using ai to write a fire safety essay

Does Using AI to Write A Fire Safety Essay Really Live up to the Hype?

Originally posted on December 19, 2022 at LinkedIn

image from 2001 A space odyssey

ChatGPT has been the talk of the internet over the past few weeks. I was curious, so I gave it a try. If you're not familiar with ChatGPT, check out the OpenAI website for more information. Essentially you log on to the ChatGPT website. You're then prompted to enter your request for information; be that a question, an explanation, whatever. They have some examples to get you started. Enter your request and the model then generates an answer based on the information the model has been trained on.

Here is my request to ChatGPT, “Write a 5000-word essay on the significance of historical fires and their impact on current building codes”. In less than a minute ChatGPT generated the following essay. It’s not 5000 words, but the model isn’t really designed for that … I just wanted to test it.

“Write a 5000-word essay on the significance of historical fires and their impact on current building codes” 

ChatGTP Essay

Historical fires have had a significant impact on the development of current building codes and fire safety regulations. These fires have often resulted in significant loss of life and property, and have prompted the creation of new codes and standards to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

One of the most significant historical fires in terms of its impact on building codes was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This fire, which began on October 8, 1871, destroyed a large portion of the city and killed an estimated 300 people. The fire was started by a small fire in a barn, which quickly spread due to strong winds and the close proximity of buildings. The fire highlighted the need for improved building codes and regulations, particularly with regard to fire prevention and containment.

"As a result of the Great Chicago Fire, building codes began to place a greater emphasis on fire prevention and containment measures."

As a result of the Great Chicago Fire, building codes began to place a greater emphasis on fire prevention and containment measures. This included the use of fire-resistant materials, such as brick and stone, and the implementation of firewalls to prevent the spread of fires between buildings. In addition, building codes began to require the use of sprinkler systems and other fire suppression measures to help prevent the spread of fires.

Another significant historical fire that had a major impact on building codes was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which occurred in New York City in 1911. This fire, which killed 146 people, was caused by a discarded cigarette and occurred in a factory with inadequate fire exits and a lack of fire prevention measures. The tragedy prompted the adoption of stricter building codes and fire safety regulations, including requirements for multiple exits and the installation of sprinkler systems in buildings. 

In more recent times, the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 and the Camp Fire in California in 2018 have also had significant impacts on building codes and fire safety regulations. The Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, was caused by the use of flammable cladding on the exterior of the building, and prompted the UK to implement stricter regulations on the use of such materials. The Camp Fire, which was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history, prompted the state to adopt new regulations for building in high-risk wildfire areas.

"The Camp Fire, which was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history, prompted the state to adopt new regulations for building in high-risk wildfire areas."

The impact of these historical fires on current building codes and fire safety regulations can be seen in the various measures that are now in place to prevent fires and to protect against their spread. These measures include the use of fire-resistant materials in construction, the implementation of fire suppression systems such as sprinklers, and the requirement for multiple exits in buildings to allow for safe evacuation in the event of a fire.

In addition to these measures, current building codes also place a strong emphasis on fire prevention. This includes the use of fire alarms and smoke detectors to alert occupants to the presence of a fire, as well as the implementation of fire safety plans to ensure that occupants know what to do in the event of a fire.

Other measures that have been implemented as a result of historical fires include the development of fire-resistant building codes for specific types of buildings, such as high-rise buildings and hospitals. These codes take into account the unique challenges and risks associated with these types of buildings, and provide specific guidelines and requirements to ensure their safety in the event of a fire.

"Overall, the impact of historical fires on current building codes and fire safety regulations cannot be understated."

Overall, the impact of historical fires on current building codes and fire safety regulations cannot be understated. These fires have had a significant influence on the development of new codes and standards to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future, and have helped to ensure that buildings are safer and more resistant to fire. While it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of fires, the measures that have been put in place as a result of historical fires have significantly reduced the risk of loss of life and property due to fires.

Thoughts

Personally, I think AI does live up to the hype, at least in this instance. No doubt that you need to fact check the response, but this is the result of training on general information. Imagine if the model were trained on data sets that were fire protection specific. It will be interesting to see the output in a year.

I’m interested in knowing how colleges and universities are dealing with this. But I’m more interested in how this technology will improve over time. I'm also interested in seeing the unique ways that people will use the app.

Let me know your thoughts on ways this app can be used, and what information you think the model should be trained on. I'd love to hear your thoughts.