FIRE SAFETY in

BUILDINGS
FIRE TRIANGLE

The Fire Triangle is a simple model for understanding

the necessary ingredients for most fire
 FIRE TETRAHEDRON

An alternative to the fire triangle model is the fire

tetrahedron. The fire tetrahedron represents the addition of
the triangle which is chemical reaction or combustion.
Combustion, or burning is a high-temperature chemical
reaction between a fuel and an oxidant, usually atmospheric
oxygen, that produces smoke.
Four things must be present at the same time in order to produce fire:     

1. Enough oxygen to sustain combustion,

2. Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature,
3. Some sort of fuel or combustible material, and
4. The chemical, exothermic reaction that is the fire.
The important thing to remember is: take any of these four things
away, and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished.

Essentially, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking away one or

more elements of the fire triangle/tetrahedron.

Fire safety, at its most basic, is based upon the principle of

keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate.

Fires involving metals such as titanium, lithium and

magnesium have a chemical reaction that requires a different
approach for firefighters.This is called a class D fire and the
application of water will exacerbate the combustion. Because
of the chain reaction caused by the metals in class D fires,
firefighters must use a different approach involving the
introduction of inert agents like sand to smother it.
FIRE SAFETY CONCEPTS
 RELATED LAWS TO FIRE
SAFETY
 Act 341
FIRE SERVICES ACT 1988

 Uniform Building By Laws 1984

 Act 341
FIRE SERVICES ACT 1988
Act 341
FIRE SERVICES ACT 1988
An Act to make necessary provision for the effective and efficient
functioning of the Fire Services Department, for the protection of persons
and property from fire risks and for purposes connected therewith.
YB Tan Sri Noh bin Hj. Omar 
The objective :
To provide effective and efficient fire prevention and fire-fighting services,
enforcement of law related to fire safety and fire-fighting as well as humanitarian
services.
 
To achieve these objectives, the department implements its functions as stipulated
under Section 5(1) & (2) the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341), among which are as
follows :

1. Extinguishing, fighting, preventing and controlling fires.

2. Protecting life and properties in the event of fire.
3. Securing the provision and adequate means of escape in the event of fire from all
designated premises.
4. The making of investigation into the cause, origin and circumstances of fires.
5. Performing humanitarian services including the protection of lives and properties
in any calamity.

FRDM may, in addition to its duties under sub-section (1) perform such other duties
as may be imposed on it by law or as the minister may direct it to perform.
 
 Salient points of ACT 341
 Functions of FRDM (Fire Rescue Department
M’sia)
 Abatement of fire-hazard
 Fire certificate
 Power of Director of FRDM
 Enforcement
Uniform Building By Laws
1984
 BUILDING PLAN APPROVAL
 When designing a building plan, an architect
must comply with fire safety requirement.
 Compliance with FRDM is one of the
requirement before building plan can be
approved by a LA.
 UBBL is the requirement that architects must
adhere to when designing a building plan.
part VII and
VIII of UBBL
Two parts of Fire Fighting scope in
Malaysia:- 
1) Passive Fire Protection (Part VII)
which usually under the responsibility of the
Architect  
2) Active Fire Protection (Part VIII)
which usually under the responsibility of the
M&E consultant
 
PFP and AFP are meant to work together during a
fire, not one in place of the other. Both active and
passive fire protection systems can control fires.
FLOWCHART OF BUILDING
PLAN APPROVAL AND
BOMBA REQUIREMENT
 Architect submit
building plan to LA
and BOMBA

BOMBA approve Local Authority

Engineer submit passive fire
active fire (LA)
requirement of bldg
requirement of bldg plan
plan to BOMBA LA approve
building plan after
compliance of
Completion of Completion of BOMBA and LA
construction construction requirements

Engineer issues Architect issues

Form G 9 Form G 8

Completion of bldg and

all other requirements

AR/ IR issue form F LA accept form F

(CCC) to LA (CCC)
 PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF
BUILDING PLAN TO JABATAN BOMBA

 According to CCC procedure

 Concurrently submitted to BOMBA and building
department of Local authority (LA)
 Building control officer should make sure that the
approved building plan to be endorsed by LA
must be similar to the BOMBA approved plan
In Malaysia, usually the Architects will first submit their drawings and plans of
the project to BOMBA, to include the passive protection design which is
mentioned and located in their drawings. 

Then, the BOMBA authority will either approve or ask the Architects to
resubmit the building plan for amendments.

After the Architect gain the approval from BOMBA, then the M&E consultant
will start designing the active protection part for the building. 

The letter of approval from BOMBA for the Architects will usually contain an
instruction for the M&E consultants to adhere to the requirements. Even
though the BOMBA authority is different for each state in Malaysia, the
requirements are similar, which must follow the Uniform Building By Law
1984. 

The M&E consultant will still have to refer to the Tenth Schedule requirements
in the UBBL to determine types of active fire protection mandatory to the
building design. 

The instruction normally is as follows:

 REQUIREMENT OF BOMBA
BEFORE ISSUANCE OF CCC
 CLIENT CHARTER OF FRDM
› Issue endorsement of technical building plan within 7
days (non-system) and 14 days (system) upon
submission of building plan
› Issue support document for CCC within 5 days upon
confirmation to safety requirement
FORM G8( passive)
FORM G9( active)
 PASSIVE
FIRE
PROTECTION
 FIRE REQUIREMENTS

PART VII

(Passive Fire Protection

Systems)
 Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Part VII

 It is a group of systems that compartmentalize a building

through the use of fire-resistance rated walls/floors.
Compartmentalizing your building into smaller sections helps
to slow or prevent the spread of fire/smoke from one room to
the next.
 PFP helps to limit the amount of damage done to a building
and provides its occupants more time for evacuation.
 PFP includes fire/smoke dampers, fire doors, and fire
walls/floors. Dampers are used to prevent the spread of
fire/smoke throughout the building through its ductwork. Fire
doors help to compartmentalize a building. Fire
stopping helps to separate the building into compartments.
Photo luminescent egress path markers help light the way to
safety.
 So then why worry about a passive fire protection
  system if you have a working active fire protection
system? And why worry about active when you have
passive? Well an active fire protection system takes
action in helping to put out the fire, but may not
always function the way they are designed to work.
Sprinklers could fail due to the lack of
maintenance, water supply problems like frozen
pipes, or even inadequate water pressure.

On the other hand, passive fire protection uses

systems that help control and prevent the spread of
fire/smoke. It does not, however, take any type of
action, such as putting out the fire. Therefore, both
AFP and PFP are meant to work together during a
fire, not one in place of the other. Both active and
passive fire protection systems can control fires. 
 4 Main Areas of Passive Fire
Protection
 Structural Fire Protection
 Fire Compartmentation
 Opening Protection
 Fire Stopping Materials
 Structural Fire Protection
 The construction of this area is built to guard the
skeletal structure involving the steel and joint
systems from being hit by the fire.
 Using fireproof materials such as cementitious
products, gypsum-based plasters and fireproofing
cladding, the structural integrity of the building is
guarded with the best possible concrete
composition.
 Fire Compartmentation
 Barriers are built to inhibit the spread of fire in the
building and allow a safer egress. By use of rated
walls and floors, evacuation routes are protected
from fire and smoke.
 These structures include firewalls, smoke barriers,
fire partitions, which extend through the walls,
floors, and ceilings and finally stopped at a
concealed space for maximum protection. With
these stable concrete materials, fire cannot tear
them down easily compared to ordinary walls.
 Opening Protection

 Doors and entry points serve as the opening

protection against fire.
 Usually, fire-rated doors/glass and framing are
assembled to enclose the fire within its area of
origin. In duct systems, fire and smoke dampers
are installed to also function as fire barriers.
Without the opening protection, fire resistance
won’t fully serve its purpose.
Opening Protection
 Fire Stopping Materials
 These are useful for limiting the spread of fire in the
penetrated barriers from building alterations and minor
reconstructions. A fire stopping material seals the holes left
from past fixes and services to allow the full potential of
these fire barriers.
 Another FPF material that contributes to fire stopping is
the cable coating for protecting wirings with an
intumescent putty, equally protective and easy to remove.
Composite sheets, pipe collars, and penetration sealants
are all noteworthy fire stopping products used for covering
penetrations where cables and pipes pass through.
Fire Stopping Materials
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

BEST ASSEMBLY AREA

Assembly area is an area where located outside the building in an open
space so everyone can gather and be identified but the area should be
clearing indicate by all occupants before emergency arise.

(Uniform Building By Law 1984, 2011)

FIRE FIGHTING ACCESS LOBBIES
Fire safety should conform to the following requirements:
Each lobby shall have a floor area of not less than 5.587 square meters

(Uniform Building By Law 1984, 2011)

The open able area of windows or area of permanent ventilation shall be

not less than 25% of the floor area of the lobby and if ventilation is by
means of open able windows, Additional permanent ventilation having a
free opening of 464 square centimeters shall be provided except that
mechanical pressurization may be provided as an alternative. (Uniform
Building By Law 1984, 2011)
MEANS OF EGRESS
A mean of egress is an exit path that occupants may use to safely exit a
building.
It is designed to provide safe and easy travel during a fire or other
emergency so that the risk of injury or death is minimized. (Uniform Building
By Law 1984, 2011)

Components of means of egress

Doors
Stairs
Guards and handrails
Smoke proof enclosures
Stair pressurization
Horizontal exits
Exit passageways
STAIRS
Stairs for emergency during fire has their own dimension that need to follow
by rules that stated in Uniform Building By Law 1984.
The dimension that be suggested by the law is the rise of any staircase shall
not be not more than 180 millimeters and tread shall be not less than 255
millimeters and dimension of the rise and the tread of the staircase so chosen
shall be uniform and consistent throughout.
Other than that, the width of staircase shall be in accordance by law 168
while the depth of landings shall be not less than the width of the staircase.
(Uniform Building By Law 1984, 2011)
FIRE LIFT
243
 ACTIVE
FIRE
PROTECTION
 FIRE ALARMS,
FIRE PROTECTION,
FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT AND
FIRE FIGHTING ACCESS

PART VIII

(Active Fire Protection System)

Active Fire Protection (PFP) Part VIII

( FIRE REQUIREMENT)
It is a group of systems that require some amount of action or motion in order to work
efficiently in the event of a fire. Actions may be manually operated, like a fire
extinguisher or automatic, like a sprinkler, but either way they require some amount of
action.

AFP includes fire/smoke alarm systems, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers as
well as firefighters. Fire/smoke alarm systems are used to detect whether there is fire
and/or smoke in a building. Sprinkler systems are used to help slow the growth of the
fire. Fire extinguishers and firefighters are used to help put out the fire altogether.
The active protection part is referred as per clause 225
Part 1 in the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984:-

Every building shall be provided with means of detecting

and extinguishing fire with fire alarms together with
illuminated exit signs in accordance with the
requirements as specified in the Tenth Schedule to these
By-laws. 

Refer to the Tenth Schedule as per mentioned in the

Clause of UBBL. 
 
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

A fire alarm system has a number of devices working together to detect and warn people
through visual and audio appliances when smoke, fire, carbon monoxide or
other emergencies are present. These alarms may be activated automatically from smoke
detectors, and heat detectors or may also be activated via manual fire alarm
activation devices such as manual call points, break glass, 
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
fire sprinkler system

A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method, consisting of a

water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flow rate to a water
distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected.
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers are intended for the occupants to use to extinguish a fire
during its early stages before the fire gets out of control.
Fire extinguishers are designed to operate easily by any one who follows simple
instructions labelled on all extinguishers

There are 5 classes of fire:

Class A = fires involving combustible solid materials like paper, wood, etc
Class B = fires involving in flammable liquids like kerosene, diesel, etc.
Class C = fires involving flammable gases
Class D = fires involving reactive metals like sodium and potassium
Class E = fires involving ignition of an electrical power

Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers:

There are four types of portable extinguishers for use against the appropriate class
of fires. 
1.Water type suitable for Class A fires.
2.Dry powder type suitable for Class A, B and C fires.
3.Carbon dioxide type suitable for Class E electrical fires
4.Foam type suitable for Class B flammable liquid fires.
 Locations of Fire Extinguishers
Locations of Fire Extinguishers are to be based on the following guide lines:

1. Fire Extinguisher shall be conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible and
immediately available in the event of fire. Preferably they shall be located along normal paths of
travel, including exits from an area.

2. Fire Extinguisher shall not be obstructed or obscured from view. Exception: In large rooms, and in
certain locations where visual obstruction cannot be completely avoided, means shall be provided to
indicate the location.

3. Fire Extinguisher shall be installed on the hangers or in the brackets supplied, mounted in cabinets,
or set on shelves unless the extinguishers are of the wheeled type.

4. Fire Extinguishers installed under conditions where they are subject to dislodgement shall be
installed in brackets specifically designed to cope with this problem. Subject to physical damage, shall
be protected from impact.

5. Fire Extinguisher mounted in cabinets or wall recesses or set on shelves shall be placed in a manner
such that the extinguisher operating instructions face outward. The location of such extinguishers shall
be marked conspicuously.
Design Standards

Under the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984, the requirement for fire extinguishers are
stipulated under By-Law 227.
Portable fire extinguishers should comply with the following Malaysian Standards :-

 MS 1539-1 : 2002            Specification for portable fire extinguishers : Part 1 :

Construction and testing methodology                                   
 MS ISO 5923 : 2003       Fire protection – Fire extinguishing media carbon dioxide

 MS 1539-3 : 2003           Specification for portable fire  extinguishers : Part 3 : Selection
and installation – Code of practice (First revision)         
                
 MS 1539-4 : 2010           Specification for portable fire  extinguishers : Part 4 :
Maintenance of portable fire extinguishers - Code of practice
                                         
 MS 1539-6:2010              Specification for Small Disposable Fire Extinguishers of
Aerosol Type
 MS 1180 : 1990               Fire Extinguishers Media

 MS 1181 : 1990               Recharging fire extinguishers

 MS 1182 : 1990               Classification of Fires

 Notes on MS 1539:-
The standard MS 1539 : 2003 has replaced the previous MS1179 :1990 of
the same title
MS 1539 consists of the following parts, under the general title,
‘Specification for portable fire extinguishers’:
Part 1: Construction and test methodology
Part 2: Specification for wheeled fire extinguishers*
Part 3: Selection and installation – Code of practice
Part 4: Inspection and maintenance – code of practice*
Part 5: Portable fire extinguisher for use on cooking oil fires (Class F)*
Part 6: Specification for small, disposable and non-refillable fire
extinguisher*
Part 7: Portable fire extinguisher for vehicles* 

Spacing

Generally, any occupant should not need to travel more than 15 metres to
reach a fire extinguishers.

.
WET RISER SYSTEM
Wet Riser System is one of the permanent fire-fighting
installations inside a building that are necessary to assist the
fire brigade to put out fires in the event of a fire.

Buildings which are exceeding 30.5m (in habitable height)

above the ground level must be fitted with a Wet Riser
System and each rising main must not serve more that
930m2 of any floor and also the maximum zone height must
not exceed 120 m.
 FIRE SAFETY
MANAGEMENT
fire safety strategy diagram
 1. Fire systems maintenance

 Maintenance of fire safety systems forms part of

the Fire Maintenance Contract.
 The provisions of the contract ensures maintenance
on fire systems and equipment is carried out in
compliance with the Fire & Rescue Services Act
and Building Fire Safety Regulations. 
 The contract will ensure that Fire Maintenance
Contractors are fully qualified to carry out
maintenance on fire safety systems.
 2. Fire Wardens management
 It is the responsibility of the building owner to
appoint Fire Wardens.
 3. Fire evacuation drills
 Fire evacuation exercises will be carried out
annually to educate building occupants in the
correct manner of evacuating a building in the
event fire
 All evacuations will be conducted by the Fire
Wardens under the guidance of a Fire Safety
Officer
 Provisions are made for the safe evacuation of
disabled persons too.
 4. Fire safety inspections and risk
assessment
 Fire risk assessments and inspections of buildings
are essential in identifying real and potential fire
risks and hazards.
 Chief Fire Wardens are to be involved in these
audits.
 5. Building design and
commissioning of new systems
 All building design work shall comply with
relevant codes and standards .
 New building works and refurbishment projects
that include fire safety equipment and systems
will be in compliance with the Acts, Codes and
Standards.
THANK YOU