2. Fire fighting

FIRE PROTECTION

SYSTEM

FIRE PROTECTION

SYSTEM

CONSIDERATION

ACTIVE

PASSIVE

Types

Sprinkler System

Riser

Hose reel

Portable fire extinguisher

-Operation/installation-Components-Drawings-Functions/consideration

Wet Dry Soda-acid foam

CO2

length

location

FIRE TRIANGL

E

definition

function

method

Means of escape

Smoke control

factors

Types of exit

3 parts

Exit access

Exit discharge

Exit

compartmentation

Needs/function Fire window door

Fire wall

ceiling

Fire stopper

Pressurised escape routes

Smoke reservoirs

Consideration

The overall protection strategies for

development projects in Malaysia are

based on ‘Fire Safety Philosophy’ of

the Malaysian Uniform Building By-

Laws (1984) (UBBL)

UBBL are to ensure the safety of the

occupant in term of fire safety.

MALAYSIAN FIRE CODES & REGULATIONS

The provisions of the firerequirements in UBBL areimplemented by severalMalaysian Fire Codes which are:

i) British Standard (BS)

ii) Malaysian Standard (MS)

A process of combustion characterized by theemission of heat accompanied by smoke orflame.

Mostly when the term fire is referred to, wemean the uncontrolled fire such as happensin furnaces, etc.

Fire is often unwanted, unexpected,disastrous & costly, both in terms of humanlife & business costs.

What causes a fire?

Fire exist as a result of combustion/reaction between 3 elements – heat (hightemperature), fuel, oxygen.

There is an interrelationship between heat,fuel & oxygen. This is known as ‘firetriangle’.

Fire cannot occur if one of the keycomponents is missing, i.e. : if the heat,the fuel or oxygen is eliminated.

FIRE TRIANGLE

QSM 554

Methods of extinguishing fire

(Starvation.separation)

(1)EXCLUDE OXYGEN (smothering)by covering the top surface of burning material with foam, blanket, cover, lid, etc.

(2) COOLINGby applying water or other method to reduce ignition temperature- sprinkler

(3) STARVATION (separation)by reducing or separation fuel by compartmentation, transferring liquid to another tank, etc.

FIRE TRIANGLE

The combustion process wasonce depicted as a triangle withthree sides

Each side represented anessential ingredient for fire.

Heat, fuel and oxygen werethought to be essential elements.

CLASSES OF FIRE

The classes of fire

Ordinary CombustiblesFires in paper, cloth, wood, rubber, and many plastics require a water type extinguisher labeled A.

Flammable Liquids Fires in oils, gasoline, some paints, lacquers, grease, solvents, and other flammable liquids require an extinguisher labeled B.

Electrical Equipment Fires in wiring, fuse boxes, energized electrical equipment, computers, and other electrical sources require an extinguisher labeled C.

FIRE PROTECTION APPROACH

Protection of a building and its

contents from damage by fire can

be divided into two (2) categories :

i) Passive

ii) Active

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

WHAT IS PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION?

“the combination of all methods used in a building to warn people ofan emergency, provide for safe evacuation, and restrict the spread offire, and includes both active and passive protection.”

PFP features relate to elements of construction which are generallypart of the fabric of the building as opposed to active features such assprinklers, detectors, alarms, etc.

Examples of PFP features in typical buildings are:

•fire rated walls, floors, ceiling and roofs•fire and smoke control doors•fire and smoke stopping seals, collars, pillows, blankets, etc forservices penetrations•fire rated protective coatings for structural steel members etc•fire and smoke dampers/curtains•fire rated glass systems•fire rated lift landing doors•fire rated ducting


Control the fire growth through material control or by providing physical barriers to the movement of flame or smoke.

Often fixed in walls, floors, ceilings, beams, columns, and shaft enclosures that are built to a prescribed fire resistance rating.

Fire alarm systems used to initiate the closing of fire doors and dampers (that may be otherwise held open to allow normal building function.)


Passive fire protection systems areintended to maintain the following:

Provide structural integrity of floor,wall, and ceiling assemblies during a firefor a specified time period

Compartmentalize the fire room or spaceto control the fire spread

Provide exiting systems for occupantsto evacuate the building safely.

COMPARTMENTATION


COMPARTMENTATION

A concept that reduce the likelihood of smoke inhalation-deaths, these products of combustion must be contained in the area of origin.

This is known as compartmentation - subdivided a large building so that a fire starting anywhere is caged within its cell of origin.

This compartmentation may be of; fire window, fire door, fire wall, drywall, ceiling or fire stop.


COMPARTMENTATION

The Need

1.To subdivide a large building so that a fire starting anywhere is caged within its cell of origin

2.To avoid large volumes and interconnecting spaces

3.To contain specific hazards (bolters, fuel stores), from the building and separate particular hazards from high-risk occupancies

4.To isolate escape routes

5.To separate one building from another


Compartmentation – The method

Obviously the smaller the compartment, the less potential for damage , but there has to be sensible compromise.

The presence of sprinklers is a significant mitigation, allowing larger compartment sizes – perhaps double.

Walls and floors

Major compartment division will normally have longer fire resistance periods than the enclosure to escape routes.

One hour is a common minimum, but up to four hours or more are possible, demanded by fire authorities or insurers anxious to minimise their risk.

Escalators in department stores break the compartmentation between floors.


Compartmentation – Door

Timber up to one hour, or steel more than one hour. They can be self-closing and possibly, locked.

For ordinary circulations, i.e factory, they can be counterweight or hung on inclined runners so that they shut on the melting of a fusible link or the release of an automatic catch.

Industrial scale take form of roller steel shutters.

Enclosure can include horizontal steel roller shutters activated by detectors.


Metal door - wooden inner structure - Finishing with, paint or stainless steel


Smoke curtains (as part of a smoke and heat ventilation system compartment screens) may be required to form part of the reservoir boundary or to limit smoke travel from the fire source.

Fixed smoke curtains are commonly used in the roof space of either large single storey buildings, or above false ceilings in commercial and retail premises.

Smoke curtains

Compartmentation- Fire wall

Fire wall opening protection

Physical barriers such as fire damper & fire door

Fire damper

All ducts that pass through fire rated wall must be equipped by fire dampers. Eg : in air conditioning ducting.

Fire doori) Horizontal typeii) Overhead rollingiii) Special fire door

Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting

DAMPER

COMPARTMENTATION – Fire damper

Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting (at the intersection of ducting)

DAMPER


Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting (at the corner of ducting)

DAMPER

DAMPER


Figure : Fire door, horizontal

Horizontal type

-Mounted on roller and suspended from a track

-It moves horizontally to close the opening in the fire wall.

COMPARTMENTATION - Fire door

Figure : Fire door, overhead rolling

Overhead rolling

- Drop vertically into place


Figure : Fire door, conveyor pass through

Special fire door

- Installed in areas such as where the conveyor has to pass through the fire wall.


Figure : unprotected opening through fire wall

This situationwill provide apath of travelfor fire tobreach the wall


Compartmentation- the method :Fire wall opening protection

Ducts and Pipes

Service runs often have to pass throughcompartment divisions.

Duct and pipe sections immediately adjacent to thecompartment wall or floor are made fire resistingand the gap around them, where they passthrough, is minimal and filled with a noncombustible or intumescent packing .

The packing has to be flexible enough to allow forthe ordinary vibration of the service run, and itsexpansion and distortion in fire.

An Intumescent is a substance which swells as a result of heat exposure, thus increasing in volume, and decreasing in density. Intumescents are typically

used in passive fire protection.

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Compartmentation- the method :Fire wall opening protection

Most fire door close by gravity through the door own weight or weight on a closing mechanism.

It is essential to installed fusible link so they are exposed to heat transfer from either side of the door.

Fire wall opening protection

Regular checks should be made to ensure that no materials are placed in the path of the door.

Guides and bearings should be checked regularly, as should the counter-balance weights.

Any time that the facility is not in normal operation, fire doors should be closed manually.

This is particularly important if no guard or security service is available in the plant.

Compartmentation- the method :

MEANS OF

ESCAPE


Means of Escape

Means of escape is a continuous, unobstructed path for evacuees from any point in a building to a public way.

Its 3 parts are:

exit access – that portion that leads to an entrance to an exit

exit – the portion that is separate from all other buildings spaces by construction or equipment required to provide a protected path to the exit discharge

exit discharge – the portion that connects the termination of an exit to a public way


Means of Escape

The effectiveness of All the exits must be ensured by these following factors:

clear and unobstructed access is provided to all exits

exits are identified and well lit the proper type of door is used and it opens

in the direction of travel exits are equipped with the proper opening

and locking hardware Clear exits discharge to a public way


Types of exit

corridors

exit passageway

exit doors

interior stairs

exterior stairs

Means of Escape

Figure : Types of exit


SMOKE CONTROLPressurized escape routes

to create greater air pressure in escape routes such as corridors and stairs, than the remainder of rooms

Usually in an office block and other large and high-rise compartmentation buildings.

The effect is to contain smoke -and fire at its point of outbreak allowing it to leak out through windows or purpose-

made ventilation grills.


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Figure : Pressurised escape route

Figure : Plan of escape route and rooms

Smoke Reservoirs

Most enclosed shopping centre have a mall with a parade of shops.

A fire in a shop or in the mall can cause a rapid spread of smoke and hot gases

If the centre is sprinkler the water may cool the smoke and hot gases so reducing their buoyancy and possible fogging at floor level.

Smoke Reservoirs

Smoke can be controlled by:

(a) providing smoke reservoirs into which the smoke can flow through before being extracted by either mechanical or natural means;

(b) allowing cooler air to enter the centre at low level to replace the smoke flowing out of the centre

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Main groups under which active precautions must

be considered:

Installation of an alarm and detecting system to

give warning of outbreak.

Installation and equipment for automatic fire

extinction

Provision of first-aid fire fighting equipment

Provide for facilities to assist the fire services


Active fire protection system involves systems which designed to:

1. Detect

2. Suppress a fire

Water Suppression System

1. Automatic sprinkler system

-most common & effective fire suppression systemwith a success rate of 98.5%.

-not suitable for electronics industry, and electricalsub-station

2. Water spray system

3. Deluge system

4. Wet riser system

5. Hydraulic hose reel system

6. Hydrant system


Foam

1. High expansion foam

2. Low expansion foam

3. Premix foam

Smoke & Fire Detection

1. Ionisation detector

2. Optical detector

3. Heat detector

4. Beam detector

5. Line detector

6. Infrared detector, flame detector


Gas Suppression System

1. Halogenated hydrocarbon

2. CO2 system

3. Halon alternative


ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION

Active approach means of fire protection and fire

engineering is a specialised area of building

services and the following will be considered:

i) portable extinguishers

ii) hose reel and hydrants

iii) automatic extinguishers

iv) alarm detection


Portable extinguishersColour-coded cylinders

containing compressed liquids and gases appropriate tovarious sources of fire

Standards fire-fighting equipment in all commercial andpublic buildings.

Objectives : to remove or sufficiently reduce at least oneelement of the fire triangle discussed previously.

A portable fire extinguisher must contain type of fireextinguishing agent suitable for the fire it is required toextinguish.

It is identified by colour coding for its intended purpose.

Figure 1 : A Fire extinguisher

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FireExtinguisherABC.jpg


Portable extinguishers

Figure : Colour coded cylinders and content

Types available:

Group 1: Water extinguisher

i) water (soda-acid)

ii) water (gas pressure)

Group 2: CO2 extinguisher

Group 3: Vapourising liquid extinguisher

i) bromochlorodifluoro methane

Group 4: Dry Powder extinguisher

Group 5: Foam extinguishers

i) foam (chemical)

ii)foam (mechanical or gas pressure)


Portable extinguishers

TYPE OF PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

WATER POWDER

Figure : Soda- acid water fire extinguisher

Soda-acid water fire extinguisher

It has a small glass container of sulphuric acid

It is released into the water cylinder when a knob is struck.

The acid mixes with the water which contains carbonate of soda to create a chemical reaction producing carbon dioxide gas

The gas pressurises the cylinder to displace water from the nozzle

Figure : Foam fire extinguisher

Foam fire extinguisher

•Foam is formed by chemical reaction between sodium bicarbonate and aluminium sulphate dissolved in water in the presence of a foaming agent

•When the extinguisher is inverted the chemicals are mixed to create foam under pressure which is forced out of the nozzle.

Figure : Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher

Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher

Carbon dioxide is pressurised as a liquid inside a cylinder

Striking a knob at the top of the cylinder pierces a disc to release the carbon dioxide

It then converts to a gas as it depressurises through the extinguisher nozzle.

Dry Powder Extinguisher

• Dry powder extinguishers put out fires by coating the fuel with a thin layer of fire retardant powder, separating the fuel from the oxygen.

• The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction, which makes these extinguishers extremely effective.

• Dry powder extinguishers are usually rated for class B and C fires and may be marked multiple purpose for use in A, B, and C fires.

• They contain an extinguishing agent and use a compressed, non-flammable gas as a propellant.

• Dry Chemical extinguishers will have a label indicating they may be used on class A, B, and/or C fires.

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Hose reel

Fire fighting equipment for use as a first aidmeasure by building occupants

Location : in recess along corridors

Length : provided with up to 45m ofreinforced rubber hose (to cover 800m2 floorarea per installations)

A range of hose reels is available includingmanual and automatic, fixed, swinging andrecessed and come with detachable mountingplate for fast installation by one person

Figure : Fixed Manual Hose ReelFigure : Swinging Manual Hose Reel

Figure : Recessed Manual Hose Reel

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Hose reel

Water supply

Water can be supplied directly from the mains if the supply to the highest reel can be 200kPa and also supply sufficient discharge.

If the supply cannot be supplied from the main automatic pumping equipment will have to be installed.

Source : R Greeno (2000). Building Services, Technology and Design.Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.18 & 9.19

Operation

The hose reelshould be able todischarge0.4litre/second ata distance 6mfrom the end ofthe nozzle.

If a suction tank isrequired it shouldhold a minimumvolume of 1.6m3water.

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Hydrant (wet & dry riser)

Dry and wet rising mains areintended for use by the FireBrigade or other trainedpersonnelIt provide a readily availablemeans of delivering considerablequantities of water to extinguishor to prevent the spread of fire.

Hydrant (wet & dry riser)

Dry risers comprise vertical mains,which are fitted into staircaseenclosures or other suitable positionswith outlet valves on each floor

inlets fitted at ground level to enablethe Fire Brigade to connect into thewater supply.

Hydrant (wet & dry riser)

Wet riser is a pipe kept permanentlycharged with water available eitherdirect from a storage tank, via abooster pump, or fed directly fromthe towns main water supply.

Before installation of a dry or wetriser mains the local Fire Brigademust be consulted, to ascertaintheir exact requirements.

Hydrant (wet riser)

Wet risers are a form of internal hydrant forthe firemen to use and are always chargedwith water.

Wet risers are only required for buildingswhere the topmost floor is-higher than 30.5m above the fire appliance access level.

Wet riser system comprises duty fire pumpwith standby pump discharge into a 150mmdiameter riser pipe with landing valves ateach floor.

A jockey pump is usually provided to maintainsystem pressure.

For high rise buildings, each stage of the wetriser should no exceed 71m.

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Hydrant (wet riser)

Installations :

The wet riser is permanently filled with waterto supply hydrant valves on each floor,ensuring an immediate supply of water.

This system provide infrastructure for FireBrigade to connect its pipes and pump thewater from outside the building (mains).

Hoses supplied with water from standpipes(vertically) are the usual means of manualapplication of water to interior building fires.(cont’d)

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Hydrant (wet riser)

Installations : Standpipes are usually designed for this

use by the fire department, but buildingoccupants also can use them.

Provision of a wet riser system, however,establishes the need for building occupantsto be trained in the use of fire hoses.

Experience is normally required toeffectively use fire hoses because nozzlereaction forces can be considerable.

Operations :

The duty pump isactivated by a fallin water levelregistering at thepipeline switch.

The flow andpressure switchresponds to waterflowing

when all hydrantlanding valves areclosed , lack ofhydraulicmovement engagesthe flow andpressure switch todisconnect thepump.

Source : R Greeno (2000). Building Services, Technology and Design.

Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.21

wet riser

Operations : The duty pump is activated by a fall in water

level registering at the pipeline switch.

The flow and pressure switch responds to water flowing

when all hydrant landing valves are closed , lack of hydraulic movement engages the flow and pressure switch to disconnect the pump.

Hydrant (dry riser)

Dry risers are a form of internal hydrant for thefiremen to use and are only required for buildingswhere the topmost floor is higher than 18.3m andless than 30.5m above the fire appliance accesslevel.

Dry risers are normally dry and depend on the fireengine to pump water into the system.

Dry riser system comprises a riser pipe with landingvalves at each floor and to which rubber-lined hosewith nozzles can be connected to direct the water jetat the fire.

Breeching inlets into which the firemen pump waterare provided at ground level and connected to thebottom of the dry risers.

Source : R Greeno (2000). Building Services, Technology and Design. Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.20

Dry riser

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION (Sprinkler system) The most widely used apparatus for fire

protection in buildings is the automatic sprinkler system

Special treatment and use of additional extinguishing agents, though, may be required in many high-hazard, industrial and storage occupancies ( ie: foam, Carbon dioxide)

Sprinkler system consists of a network of piping installed at the ceiling or roof and

supplied with water from a suitable source

Figure : Sprinkler heads

Source : R Greeno (2000). Building Services, Technology and Design. Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.25

ceiling mounted sprinkler head

Figure : Simplified sprinkler installation

Sprinkler system

i) On the piping at systematic intervals areplaced heat-sensitive heads, which dischargewater when a predetermined temperature isreached at any head

ii) A stop/gate valve is installed in the mainsupply, and drains are provided

iii) An alarm can be connected to the system sothat local and remote signals can be givenwhen the water flows

(concurrently : water flow and alarm)

Dry pipe system This fire sprinkler system does not use water. It uses dry air and it can cover a vast area. It is mostly used in refrigerated coolers. Air is pumped in the pipes then out.

A dry pipe sprinkler system is one in which pipes are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen, rather than water. Located in a heated space, the dry-pipe valve prevents water from entering the pipe until a fire causes one or more sprinklers to operate. Once this happens, the air escapes and the dry pipe valve releases.

Advantages of using dry pipe fire sprinkler systems include:• Dry pipe sprinkler systems provide automatic protection in spaces where freezing is possible. Typical dry pipe installations include unheated warehouses and attics, outside exposed loading docks and within commercial freezers.

Wet pipe system This is more popular than the dry pipe system. This fire sprinkler system uses water. It is more common in homes and small business premises.

The types of fire sprinkler systems:

Deluge Fire sprinkler system This system uses open pipes. Deluge valves open up and allow water to flow into all the sprinklers. It uses open pipes connected to the watersystem. Water flow is constant in all the sprinklers.

The arrangement of deluge system piping is similar to awet or dry pipe system with two major differences:

A. Standard sprinklers are used, but they are all open. The activating elements have been removed so that whenthe control valve is opened water will flow from all of the sprinklers simultaneously and deluge the area with water.

B. The deluge valve is normally closed. The valve is opened by the activation of a separate fire detection system.

Deluge systems are used where large quantities of water are needed quickly to control a fast-developing fire. Deluge valves can be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated.


Foam water fire sprinkler system This uses foam and water. It is commonly used in gas stations and places dealing with highly flammable goods like airports. This system is more efficient than the wet system.

Pre action system This is a combination of all the above mentioned fire sprinkler systems. This system is used to protect artefacts or things of great value. There are single interlock pre action systems that operate like the dry pipe systems. The double interlock systems operate like the deluge systems.


pre-action sprinkler system is similar to a deluge sprinkler system except the sprinklers are closed. This type system is typically used in areas containing high value equipment or contents and spaces which are highly sensitive to the effects of accidental sprinkler water discharge. The pre-action valve is normally closed and is operated by a separate detection system.

Sprinkler system

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Sprinkler system

Operation :

The water from the appropriate supply is fed to an automatically controlled pump and then to the main control valve of the system.

Immediately above the main control valve is alarm valve which separates the sprinkler systems from the supply.

When a sprinkler operates, this pressure falls and valve opens under the excess water pressure beneath it, allowing water to flow into the system to replace that discharged at the sprinklers.

Operation : Water passing through the valve flows up a

vertical riser and then to the main distribution pipes at each ceiling level in the protected premises.

From the main distribution pipes it passes to the distribution pipes and range pipes, on which the sprinkler heads are mounted.


Operation :

It is then discharged at those sprinklers which have been caused to operate by the hot gases rising from the fire.

The sprinkler therefore acts as a detector as well as a distributor, and its opening brings the sprinkler system into operation automatically.


Sprinkler system

Sprinkler system and dry riser piping layout

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM

1. SMOKE DETECTOR

2. HEAT DETECTOR

3. GAS DETECTOR

END

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