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Charrette

This event is free for SupDet participants.

Charrette: A charrette (pronounced [shuh-ret], consists of an intense period of interactive collaborative activity design to solve a design problem.  

In 2010, the Foundation conducted a high challenge warehouse concept design challenge, where six leading engineering firms presented innovative concepts for protection of a high bay warehouse with a challenging commodity. The result was the generation of new ideas to address this challenge. Since then, the Foundation has continued to address this issue with a number of research projects focused on new commodities, configurations, and protection schemes. However, several research challenges remain unaddressed.

The Foundation invites you to a research Charrette on Wednesday afternoon, February 27, 2013 in Orlando Florida, in conjunction with SupDet 2013. The goal of the Charrette will be to use the collective intelligence of the fire protection leaders participating to take the first steps towards addressing each of the following challenges:

1. How do we measure the impact of high clearance on sprinklers over industrial (factory) operations?
   Lead: Steve Wolin, Consultants, Inc.
2. What do we need to know to determine equivalencies between water mist and sprinkler protection for selected suppression scenarios?
3. What more do we need ot know to apply the NFPA 13 obstruction rules for ESFR sprinklers?
   Lead: Matt Klaus, NFPA 
4. What are the validation priorities for new research underway on sprinkler protection on sloped ceilings over storage?
   Lead: Victoria Valentine, National Fire Sprinkler Association

An initial statement of the design problem and existing data/research will be presented by an industry stakeholder. Participants will be divided into groups and will be tasked to:

• bound and put parameters on the design challenge
• generate/prioritize candidate concept solutions
• scope additional research/studies that are needed to validate these solutions

Download the agenda for the Charrette. (PDF, 28 KB)

Outcome
Statements will be synthesized and compiled and will become part of the Foundation’s research priority portfolio for future implementation. An article on the Charrette outcome will be publicized in the NFPA community.