A Conversation With BSN Technical Committee Vice-Chairman Yulianto Sulistyo Nugroho
Badan Standardisasi Nasional (BSN), the national standards body of Indonesia, recently collaborated with UL Standards & Engagement to publish SNI UL 19-2018, an identical adoption of UL 19, the Standard for Lined Fire Hose and Hose Assemblies.
To mark the occasion, we spoke with Professor Yulianto Sulistyo Nugroho, Ph.D., vice-chairman of BSN Technical Committee (TC) 13-04, Firefighting Vehicles and Equipment, who shared his views on the development of fire hose standards in Indonesia.
Please introduce yourself and your role in the BSN technical committee 13-04.
I am Yulianto, I am a Professor in Fire Safety Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Universitas Indonesia. I lead the research group Fire Safety Engineering, which currently counts three Ph.D. students, five master's students, and six undergraduate students. Our research objectives are to ensure the development of innovative fire safety science and technologies enabling the implementation of next-generation performance-based standards in a cost-effective manner. Over the last 20 years, the research that has been carried out covers these areas:
- Self-heating and spontaneous combustion of coal
- Smoldering combustion of tropical peat and how to prevent them
- Fire suppression science, including water-mist and foam suppressions, innovative firefighting nozzle system design and development
- Fast-response video smoke detection
- Human behavior in fire
The results of the research work have been published in approximately 70 scientific papers indexed in the Scopus system and two patents. The knowledge and experiences learned with students and colleagues have been implemented in policy development activities related to fire safety in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior Affairs, the Ministry of Public Affairs and Public Housing, the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, the development of standards and regulations, suggestions for building design stages and fire investigation activities. With the leadership of Mr. Evan Nursetya, chairman of BSN Technical Committee 13-04, Firefighting Vehicles and Equipment, and the collaboration of all the technical committee members, I serve as Vice-Chairman.
Why is it important that you participate in standards development?
The National Standardization Agency, BSN, coordinates the standards development activities in Indonesia. SNI development is a joint work of all stakeholders and involves the wider community. Regarding the development of standards in the field of firefighting vehicles and equipment, BSN TC 13-04 consists of representatives from the government, users, academics and the industry. As a representative of academia, I try to provide scientific and technological considerations of the tropical climate, as well as the ergonomics of the standard’s users that are significant to nation-wide environmental conditions, so that the resulting standards can have a positive impact on the wider community, as well as advance the development of science and industry in Indonesia. The Indonesian National Standard (SNI) has an essential role in all forms of activities and products intended to protect the public interest, national security, economic development and preservation of environmental functions. The role of BSN TC 13-04 assumes a role in developing the SNI for the field of firefighting equipment and vehicles.
Why are fire hose standards important to Indonesia?
The fire safety system for a building has five main features, namely: means of egress, passive fire protection system, active fire protection system, building fire management system and access for firefighters. The availability of an updated SNI for fire hoses is in line with serving the stakeholders involved in the building management process to have the same understanding, starting from the design process, construction, procurement, operation and maintenance stages, and emergency response operations. The SNI standard on fire hoses also has a significant impact on the successful firefighting operation of forest and wildland fires in Indonesia.
Who are the potential users of SNI UL 19 in Indonesia and what are the benefits of SNI UL 19 for the fire safety industry?
Potential users of the SNI regarding fire hoses include building planners, the process industry, fire departments, the manufacturing industry, surveyors, building owners, building users and all stakeholders related to fire safety. The stakeholders and the fire safety industry will benefit from SNI UL 19 and other updated SNI standards, to improve their design of products, materials and performance in terms of response, operation and maintenance.
Is there any plan to promote and support the implementation of SNI UL 19? How can UL Standards & Engagement support this effort?
The issuance of a new SNI certainly requires socialization efforts so that stakeholders can more easily understand and have the same perception and knowledge. This equality of understanding is important, so that the implementation of this new SNI can be carried out effectively. In terms of socialization and understanding of the new SNI, UL Standards & Engagement can play a role in providing an overview of the implementation of UL 19 in various countries, as well as sharing technical matters through workshops, including technical assistance in terms of partnership networks and development of required test equipment.
After the publication of SNI UL 19, what will TC 13-04 be focusing on?
BSN TC 13-04 works closely with other BSN technical committees, including TC 91-09, Building Science Planning, as well as with stakeholders in the development of roadmaps and priorities for the national programs for the standard formulation (PNPS). The focus includes updating existing SNIs and new SNIs related to inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) of fire protection systems (such as fire detection systems, water-based fire suppression systems, smoke control systems and passive fire protection systems). The priorities also include drafting SNI formulation for firefighting vehicles, fire extinguishers, and equipment such as foam fire extinguishing systems, etc.
Would members of the TC on fire-fighting vehicles and equipment be interested in participating in the standards technical panel for fire hoses, as a way of staying abreast of the latest developments on fire hose standards?
The experience in developing Indonesian National Standards, which considers the actual conditions in Indonesia and tropical climate conditions, is undoubtedly valuable to consider in developing international standards. In line with this, various developments in energy technology based on the use of electricity and batteries, various new materials for buildings, as well as forest and land fires that still occur frequently require international collaboration in dealing with them. Thus, participation in developing international standards, such as in the standards technical panel, is an excellent experience and opportunity to participate on a global scale.
With the introduction of new materials by manufacturers and the changing needs of fire safety and service, what are your views on the future of fire hoses?
The introduction of new materials and the changing needs for fire safety and service should be measured in terms of their performance and sustainability. A better understanding of fire risk, design approach and science and technological development must be incorporated with societal fire safety objectives. As fire safety science is integrating the knowledge and understanding of human behavior, building characteristics, fire dynamics and intervention characteristics, hence the development of firefighting equipment such as the fire hose and hose reel should consider the latest development in the fire risk itself and other factors that may affect the intervention characteristics. For example, installing a fire hose and hose reel system in a building should consider the earliest response time and the ease of use by residents of the building. Meanwhile, in the use of fire hoses for fighting the forest and peat fires, some critical considerations such as applying lightweight materials for the hose, the strength of the fire hose for extreme conditions, and their maintainability become performance characteristics that need to be taken into account.