FIRE PROTECTION

SYSTEM
 CONSIDERATION FIRE Needs/function Fire window door
TRIANGL
E Fire ceiling
definition wall
Consideration

Fire
ACTIVE stopper compartmentati
FIRE
on
PROTECTION
PASSIVE
SYSTEM method
Types
Hose reel function
length Means of
Sprinkler location escape
System Types of
exit
Portable fire Smoke 3 parts
Riser extinguisher CO2 control
factors
Wet Dry Exit
Soda-acid foam Pressurised
escape
routes Exit
access
-Operation/installation Smoke
-Components reservoirs
-Drawings Exit
-Functions/consideration discharge
 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 fire

requirements in UBBL are
implemented by several
Malaysian Fire Codes which are:

i) British Standard (BS)

ii) Malaysian Standard (MS)
 A process of combustion characterized by the
emission of heat accompanied by smoke or
flame.

 Mostly when the term fire is referred to, we

mean the uncontrolled fire such as happens
in furnaces, etc.

 Fire is often unwanted, unexpected,

disastrous & costly, both in terms of human
life & business costs.
 What causes a fire?

 Fire exist as a result of combustion

/reaction between 3 elements – heat (high
temperature), fuel, oxygen.

 There is an interrelationship between heat,

fuel & oxygen. This is known as ‘fire
triangle’.

 Fire cannot occur if one of the key

components 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) COOLING
by 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 was
once depicted as a triangle with
three sides
 Each side represented an
essential ingredient for fire.
 Heat, fuel and oxygen were
thought to be essential elements.
CLASSES OF FIRE
The classes of fire

Ordinary Combustibles
Fires 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 of
an emergency, provide for safe evacuation, and restrict the spread of
fire, and includes both active and passive protection.”

PFP features relate to elements of construction which are generally

part of the fabric of the building as opposed to active features such as
sprinklers, 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 for
services 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
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

 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 SYSTEM

 Passive fire protection systems are

intended to maintain the following:
 Provide structural integrity of floor,
wall, and ceiling assemblies during a fire
for a specified time period
 Compartmentalize the fire room or space
to control the fire spread
 Provide exiting systems for occupants
to evacuate the building safely.
COMPARTMENTATION
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
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.
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
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
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

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.
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
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.
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Metal door - wooden inner structure - Finishing
with, paint or stainless steel
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Smoke curtains

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.
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 door
i) Horizontal type
ii) Overhead rolling
iii) Special fire door
COMPARTMENTATION – Fire damper

DAMPER

Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting

COMPARTMENTATION – Fire damper

DAMPER

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

DAMPER

DAMPER

Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting (at the
corner of ducting)
COMPARTMENTATION - Fire door
Horizontal type

-Mounted on roller and

suspended from a track
-It moves horizontally to
close the opening in the
fire wall.

Figure : Fire door, horizontal

COMPARTMENTATION - Fire door
Overhead rolling

-Drop vertically into

place

Figure : Fire door, overhead rolling

COMPARTMENTATION - Fire door

Special fire door

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

Figure : Fire door, conveyor pass through

COMPARTMENTATION - Fire door

This situation
will provide a
path of travel
for fire to
breach the wall

Figure : unprotected opening through fire wall

Compartmentation- the method :
Fire wall opening protection

Ducts and Pipes

 Service runs often have to pass through
compartment divisions.
 Duct and pipe sections immediately adjacent to the
compartment wall or floor are made fire resisting
and the gap around them, where they pass
through, is minimal and filled with a non
combustible or intumescent packing .
 The packing has to be flexible enough to allow for
the ordinary vibration of the service run, and its
expansion 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.
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.
Compartmentation- the method :
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.
MEANS
OF
ESCAPE
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
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
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

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
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

Means of Escape

Types of exit

 corridors
 exit passageway
 exit doors
 interior stairs
 exterior stairs
Figure : Types of exit
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
SMOKE CONTROL
Pressurized 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.
SMOKE CONTROL
Pressurized escape routes
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
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 SYSTEMS

 Active fire protection system involves systems

which designed to:

1. Detect
2. Suppress a fire
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
 Water Suppression System
1. Automatic sprinkler system
-most common & effective fire suppression system
with a success rate of 98.5%.
-not suitable for electronics industry, and electrical
sub-station
2. Water spray system
3. Deluge system
4. Wet riser system
5. Hydraulic hose reel system
6. Hydrant system
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
 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
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
 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
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Portable extinguishers
Colour-coded cylinders

containing compressed liquids and gases appropriate to

various sources of fire

Standards fire-fighting equipment in all commercial and

public buildings.

Objectives : to remove or sufficiently reduce at least one

element of the fire triangle discussed previously.

A portable fire extinguisher must contain type of fire

extinguishing agent suitable for the fire it is required to
extinguish.

It is identified by colour coding for its intended purpose.

Figure 1 : A Fire extinguisher
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Portable extinguishers
Figure : Colour coded cylinders and content
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Portable extinguishers
 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)
TYPE OF PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
WATER POWDER
 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 : Soda- acid water 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 : Foam 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.

Figure : Carbon dioxide fire

extinguisher
 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 • They contain an extinguishing
reaction, which makes agent and use a compressed,
these extinguishers non-flammable gas as a
extremely effective. propellant.

• Dry powder extinguishers • Dry Chemical extinguishers will

are usually rated for class B have a label indicating they may
and C fires and may be be used on class A, B, and/or C
marked multiple purpose fires.
for use in A, B, and C fires.
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Hose reel
 Fire fighting equipment for use as a first aid
measure by building occupants
 Location : in recess along corridors
 Length : provided with up to 45m of
reinforced rubber hose (to cover 800m2 floor
area per installations)
 A range of hose reels is available including
manual and automatic, fixed, swinging and
recessed and come with detachable mounting
plate for fast installation by one person
Figure : Fixed Manual Hose Reel
Figure : 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.
 Operation
 The hose reel
should be able to
discharge
0.4litre/second at
a distance 6m
from the end of
the nozzle.

 If a suction tank is
required it should
hold a minimum
volume of 1.6m3
water.

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

Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.18 & 9.19
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Hydrant (wet & dry riser)

 Dry and wet rising mains are

intended for use by the Fire
Brigade or other trained
personnel
 It provide a readily available
means of delivering considerable
quantities of water to extinguish
or to prevent the spread of fire.
Hydrant (wet & dry riser)

 Dry risers comprise vertical mains,

which are fitted into staircase
enclosures or other suitable positions
with outlet valves on each floor
 inlets fitted at ground level to enable
the Fire Brigade to connect into the
water supply.
Hydrant (wet & dry riser)
 Wet riser is a pipe kept permanently
charged with water available either
direct from a storage tank, via a
booster pump, or fed directly from
the towns main water supply.
 Before installation of a dry or wet
riser mains the local Fire Brigade
must be consulted, to ascertain
their exact requirements.
Hydrant (wet riser)
 Wet risers are a form of internal hydrant for
the firemen to use and are always charged
with water.
 Wet risers are only required for buildings
where the topmost floor is-higher than 30.5
m above the fire appliance access level.
 Wet riser system comprises duty fire pump
with standby pump discharge into a 150mm
diameter riser pipe with landing valves at
each floor.
 A jockey pump is usually provided to maintain
system pressure.
 For high rise buildings, each stage of the wet
riser should no exceed 71m.
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Hydrant (wet riser)
Installations :

 The wet riser is permanently filled with water

to supply hydrant valves on each floor,
ensuring an immediate supply of water.
 This system provide infrastructure for Fire
Brigade to connect its pipes and pump the
water from outside the building (mains).
 Hoses supplied with water from standpipes
(vertically) are the usual means of manual
application 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 building
occupants also can use them.
 Provision of a wet riser system, however,
establishes the need for building occupants
to be trained in the use of fire hoses.
 Experience is normally required to
effectively use fire hoses because nozzle
reaction forces can be considerable.
 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.

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 the
firemen to use and are only required for buildings
where the topmost floor is higher than 18.3m and
less than 30.5m above the fire appliance access
level.
 Dry risers are normally dry and depend on the fire
engine to pump water into the system.
 Dry riser system comprises a riser pipe with landing
valves at each floor and to which rubber-lined hose
with nozzles can be connected to direct the water jet
at the fire.
 Breeching inlets into which the firemen pump water
are provided at ground level and connected to the
bottom 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 are
placed heat-sensitive heads, which discharge
water when a predetermined temperature is
reached at any head

ii) A stop/gate valve is installed in the main

supply, and drains are provided

iii) An alarm can be connected to the system so

that local and remote signals can be given
when the water flows
(concurrently : water flow and alarm)
 The types of fire sprinkler systems:

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 water
system. Water flow is constant in all
the sprinklers.

The arrangement of deluge system piping is similar to a

wet 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 when
the 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.
The types of fire sprinkler systems:

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.
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Sprinkler system

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.
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Sprinkler system

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