures were about 170 pounds for 1″ lines and 150 pounds for 1 1/2″ lines.
The summary of these tests, which clearly indicated the efficacy of water fog, are given in the table above.