BUILDING SERVICES

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

� As a building is designed, consideration of fire protection system becomes integrally involved with the design of the plumbing, mechanical, communications and signaling systems.

� The fire protection system must provide for early detection of a fire and give adequate warning.

The design should consider � The design should consider compartmentalization of the building, smoke control and type of fire control system to be used.

� Fire suppression system include various types of sprinkler system, extinguishing system etc.

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FireFire

� Fire and processes of combustion happen due to 3

essential factors:

Fuel

FIRE

OxygenHeat

� These 3 often referred to as the triangle of fire. Remove

any one of them and combustion cannot take place.

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Fuel� Any organic materials suitable for fire to start e.g

combustible solid i.e wood, paper, combustible liquid i.e petrol and combustible gas i.e hydrogen and butane gas.

Heat� Correct temperature to promote combustion

of a particular fuel.of a particular fuel.� Generated deliberately or it can be

spontaneous when the fuel itself ignites e.gchemical reaction, electrical short circuit.

Oxygen� Air is necessary to sustain and support the

combustion process.

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Understand fire scienceUnderstand fire science� Exist in 3 states

� Combustible and non-combustible

� The 3 ingredients to generate a fire.

� Upper and lower limit of flammability.

� Rate of flame spread.

� Smothering, fire and explosion.� Smothering, fire and explosion.

� Fire loads.

� Flash point.

� Fire point.

� Vapor density.

� Flammability.

FIRE PROTECTION MEANSFIRE PROTECTION MEANS

Elements for basic fire protection can be broken down into two categories:

Passive elementsActive fire protection systemsActive fire protection systems

Both rely on good design and installation techniques to provide the appropriate level of protection each system is

expected to provide

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BenchmarkBenchmark-- Uniform Building ByUniform Building By--Laws 1984Laws 1984Part 1 -Preliminary – citation & interpretation.

Part 11 -Submission of plans for approval.

Part 111 – Space , light and ventilation.

Part 1V - Temporary works in connection with building operations.

Part V - Structural requirements.

Pat V1 - Construction requirements

Part V11 – Fire requirements

Part V111- Fire alarm, fire detection, fire extinguishment and fire fighting access.

Part 1X -Miscellaneous.

First schedule – Fees for consideration of plans, permit etc.First schedule – Fees for consideration of plans, permit etc.

Second schedule – Forms A, Form B, Form C, Forms D, Forms E

Third schedule – Ventilation at normal situation.

Forth schedule – Weight of materials.

Fifth schedule – Designation of purpose group.

Sixth schedule – Calculation of permitted limits of unprotected areas.

Seventh schedule –Maximum travel distances.

Eight Schedule – Classification of restriction of flame spread over surfaces of wall and ceiling.

Nine schedule – Limit of compartments and minimum periods of fire resistance for elements of structures.

Tenth Schedule – Tables of elements for fire extinguishment, alarm system and emergency lighting.

FIRE PROTECTION

ACTIVE PASSIVEACTIVE

FIRE DETECTION

FIRE EXTINCTION

PASSIVE

DESIGN REQUIREMENT

STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENT

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PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTIONPASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

� Passive fire protection measures are those that control the likelihood of ignition and fire growth and spread through material control or by providing physical barriers to the movement of flame or smoke.

� Passive fire protection systems are most often fixed in walls, floors, ceilings, beams, columns, and shaft enclosures that are built to a prescribed fire resistance rating.

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PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTIONPASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

� This method of fire protection involved the use of fire resistant materials in the design and construction of parts of the building to slow or prevent the spread of fire in a building or fire spread to neighboring buildings.

� The techniques of fire-resistant materials is to contain fire thus allow save evacuation of building occupants.

� Every elements of structure e.g load and non-load bearing walls and partition, floors, roofs, columns, beams, suspended ceilings, staircase etc shall be constructed as to have fire resistance for not less than any periods specified in the Building regulations.

� For example:

◦ Any external wall shall have fire resistance of not less than half an

hour

◦ Any separating wall shall have fire resistance of not less than one hour

◦ Fire doors must have fire resistance at least one hour

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Passive requirementsPassive requirements

� Party walls – for terrace, semi-detached, apartment etc.

� Compartment walls – divide large floor into compartments.

� Compartment floors – each high-rise floor is a compartment floor.

� Firewall – to protect fire place, boiler room etc.

� Enclosure walls for emergency staircases, protected lift shafts, & protected lobby enclosures for high rise buildings and chutes.lobby enclosures for high rise buildings and chutes.

� Vertical or horizontal barriers for high rise buildings.

� Materials for protected corridors.

� Ceiling materials.

� Roof.

� Ducting.

� Fire doors

� Cables chutes.

Philosophies in installing passive systemsPhilosophies in installing passive systems

� Complements active system.

� Installation depends average fire loading, usage

� Limit or prevent spread of fire, smoke & heat.

� Prevent fire development beyond Prevent fire development beyond predetermined size and easy to control the fire.

� Provide time for evacuation ( evacuation time depends on the types of building – in term of travel distances and dead ends. Refer Schedule 5 of the UBBL 1984 on compartment sizes.

The passive method of fire protection may involve 3 main features:

1. Compartmentation

2. Fire wallsStructural requirement

2. Fire walls

3. Fire escape

Structural requirement

Design requirement

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Compartmentation

� It is restricting the spread of fire to only small area where the fire started by using fire resistant enclosure i.e fire resistant wall, ceiling and floor.

� This will give enough time building occupants escape from the building.

� It also limit the size of fire, thus giving time for the arrival of fire brigade.

� Fire can spread to another parts of the building via openings in enclosure i.eopen doors. Special doors call fire doors are fire resistant for specified open doors. Special doors call fire doors are fire resistant for specified periods of time.

� In short, compartmentation makes the fire escape route usable, control the spread and size of fire and the most important thing is to ensure allowance of time for evacuation.

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Fire Walls

� A building can be made up of several premises, with each premise being owned by different owner. To prevent an accidental fire from spreading from one premise to another, party wall and party floor must be fireproof.

� This can be frequently seen in terrace houses or multi-premise commercial building.

� Sometimes fire walls are provided to break-up premises into separate fireproof sections especially when certain rooms with important equipments and sections especially when certain rooms with important equipments and documents.

Fire Escape Route

� Is a design fire protected route from within building (when there is fire) to the outside ground level or safe area within outside the building.

� The fire protection for the route is provided by compartmentation technique.

� Thus the walls, ceiling and floor along the fire escape routes must be of fire resistant materials.

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This I beam has a fire resistant material sprayed onto it as a form of passive fire protection.

Party wall

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Common Example of Passive Fire Protection 17

ExamplesExamplesExamplesExamples

� Fire-resistance rated� Firewalls� Firedoor� Fire-resistance glass� Occupancy separationOccupancy separation� Firestops� Grease ducts � Cable coating� Spray fireproofing� Fireproofing cladding� Enclosures

FirewallsFirewalls

Firewalls

� Have a rating of fire-resistance

� Also designed to sub-divide buildings such that if collapse occurs on one sidethat if collapse occurs on one side

� Also be used to eliminate the need for sprinklers, as a trade-off.

FireFire--resistance glass resistance glass

Fire-resistance glass

� Using multi-layer in tumescent interlayer technology

� The glass is optically clear, and can be � The glass is optically clear, and can be used in 60 minute and 120 minute fire resistance rated assemblies

� Can be installed as a fire-rated wall.

Fire doorFire door

Fire door

� Type of door or movable barrier used as part of a passive fire protection system within buildings to prevent the spread of within buildings to prevent the spread of fire or smoke between separate sections

� It is usually the only means of allowing people to pass through a fire-resistant wall.

Occupancy separationOccupancy separation

Occupancy separations

� barriers design as occupancy separations are intended to segregate parts of buildings, where different uses are on buildings, where different uses are on each side

FirestopsFirestops

Firestops

� passive fire protection system of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire-resistance rated wall or floor joints in fire-resistance rated wall or floor assemblies, based on fire testing and certification listings.

Grease ductsGrease ducts

Grease ducts

� ducts that lead from commercial cooking equipment to grease duct fans

� made of sheet metal, all welded, and � made of sheet metal, all welded, and certified openings for cleaning, whereby the ducting is either inherently manufactured to have a specific fire-resistance rating

Cable coatingCable coating

Cable coating

� application of fire-retardants to reduce flame spread and smoke development of combustible cable-jacketingcombustible cable-jacketing

Spray fireproofingSpray fireproofing

Spray fireproofing

� application of in tumescent or endothermic paints, or fibrous or cementations plasters to keep substrates cementations plasters to keep substrates such as structural steel, electrical or mechanical services and others

Fireproofing claddingFireproofing cladding

Fireproofing cladding

� boards used for the same purpose and in the same applications as spray fireproofing

� Materials for such cladding include polite, � Materials for such cladding include polite, vermiculite, calcium silicate, gypsum, in tumescent epoxy

EnclosuresEnclosures

Enclosures

� Boxes made of fireproofing materials, including fire-resistive wraps and tapes to protect specialty valves protect specialty valves

� The provision of circuit integrity measures to keep electrical cables operational during an accidental fire.

ACTIVE FIRE PTOTECTIONACTIVE FIRE PTOTECTION

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION

EXTIGHUISHER

FIRE BUCKET & BLANKET

PORTABLE FITE EXTINGUISHER

SPRINKLER SYSTEM

DRY RISER &

WET RISER

FIRE DETECTION

HEAT DETECTOR

SMOKE DETECTOR

FLAME DETECTOR

FIRE HYDRANTS

HOSE REEL

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� Active fire protection measures are those that take direct physical action to reduce the growth rate of fire or the migration of smoke.

� Active fire protection systems are most often fire sprinkler and smoke control systems that receive signals, both manual and automatic, to perform their intended automatic, to perform their intended function.

� Fire alarm systems are part of active fire protection used for activation of extinguishing systems or the notification of building occupants and the fire department.

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Philosophies for installing active system.Philosophies for installing active system.

� Control or limit the fire spread manually or automatically.

� If the fire cannot be control automatically then we have to use systems such as wet & dry risers, hose reel, foam system etc. manually.

� To alert occupants on the outbreak of fire. (Sleeping risk and non sleeping risk types of premises considered as life safety matters).

� Reduce damages to properties (including damages by water, smoke and heat. (property safety)

Active protections (portable, fixed installations Active protections (portable, fixed installations

and alarms systemsand alarms systems ) ) � Portable fire extinguishers. (water, foam, dry powder and co2).

� Large size fire extinguishers (trolley types).

� Hose reel.

� Dry riser.

� Down comer,

� Wet riser.

Sprinkler system.� Sprinkler system.

� Drencher system.

� Foam fixed installation.

� Water spray and fog system.

� Manual fire alarm.

� Automatic alarm (smoke, heat, flame and gas detectors),

� Exhaust fans for smoke / heat.

� Energen, Co2, FM 200

Fire ExtinguisherFire Extinguisher

� There are few types of fire extinguisher such as:

◦ Fire bucket and blanket

◦ Portable fire extinguisher

◦ Fire sprinklers system◦ Fire sprinklers system

◦ Gas extinguisher system

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Fire bucket and blanket

� The fire bucket are bucket containing sand and used to smother small fire in area where there are oil and fat, but fear of electrocution.

� This method is less maintenance.

� The fire blanket is made of asbestos cloth or some other fire proof fiber and used to smother oil and fat fires.

� Fire blanket are also useful for putting out a fire on person.

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Portable Fire Extinguisher

� Is a portable tank, which is filled with an extinguishing agent either water based, gas based, foam based and powder based.

� A nozzle is fitted to the top of the tank so that these agents can be sprayed out.

� Portable fire extinguishers are hung on the way at appropriate places and can be used to attend a small fire during its initial stage.

There are several types of portable fire extinguisher:� There are several types of portable fire extinguisher:

◦ Water

◦ Foam

◦ Carbon Dioxide

◦ Dry Chemical

◦ Wet Chemical

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� Water

◦ Red in colour, contains water under pressure and is to be used in an upright position.

◦ For use on carbonaceous solids such as wood, paper, rubbish or textiles.

◦ Unsuitable for flammable liquid fires and live electrical equipment.

� Foam

◦ Red in colour with blue band, contains aqueous film-forming foam additive, and is to be used in an upright position.

◦ Designed for use on flammable liquid fires such as petrol, oils and paint.

◦ Never used on fires involving live electrical equipment

� Carbon Dioxide

◦ Red in colour with black band.◦ Red in colour with black band.

◦ Design for use on fires involving flammable liquids and live electrical equipment.

� Dry Chemical

◦ Red in colour with white band, contains bicarbonate based powder and suitable far fires involving flammable liquids and live electrical equipment.

� Wet Chemical

◦ Red in colour with yellow band, it has a liquid alkaline extinguishing agent, and specifically designed for use in kitchens on deep fryer fires involving fat and cooking oil.

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Water based

CO2 based

Dry chemical based

Foam basedWet chemical based

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Sprinkler systemSprinkler system

� These are water based systems with automatic fire detection and fire fighting capabilities. It consist of a network of water pipes and sprinkling automatic valve points (sprinkler heads) on ceiling or walls.

� It use a water supply from the city water system. � It use a water supply from the city water system. Tall building requires a backup supply, such as a storage tank on the roof.

� Sprinkler heads have various designs. They may be an upright type of pendant type.

� Two types of water sprinkler systems are:◦ Wet pipe system (Wet riser)◦ Dry pipe system (Dry riser)

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Wet Riser

� Keep water under pressure in the pipe system at all time.

� When sprinkler heads are activate by heat from a fire, the water is immediately released.

� This is the most widely used water system.

Dry RiserDry Riser

� Pipes are maintained with compressed.

� When sprinkler head opens due to heat from fire, the air pressure is released, causing the dry pipe to open.

� The pipes fill with water, which moves on through the open sprinkler heads.

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Types of sprinkler heads

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Fire DetectionFire Detection

� Fire should be detected and be made known to the building occupants to allow enough time for escape and reduce fire damage.

� Fire can be detected by a person and then he raise the alarm to inform other occupants.

� Or the fire can be detected by a detector which then automatically cause an alarm sound.

� Or the fire can be detected by a detector which then automatically cause an alarm sound.

� Some detectors are only used to activate an automatic fire fighting equipment such as sprinkler.

� Fire can be detected by the elements of fire:◦ Heat detector

◦ Smoke detector

◦ Flame detector

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Heat Detector

� Are the oldest, cheapest and most widely used.

� Simple and reliable fire detection device.

� However, they are the slowest to respond than other type of detector.

Smoke Detector

� Used of principle of the dispersion of light by smoke particles to detect the presence of fire.

� Recommended to use where surrounded materials are � Recommended to use where surrounded materials are produce more visible smoke than flame.

� Should not be used in dusty area.

Flame Detector

� Its only respond to energy which is visible i.e flame.

� Thus if there is objects obstructing the view of the flame by detectors, it’s effectiveness reduce.

� Used in the area where fire are likely not to generate smoke (such as gasoline)

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Heat detector

Flame detector

Smoke detector

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Fire HydrantFire Hydrant

� The fire hydrant actually public or private water outlet for fire fighting which is directly connected to the water supply mains pipe. mains pipe.

� In some places, hydrant water supply separate from the mains water supply because it will avoid a situation where water pressure is low.

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Example of Fire Hydrant

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Hose ReelHose Reel

� Fire Hose Reels are located to provide a reasonably accessible and controlled supply of water to combat a potential fire risk.

� The fire hoses are connected to the mains water supply and extend for about 30 feet. about 30 feet.

� Some fire hose reels are located in cabinets whilst others are visible on the wall in a hall or corridor. The will always have appropriate signage indicating their location.

� Various types of reels are available to meet specific needs.

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Alarm systemAlarm system

� Fire alarm system is either classified as automatic, manually activated, or both.

� Automatic fire alarm systems can be used to notify people to evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency, to summon emergency forces aid, and to prepare the structure and associated systems to control the spread of fire and smoke.control the spread of fire and smoke.

� Alarm system can be siren or bells and sometimes completely with flashing light and connected by electrical distress signal to nearest fire station.

� For manual alarm system, alarm is set off when occupant press one of any alarm button.

� The automatic alarm system is activate either by a signal from a pressure detector in an activated automatic fire fighting equipment or by fire detector.

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Example of Fire Alarm Appliances57

Emergency lighting and exit signs

� At this stage emergency lighting and exit signs provide sufficient illumination for safe evacuation of the building.

� The exit signs include directional signs indicating the path to exits for occupants. The lift system cannot be occupants. The lift system cannot be used for escape in a fire and a warning sign is displayed stating so for all occupants.

� The fire brigade only can override the lifts for use in access for the fighting of the fire and for the purpose of evacuating people with disabilities.

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MEANS OF ESCAPEMEANS OF ESCAPE

•Legislation requires that all buildings must be

provided with adequate means of escape, so

that in event of fire, occupants of the building

can escape to a place of safety beyond the

building.

•To achieve this, the structural measures that

constitute the means of escape (escape

routes, staircases and fire exits) must be

supported by other measures, such as

emergency escape lighting, fire warning

systems and fire safety signs 59

DEFINATION OF MEANS OF ESCAPEDEFINATION OF MEANS OF ESCAPE

�Structural means, whereby a safe route is provided for persons to escape in case of fire,

from any point in a building to a safe place.

�To meet the safety place without heat and �To meet the safety place without heat and gases, the evacuation time should be shorten

compare to the time taken for the fire to spread. So the evacuation should not take too

long and complicated.

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STRATEGY IN ESCAPE

EXIT ROUTE(EGRESS)

EASY WAY OF ESCAPE ROUTEOUT OF BUILDING WHEN ALARM RINGING

PROTECTION (REFUGE)

USE OF STRUCTURAL FIRE ESCAPE ROUTE IN THE BUILDING TO OTHERS

SAFE COMPARTMENT

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4 Stages of fire escape4 Stages of fire escape

1.1.

1st

stagesEscape from room or area of causes of Escape from room or area of causes of firefire

2.2.

2nd

stages

Escape from first compartment to end of Escape from first compartment to end of escape route to fire staircaseescape route to fire staircase

3.3.

3rd

stages Escape from 1Escape from 1stst floor that in fire to lower floor that in fire to lower floorfloor

4.4.

4th

stages Escape to the lowest floor (safe place)Escape to the lowest floor (safe place)

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F90

2

DG

OG

F60

1

SS

E

1st stage (most critical)

OG

EG

GE

SC

HO

SS

Efl

oors

GE

SC

HO

Sfl

oors

KG

(most critical)

2nd stage (less critical)

3rd stage (lesser critical)

4th stage (safe place)

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