Fire Safety
Fire Safety
Fire Safety
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That part of emergency lighting which is provided to ensure that the escape
route is illuminated at all material times, for example, at all times when persons
are on the premises, or at times the main lighting is not available, either for the
whole building or for the escape routes.
Plot area
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floor/landing for fire-fighting purposes and permanently charged with water from
a pressurized supply.
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serious safety consequences. Fire suppression systems can be installed to
displace oxygen with some other gas such as carbondioxode or either cover the
fuel (foam, dry chemicals).
There are two types of fire protection which are essentially:
1. Passive fire protection
2. Active fire protection
The objective of PFP system is to make sure that fire does not spread beyond
the fire compartment besides ensuring that it doesn’t breach the critical level of
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load bearing capacity of the structure exposed to fire. To meet the aim a variety
of materials are used in the construction and design of the systems.
PFP doesn’t follow the typical approach of active fire protection (AFP) which
involves electronic or electric activation or any degree of motion. But the
assumptions to the rule are use of fire dampers(fire-resistant closure within air
ducts, excluding grease ducts) and fire door closers that involve motion to be
specific open and shut in order to work, also intumescent (Intumescent and
ablative products are so called reactive measures which are activated at elevated
temperatures) products which swell when activated.
Passive systems are formed by fire rated ceilings, doors, barrier and structural
fire protection. (12)
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1.0.3.2 Fire escape staircase
One other way to fight fire hazards is through fire escape staircase. It should be
maintained at all the floors in the boundaries as well as basement car park.
When the staircases are provided with openings it facilitates the smoke caused
by fire to escape from the buildings.
The stair case acts as a great safety measure by helping the occupants get
diverted to a safer area where there is no fire in the occasions of fire mishaps. By
constructing the building in such a way so that there exists two modes of exits
that have separate doors and exits which lead to corridors or other areas
providing access to separate exits in various directions.
The NBC quoted in 2005 that:
• There must be at least two separate exits for each storey besides having
additional exits as many as necessary.
• The exits are designed in such a way that the distance to the exits are with-in
the reach and not beyond the specification mentioned in the bylaw.
1.0.4 Railings
The railings used in the fire escape use the following dimensions: 1.0 meter
height and 0.04 meter diameter. They are made up of non-flammable material
and steel, and are coated with grey iron. To benefit occupants of different heights
the railings have minor parallel railing maintained at a distance of 0.02 meter
each. A protected staircase which comprises of staircase should neither contain
any kind of pipes that conveys oil or gas nor any ventilating duct except a duet
which serves only that particular staircase.
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and opening of the doors is only possible by pressing the open door button which
is within the car.
Procedures of the lift should be taken care, such as the lifts not having fire
services controls or if a doubt rises regarding the floors that lift serves, then we
should avoid using that particular lift.
The location of the fire lifts should be within a protected shaft if the opening is in
a separate lobby.
Provision of the fire lifts shall be in such a way that in every group of the lift lifts
which discharges should be into some kind of protected lobby having rising main,
in such a way that the fire lifts should not be located more than 61 meters from
the furthermost point of that particular floor.
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Sprinkler systems installed at the ceiling height will be activated when excess
heat from fire causes glass to burst and there by releasing the water in the
location of fire and hence preventing the damage of other areas of building.
Finally the aim of active protection system to extinguish the fire will be:
Detecting the fire early and evacuate the building
Alerting emergency services at an early stage of the fire
Control the movement of smoke and fire
Suppress and/ or starve the fire or oxygen and fuel
Also it is important to note that the system also requires manual operation and
examples of such systems would be the fire extinguishers to put out the fire & the
use of fire hydrants and water standpipes, together with fire hoses operated by
trained firefighters to extinguish fire quickly. Use of this active fire protection
systems has some benefits such as permitting design freedom and encourage
innovative, inclusive & sustainable architecture.
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Be accessible via two path of travel. One from the front entrance and the
other from a public place or fire-isolated passageway, which leads to a
public place which has a two hour fire rated door.
Have an independent air handling system if mechanical ventilation is
provided throughout the building.
Illuminated not less than 400lux
Ability to communicate with fire and emergency services besides effective
communication to the other parts of building.
Provided insulation from ambient building noises.
The equipment that are included are:
1. Break glass
2. Flow switch
3. Smoke detector
4. Hose reel
5. Sprinkler pump
6. Co2 system
7. Smoke extraction
8. Pressurization fan
9. Exhaust fan
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where it can be seen easily. The occupants can activate the alarm by breaking
the frangible element on fascia.
Automated processes triggered by the fire alarm:
1. When the fire alarm goes off in any zone, all the fire curtains & fire
shutters will fall within 5mins.
2. When the smoke detector is activated, it will trigger the fire alarm in the
zone, which will then trigger the fire shutters and fire curtains.
3. When the sprinklers in any zone are activated, the fire alarms in that zone
will be automatically triggered, and the rest of the automated process
subsequently triggered.
4. Then a 2 stage alarm system with evacuation (continuous signal) given
immediately in the affected section of the premises while and alert
(intermittent signal) is given in the adjoining section
When there is a fire alarm, the fire lift only respond to car calls.
FIRE INTERCOM SYSTEM
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1.0.7 Water Based System (15)
AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
A Fire sprinkler system consists of water supply system with adequate water flow
rate and pressure to a water distribution piping system, on which fire sprinklers
are connected.
A sprinkler pump consists of value which serve as the jockey system and an
alarm court. Value is sensitive to the water pressure changes in the sprinkler
system. The sprinklers will discharge water in the particular zone when activated
and the pressure of the value is reduced, triggering the duty pumps to pump
water from the sprinklers.
Sprinklers are of two types:
1. Pendent sprinkler
2. Upright sprinkler
PENDENT SPRINKLER
These pendent sprinklers hangs from the pipeline with its water deflector facing
downwards which resembles a 6’o clock style. Hence these are called pendent
sprinklers due to their pendent type design but the water will sprinkles in the
same circular patterns as that of a upright sprinkler. They hide under a special
cap under the ceiling that falls away when the surrounding temperature rises to a
prescribed level. The concealed pendent will spray the water if the temperature
continues to rise.
UPRIGHT SPRINKLER
It is opposite of the pendent sprinkler as it atop the pipeline with a water deflector
at the top which when sprinkles the water, the water shoot upwards from the
orifice and then spread the water in circular fashion. These are generally used
when there are obstructions to water spray which eventually block the water. But
because their height, the water will be sprayed around the obstacles.
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purpose within the building. The provision of water distribution system as built-in
system facilitates the firefighters. They need not create their own water
distribution system. Avoids breaching of fire compartments and thereby avoiding
running hose lines between them.
Water is used to charge the wet risers permanently. Dry risers do not contain
water when they are not under usage. They are charged only when necessary
with water using fire service pumping appliances.
Regularly wet risers are to be inspected and tested in order to ensure that the
equipment functions correctly and is ready to use. In the event of fire, problems
can be very serious. Problems are mostly caused due to the blockage of pipes,
or may be a pipe failure or may be by connection failure or due to the outlets
being open.
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1.0.8.2 Carbondioxide system
This system is most commonly used in every household and commercial
buildings. Because CO2 is more effective to hold down the combustion of
potentially flammable mixtures. It extinguishes fire that involves flammable liquids
and gases. CO2 is stored as a liquid in cylinders under a great pressure. It is not
a conductor of electricity so that it doesn't conduct electricity. It doesn't damage
electronic sensitive equipment normally.
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For determining the exits required, the number of persons within any floor area
or the occupant load shall be based on the actual number of occupants, but in
no case less than that specified in table.
assembly occupancies, the capacity per storey Figure Error! No text of specified style
in document..2 Table showing
per unit width of exit of stairways in the table occupants per unit width
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04. Doorways:
Every exit doorway shall open into an enclosed stairway or a horizontal exit of
corridor or passageway providing continuous and protected means of egress.
Minimum width – 1000mm
Minimum height – 2000mm
09. Ramps:
Slope of a ramp shall not exceed 1 in 10.
In certain cases steeper slopes may be permitted but in no case greater than 1
in 8.
For all slopes exceeding 1 in 10 and wherever the use is such as to involve
danger of slipping, the ramp shall be surfaced with approved non slipping
material.
Ramps shall comply with all the applicable requirements for stairways regarding
enclosure, capacity and limiting dimensions.
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