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159 - The WUI Problem with Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt
Manage episode 428127584 series 2939491
With two Directors at NFPA - Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt, I'm trying to find an answer to a burning question - "what really is the WUI problem?" The WUI is not just a line on a map with an X distance from the forest... In this episode we try to define what it is, and who is in danger. Instead of our usual conversations looking into characteristics of burning forests, or seeking the impact of detailing in construction, in this episode we try to take a birds eye view and identify the problem across the scales and frameworks. From seeking out good definitions and their impact on policymaking, through technical solutions up to creating new testing and certification systems.
So where are the answers? Actions across the scales at homeowner - community - regional levels, in which they are interconnected and optimal. A fireproof house in the middle of wrongfully managed area will not be of great difference… As well as a dangerous premise at the edge of the forest… The outcome of a WUI fire incoming will be an outcome of propper actions taken at every level.
We need new solutions. Scallable ones. We need better testing and standardization, new listings. We need to find ways to involve the private sector and create interesting pathways for fire safety engineers to work with people at risk, at whatever scale. The future looks promising, let's make sure we are a part of it.
Some recommended resources I received from my eminent Guests:
- Impact of smoke in WUI fires: https://www.nfpa.org/en/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2024/02/13/research-column-spring-24
- Defining the WUI: https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2024/04/30/defining-the-wui
- Preparing homes for wildfire (home ignition zone): https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire
- The Firewise USA Recognition program: https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa/become-a-firewise-usa-site
- Outthink Wildfire policy initiative: https://www.nfpa.org/en/Education-and-Research/Policy-and-Action/Outthink-Wildfire
----
The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.
Chapters
1. 159 - The WUI Problem with Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt (00:00:00)
2. Understanding the Wildland Urban Interface (00:00:01)
3. Redefining Urban Fire Safety Challenges (00:10:38)
4. Urban Fire Safety Challenges (00:14:34)
5. Emphasizing Fire Safety in Homes (00:26:54)
6. Improving Fire Safety Through Innovation (00:37:55)
7. Addressing Fire Safety Engineering Challenges (00:46:34)
8. Fire Safety Podcast Guests Share Insights" (00:53:49)
211 episodes
Manage episode 428127584 series 2939491
With two Directors at NFPA - Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt, I'm trying to find an answer to a burning question - "what really is the WUI problem?" The WUI is not just a line on a map with an X distance from the forest... In this episode we try to define what it is, and who is in danger. Instead of our usual conversations looking into characteristics of burning forests, or seeking the impact of detailing in construction, in this episode we try to take a birds eye view and identify the problem across the scales and frameworks. From seeking out good definitions and their impact on policymaking, through technical solutions up to creating new testing and certification systems.
So where are the answers? Actions across the scales at homeowner - community - regional levels, in which they are interconnected and optimal. A fireproof house in the middle of wrongfully managed area will not be of great difference… As well as a dangerous premise at the edge of the forest… The outcome of a WUI fire incoming will be an outcome of propper actions taken at every level.
We need new solutions. Scallable ones. We need better testing and standardization, new listings. We need to find ways to involve the private sector and create interesting pathways for fire safety engineers to work with people at risk, at whatever scale. The future looks promising, let's make sure we are a part of it.
Some recommended resources I received from my eminent Guests:
- Impact of smoke in WUI fires: https://www.nfpa.org/en/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2024/02/13/research-column-spring-24
- Defining the WUI: https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/nfpa-journal/2024/04/30/defining-the-wui
- Preparing homes for wildfire (home ignition zone): https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire
- The Firewise USA Recognition program: https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa/become-a-firewise-usa-site
- Outthink Wildfire policy initiative: https://www.nfpa.org/en/Education-and-Research/Policy-and-Action/Outthink-Wildfire
----
The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.
Chapters
1. 159 - The WUI Problem with Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt (00:00:00)
2. Understanding the Wildland Urban Interface (00:00:01)
3. Redefining Urban Fire Safety Challenges (00:10:38)
4. Urban Fire Safety Challenges (00:14:34)
5. Emphasizing Fire Safety in Homes (00:26:54)
6. Improving Fire Safety Through Innovation (00:37:55)
7. Addressing Fire Safety Engineering Challenges (00:46:34)
8. Fire Safety Podcast Guests Share Insights" (00:53:49)
211 episodes
All episodes
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1 202 - Designing fire safety with firefighters in mind 51:29

1 201 - The last fire - a novel set in industrial fire engineering with Joaquim Casal 48:59

1 200 - Façade flammability across scales and standards with Guillermo Rein and Matt Bonner 1:07:02

1 199 - Commercial Timber Guidebook with Danny Hopkin and Luis Gonzalez Avila 1:01:07

1 198 - Waste and recycling fires and how to fight them with Ryan Fogelman 59:22

1 197 - Fire spread through external walls pt. 2 with FSRI 1:05:33

1 196 - Fire spread through external walls pt. 1 with FSRI 48:36

1 195 - Fire Safety Cases with Chris Mayfield and Martyn Ramsden 59:41

1 194 - Playing with batteries with Xinyan Huang 51:22

1 193 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 15 - Extinguishing systems with Bogdan Racięga 53:09

1 192 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 14 - Jet fan systems for car parks 42:01

1 191 - Committee participation with Birgitte Messerschmidt and Kees Both 57:23




1 172 - Lessons from mass timber experiments with Danny Hopkin 59:58

1 171 - Exploring Water Mist Systems with Max Lakkonen 52:09

1 170 - Integrating Fire Safety and Security Objectives with Stewe Gwynne and Aoife Hunt 1:00:48

1 169 - Engineering car parks for EV's with Ali Ashrafi and Pawel Woelke 59:30

1 168 - Fires in Waste Industry with Ragni Fjellgaard Mikalsen 51:28

1 167 - CFD for consequences and fire growth with Jonathan Hodges 52:38

1 166 - Bio-based insulation with Patrick Sudhoff 49:03

1 165 - Best Practice vs. Appropriate Practice with Arnold Dix 59:01

1 164 - Experiences with AI with Xinyan Huang 54:24

1 163 - Fire Fundamentals pt 11 - Soot in Fire Safety Engineering 50:45

1 162 - Experiments that changed fire science pt. 9 - Jin's experiment on visibility in smoke 41:31

1 161 - Community evacuation with Enrico Ronchi and Max Kinateder 54:45

1 160 - Fire Fundamentals pt 10 - Flame Spread with David Morrisset 1:01:33

1 159 - The WUI Problem with Michele Steinberg and Birgitte Messerschmidt 54:44

1 188 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 13 - Porous solid fuels 57:06

1 187 - Smouldering of preserved timber with Wenxuan Wu 54:32

1 186 - Egressibility: a paradigm shift in evacuation research with Enrico Ronchi 1:01:58


1 184 - Cost-benefit analysis in structural fire safety with Thomas Gernay and Chenzi Ma 1:00:52

1 183 - Innovation and fire safety with Vincent Brannigan 1:00:25


1 181 - Regulatory regimes with Vincent Brannigan 57:20

1 180 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 12 - Pressurization systems 48:20

1 179 - Assurance in fire safety with Abhishek Chhabra 57:48

1 178 - Origin stories of fire prevention and firefighting with Michał Stachowicz 51:25

1 177 - Physics-Based Modelling of Fire Spread with Francesco Restuccia 57:36

1 176 - The Myth of Panic with Daniel Nilsson 1:00:45

1 175 - Changes in the UK fire regulations with Dame Judith Hackitt 48:14

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