Latest news with #FPRF
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Fire Protection Research Foundation and the Fire Safety Research Institute Issue Notice Around Potential Hazard Involving Fire Blankets Used for Electric Vehicle Fire Suppression Efforts with Battery Involvement
Key Takeaways: Experiments conducted by both organizations have demonstrated a potential explosion hazard when fire blankets are used during electric vehicle (EV) fire suppression efforts when there is battery involvement. When flaming is eliminated by the fire blanket, the ongoing accumulation of flammable gases released by continued thermal runaway in the battery pack presents a potential explosion risk. The experiments reinforce the need for continued research on EV firefighting tactics. QUINCY, Mass. and COLUMBIA, Md., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, today issued a notice about a potential explosion hazard when fire blankets are used during electric vehicle fire suppression efforts with battery involvement. During experiments involving the use of electric vehicle fire blankets to suppress an EV fire with battery involvement, it was observed that the deployment of a fire blanket eliminated flaming by denying oxygen to the vehicle and the battery fire. While the flaming was eliminated, battery thermal runaway propagation continued after blanket deployment, which resulted in the continued release and accumulation of flammable battery gases into the volume under the blanket In some of the experiments, this accumulation of flammable gases under the blankets presented an explosion risk to firefighters operating near the vehicle. The risk of an explosion can be increased when re-introducing air into an oxygen-depleted accumulation of unburned flammable battery gases. FPRF is conducting research to improve the safety of firefighters responding to electric vehicle (EV) fires and incidents by assessing current firefighting tactics and tools used by the fire service to manage EV incidents and the impact of suppression activities on managing re-ignition risks. Recent experiments for the Assessment of EV Firefighting Tactics, Tools and the Impact on Stranded Energy research project were conducted to assess the ability of four firefighting tactics to suppress and establish control of fire incidents involving standalone electric vehicle battery packs and full electric vehicles with confirmed battery pack fire involvement: standard hose stream application – water only; standard hose stream application – with injected agent; electric vehicle fire blankets; and firefighting appliances. Analysis of the data from FPRF experiments is underway. Preliminary results will be presented at the annual NFPA Conference and Expo on June 16, 2025 in Las Vegas and the full analysis will be provided in FPRF's forthcoming research report, which will be publicly available this fall at FSRI is conducting research to improve understanding of hazards generated by electric vehicle battery fires and to enable the development of firefighting tactics for effective electric vehicle fire control. Recent experiments for the Fire Safety of Batteries and Electric Vehicles research project were conducted to evaluate the capability of standard hose stream application, water application with an under-vehicle nozzle, and an electric vehicle fire blanket, to suppress and establish control of a burning electric vehicle with confirmed battery pack fire involvement. Analysis of the video and data from FSRI experiments is underway and will be addressed in detail in FSRI's forthcoming electric vehicle research report, which will be available at About Fire Protection Research FoundationThe Fire Protection Research Foundation is the research affiliate of NFPA. The Foundation is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to plan, manage, and communicate research in support of the association's mission to help save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge and passion. The FPRF facilitates research on a broad range of fire safety issues in collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world. About Fire Safety Research InstituteThe Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, advances fire safety knowledge to address the world's unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL's public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we impart stakeholders with the information, tools and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. Learn more at About UL Research InstitutesUL Research Institutes is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing public safety through scientific discovery. Since 1894, our research has advanced our mission toward a safer, more secure, and sustainable future. Focused on global risks from fire mitigation and air quality to safe energy storage and digital privacy, we conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety data, and partner with experts to uncover and act on existing and emerging risks to human safety. Discover more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE FSRI
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IFEEDER Releases New Animal Feed Consumption Data
Total Animal Feed Consumption in 2023 The Demand for Animal Food Is Strong Arlington, Va, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), in collaboration with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and North American Renderers Association's (NARA) research arm the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), announced today that quantifies the amount of feed consumed by America's major livestock, poultry and aquaculture species. In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed approximately 283.6 million tons of feed, according to the IFEEDER report. 'The new IFEEDER feed consumption data demonstrates the vital role that feed mills, ingredient suppliers, liquid feed manufacturers, renderers and row crop farmers play in keeping animals fed throughout their lives, which, in turn, provides Americans with nutritious meat, milk and eggs,' said Lara Moody, IFEEDER's executive director. 'On behalf of our project partners AFIA and FPRF, IFEEDER is pleased to make this data readily available as part of its ongoing mission to advance understanding and trust in a sustainable animal feed supply chain.' The project, conducted by researchers at , which has conducted similar studies in the past for IFEEDER, used a ration cost optimization model to quantify the consumption of feed ingredients for the major animal species. Excluding harvested forages and roughages, the study found that in 2023, beef cattle consumed the most feed at 76.7 million tons, followed by broilers at 61.5 million tons, hogs at 60.9 million tons, dairy cattle at 48.7 million tons, egg-laying hens at 17.7 million tons, turkeys at 10.9 million tons, horses at 5.3 million tons, sheep and goats at 1.2 million tons, and aquaculture at 615,800 tons. The report primarily examined nearly 70 unique feed ingredients used among the studied species, finding that by weight, corn tops the list at 159.4 million tons, followed by soybean meal at 35.4 million tons, corn distillers' dried grains at 32.6 million tons, wheat middlings at 5.6 million tons, and canola meal at 5.2 million tons. Recognizing that feed often complements harvested forages and roughages (e.g., corn silage, alfalfa hay, other hay, legume silage, corn stalks, sorghum silage, and wheat straw) in ruminant diets, DIS calculated that dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats and horses consumed 267.4 million tons of those ingredients. The report also found that an astonishing 37% of total feed consumption (excluding harvested forages and roughages) came from 'circular' ingredients, which are coproducts or byproducts from the human food industry or other industrial processes that might otherwise go to landfill. 'Many Americans may be surprised to learn that U.S. feed mills and rendering facilities work closely with their local bakeries, food processors and ethanol facilities to capture nutritious ingredients, some of which might otherwise go to waste, and through a highly regulated process, safely feed them to animals,' said Moody. 'With more than one-third of production animal diets' consisting of circular ingredients, our industry is doing its part to reduce waste.' Five states topped the list in the tonnage of feed ingredients fed to animals in 2023, including Iowa at 29.1 million tons (primarily to hogs, beef cattle and egg-layers), Texas at 24.4 million tons (primarily to beef cattle, dairy cattle and broilers), Nebraska at 17.3 million tons (primarily to beef cattle and hogs), North Carolina at 15.5 million tons (primarily to hogs, broilers and turkeys), and Kansas at 15.3 million tons (primarily to beef cattle, hogs and dairy cattle). The full report, along with infographics and a multimedia map that allows users to search by species, state or ingredient, are available at . IFEEDER thanks ED&F Man Commodities, the National Corn Growers Association and Westway Feed Products for providing financial contributions to support this research project. One hundred percent of IFEEDER donations support funding for research, education and sustainability initiatives on behalf of the U.S. animal food industry. Learn more about IFEEDER at . Attachments Total Animal Feed Consumption in 2023 The Demand for Animal Food Is Strong CONTACT: Victoria Broehm - AFIA Senior Director of Communications Institute for Feed Education and Research (703) 558-3579 vbroehm@ in to access your portfolio
