Firegeezer notes: Long-time readers will recall Franck Gaviot-Blanc, a fire research scientist in France who specializes in advanced research into fire behavior and extinguishment methodology. He has designed a revolutionary new nozzle that will be introduced soon. Fireball brings us the latest on this. You can read her original interview with Franck in October 2009 HERE.
The Creation of 6-Incendie
A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED MONDAY FEBRUARY 28 told of a new research institute that is headed by Franck Gaviot-Blanc, who has sent us items in the past about fire research. From this press release which was written in English:
As part of its spin-off policy, IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) announces the creation of 6-Incendie, an engineering institute operating in the firefighting sector. 6-Incendie will coordinate and implement innovative R&D programs focusing on firefighting methods on behalf of public bodies, local authorities and industrial players.
The start-up was the idea of Franck Gaviot-Blanc, a process engineering research technician at IFPEN and also a volunteer firefighter in Vienne (Isère) for the past 20 years.
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Franck Gaviot Blanc’s expertise in this field was quickly recognized and, in 2006, he was invited by the CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) and the GIMAEX group to join the PROMESIS® fire research consortium, where he took over responsibility for testing. He went on to work on the optimization of fire risk control strategies in confined spaces for industrial players and the French Department of Civil Safety, and to test the OPTIMAL NOZZLE® hose technology, which he developed and patented with IFPEN and which is marketed by Desautel.
On the strength of this experience, Franck Gaviot Blanc wanted to secure the long-term future of operational research in the field of firefighting and to promote the implementation of programs aimed at improving the efficiency and safety of firefighters, as well as the prediction of unknowns and risk control.
You can read the entire press release (in English) HERE.
Franck Gaviot-Blanc
Franck has graciously answered some questions that I asked about this new venture and here is a summary of what he tells us:
6-fire/incendie is an institute that focuses on the monitoring of all research activities to improve understanding of the mechanisms of development of fire in enclosed structures. This may simply be the coordination of research program (intelligence) or go to the completion of these programs (technical and scientific intelligency).
It exists in the world of fire prevention, a “specialty”: fire engineering. This “science” provides the framework for action to prevent such specific, to dimension:
- structures to resist it for some time (2 or 4 hours for example) to a fire,
- of sprinkler systems,) or
- networks of smoke extraction to allow the public to evacuate a complex structure.
The road ahead is still long and I am aware I might not achieve what I hope … but nothing ventured nothing gained. We’re ready to try to meet this challenge.
Whether in 2006 for Optimal Nozzle, PROMESIS in 2007 and now for 6-fire, every time I said it’s great, but I thought i would never do it!
Except that this new nozzle design will be marketable in a few months (the first prototype still needs some modifications) in the case of PROMESIS(another program of reserach in firefighting) is the same: the tests gave more information than expected and led to the writing of several articles but I can not speak because it will be presented in June at the IAFF 10th International Symposium at the University of Maryland.
Note: Franck has promised us that we will have access to the photos of this new nozzle just as soon as they are released for public consumption.
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Also on FireGeezer…
- New “Flashover Prevention” Nozzle Introduced – Firegeezer Exclusive – September 21, 2011
