BUILDIG SERVICES

FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY

Presentation by- Pooja K A

USN- 1NS21AT021
WHAT IS FIRE AND ITS CAUSES
• Fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs
between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel.
• The fuel must be heated to its ignition temperature for combustion to occur. The reaction will keep going
as long as there is enough heat, fuel and oxygen.
CHEMICAL REACTION IN THE COMBUSTION PROCESS:-
• During the chemical reaction that produces fire, fuel is heated to such an extent that (if not already a gas) it
releases gases from its surface.
• Gases are made up of molecules (groups of atoms). When these gases are hot enough, the molecules in the
gases break apart and fragments of molecules rejoin with oxygen to make new product molecules – water
molecules (H2O) and carbon dioxide molecules (CO2) – and other products if burning is not complete.
CAUSES OF FIRE:
• Common causes of fire are,
1. Faulty appliances and leads 2. Faulty fuel supply 3. misuse of equipment 4. Placing articles too close
• Frayed wiring • Gas leaks
• Electrical • Spills on electrical • Tea towel near
• Overloaded sockets equipment cooking
supply
• Old appliances problem • Phones left to charge appliances
• Damaged plugs • Defective fuel too long • Candles
supply to an • Portable heaters left on knocked over
• Faulty appliances
electrical dirty ovens • Tin foil at
appliance • Microwaves bottom of oven
• Leaking fuel • Lint tray in tumble dryer • Clothes on
e.g. petrol in a heater
garage
REASONS FOR LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO FIRE
• The majority of fire-related deaths are caused by smoke inhalation of the toxic gases produced
by fires. Actual flames and burns only account for about 30 percent of fire-related deaths and
injuries.
• The majority of fires that kill or injure children are residential fires. The majority of children
ages 4 and younger, who are hospitalized for burn-related injuries, suffer from scald burns.
Deadly residential fires are most likely to start in a living or sleeping area
• Hot tap water scald burns cause more deaths and hospitalizations than any other hot liquid
burns.
• Alternatively, death may be due to the effects of heat (i.e. heat shock), or the inhalation of hot
air/ gases. The principal causes of death are carbon monoxide followed by carbon dioxide
poisoning and/or oxygen deficiency.
DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE:-
Incipient – This first stage begins
when heat, oxygen and a fuel
source combine and have a
chemical reaction resulting in fire.
This is also known as “ignition” and
is usually represented by a very
small fire which often goes out on
its own, before the following
stages are reached. Recognizing a
fire in this stage provides your best
chance at suppression or escape.

Growth – The growth stage is

where the structures fire load and Fully Developed – When the growth stage has reached
oxygen are used as fuel for the fire. its max and all combustible materials have been ignited,
There are numerous factors a fire is considered fully developed. This is the hottest
affecting the growth stage phase of a fire and the most dangerous for anybody
including where the fire started, trapped within.
what combustibles are near it, Decay – Usually the longest stage of a fire, the decay
ceiling height and the potential for stage is characterized a significant decrease in oxygen or
“thermal layering”. It is during this fuel, putting an end to the fire. Two common dangers
shortest of the 4 stages when a during this stage are first – the existence of non-flaming
deadly “flashover” can occur; combustibles, which can potentially start a new fire if
potentially trapping, injuring or not fully extinguished. Second, there is the danger of a
killing firefighters. backdraft when oxygen is reintroduced to a volatile,
confined space.
 FIRE CLASSIFICATION OF
BUILDING
5 types in classification of structure according to fire
resistance.

TYPE 1: FIRE RESISTIVE

• Type 1 construction maintains its structural integrity
during a fire. Fire-resistive construction consists mainly of
reinforced concrete with structural members, including
walls, columns, beams, floors and roofs that are protected
either by blown-on insulation or automatic sprinklers.
• The fire-resistive compartmentation, provided by
partitions and floors, tends to retard the spread of fire
through the building. This will allow the occupants to exit
the building and the firefighters to conduct interior
firefighting.
Strengths:
• Resists direct flame impingement
• Confines fire well
• Little collapse potential from the effects of fire alone
• Impervious to water damage
Weaknesses:
• Difficult to breach for access or escape
• Difficult to ventilate during a fire
• Massive debris following collapse Steel Fireproofing
• Floors, ceilings and walls retain heat
TYPE 2: NONCOMBUSTIBLE
• Type II construction has a fire-resistance rating on all parts of the
structure including exterior and interior load-bearing walls and
building materials.
• Materials with no fire-resistance ratings, such as untreated wood,
may be used only in limited quantities.
• One of the primary fire protection concerns is the contents of the
building. The heat buildup from a fire in the building can cause
structural supports to fail.
• Another potential problem is the type of roof on the building.
Noncombustible construction buildings often have flat, built-up
roofs. These roofs consist of a combustible or noncombustible
roof deck covered by combustible felt, noncombustible insulation
and roofing tar. Fire extension to the roof can eventually cause the
entire roof to become involved and fail.
Strengths:
• Almost as resistive to fire as Type I construction
• Confines fire well
• Almost as structurally sound as Type I construction
• Impervious to water damage
Weaknesses:
• Difficult to breach for access or escape
• Difficult to ventilate during a fire
• Massive debris following collapse
• Floors, ceilings and walls retain heat
• Steel components subject to weakening by fire
• Steel components subject to weakening by rust and corrosion
TYPE 3: ORDINARY
• Type III construction requires that exterior walls and structural
members be made of noncombustible or limited combustible
materials such as concrete blocks or day tile blocks
• Interior structural members including walls, columns, beams,
floors and roofs are completely or partially made of wood.
• The wood used in these members is of smaller dimensions than
that required for heavy-timber construction.
• fire concern specific to ordinary construction is the problem of
fire and smoke spreading through concealed spaces. These spaces
are between the walls, floors and ceiling.
• These hazards can be reduced considerably by installing fire-
stops inside these spaces to limit the spread of the combustion
by-products.
Strengths:
• Resists fire spread well from the outside
• Relatively easy to vertically ventilate
Weaknesses:
• Interior structural members vulnerable to fire involvement
• Fire spread potential through concealed spaces
• Susceptible to water damage
• Walls can retain heat
TYPE 4: HEAVY TIMBER
• exterior walls made of masonry. Interior structural members,
including beams, columns, arches, floors and roofs are made of
solid or laminated wood with no concealed spaces.
• This wood must have dimensions large enough to be considered
heavy timber.
• Heavy Timber construction was used extensively in old factories,
mills and warehouses.
• The primary fire hazard associated with Heavy Timber
construction is the massive amount of combustible contents
presented by the structural timbers in addition to the contents of
the building.

Strengths:
• Resists collapse due to burn time of large dimension columns and
beams
• Possible to vertically ventilate during the early stages of a fire
• Manageable debris following collapse
Weaknesses:
• Tremendous radiant heat causes potential for flame spread to
other nearby structures
• Susceptible to rapid interior flame spread
• Large open spaces make search difficult and getting lost a
significant hazard
• Water management may be an issue due to large volumes
required for exposure protection and fire control
FIRE-WATER STORAGE
REQUIRMENTS
How Much Water Allocated to Fire-Fighting?
The amount of water that needs to be specifically allocated for fighting fires
varies from one location to the next and normally set by state or councils.
It is usually determined by the size of the property and the fire risk.

Water storage requirements range from a minimum of 2,500 litres for a

small property (less than 500 square metres) to a minimum of 20,000
litres for rural properties exceeding 1 hectare in size. In high fire risk areas,
a minimum of 22,000 litres allocated for fire-fighting is recommended.

Fire-Fighting Water Retention Tanks:

Water allocated for fire-fighting can be stored separately in a water tank
specifically reserved for fighting fires, or it can be stored together with
water allocated for normal household use in one storage tank as long as
certain criteria are met.

Finally, the water supply allocated for fire-fighting needs to located in a

position that is easy for fire-fighters to get to in a hurry. If it is located on
the fire prone side of the home, additional practical measures should be
taken to shield both the fire-fighting crew and any water pumps needed to
deliver water from the tank. If fire-fighters can’t access your water supply
due to safety concerns, then it could obviously lead to the loss of your
home.
 There are 2 types of detectors:
SMOKE IONIZATION smoke alarms monitor “ions” or electrically
DETECTORS : charged particles. Smoke particles change the electrical
balance of the air. The alarm will sound when the change in
A smoke detector is a sensor that electrical balance reaches a preset level.
detects smoke as a primary
indication of fire. It provides a
signal to a fire alarm system in a
large building, or produces an
audible and visual signal locally in a
room or a home.

PHOTOELCTRIC Photoelectric smoke alarms use a beam

of light and a light sensor. Smoke particles change the
amount of light that reaches the sensor causing the alarm
to sound.
FIRE ALARMS: FIRE ESAPE:
A fire alarm system warns people A fire escape is a special kind of
when smoke, fire, carbon monoxide emergency exit, usually mounted
or other fire-related or general
to the outside of a building or
notification emergencies are
detected. These alarms may be occasionally inside but separate
activated automatically from smoke from the main areas of the
detectors and heat detectors building.

FIRE
STAIRC
ASE
Fire escape staircase is widely used in
the high rise buildings to permit exit to
the occupants. In every structure exist
should comply with the minimum
requirement.
THANK YOU