Theoretical Framework
Embedded Files
Fire control management is essential for every household due to the constant risk of fire. Researchers created a cost-efficient prototype for extinguishing fires, as many households in urban areas lack fire systems, leading to a rising fatality rate. In rural areas where fire response systems are inaccessible, an affordable and efficient solution is urgently needed. Developing an alternative system can mitigate fire risks, allowing for an easy-to-implement and efficient response during emergencies. Previous research has tested different fire extinguisher components to determine effectiveness for specific types of fires.
The researchers were able to effectively create a prototype of a fire response system that is appropriate and practical for the light-material homes by utilizing inexpensive materials and a rainwater collector that repurposes water. Fire response system is essential for the safety of the residents due to the high risk of fire emergencies in the context of rural areas.
Procedural Framework
Research Design
An experimental research design was used to gauge the effectiveness of a fire suppression prototype. The prototype was tested through trials to observe how quickly it put out fires and how the water collector was used in the system. The results showed the prototype's effectiveness in operating similarly to standard fire suppression systems but at a more accessible and reasonable price.
Sampling and Data Collection
Researchers measured the intensity of fire and volume of water used to extinguish it, using one and a half newspaper pages for large fires, one full sheet for moderate and half a page for small fires. The experiment used 460.08 milliliters of water, and a camera and stopwatch recorded how long it took for the prototype to put out the fire. A pail of water was kept as an emergency measure. The Normal Distribution Generator and Jamovi software were used to calculate technical data, including standard deviation, mean average, 30 assumed trials, and p-values. The researchers used Jamovi to obtain standard deviation and mean average for each of the three fire levels and trials. They input the data into the Normal Distribution Generator to produce thirty trials for each fire intensity and used Anova and Tukey Post Hoc Test to obtain p-values for statistical analysis.
Procedural Framework
Statistical Analysis
The research group used inferential and descriptive analysis methods to investigate the connection between three trial categories. The ANOVA test was used to examine predicted test outcomes based on 30 trials with varying fire intensities. The study used ordinal, ratio, and category variables for data collection and ranked water speed into three categories to see how it affects the time it takes to extinguish a fire. The level of measurement, or "ratio," was present in the context of time and water usage.
Ethical Considerations
Creating an affordable prototype for fire suppression system raises ethical considerations such as its performance, design, participant rights, and safety. Participants should be informed about the proper usage, installation, operation, and potential risks. The researchers prioritized participant safety and research transparency by adhering to ethical considerations which is ultimately the groundwork of producing reliable research findings, and improving the way research is conducted, analyzed, and interpreted.
The experimentation results of the group were compiled to compare and analyze the trends, patterns, and consistencies correlated to the prototype. As it can be seen on the data tables of weak fire, medium fire, and strong fire, the average is used to summarize the 3 trials and distinguish the efficiency and effectiveness of the prototype to extinguish the controlled fire during the experiment.
The effectiveness of the prototype is strongly present in the results; however, the duration is inconsistent due to some factors during the experiment such as the flow of water, which affected the rate of water used to terminate the fire. The tables have shown a gap between 3 seconds up to 10 seconds whilst the amount of water ranges from 250 ml to 370 ml. There are only minimal differences between the medium and strong fire in their average points but only the data of the strong fire has stayed consistent all throughout the process.
The total cost of the materials used for the research has proven to maximize the resources available and budget friendly especially for the rural communities as it provides matching effectiveness as the traditional and industrial fire sprinklers. The group spent a total estimate of Php 1110 for the actual fire suppression system. As compared to the traditional fire sprinkler system which usually costs around 50 pesos per square inch of an area, this prototype is much more accessible to all the social classes. Although, minimal changes in the installation is required for it to be suitable in the structure of the house. Thus, the research of the group highly shows potential to be an innovative solution on the issue of focus.
Due to the limitations in performing 30 actual trials per set-up category, the group was able to utilize the data from the three actual trials performed to generate 30 assumed trials to stimulate and assess the efficiency of the prototype in different intensities of fire by using standard deviation and mean. Intensity of the fire in different categories was one of the factors that contributed to the inconsistent results found in weak and mediums fire trials; however, the strong fire remained consistent all throughout the process. This suggested that despite the variations in the result, the prototype continued to prove to be an effective fire suppression alternative.
H0: The prototype is not effective enough to successfully extinguish fires in rural areas.
H1: The prototype highly presents a viable potential to be used as an alternative fire suppression system in rural areas.
Based on the ANOVA results, it is concluded that there is a significant difference between the trials and level of fire suppression. As seen in the data, there is no significant difference between weak fire and medium fire because the standard error shows little increase, while the difference between weak fire and strong fire has a significant difference. The research concluded that the prototype is effective in extinguishing different intensities of fire(weak, medium, and strong) through varying durations.
Tukey statistical test was the post hoc test used to analyze if significant differences exist between the categories of data. The results yielded from each level of fire intensity (weak, medium, and strong) were the categories to be studied.
Between weak fire and medium fire, the mean duration of the latter category is greater than the first. As shown by the p-value of <0.001, there is a significant difference between the two. Similar to this, the duration of extinguishing “strong fire” is also significantly greater than weak fire. This proved that the experiment done by the group produced statistically significant results–the variables of fire intensity and duration distinctly had an impact on the results.
In contrast to the results obtained between weak fire–medium fire, and weak fire–strong fire, the results produced by the post hoc test showed no significant difference on the duration of medium fire to strong fire. This may be due to how the intensity levels were categorized by the researchers: if the margin between the categories of what classifies as medium or strong fire is only minimal, then it is a probable cause as to why the statistical analysis presented such results. Nevertheless, the prototype still managed to extinguish all intensities of fire. Based on these findings, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted–the prototype highly presents a potential to be used as a fire suppression system in rural communities.
The research question of the study focused on determining the effectiveness of an alternative fire suppression system as a substitute for traditional fire sprinklers. Results obtained from ANOVA and Tukey Post Hoc Test demonstrated that the alternative fire-fighting system is as efficient and effective. The study aimed to develop an affordable and accessible fire suppression system for rural communities to widen the accessibility of quality fire safety systems. This study has the potential to revolutionize the Engineering field, particularly for rural communities, by making fire sprinklers an integral part of household construction.
The study contributes to previously existing innovations and researchers on emergency management systems especially in the context of fire. In terms of the success of the prototype, proper guidelines and mechanics for installing the system also contribute to more efficient fire suppression results. However, limitations are still present in the process which can be improved by future researches. The reliance of the system on rainwater would be an issue during the summer season when rainfall is occasional. Additionally, the lever-operated mechanism may not be compatible with other infrastructure, as someone must be present near the fire area to operate the manual lever. These limitations can affect the efficiency of the alternative.
Performing additional researches regarding the study would provide a higher accuracy on data through conducting numerous trials and double-checking the system for blockages or leaks. Research on alternative water sources that do not disrupt the ecosystem should also be a priority–finding an alternative system to enable the alternative fire-fighting system to work more effectively in extinguishing fires is crucial. Afterall, the broader goal of the group is to inspire and motivate engineers to innovate a fire suppression system that is accessible, affordable, and efficient at extinguishing fires for the betterment of society.
All these said, there is enough evidence and data to conclude that the prototype is a probable solution to the lack of firefighting systems in the Philippines, serving as an immediate response to a fire breakout. It also contributes to the affordability of these systems, particularly with the rainwater collection system that repurposes water. Through this research, more lives could be saved, and the quality of living in rural areas is increased. This research provided a response to the realities of society and innovated a solution to the recurring problem of fire emergencies.
Patrishia
“taga-ubos ng posporo”
Sofia
“Ha?”
Danielle
“Barney”
Dana
“Laptop”
Caitlin
“Fireworks”
Jodie
“AHH BESHIE”
References
References
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