WEBINAR ON FIRE SAFETY

Fundamentals of Fire
Protection Engineering

ALEXANDER V LISTANA, PME PE REA REB CEM CFSP

Vice President for Technical, Philippine Integrated Fire Protection
Organization, Inc. (PIFPO)
Deputy VP for Technical, Philippine Society of Mechanical
Engineers, Inc. (PSME)
Fire Protection Engineering is the application of scientific and technical
principles to the dynamics, mitigation, and suppression of fire that has
potential negative effect on people, structures, commodities, and
business operations.

Primary Objectives of Fire Protection:

1. Save lives and preserve investment

2. Compliance to legislations (Fire Code of the Philippines, National Building
Code)
3. Peace of mind knowing that your property is protected
4. Reduce premium cost on insurance

Fire Protection involves the implementation of safety planning, fire drills, training and education
on fire safety, building materials used in construction, equipment operations, regular inspection,
testing and maintenance, evacuation and rescue procedures
FIRE SCIENCE The Tetrahedron of Fire
OXYGEN SOURCES HEAT SOURCES

Approximately 16% required. • Open flames

Normal air contains 21% O2. • Sparks and arcs
Some fuel materials contain • Friction
sufficient oxygen within their • Chemical action
• Electrical energy
makeup to support burning.
Oxygen does not burn, it is an
CHEMICAL • Compression of gases
oxidizer REACTION

SOLID LIQUID GAS

Dust Combustible metal Gasoline Kerosene Natural Gas Propane
Coal Office equipment Turpentine Alcohol Butane Hydrogen
Wood Paper Liver Oil Paint Acetylene
Cloth Plastic Varnish Lacquer Carbon Monoxide
Grain Others Olive Oil Others

Keeping these three ingredients from coming together will stop the fire
 Fire Science 101

What is actually being burned?

Physical states:
Solid
Liquid
Gas

Combustion occurs when fuel is in a gaseous state

Gaseous matter = fuel gas
Liquid matter + vaporization = fuel gas
 Solid matter + pyrolysis = fuel gas

Pyrolysis – is the chemical decomposition of a material into one or more other substances
due to heat alone (NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigationa).
• All solid combustibles must undergo pyrolysis in order to generate gaseous fuel vapors
for flaming combustion.
• The process of converting a solid to gaseous vapors can take many physical paths
depending on the chemical composition of the fuel.
• Cellulosic materials such as wood, decompose directly to gaseous vapors when heated
leaving behind a residue.
• Thermoplastics such as polypropylene undergo a two step pyrolyzation process. As it is
heated it melts and turns into a liquid, and then this liquid melt is vaporized into the
gaseous fuel.

The energy required to convert a solid material into a vapor through pyrolysis is termed as
Heat of Gasification.
 There are 4 classes of fire:

Class A
Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood, paper,
cloth, rubber, and some plastics.

Class B
Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene,
paint, paint thinners and propane.

Class C
Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches,
panel boxes and power tools.

Class D
Certain combustible metals such as zinc, magnesium, titanium,
zirconium, lithium, calcium, potassium, and sodium.
Class K fires are fires with substances such as the animal and
vegetable fats present in commercial cooking oils and greases.

How do you put out a Class K fire?

Class K fires can only be extinguished with Class K extinguishers, and

should never be sprayed with water as this can increase the spread of
the cooking liquids.

RA 9514 mandates that Commercial kitchens should follow NFPA 96

“Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial
Cooking Operations”

A Class K fire extinguisher is used on fires involving cooking media (fats,

grease, and oils) in commercial cooking sites such as restaurants. ...
Saponification takes place when alkaline mixtures, such as potassium
acetate, potassium citrate, or potassium carbonate, are applied to
burning cooking oil or fat.
Fire is a rapid, self-sustaining oxidation process of combustible
materials accompanied by the release of heat and light

Products of Fire:
• Thermal – flame and heat
• Non-thermal – Smoke and Fire Gases

Fire Gases – toxic gas that kills, example:

• Carbon Monoxide (colorless, odorless, flammable, toxic and explosive
gas)
• Carbon Dioxide (colorless, odorless, non-flammable but deadly gas, at
14% concentration CO2 is deadly)
• Ammonia (decompose at high temp, corrosive gas, fatal if inhaled)
• Hydrogen Chloride (acidic gas, reacts with white metals, iron & tin and
generate flammable gas)
• Sulfur Dioxide (coal and oil burning, not flammable but extremely toxic)
Characteristics of Fire

• Fast
Fire will double every 30 seconds under normal condition
• Hot
Within minutes, air temperature in a burning room can reach 300° C
enough to melt clothes, skin and scorch your lungs in one breath.
• Deadly
Small fire can produce enough smoke to fill building in minutes
Smoke results:
 Teary eyes
 Choking sensation
 Impaired judgment due to carbon monoxide
 Loss of spatial recognition
 Sedation effect – respiratory failure
What is the difference between combustible and flammable
material?

Combustible material is something that can burn in air, ignite with some
effort and burn at temperatures that are usually above working
temperatures. Materials that has a flashpoint of above100 F (37.8 ºC)

Flammable material catches fire immediately on exposure to flame.

Materials that has a flashpoint below 100 F (37.8 ºc)

[REF. NFPA 96]

Four General Characteristics of Fire

• Type of Combustion Process

• Growth Rate
• Ventilation
• Fire Stage

Classification by Type of Combustion Process

• Pre-Combustion – is the process of heating fuels to their ignition point, during which time
vapors and particulates are released from the fuel.
• Smoldering Combustion – Smoldering is defined as glowing combustion on the fuel
surface and may or may not be related in any way to the oxygen content in the vicinity
of the smoldering process. The fuel vapor production rate and temperatures involved
may not be sufficient to support flaming combustion.
• Flaming Combustion – The production of sufficient energy and a fuel vapor mixture with
air in a flammable range.
 Classification by Rate of Growth

Fire growth can be either positive (increasing growth rate) or negative (decreasing growth
rate).

Growing Fire - fire that increases its Steady State Fire - the fire’s heat output or
instantaneous energy output or heat heat release rate remains relatively constant
release rate over time. over time.

Growing fires have more air available

than is needed for combustion of the fuel
gases being generated and will continue Burnout or decaying fire – a condition
to grow until limited either by the where fuel is consumed and the HRR is
amount of fuel available or the amount decreasing but there is plenty of air to
of air for combustion. support combustion.
FLASH OVER

Presence of huge smoke

which indicates the rapid
change of situation

May involve exposed

combustibles

Increasing level of smoke

with decreased visibility

Gasses are generated by

heat
Reference: Hyeong-Jin Kim and David Lilley (Heat Release Rates of Burning Items in
Fires, AIAA 2000-0722, January 2000)
Classification on the Basis of Ventilation

Fires may be also classified based on whether the fire is controlled by:

a. the amount of fuel available to burn (fuel-controlled)

b. the amount of oxygen or air available for the combustion process to continue
(ventilation-controlled)

Ventilation-controlled fire
In a compartment fire with sufficient fuel available, the window or door openings may
ultimately serve to control the amount of air available for combustion within the
compartment.

Once the fire develops to a point where it produces more fuel vapors than can be consumed
in the compartment with the available air, it is considered to be a ventilation-controlled.
Four Stages of Fire

• Incipient – refers to that stage when there is smoldering but insufficient flaming for
established burning.

• Fire Growth – stage represents increasing fire growth with respect to heat release over
time. The fire during this stage, would be considered fuel controlled.

• Steady State – Heat release rate is constant. Heat release rate maybe controlled by the
fuel package size and geometry (i.e. surface area available to burn) or by the available
ventilation to support combustion (i.e ventilation-controlled fire).

• Fire Decay – heat release rate is decreasing over time. This may be due to
consumption of fuel in a fuel-controlled scenario.
Stage 1. Incipient growth phase
Stage 2. Fire Growth and Flashover
Stage 3. Fully developed fire (Steady State)
Stage 4. Fire Decay (Cooling Period)
 Heat Transfer

Heat transfer governs all aspects of fire, from ignition through fully developed fire.
Heat transfer is driven by temperature difference. It always flows from higher to lower
temperatures.

Three Mechanism of Heat Transfer

CONDUCTION – Mechanism of heat transfer through a

solid (e.g. from a heated surface to the interior of the
solid).
Conductance depends on three elements, thermal
conductivity, the cross sectional area normal to the flow
path, and the length of the flow path.

Rate of heat transfer is simply the quantity of heat

transferred per unit time, but it is convenient to
normalize it to unit cross-sectional area and express
heat transfer in terms of the heat “flux”.
 CONVECTION – involves the transfer of
heat by a circulating fluid either a gas or a
liquid.
The hot, buoyant air then rises, setting up
convection currents that transfer heat to
distant objects by conduction across the
boundary layer.
Air currents can be made to carry heat by
convection in any direction by use of a fan
or blower (Forced Convection).

RADIATION – is a form of energy that

travels across a space without the need for
an intervening medium, such as a solid or a
fluid.
It travels as electromagnetic waves in
straight lines, behaving similarly to light,
radio waves, and X-rays.
Radiation

Radiation is the transmission of heat energy through electromagnetic wave.

26
Convection

HEAT
Convection is the transfer of heat energy by the movement of heated fluids.

27
Conduction

M
Ordinary combustible materials
E
T
A
L

Transmission of heat from one body to another… the transfer of heat

from one molecule to another molecule
Fire Extinguishment Theory

COOLING - SMOTHERING - FUEL REMOVAL INHIBITION-BREAKING

TEMPERATURE OXYGEN DILUTION THE CHEMICAL
REDUCTION REACTION
REDUCTION OF HEAT
1. Use something that absorb heat
2. Use water being the best cooling agent
3. Use foam which contains 94% water
EXCLUSION OR DEPRIVATION OF OXYGEN
 Secure the door at close position
 Displacement or diluting oxygen by means of CO2
 Blanketing- using wet blanket as foam
REMOVAL OF FUEL
 Shut off fuel supply
 Relocate flammable/ combustible materials
INHIBITION OF CHAIN REACTION or breaking
the combustion Chain
Most fires are caused by people who fail to follow proper work practices, make
mistakes and who uses poor judgment

• Electrical causes – 23%

 The leading cause of fire is electrical failure.
 It is preventable by proper design, installation, maintenance and use.
• Smoking – 18%
 It is a matter of control and education.
 Smoking should be strictly prohibited on specified areas especially involving
flammable liquid and combustible materials
• Friction – 10%
 It happens due to poor maintenance of building equipment, misaligned or broken
machine part, jamming of materials and poor adjustment of equipment power
drives
 It can be prevented by routine and regular maintenance hence a Reserve Fund is
a must in managing your property.
• Overheat materials or equipment – 8%
 Abnormal process temperature, especially those involving heated flammable
liquids or materials.

• Burning Flames – 7%
 Improper use of portable torches, dryers, ovens, portable heating units.
 Can be prevented by adequate ventilation, combustion safeguards and ample
clearance

• Combustible Sparks – 5%
 Sparks and ambers released from fire boxes, various process equipment,
industrial trucks, heavy equipment, furnaces and incinerators.
 It can be prevented by proper enclosing of working area and provision of spark
arrestor.
Fires is one of the foremost threats to the people and property that results to injuries,
deaths and loss of business . It is estimated that 45% of businesses never recover or
reopen after fire incident.

Seventy-four (74) people were

killed in the fire, making the
incident the third worst fire incident
in Philippine history.

On May 13, 2015, a fire broke out

when welding sparks ignited
chemicals being stored near the
entrance of the factory. The weld
was being performed to repair the
doors of one of the main entrances
to the building.
Kentex Manufacturing Corporation (KMC) is a small business
enterprise located at Valenzuela City manufacturing flip-flops
and other rubber footwear.
Thick, black smoke engulfed the building as rubber and chemicals burned. The fire spread quickly and
few workers were able to save their lives unharmed.

The fire lasted 7 hours for the fire department to control the blaze which left the building unstable thus
causing a delay in the retrieval of the dead.
Unable to leave, trapped workers retreated to the second floor and attempted to escape and call
for help.
Most of the victims were suffocated to death from the smoke. Many bodies were reduced to
skulls and bones. Seventy-three of the 74 bodies were found on the factory's second floor.
Ozone Disco Fire

• The Ozone Disco Club fire, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, is the worst fire in Philippine history and
among the 10 worst nightclub fire in the world.

• The fire broke out before midnight at 11:35 pm on March 18, 1996 leaving at least 162 people dead with
95 injured.

• At the time of the fire, it was estimated that there were around 350 patrons and 40 club employees
inside, though it had been approved for occupancy for only 35 persons.
• Most of the club guests were high school and college students attending graduation or end-of-the-
school-year celebrations.

• Survivors reported seeing sparks flying inside the disc jockey's booth shortly before midnight, followed
by smoke which they thought was part of the party plan of the DJ. After about 15 seconds of smoke, the
electrical systems of the disco shut down, followed by the flames.

• Many of the bodies were discovered along the corridor leading to the only exit, piled up waist-high. The
club's emergency exit is not properly installed and was blocked by a new building next door. It was also
reported that the exit had been locked from the outside by the club's security guards, who had thought
that a riot had taken place.
Resorts World Manila Incident

• Few minutes after midnight on June 2, 2017, 37 people at the Resorts World
Manila entertainment complex in Pasay City were killed and 70 were injured when a
gunman caused a stampede and set fire to casino tables and slot machine chairs around
midnight. All of the attack's deaths and injuries resulted from the initial stampede and smoke
inhalation from the fire.
• Eventual evidence confirmed that the attack was financially motivated and committed by
Jessie Javier Carlos, a debt-riddled former civil servant.

• Jessie Carlos carrying 3 liters of gasoline and an M4 Bushmaster rifle entered

the RWM casino's second floor for high rollers. The gunman reportedly wore a mask, and did
not utter any words before opening fire with his rifle. The gunfire caused mass panic, and in
the evacuation some guests were injured by a stampede.

• People hearing the initial shots immediately fled from the first and second floors of the
building, but some retreated deeper into the building for cover.
M4 BUSHMASTER
Davao NCCC Mall fire: What were the loopholes?

The 14 year-old local shopping center NCCC Mall was gutted by a massive fire two days before
Christmas on December 23, 2017.

The fire started in a short circuit at the ceiling portion of the alley between the fabric and
furniture sections at the third level of the mall.

The fire blazed for 32 hours.

38 workers, including 37 call center employees, died after they were trapped at the fourth level
where a business process outsourcing company SSI was located.
• The emergency exit paths of mall
were not smoke proof or pressurized.

• No connection between alarm system

at SSI and mall

• No functioning sprinkler, control

valves are in closed

• The building failed to comply with the

requirement of an automatic fire
suppression system.
Metro Ayala
Center Cebu Fire
January 5, 2018, Friday night, after
mall hours.
Metro Ayala Center Cebu Fire
• The fire, which broke out at 9:30 p.m. at the toys stockroom in the third floor, reached
the topmost floor of the Metro Department Store Supermarket and destroyed the whole
supermarket and affected the second upto fifth floors.

• No one was reported injured. All customers and mall employees were safely
evacuated.

• The blaze was raised to Task Force Bravo, prompting firefighting units from neighboring
towns and cities to respond.

• Heavy duty construction equipment, including a crane, have been used to demolish the
building's concrete walls to clear the smoke and let firefighters douse the blaze.

• BFP-7 declared a fire out in Metro Ayala at 4:18 p.m. on Monday, or 20 hours after the
fire.
Fires in Industrial Establishments

 South Pacific Inc, Phoenix Petroterminal and Industrial Park,

Calaca, Batangas, Feb. 20, 2016. An LPG storage tank
exploded which affected 7,000 MT of gas. 2 injured, no death.
1126 individuals were evacuated to diff. sites. State of
Emergency in Calaca was declared.

 House Technology Industries, General Trias, Cavite, Feb. 3,

2017. No death, 126 were injured, affected 15,000 workers.
HTI is a manufacturer of pre-fabricated house parts for export.
The fire started when a machine malfunctioned and triggered
small explosions in a section with combustible materials.

 Yokohama Tire Phils., Clark Freeport Zone, May 14, 2017. No

casualty. Biggest Yokohama plant ouside Japan. The fire
destroyed newly made tires meant for export, loss is reported
at US$50M.
Fire at Land Management Bureau (Binondo)

Fire engulfed the entire building of

LMB in Binondo, Manila at 12:30
AM, Monday, May 28, 2018

The LMB reported that the

massive blaze that raged the
building caused huge loss of land
documents

Note: Fire caught the Land

Registration Authority building in
QC on July 22, 2011,
1:55pm
The LMB fire affected the National Archives Building nearby
Among the documents stored in the
National Archives office affected by the
blaze in Binondo: part of the 1798 report
recommending the division of Ilocos into
two provinces.

Imagine if the fire is not controlled - the

archives contained at least 60 million
documents and re-cords from the Spanish,
American, and Japa- nese occupations, the
oldest dating back to as early as the 16th
century.

The archive contains sources of knowledge

about early Philippines such as research
findings, laws, maps, and land grants.
Refrigerated processed
meat – NJ, USA
 Retail store with
storage – SC, USA
The practice of Fire Protection Engineering aims to achieve fire and life safety.
Hence, it is necessary to provide the facilities with adequate protected escape
route together with appropriate and functioning automatic fire suppression system.

Passive Fire Protection Systems

1. Fire walls, fire-rated floors, fire barriers
2. Fire Proofing and Fire Stopping Materials
3. Insulated steel beams and protected enclosures and vertical openings
4. Compartmentalization and separation of building services
5. Means of Egress and Fire Exit
6. Area of Refuge
Active Fire Protection Systems
1. Automatic Fire Suppression System
2. Fire Detection and Alarm System
3. Positive Pressurization
4. Automatic Smoke Control and Exhaust System (Smoke Management)
5. Standpipes and Fire Department Connection
6. Fire Hydrants and Water Supply availability
7. Manual fire suppression appliance (Portable Fire Extinguishers)
8. Emergency Power Supply
9. Fire Fighters Elevator
10.Mobile Fire Suppression Equipment
Stage 1. Pre-flashover or growth phase
Stage 2. Flashover
Stage 3. Fully developed fire (Stable Phase)
Stage 4. Decay (Cooling Period)
 PASSIVE (PRO-ACTIVE) SYSTEM
 Passive protection includes elements of the building construction such as
structural protection and compartmentation to contain fire and smoke.

 Passive measures are there primarily to contain and limit fire spread,
smoke, and heat, so as to provide a safe environment for escape and
rescue.

 Pro-active measures can support smoke management systems by

providing fire resistance to smoke extract ducts.
 Passive Fire Protection Features

 To control fire growth

 To control smoke spread
 To limit spread within the fire building
 To prevent fire spread to other buildings
 To allow rapid egress
 To minimize damage to the building and its contents
 To facilitate Fire Service operations
 To prevent structural collapse
Internal fire spread
External fire spread to adjoining building
Objective: Fire compartments are
generally included in building design to
limit fire and smoke spread so that
people have longer time to escape.

Factors affecting the level of

compartmentation:
• occupancy load
• building type or purpose
• fire load
• height
• active fire systems
BUILDING
COMPARTMEN
TATION
PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
Failure of load bearing
capacity, integrity and
insulation of structural
beams impacted to fire
leads to:
a. fire spread
b. High possibility of
building collapse
• The efficiency of Passive Fire Protection systems is measured by its Stability, Integrity,
and Insulation where combining all these properties will extend the building element’s
capability to prevent the fire from spreading and failure of structural elements;
• Fire Ratings consist of three numbers, for example 60/60/60. This numbers are in minutes
and refer to:

Stability  The protected load bearing

element fulfills its function during
the entire fire resistance period
Integrity  The system does not allow
spread of fire or hot gasses during
the entire fire resistance period
Insulation  The temperature increase of the
unexposed side of the system
remains under set limits during the
entire fire resistance period
FIRE RESISTANCE TEST PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION MATERIALS

Boards
Gypsum plasterboard
Fiber cement board
Calcium silicate board, etc.
Fire Stoppings

Coatings

Fire Resistant Glass

Wired Glass
Insulated Glass
Non insulated Glass
FIRE RESISTANT GLASS

A minimum of 2
hours fire resistant
rating for glass
located in stairs.
 FIRE RESISTANT PARTITION

Issue:
Fire exit route and safe escape
passage-way are critical to life
safety

Solutions:

 Fire rated partitions, whether

slab to slab CHB,
 Concrete masonry or drywall
partitions
 Fire rated doors and smoke
stop doors for access
Fire door is a door with a fire-resistance rating used as part of a passive fire
protection system to reduce the spread of fire or smoke between compartments
and to enable safe egress from a building or structure.
FIRE SHUTTERS
 CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

Issue:
Fire from lower/upper floors
will pass through the gaps
between the concrete slab and
the curtain wall

Solution:

Put fire resistant construction

system to seal the gap
between the concrete slab and
the curtain wall
 FIRE RESIST ANT DUCT

Issue:
Temperature rise due to fire will
distort the metal sheet ducts, making
them unable to extract smoke

Solutions:
Put tested cladding system to the
metal sheet duct

Can also use tested self-supporting

duct
FIRE RESISTANT DUCT

Kitchen ventilation
Smoke extraction
Stair pressurization
Fresh air supply
 FIRE RESISTANT DUCT
Result of an actual fire

Shows deflection of metal duct (without A duct system, protected with fire
cladding protection) after an actual fire resistant cladding after an actual fire
 FIRE STOPPING

Fire stopping is used to seal gaps or

openings in fire resistant
constructions like walls and slabs

Gaps are created due to:

• Service penetrations
• Structural movement gaps
• Poor workmanship
• New service installations
• Other trades interference
 STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION
Objectives:

To enable firefighters to
Fire protected structural
bring fire under control,
components provide To prevent
or to carry out search
adequate means of disproportionate damage
and rescue operations
escape for the building to property.
without the danger of
occupants.
building collapse.

Ensure stability of Compartmentations keep

structure exposed to a smoke and heat away
fire during the from occupants during
evacuation period evacuation
 STRUCTURAL STEEL

Issue:

Steel loses its load bearing capacity

at temperatures in excess of 550°C
during fire.

Risk of building structure collapse is

greatly increased if not protected.
 STRUCTURAL STEEL
Result of an actual fire

Deflection of steel structure after an Steel structure collapsed after an

actual fire actual fire
 TYPES OF FIRE PROTECTION FOR STEEL STRUCTURES

Board cladding
system

Cementitious products

Intumescent
Coatings
Active fire-protection measures are those that take direct physical action to
reduce the growth rate of fire and the migration of smoke. It is achieve by
applying engineering calculations base on standards and code.

Types of AFS: Automatic Fire Suppression System

1. Manual Driven by water pressure
2. Automatic • Sprinkler System
• Water Mist Spray
• Foam Suppression
Manual AFS
Low Expansion
1. Fire Blanket and other fire- Medium Expansion
High Expansion
resisting suppression
Driven by gas pressure
materials
• Clean Agent Fire Suppression System
2. Use of Fire Extinguisher
• Powder, Wet or Dry Chemical Extinguishing
3. Standpipe and Hydrant System
System
Automatic Fire Detection, Alarm and
Communication System (FDACS)
Hydrant System
A fire hydrant, is a connection point by which firefighters can
tap into a water supply
Fire hydrant systems comprise the following primary
components:
•Water Supply Pipes and Valves
•Pump Set Fire Hose
•Hydrant Valve or Landing Valve & Coupling
Typical Layout of Complete Water-Based Fire Automatic Fire
Sprinkler System

3. Private Fire Service Main -

Fire Hydrant System

4. Automatic Sprinkler
2. Fire Pump System
System

1. Water Storage Tank

1. NFPA 13 - Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems
2. NFPA 15 - Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire
Protection
3, NFPA 16 - Standard for the Installation of Foam-Water
Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems
Why Sprinkler System Fail?

General Sprinkler Facts

Usually 2 or 3 sprinklers will
control a fire:
85% of the time in a wet
pipe system
67% of the time in a dry
pipe system

Source: NFPA Reasearch

 Water Mist Spray

A water mist system is a fire protection system

which uses a very fine water sprays that produces
mists.

The small water droplets allow the water mist to control,

suppress or extinguish fires by:
1. cooling both the flame and surrounding gases by
evaporation
2. displacing oxygen by evaporation
3. attenuating radiant heat by the small droplets
themselves
Water mist fire suppression, when compared
to the use of gaseous agents and traditional
sprinkler systems, has the following
advantages:
1. Immediate activation
2. High efficiency in the suppression of a wide
variety of fires
3. Minimized water damage
4. Environmentally sound characteristics
5. No toxic issues
 Foam Suppression System

Foam systems protect any hazard where

flammable liquids are present, such as
petrochemical, chemical, oil and gas, aviation,
marine/offshore.

Fire suppression foam is comprised of three

parts: foam concentrate, water and air.

How does foam work ?

1. The foam blankets the fuel surface,
smothering the fire and separating the
flames from the fuel surface;
2. The foam cools the fuel and adjacent heat
and ignition sources
3. The foam suppresses the release of
flammable vapor that can mix with air
A foam-water sprinkler system is a special
system that is pipe-connected to a source of
foam concentrate and to a water supply. Foam
concentrates are available in 1%, 3% and 6%
concentrations.

The piping system is connected to the water

supply through a control valve that usually is
actuated by operation of automatic detection
equipment that is installed in the same areas as
the sprinklers. Applications:
1. Aircraft hangars
2. Basements and cable tunnels
3. Flammable packaging areas
When this valve opens, water flows into the
4. Flammable and combustible liquid drum storage
piping system, foam concentrate is injected into
areas
the water, and the resulting foam solution
5. Hazardous waste facilities
discharging through the discharge devices
6. LNG tank farms and loading facilities
generates and distributes foam.
7. Mines
8. Roll-paper warehouses
9. Shipboard engine rooms
10. Storage buildings and warehouses
Powder Or Dry-chemical-base System

Dry Chemical is a powder composed of

very small particles usually of sodium
bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, urea-
based potassium bicarbonate, or
monoammonium phosphate with added
particulate material supplemented by
special treatment to provide resistance to
packing, resistance to moisture absorption
(caking) and the proper flow capabilities

FIRE EXTINGUISHING MECHANISMS

• Interruption of the chain reaction sequence.

• Heat absorption effects

The three-dimensional extinguishing effect of the powder cloud

is caused by the suffocation effect and the so-called anti-catalytic
effect, a chemical intervention into the combustion process.
CLEAN AGENT FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
(Gas-base)

Heat Reducing Agents Oxygen Reducing Agents

FM - 200 NOVEC 1230 ECARO Argon Argonite Inergen

Interrupts Chemical Reaction CO2

Halon FE-13, 25, 36
NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Fire
Extinguishing Systems
How the system work?
Output Manual Release
Input Control
Panel Strobe Lamp + Bell Alarm

Smoke
Detector

Heat
Detector Input
Output

Smoke cause from fire Fire Suppressed Clean Agent Gas Clean Agent Activated
discharge to Room
 ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTIES
Properties Novec 1230 Halon 1301 FM-200 ECARO-25
(FK-5-1-12) (HFC-227ea) (HFC-125)

Ozone Depletion 0 10 0 0
Potential

Global Warming 1 6900 3220 3500

Potential

Atmospheric 0.014 65 29 33
Lifetime (years)

EPA's SNAP Yes N/A Yes Yes

Conformance

Source: Fireflex System Inc., Technical Presentation to ASPE

Cleveland, OH on March 10, 2010
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Properties Novec 1230 Halon 1301 FM-200 ECARO-25
(FK-5-1-12) (HFC-227ea) (HFC-125)

Design % 4-6% 5% 6.25-8.7 % 8-11.3 %

NOAEL % 10 5 9 7.5

Occupants
67-150 % Nil 3-44 % Nil
Safety Margin %

(NOAEL) No Observable Adverse Effects Level for acute toxicity, including cardiac sensitization
 Types of Clean Agent Systems
Engineered System – a system
that requires individual calculation
and design to determine the flow
rates, nozzle pressures, pipe
sizes, area of volume protected
by each nozzle, quantity of agent,
and the number and types of
nozzles and placement in the
enclosed system.

Pre-engineered System – a
system that does not require
calculation, the specifications are
pre-determined. Fixed amount of
agent to protect a predetermined
hazard and volume.
Computer/ Server Rooms:
MUST be ‘People Friendly’systems

2 Options:
Synthetic agents or Inert agents

Synthetic Agents:
• FM200 and Novec 1230
• Small storage space required

Inert Agents:
• Inergen - Argon /Nitrogen/CO2.
• Watermist
• Large storage space required

Electrical Cabinets:
Trace type or fixed CO2
WET CHEMICAL KITCHEN FIRE
SUPPRESSION
Automatic Fire Alarm and Detection System
 ALEXANDER V. LISTANA, PME CEM CFSP REB REA

Engineering Head, San Miguel Corporation, Repairs

and Maintenance, Inc.

THANK National VP for Technical and Professional Affairs,

Philippine Integrated Fire Protection Org., Inc.

YOU President, Rotary Club of Makati Southeast, 2020-2021

09178637420

[email protected]