FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR A BUILDING

ADVANCED SERVICES

FIRE FIGHTING

There are four classes of fire :a) Ordinary combustion b) Burning of liquidsc) Electrical fire d) Metal fires

Fire in a building is an undesirable combustion of material in a building not under control. It can cause loss of life, damage to papers and valuables, furniture and property, the main structure etc. if not brought under control.

The main principle aim of fire fighting is in the priority of :

1) Saving lives,2) Protection of property 3) reduce interruptions in the

functioning of buildings4) Prevention of fire.

VARIOUS FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR A BUILDING

Halon system: Halon contained in cylinders in liquid form is released through nozzles on the

piping distribution arrangement. An actuator is

provided on the cylinder control valve and it is

operated either by electric or pneumatic signal when

fire occurs.

Automatic sprinkle system: This system consists of

automatic sprinkles attached to a piping system containing water under pressure and

connected to a water supply so that water discharges immediately from the

sprinkles opened by a fire.

Carbon dioxide system: Carbon dioxide is a clean , non combustible and non corrosive gas. It extinguishes the fire by

diluting flammable mixtures of air and flammable gas or vapor to

proportions below their flammable limits. This system is adopted to

grant fire protection to areas containing flammable liquids, paint mixing rooms, petroleum research

laboratories etc.

AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLERS SYSTEM

1. Main water tank 2. Main water pump 3. Main pilot valve (dry) 4. Pilot valve (wet) 5. Sprinkler head -standing configuration 6. Sprinkler head -hanging configuration 7. Pressure tank 8. Testing piping 9. Testing piping 10. Filling piping 11. Compressor 12. Alarm bell 13. Fire central 14. Alarm bell 15. Pressure gauge 16. Switchboard

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS

Automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in the following buildings:

All buildings of 24 mt. and above in height, except group housing and 45 mt. and above in case of apartment /group housing society building.

Hotels below l5mt. in height and above 1000 sq. mt. built up area at each floor and or if basement is existing.

Mercantile building having basement more than one floor but below 15mt. (floor area not exceeding 750 sq. mt.)

Underground Shopping Complex.

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS

Carbon dioxide system Halon system

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS

Dry chemical system: This system includes a supply of dry chemical, a spreading gas such as compressed nitrogen, detection devices, release mechanism, fixed piping and nozzles for discharging the dry chemical into the hazard area. This system is applied in two ways(A) Flooding (B) Local Flooding is used for enclosed areas while Local is applied for areas which are effectively isolated from other sources of ignition.

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS

Foam system: The mechanical foam is formed by passing foam producing liquid and water through an agitation device.It is lighter than flammable liquids and oils. It floats on the surface of the liquid and thus forms a continuous blanket which separates flammable liquid from air supply effectively.This system is used for oil refineries, chemical plants, aircraft hangers, liquid solvent plants.

A Long Beach Fire Fighter applies a chemical on the high-expanding firefighting foam which was accidentally released inside a hangar at Long Beach Airport on Thursday.

Fighting a Fire with Foam Firefighting system

Hydrant system: Hydrants are located at suitable points and they can be operated either manually or automatically. In manual operation, a pump has to be started manually after opening the hydrant valve.In automatic operation, the pump will start automatically when the hydrant valve is opened manually.The hydrant valve should be designed for the prescribed discharge under pressure such that a jet throw of water is obtained from the nozzle of hose pipe. This system is the backbone of all the fire protection system. It can be installed for multi storeyed buildings, power plants, textiles mills, hospitals, paper mills, airports, warehouses.

Fire Hydrant System

Water spray system: Water spray is used to extinguish fire. This system can be grouped into the following categories.a)Multi fire system b)Protect o spray system Multifire system is designed to have a coarse water spray discharged at high velocity. Such an arrangement gives the water spray to reach upto the base of flame zone.Protect o spray system is designed to have a fine water spray discharged at low velocity. Such an arrangement cools the burning surface and creates inert vapour.

Medium and High Velocity Water Spray System

Fire EscapesFire escape shall not be taken into account while

calculating the number of staircases for a building.

All fire escapes shall be directly connected to the ground.

Fire escape shall be constructed of non-combustible materials.

Fire escape stairs shall have straight flight not less than 125 cm wide with 25 cm treads and risers not more than 19 cm. 

Handrails shall be at a height not less than 100 cm.

Fire escape staircase in the mercantile, business, assembly, hotel buildings above 24 mt. height shall be a fire tower and in such a case width of the same shall not be less than the width of the main staircase.  No combustible material shall be allowed in the fire tower.

S T A N D A R D SThe minimum width of the ramps in the Hospitals shall be 2.4 mt. and in the basement using car parking shall be 6.0 mt. Ramp shall lead directly to outside open space at ground level or courtyards of safe place. For building above 24.0 mt. in height access to ramps from any floor of the building shall be through smoke fire check door. The lift machine room shall be separate and no other machinery be installed therein.Fire lift : The lift shall have a floor area of not less than 1.4 sq.mt, It shall have a loading capacity of not less than 545 kg. (8 persons lift) with automatic closing doors. Lights and fans in the elevator having wooden paneling or sheet steel construction shall be operated on 24-volt supply.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

All buildings of 15 mt. and above in height shall be equipped with fire alarm system, and residential buildings (Dwelling House, Boarding House and Hostels) above 24 mt. height. All residential buildings like dwelling housing (including flats) boarding houses and hostels shall be equipped with manually operated electrical fire alarm system with one or more call boxes located at each floor.The location of the call boxes shall be decided after taking into consideration their floor without having to travel more than 22.5 mt. The call boxes shall be of the break glass type without any moving parts. Where the call is transmitted automatically to the control room without any other action on the part of the person operating the call boxes.

MATERIAL  USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING

The combustible/flammable material shall not be used for partitioning, wall paneling, false ceiling etc.Any material giving out toxic gases/smoke if involved in the fire shall not be used for partitioning of a floor or wall paneling or a false ceiling etc.The framework of the entire false ceiling would be provided with metallic sections and no wooden framework shall be allowed for paneling/false ceiling.Construction features/elements of structures shall conform to National Building Code and BIS code .LPG : The use of LPG shall not be permitted in the high-rise building except residential/hotel/hostel/kitchen/pantry (if any) shall be located at the periphery of the building on the ground level.

StandardsEXISTING NBC STANDARD

CORRIDOR WIDTHS 2 M 2.4 M

FIRE RESISTANCE OF DOORS

2 HOURS 2 HOURS

WIDTHS OF FIRE EXIT DOORS

1.2 M 2 M

WIDTH OF FIRE EXIT STAIRCASE

1M INCLUDING HANDRAIL

2M

FIRE EXIT STAIRCASE LANDING

WIDTH

1M 2M

FRONT SET BACK MORE THAN 6 M

MIN 6 M

SIDE AND REAR SET BACKS

1M 6M

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