Fire Protection

Systems
 Introductio
n
• Fire safety is a subject connected not only with human and
property safety but is related with design of buildings and their
services. Fire although a good friend of humanity, when it spreads un-
controlled, in buildings can be vicious enemy resulting in heavy loss
of property and lives.
• Therefore fire protection measures, both in residential buildings
and in commercial/ industrial complexes, have assumed a great
role in recent years in our country.
NBC
Regulations
NBC
Regulations
NBC
Regulations
 Fire
Science
• Fire is the process of burning. It is infact a chemical reaction
initiated by presence of heat energy in which a substance combines
with oxygen in the air and the process is accompanied by emission of
energy in the form of heat, light and sound. Therefore, three
elements are essential for combustion i.e.
• Acombustible matter i.e fuel
• Oxygen
• Source of heat, Spark flame etc.
Fire
Science
 Fire
Science
Fuel Can Be

 LIQUID: Grease, Oil, Fuel;

 SOLID: Wood, Paper, Metal;
 GAS : Natural Gas, Propane,
Acetylene.
CLASS “A” FIRES - Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth.
CLASS “B” FIRES - Flammable liquids such as oil, grease
CLASS “C” FIRES - Energized electrical equipment
CLASS “D” FIRES - Flammable
Metals
Fire
Protection
 Componen
ts

• Passive fire protection –the installation of firewalls and fire rated floor assemblies
to form fire compartments intended to limit the spread of fire, high temperatures,
and smoke.
• Active fire protection - manual and automatic detection and suppression of
fires, such as fire sprinkler systems and (fire alarm) systems.
 Passive Fire
Protection
• Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is an integral component of the
three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a
building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through
use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors (amongst other
examples).
Passive Fire
Protection
 Passive fire
protection
• To accomplish these aims, many different types of materials are employed in
the design and construction of systems.
 Passive fire
protection
• fire-resistance rated walls
• firewalls not only have a rating, they are also designed to sub-divide buildings
such that if collapse occurs on one side, this will not affect the other side. They
can also be used to eliminate the need for sprinklers, as a trade-off.
• fire-resistant glass using multi-layer intumescent technology or wire mesh
embedded within the glass may be used in the fabrication of fire-resistance rated
windows in walls or fire doors.
• fire-resistance rated floors
Fire-resistance Rated
Walls
 Passive fire
protection
• occupancy separations (barriers designated as occupancy separations are
intended to segregate parts of buildings, where different uses are on each side; for
instance, apartments on one side and stores on the other side of the occupancy
separation).
• Closure closures or fire dampers to prevent the spread of smoke inside the ducts
of HVAC.
• Firestops Materials used to filling gaps around penetration in walls or ceilings.
These materials protect penetrations of fire rated wall and floor.
Passive fire
Protection
 Passive fire
protection
• Ducts ducts are required to be provided with fire resistance through the design or insulation with other materials.
• cable coating (application of fire-retardants, which are either endothermic or intumescent, to reduce flamespread
and smoke development of combustible cable-jacketing)
• spray fireproofing (application of intumescent or endothermic paints, or fibrous or cementitious plasters to keep
substrates such as structural steel, electrical or mechanical services, valves, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
vessels, vessel skirts, bulkheads or decks below either 140 °C for electrical items or ca. 500 °C for structural
steel elements to maintain operability of the item to be protected)
• fireproofing cladding (boards used for the same purpose and in the same applications as spray fireproofing)
Materials for such cladding include perlite, vermiculite, calcium silicate, gypsum, intumescent epoxy, Durasteel
(cellulose-fibre reinforced concrete and punched sheet-metal bonded composite panels), MicroTherm
• enclosures (boxes or wraps made of fireproofing materials, including fire-resistive wraps and tapes to protect
speciality valves and other items deemed to require protection against fire and heat—an analogy for this would
be a safe) or the provision of circuit integrity measures to keep electrical cables operational during an accidental
fire.
Passive fire
protection
 Active fire
protection
• Active Fire Protection (AFP) is an integral part of fire
protection. AFP is characterised by items and/or systems,
which require a certain amount of motion and response in
order to work, contrary to passive fire protection.
• Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

• A fire detection system recognizes when a fire is occurring and activates the fire
alarm system.
• Alerts occupants
• automatically activate fire suppression systems

• Fire suppression
• Fire can be controlled or extinguished, either manually (firefighting) or
automatically. Manual includes the use of a fire extinguisher or a Standpipe
system. Automatic means can include a fire sprinkler system, a gaseous clean
agent, or firefighting foam system. Automatic suppression systems would usually
be found in large commercial kitchens or other high-risk areas
Alarm System Functions
• Turn off the Air Handling Unit ( AHU) system for smoke
control
• Close smoke dampers
• Pressurize stairwells and lift wells
• Operate smoke extraction system and fresh air fans.
• Activate special fire-extinguishing systems like FM-200,
NAF III , CO2 flooding system etc..
• Deactivate access control systems.
 Components of a Fire Alarm System

• Alarm Initiation Devices  Notification Appliances

• Smoke Detectors  Visual signal on panels
• Heat Detectors
 Hooters
• Flame detectors
• Manual Call Points
 Speakers
( MCP)  Strobes
• Water flow Initiating
Devices
• Gas detectors
 Residential Premises Fire
Protection
System
• Fire Hose System Dry Riser/ Wet
Riser
• Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Potable fire extinguishers,
• Fire alarm Systems
 Industrial Fire Fighting
System
• High velocity Water Spray
• Medium Velocity fire spray
• Foam
• Dry chemical Powder
• Carbon dioxide
• Alarm Gong
• Portable fire extinguisher
• Fire alarm System
Fire Protection of Buildings
There are four categories of fire protection systems
for buildings
• Portable extinguishers
• Fixed foam, carbon dioxide, and dry powder
extinguishers
• Fixed riser and hose-reel systems
• Sprinkler systems
 Portable Fire
Extinguishers
• Water or spray foam fire extinguisher; suitable for class A
fires involving solid materials - paper, wood, fabrics and so
on.
• Foam and dry powder extinguishers; suitable for class B
fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, oils, fats;
should be used.
• Dry powder extinguisher; suitable for class C fires which are
fuelled by flammable gases such as natural gas, butane and
so on.
• Special powder extinguisher; suitable for class D metal fires
involving metals such as aluminum and magnesium. They
work by simply smothering the fire with powdered copper
Non-conducting agents such as powder and carbon dioxide
extinguishers; suitable for class E fires in which live electrical
equipment is involved
 Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Halotron 1 extinguishers; like carbon dioxide units, are for use on
class B and C fires. Halotron 1 is an ozone-friendly replacement for
Halon 1211. It discharges as a liquid, has high visibility during
discharge, does not cause thermal or static shock, leaves no residue,
and is non-conducting. These properties make it ideal for computer
rooms, clean rooms, telecommunications equipment, and electronics.
• FE-36 (Hydrofluorocarbon-236fa) extinguishers; The FE-36 agent is
less toxic than both Halon 1211 and Halotron 9. In addition, it has zero
ozone-depleting potential.
• Water mist extinguishers; are ideal for Class A fires where a potential
Class C hazard exists. Unlike an ordinary water extinguisher, the
misting nozzle provides safety from electric shock and reduces
scattering of burning materials. This is one of the best choices for
protection of hospital environments, books, documents, and clean
room facilities. In non-magnetic versions, water mist extinguishers are
the preferred choice for MRI or NMR facilities or for deployment on
mine sweepers.
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Fixed Fire
Extinguishers
• Fixed Foam Extinguishers: Buildings containing flammable
liquids normally have a piping system installed in the
protected areas in the building with an inlet in the street
through which foam is pumped. The opening is protected
by a strong glass panel and is marked ‘FOAM INLET’. The
fire brigade will smash the glass to feed the inlet.
• Fixed Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers: This system consists of
a piping network with nozzles attached and located in the
protected areas. The system is connected to a fixed supply
of CO2. This system does not cause any side effect as it
leaves no residue after its application.
 Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing
Systems
• Designed to protect a
single room or series
of rooms
• Should be connected
to fire alarm system
• Creates oxygen-
deficient atmosphere
Fixed Fire Extinguishers
(cont..)

• Dry Powder Systems: Dry powdered extinguishing

chemical agents under pressure of dry air or
nitrogen are discharged over the burning
materials. Normally, this system is suitable for
application on liquid and electrical equipment
fires.
 Dry Chemical Extinguishing
Systems
• Finely powdered
agents
• Agent kept in self-
pressurized tanks
or in tanks with an
external cartridge of
carbon dioxide.
 Standpipe/Riser and Hose-
reel System

A rising main consists essentially of a pipe

(of 50 mm minimum diameter) installed vertically in a
building with a fire service and has inlet at the lower end
and outlets at each floor inside the building. (See next page)
 Standpipe/Riser and Hose-
reel System

HOSE REEL

BREAK TANK
PUMP SYSTEM
Standpipe/Riser and Hose-
reel System
There are two types of risers:

• WET RISERS; Wet risers are kept permanently charged with

water which is then immediately available for use on any
floor with an outlet. Buildings above 60 meters in height
should be provided with wet risers. Wet risers in building
should not be used for any other purpose.

The water supply system to the riser should be capable of

providing a pressure of 410 kPa at the highest outlet.
Lower outlets should be protected against excessive
pressure whereby pressures should limited to 520 kPa
maximum at any outlet.

Wet riser system is always the preferred system unless

freezing conditions may occur. In this case the dry riser
system is to be used.
Standpipe/Riser and Hose-
reel System
• Dry risers; Dry risers are similar to wet risers but
are kept empty of water. When required, they will
be charged by fire service pumps at ground level.
Dry risers should only be installed where prompt
attention can be relied upon or where buildings
are not fire sensitive such as all-concrete buildings.
Appropriate occupants training will be required
when such systems are installed.
The most common material used for standpipes is
steel.

Internal hose reels may be fitted inside buildings

and should be sufficiently light and easily
manipulated to be used by employees for a first
aid fire protection.
Dry Riser
System
 Automatic Sprinkler
Systems
• In most automatic sprinkler systems, the
sprinkler heads open one at a time as they are
heated to their operating temperature.
• One of the major advantages of a
sprinkler system is that it can function as
both a fire detection system and a fire
suppression system.
 Automatic Sprinkler System
Components
• Four major
components:
– Automatic
sprinkler
heads
– Pipin
g
– Contr
ol
valves
– A water supply, which
may or may not
 Types of Automatic Sprinkler
Systems
• Divided into four
categories:
– Wet sprinkler systems
– Dry sprinkler systems
– Preaction sprinkler systems
– Deluge sprinkler systems
Automatic Sprinkler
Systems
 Types of
Automatic Sprinkler Systems

• In general, sprinkler systems may be classified into two main types: wet-pipe
and dry-pipe systems
• Wet-pipe System; In the wet-pipe system the pipe work is fully charged
with water at all times and thus, it is the fastest system in delivering water.
This system is recommended except when freezing conditions may exist or
accidental mechanical damage to sprinkler head may result in property loss or
damage. Therefore, this system should not be used in spaces designated for
electrical equipment such as computers, switch boards and alike.
Wet-pipe System

Schematic of wet-pipe sprinkler system

Types of
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Dry-pipe system: In this system no water is introduced
into the piping network until a fire occurs. The dry-pipe
systems are used where conditions are such that freezing may
occur due to weather or other conditions such as cold stores
where the temperature is artificially maintained close to, or
below freezing. In dry type systems the pipes are kept
charged, at all times, with air or nitrogen under pressure.
Activation of a sprinkler head by heat released from a nearby
fire results in a pressure loss which in turn activates a dry pipe
valve which opens allowing water to enter the piping network
and sprayed through opened sprinkler heads. The
disadvantage of this system is that accidental damage to a
sprinkler head or gas leakage may falsely indicate the
existence of fire and activate the system causing property
damage. To avoid these unfavorable characteristics of dry-
pipe system a preaction valve is used resulting in what is
termed the "preaction system".
Dry-Pipe
System

Schematic of dry-pipe sprinkler system

Types of
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Preaction System: This system is a dry-pipe
system with a preaction valve activated by a
separate fire detection system that is more
sensitive to fire than sprinkler heads. The fire
detection system may consist of smoke- or
flame-sensitive detection sensors that signal the
actuators to open the preaction valve allowing
water to flow through the sprinkler heads that
are already opened by heat from fire. Thus, this
system is much safer than the dry-pipe system
as the water is allowed to enter the piping
system only if fire occurs.
Preaction System

Schematic of preaction sprinkler system

Types of
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Deluge System: This system is also a dry-pipe
system with sprinkler heads (or nozzles) open all
the time. The system is equipped with "deluge"
valve operated by heat, smoke, or flame sensitive
sensors. Upon valve opening water discharges out
of all sprinkler heads simultaneously.
Deluge System

Schematic of deluge sprinkler system

Deluge Sprinkler
Systems
Hypoxic air fire prevention
• Fire can be prevented by hypoxic air. Hypoxic air fire prevention systems, also
known as oxygen reduction systems are new automatic fire prevention systems
that reduce permanently the oxygen concentration inside the protected volumes so
that ignition or fire spreading cannot occur.
 Fire
Escapes
• A fire escape is a special kind of emergency exit, usually mounted to the
outside of a building or occasionally inside but separate from the main areas
of the building.
• It provides a method of escape in the event of a fire or other emergency that
makes the stairwells inside a building inaccessible. Fire escapes are most often
found on multiple-story residential buildings, such as apartment buildings. At one
time, they were a very important aspect of fire safety for all new construction in
urban areas; more recently, however, they have fallen out of common use.
Fire
Escapes
 Escape
chute
• An escape chute is a special kind of emergency exit, used where
conventional fire escape stairways are impractical. The chute is a
fabric (or occasionally metal) tube installed near a special exit on an
upper floor or roof of a building, or a tall structure. During use, the
chute is deployed, and may be secured at the bottom by a fire
fighting crew some distance out from the building. Once the tube is
ready, escapees enter the tube and slide down to a lower level or
the ground level.
Escape
Chute
Thanks
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