CHAPTER IV-

FIRE
PROTECTION
SYSTEMS

HARI DHAKAL
FIRE PROTECTION
• Introduction

• Aim and Principles of Design

• Fire and Fire Classification

• Fire Protection
• Passive Fire Protection
• Active Fire Protection

• Fire Extinguisher
• Portable
• Fixed installation

• Fire Detectors and Alarm

• Smoke Ventilation
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Introduction
Introduction

• 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
all countries including ours.

• The systems required to meet the needs of tackling small fires, evacuation
and major fire-fighting both by the occupants and then the Fire Service fall
under study of fire protection.
 FIRE PROTECTION

Introduction

• Building management systems under computer monitoring and control will

incorporate such systems, together with security functions.

• Integration of such equipment with the architecture, decor and other services is
planned from the earliest design stage.

• Fire protection engineering, where the engineer is responsible for the

design of fire systems, such as automatic fire suppression and fire detection
systems

• Fire safety engineering, where the engineer is responsible for the design
of fire strategies, including the location and number of stairs, design of smoke
control regimes and designed structural fire protection measures.

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 Aim and principles of design

AIMS

• To prevent fire

• To safeguard the lives of occupants and firefighters

• To reduce damage on the building, its contents and on surrounding

buildings.

PRINCIPLES

• Fire avoidance and fire detection

• Fire growth restriction and fire containment

• Smoke control and escape provisions

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 FIRE PROTECTION
Fire
• Fire: Fire is a rapid oxidation process accompanied by the evolution of heat, light,
flame and the emission of sound.

• A fire is supported by three essential ingredients: fuel, heat and oxygen. The absence of
any one of these causes an established fire to be extinguished.

• Also fire is “the process of burning”, It is in fact 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 or sound.

• Therefore, three essential elements for combustion are

• Fuels are combustion substances either solid, liquid or gas.

• Oxygen is present in air in about quantity of 21%.

• Heat helps fire to attain a certain temperature required for fire to begin and sustain. A
fire normally maintains its own heat supply.

• The sources of fire in buildings are short circuit, naked lights, explosives and
fireworks, unmindful smoking, mechanical heat and spark. 7 of 24
FIRE PROTECTION

FIRE TRIANGLE
 FIRE PROTECTION
Fire classification

• There are major five classes of fire. The classification depends on nature of material
that is burning.

• CLASS A - Solid materials: Free burning combustibles such as wood, paper, fabric,
plastic etc.

• CLASS B – Flammable liquids: oils, petrol, alcohol, greases, paint, varnishes etc.

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 Fire Classification
• CLASS C – Flammable gases: propane, butane, acetylene etc.

• CLASS D – Combustible metals: magnesium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum powder,

lithium etc

• CLASS E – Electrical Fire: produced by heat generated due to short circuit or an

electrical socket.
 FIRE PROTECTION
Fire classification

Table: Fire classification and fire-fighting system

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 Common Building Fire Safety
Codes and Standards
1. National Building Code (NBC)
2. National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)
3. Local Safety Enforcement Requirements (like in Nepal) {Nepal National Building
Code (NBC) 206 and related Fire Safety Guidelines}
 FIRE PROTECTION STRATEGY

• A Fire Protection Strategy is a systematic approach to identifying, reducing and

managing fire hazards.
The objective of a fire protection strategy in the design of fire protection systems
are
• Protection of Personnel is considered in the design of Fire Protection
Systems.
• Credible Hazards have to be identified, assessed, understood and
documented.
• Every opportunity to minimize the hazards has to be identified, considered
and where practical and implemented.
• The capital investment and estimated operating expenses is optimized with
a view to minimizing hazards.
• Fire Protection Goals must be met for the facilities lifetime.
• Potential Adverse effects on neighbors, community and the environment
are controlled.
 FIRE PROTECTION STRATEGY
Key Factors of a Fire Protection Strategy
 FIRE PROTECTION STRATEGY

Installed Systems Vs Emergency Response

These are the main strategies in providing adequate fire protection
of a facility
• Installed Active Fire Protection
• Installed Passive Fire Protection
• Install Isolation Systems to minimize fuel.
• Emergency Response by organized firefighting teams
composed of both onsite.
• Incipient firefighting, and if the fire becomes too large,
protect exposures and walk away.
 METHODS OF FIRE PROTECTION

• A method of fire protection involves the conveyance of water pipes to

extinguish fire within a building falls into the field of plumbing.
• Water may be supplied through riser pipes or standpipes. A riser or standpipes
with hose connections in a tall buildings may be fed from storage tank, from
pump or from a mobile pumping engine in the street connected to a breaching
or ‘Siamese Post’

• Automatic sprinkler are the devices that discharge water automatically when
the temperature of air surrounding sprinkler reaches a predetermined level.
 FIRE PROTECTION

Fire protection in land-based buildings, offshore construction or onboard ships is

typically achieved via all of the following:
• 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.
• Education - the provision of information regarding passive and active fire
protection systems to building owners, operators, occupants, and
emergency personnel so that they have a working understanding of the
intent of these systems and how they perform in the fire safety plan.
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
 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).

-The aim for Passive Fire Protection systems is typically demonstrated in fire testing the
ability to maintain the item or the side to be protected
- at or below either 140 °C (for walls, floors and electrical circuits required to
have a fire-resistance rating) or,
- 550 °C which is considered the critical temperature for structural steel, above
which it is in jeopardy of losing its strength, leading to collapse.
- Smaller components, such as fire dampers, fire doors, etc., follow suit in the
main intentions of the basic standard for walls and floors. Fire testing involves live fire
exposures upwards of 1100 °C, depending on the fire-resistance rating and duration one
is after.
- More items than just fire exposures are typically required to be tested to ensure
the survivability of the system under realistic conditions.
 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
To accomplish these aims, many different types of
materials are employed in the design and
construction of systems.
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

 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).
• Closures (fire dampers) Sometimes firestops are treated in building codes identically to
closures. Canada de-rates closures, where, for instance a 2 hour closure is acceptable for
use in a 3 hour fire separation, so long as the fire separation is not an occupancy
separation or firewall. The lowered rating is then referred to as a fire protection rating,
both for firestops, unless they contain plastic pipes and regular closures.
• Firestops
 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Grease Ducts (These refer to ducts that lead from commercial cooking equipment
such as ranges, deep fryers and double-decker and conveyor-equipped pizza ovens
to grease duct fans.)

Cable Coating (application of fire-retardants, which are either endothermic or

intumescent, to reduce flame spread 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)

Enclosures (boxes or wraps made of fireproofing materials, including fire-resistive

wraps and tapes to protect specialty 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

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
 Active Fire Protection
Active Fire Protection (AFP) is an integral part of fire protection. AFP is
characterized by items and/or systems, which require a certain amount of motion
and response in order to work, contrary to passive fire protection.
 Categories of Active Fire Protection
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.

Sprinkler systems
Fire sprinkler systems are installed in all types of buildings, commercial and
residential. They are usually located at ceiling level and are connected to a
reliable water source, most commonly city water.
A typical Sprinkler System operates when heat at the site of a fire causes a glass
component in the sprinkler head to fail, thereby releasing the water from the
sprinkler head.
This means that only the sprinkler head at the fire location operates - not all the
sprinklers on a floor or in a building.
Sprinkler systems help to reduce the growth of a fire, thereby increasing life
safety and limiting structural damage.
Categories of Active Fire
Protection
 Categories of Active Fire Protection
Fire Detection
Fire is detected either by locating the smoke, flame or heat, and an alarm is
sounded to enable emergency evacuation as well as to dispatch the local fire
department.
An introduction to Fire detection and Suppression can be found here. Where a
detection system is activated, it can be programmed to carry out other actions.
These include de-energising magnetic hold open devices on Fire doors and
opening servo-actuated vents in stairways.

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.
Unlike traditional Fire Suppression Systems that usually extinguish fire after it is
detected, hypoxic air is able to prevent fires. At lower altitudes hypoxic air is safe
to breathe for healthy individuals.
Hypoxic Air Fire Prevention
 Construction and Maintenance

All AFP systems are required to be installed and maintained in accordance with
strict guidelines in order to maintain compliance with the local building code
 Requirement of Water
The quantity of water required for Fire Extinction depends upon the magnitude of fire and
duration taken to extinguish it. The use of non-potable water should be avoided for the fear
of cross connection and subsequent health hazards.

The size of main ring, dry riser and wet riser, for fire fighting within a building, is designed
keeping in mind that a distant hydrant will discharge about 1000 litres per minutes at
3.5 kg/sq.cm pressure. And at any given time at least two hydrants are in operation.
 Storage of Water
A Sufficient Quantity of water for the purpose of fire fighting of the building must be made
available in an underground tank within the premises. Tank capacity may be taken as 30
min water supply at 1000 litres per minutes.
The water tank and cover should be designed to take load of 18 tonnes vehicular load if
flush below ground level.

The fire fighting storage and pumps requirements must be made as per the local
regulations.
 Systems of Fire Fighting
It may be broadly classified as External (City) and Internal ( Building) fire fighting System
External Fire Fighting System
Fire hydrant are generally located at a distance apart of about 90 m to 120 m in inhabitant
area and about 300 m in an open area. One fire hydrant for every 4000 to 10000 sq. area is
normally provided.
Hydrants are generally provided at street crossings, water demands of one litre per head
per day is considered for fire hydrants.
Fire hydrants are of two types pillar or post hydrant and sunk or flush hydrants.

External Fire Fighting System

Components of Fire Hydrants

Fire Hydrant Location

 Systems of Fire Fighting

Pillar or Post Hydrant

These hydrant remain standing above ground like a post by about 0.9 m to 1.2 m and
connected to a water main underground.
It consists of a sluice valve, a duck foot bend, a 65 mm dia post one, two or three outlets.
These outlets are spaced around the periphery of the hydrant barrel, so that it can serve
more number of fire tenders at a time, they are painted red in color, flushed once in every
six months and kept in working condition.

Pillar or Post Hydrant

 Systems of Fire Fighting
Flush Hydrant
These hydrant are installed underground in a brick or cast iron chamber with
its top cover slightly above the street level.
Letter F.H. are inscribed on the top of cover for identification. A flush hydrant
consists of following components, one sluice valve, a duck-foot bend, a 65 mm dia
instantaneous type coupling. Cast Iron Cap permanently secured to the duck-foot
bend by means of a chain. Hydrants are connected to underground distribution main
by flanged joints.
Hydrants are also used for street washings, flush sewers and watering gardens.
Residual Pressure heads recommended at fire hydrants, for which provision is
generally made while designing a system
With pump engine 10 to 14 m
For direct flow 42 to 53 m
 Internal Fire Fighting System

The local self govt i.e. Municipal Authorities have been empowered to make by laws to
protect lives & properties for fire protection system within their municipal limits. These
bylaws are generally based on NFPA (National Fire Protection Act).
The following methods are classified to extinguish fire within the buildings.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

 Internal Fire Fighting System
Residential Premises Fire Protection System
• Fire Hose System Dry Riser/ Wet Riser
• Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Portable 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 Hose System
This system involves the installation of vertical riser pipe with hose connections at
strategic points throughout the building. The standpipe or riser can be kept filled with
water is know as wet riser system otherwise it is known as dry riser system
The main features of these systems includes:
Hose & Automatic Sprinkler System
The courtyard of the building should have at least two fire hydrant.
The pumps will have a RPM not exceeding 2000
These hydrants are connected to an overhead/ storage tank for fire fighting purpose
with a booster pump, and a non-return valve near the tank and a fire pump, gate &
non-return valve over the underground storage tanks.
The facility to boost water pressure in the riser directly from the mobile pump should
also be provided to the wet riser system.
 Dry Riser System
A Dry Riser system or dry pipe system is made of
complete water-distribution system with sprinkler head or
risers and branches with hydrants throughout the
buildings in which there is no running water.

In the sprinkler system the dry pipe system is used partly

to protect the interior of the buildings against hazards of
burst and leaky pipe to avoid freezing of water in the
pipes.

Water is turned into water distribution system either

automatically or manually on the outbreak of fire or the
sounding of alarm gong to smother or extinguish fire.

When the fuse melts in due to the heat generated by fire,

water gushes in and air exhausted through the sprinkler
head quickly.

In the reaction system water is admitted to the system by

a valve actuated by a thermostatic controlled device that
function in advance of the sprinkler system.
 Dry Riser System
Provision of necessary pressure gauges is made on main water supply, distribution, air tank,
pumps, etc.
Usage: Buildings where the room temperature conditions are artificially maintained closed
to or below freezing temperature, such as Cold Storage and Clean Rooms or Lab etc.
 Dry Riser System

1. Sprinklers burst due to heat

2. Air gets released
3. Pressure Switch Detects
reduction
in air pressure
4. Accelerator helps speed up
valve
Actuation
5. Water flow switch activates
the alarm system
6. Water is delivered through the
Sprinklers
Viking Sprinkler Control Valve
Location of Dry Riser in Buildings
 Wet Riser System

A Wet Riser System is a standard sprinkler system permanently charged with water under
pressure both above and below the control valves.

The provision of wet riser system whenever made for residential building should have the
following features:

The Wet riser are designed for Zonal distribution of water according to height of building
The first riser up to 60 m height should be 10 cm dia
The second riser upto 100m height of 15 cm dia
The third riser upto 150 m height of 15 cm dia

Usage: Buildings where there is no danger at anytime of Water in the pipes freezing.
These risers are connected to fire pumps separately provided for this purpose in the
buildings
A wet riser must be provided near the enclosure staircase.
The pipe fitting should be approved make and quality by the competent authority.
And it is the most commonly used sprinkler system in the world as well.
 Wet Riser System

Permanent Water Supply

 Fire Hose

Standard fire hose is made up of rubber lined cotton fibre 65 mm in dia, capable of
standing routine test pressure of 14 kg/sqcm. Sometimes unlined or rubber lined or
rubber cotton hose may be used for this purpose.
The fire hose is housed in a special made glass cabinet
 Automatic Sprinkler System

The installation of sprinkler system requires special planning in new building design and
usually involves an extensive renovation of an existing building.

The sprinkler system may be installed in the following types of buildings or sections of a
building as a first aid assistance. i.e. apartment houses, club houses, colleges, dormitories,
hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and the basement used as car parking's.

Automatic Sprinklers are connected to a water distribution system.

A sprinkler nozzle is closed by a fusible plug that melts at a predetermined temperature,

above normal room temperature, releasing water to fall on the source of heat.
Components of Automatic Fire
Sprinkler Systems
 Automatic Sprinkler System

Sprinklers have the advantage of quickly supplying water to fire before it gain dangerous
headway and of preventing the access of air to the fire by smothering it with water.
In some cases an open head sprinkler system for the protection of the interior of the
building is provided.
 Sprinkler Classification

An automatic sprinkler head is a fire extinguisher nozzle, closed in a state of readiness

by a heat sensitive release element.

The sprinkler may be classified as :

(a) Sprinkler based on Release:

Fusable element Sprinkler is opened under the influence of heat by the melting of eutectic
metal or chemical.

Glass bulb sprinklers are opened under the influence of heat by the destruction of the
glass bulb through pressure of the fluid enclosed therein.
 Sprinkler Classification

Sprinkler based on water distribution

Conventional Sprinkler – The Conventional sprinkler have a spherical water distribution
directed towards the ground and the ceiling for the definite protection area.

Umbrella Sprinklers- The umbrella sprinklers have a parabolic water distribution

directed towards the ground for a definite protection area with some of water sprays the
ceilings

Sidewall Sprinkler- The sidewall sprinkler has a one –sided half-parabolic water
distribution directed towards the ground for a definite protection area.