Fire Protection System

Building Utility & Services

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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 our country.

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Fuel can be
Liquid : Grease, Oil, Fuel
Solid: Wood, paper, Metal,
Gas : Propane, acetylene

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 There are 4 classes of fire:
Class A
Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as
wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics.
Class B
Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline,
kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane.
Class C
Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances,
switches, panel boxes and power tools.
Class D
Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium,
titanium, potassium, and sodium.

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 Fire Protection

• A method of fire protection involves the conveyance of water I 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.

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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
flamespread 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)
• 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
• enclosures (boxes or wraps made of fireproofing materials, including fire-resistive wraps and tapes to
protect speciality 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.
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Active fire protection
• Active Fire Protection (AFP) is an integral part of fire protection. AFP is characterised by items
and/or systems, which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to work, contrary
to passive fire protection.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Storage of Water
• A sufficient Quality 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 as per Development Control Regulation of the Bombay Municipal
Corporation

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Systems of Fire Fighting – external 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.

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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.

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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

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 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
ProtectionAct).
• The following methods are classified to extinguish fire within the buildings.

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Residential Premises Fire Protection System
• Fire Hose System Dry Riser/ Wet Riser
• Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Potable 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 BS III - BGSSAP 23
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
ca-n 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.

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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 extinguishfire.
• 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 preaction system water is admitted to the system
by a valve actuated by a thermostatic controlled device
that function in advance of the sprinklersystem.
• The distribution system is laid with a slope of about
1:200, so that the complete water is drained out of the
system.
• Provision of necessary pressure gauges is made on main
water supply, distribution, air tank,
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Wet Riser System
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
• These risers are connected to fire pumps separately provided for this purpose in the buildings
• A wet riser must be provided near the enclosurestaircase.
• The pipe fitting should be approved make and quality by the competent authority.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

(b)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 BS III - BGSSAP 32
Sprinkler Heads
• Upright
• Pendant
• Sidewall
• Recessed heads

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Frangible Bulb Head

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frangible bulb

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 fusible link

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Chemical pellet

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Sprinkler Classification
• Sprinkler based on Arrangements
• Universal Sprinkler – This Could be upright and pendent.
• Upright Sprinkler- Upright sprinklers are so arranged, that the stream of water is directed upwards against the
distribution plate.
• Pendent Sprinklers: Pendent sprinkler are so arrangement that the stream of water is directed
downward against the distribution plate.
• Dry Pendent Sprinkler: Dry pendent sprinkler are kept free of water while in a
state of readiness by a special catch construction in the down pipe
• Dry upright sprinkler Dry upright sprinkler are upright sprinkler, which are kept
free of water while in a state of readiness by a special catch construction up into unheated roof space.
• Ceiling Sprinklers: Ceilings sprinklers, in which part of the body of the sprinkler
may be mounted above the lower plane of ceiling.

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Sprinkler System Design
• The following step may be taken to arrive at suitable sprinkler system
• Draw an architectural plan and other indicating the location and size of the water supplies, connecting pipes, feed
main risers, gate, check alarm etc.
• The sprinkler system piping is installed parallel to the ceiling, and the maximum distance being 250 mm from ceiling
• Under the ceiling the area per sprinkler is taken as 6 sq. m to 9 sq. m.
• The number of sprinklers on each branch is taken to minimum 8
• If the number increase beyond 8, it is advisable to have 65 mm supply pipe for the same.

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Escape chute
• An escape chute is a special kind of emergency exit, used where conventional fire escape stairways are impractical.
The chute is a fabric (or occasionally metal) tube installed near a special exit on an upper floor or roof of a building,
or a tall structure. During use, the chute is deployed, and may be secured at the bottom by a fire fighting crew some
distance out from the building. Once the tube is ready, escapees enter the tube and slide down to a lower level or the
ground level.

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Industrial Fire fighting Systems
• The industrial area constitute variety of combinations of men and material and processes.
Therefore, it is necessary to take additional measures for the industries. The capacity for
water storage tank for fire fighting of an industrial building is worked out at a rate
of 2.5 lit/sqm. Of lattable floor area subjected to minimum of 2,25000 litres. A set of
two pumps must be installed to discharged 2275 litres per min at a pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 at a desired floor.
• It must be noted that the requirement of water supply, pumping capacity and other
measures and other features of hydrant systems depends on the size of the risk and its fire
growth.
• Light Hazard Occupancies: Buildings with lower hazard such as school, hospitals, hotels.
• Ordinary Hazard Occupancies: Consisting of the majority of the commercial and industrial buildings
• High Hazard Occupancies: These occupancies are divided into:-
• Process risks such as paint, foam, plastic and foam rubber
• High piled storage rises in petroleum products.

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Methods of Fire Extinguishing
High Voltage Water Spray Systems
• High Voltage foam spray extinguishes fire involving oils, or similar
flammable liquids. The equipment consists of pipes and nozzles is
permanently fixe around the plant to be protected and is usually automatic controlled for immediate operation in the
event of fire.

Medium Velocity fire Spray systems

• The medium velocity water spray systems protect plant, structures and
machinery against fires which involves higher inflammable liquids,
gases & solids. When a fire occurs, medium velocity water spray
equipment applies water in finely divided droplets travelling at medium
speed and give protection to tanks structures and factory equipment's by
cooling, by control burning of inflammable liquids and by dilution of explosive gases.

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Methods of Fire Extinguishing
Foam System
• Foam system has earned recognition as a effective method. Foam systems are specially suited for
fires in oil storages, flammable liquids such as benzoyl, petrol, alcohol, and lighter petroleum
products. In this system fluroprotein foam compounds is applied forcefully to burnin hydrocarbon
liquid which prohibits fire spread. This system is generally operated manually.

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Methods of Fire Extinguishing
Dry Chemical Powder:
• Dry Chemical Powder used to combat fires in flammable liquids, gases and greases include such fires when involved
with energized electrical equipment is a potassium bicarbonate based dry chemical. The chemical powder is free
flowing, water repellent and non abrasive and when used as a fire extinguisher agent will produce no toxic effects.
Because of its excellent fire fighting effectiveness this product is widely used in other high risk areas.
• Carbon dioxide or Nitrogen is used as a expelling gas. This system can be effectively installed in restaurants, fuel
stations etc.

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Methods of Fire Extinguishing
Carbon dioxide
• Carbon dioxide has been used for many years to extinguish the flammable liquid fires and fire involving electrically
energized equipment's. Carbon dioxide about one and half times as heavy air, a property that accounts for its ability
to replace air above burning surface and maintain a smothering atmosphere, It is non combustible and does not react
with most substances.
• (a) Smothering effect: Carbon dioxide is stored under pressure as liquid, when released, it is discharged into the fire
area principally as a gas. When released on burning material, it covers then and removes the oxygen to a
concentration which cannot support combustion

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Methods of Fire Extinguishing
• Cooling effect:
• The rapid expansion of liquid to gas when carbon dioxide is released from storage cylinder produces
a refrigerating effect that converts part of the carbon dioxide into snow. This snow, which has a
temperature of 80 0C soon sublimes into gas, absorbing heat from the burning material and
surrounding atmosphere.

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Portable Fire Extinguisher
• Portable extinguishers are manufactured in a variety of shapes & sizes. In order to avoid confusion, extinguisher of the
same type, should be similar in shape, appearance and as far as possible, in method of operation. It is also advisable to
standardize the sizes, if possible although in some instances less heavy models may be desired, where for example,
women are likely to use extinguisher.
• The extinguisher should be located in conspicuous positions on bracket or shelves where they can be readily noticed
by persons following the normal escape route like exits and stair landing on each floor.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Stored pressure dry powder (ABC) Clean agent type

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Alarm Gong
• The sounding of alarm should occur shortly after the opening of a sprinkler head. An alarm valve which is a type of
back pressure valve, should be fitted on the main supply pipe immediately above the main stop valve. The alarm gong
should be close to the main stop valve, but should be sited outside the building in a position where it will readily be
audible to the police and other petrol's. In order to avoid false alarm caused by fluctuations in the pressure of supply, a
device is necessary in most types of alarm systems to permit of such temporary fluctuations without lifting of the
alarm.

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Fire Alarm System
• It is an integral part of any fire protection system. It is said that the first five minutes of fire are most important than the
next five hours. Fire can be extinguished when it is in an incipient stage. Moreover people can be warned of fire
hazards and evacuation of the buildings become easy. The heat & smoke detectors detect fire and actuate the alarm
system. The system helps evacuation of the premises and to bring fire fighting facilities into action as quickly as
possible. The Fire alarm systems are provided in the residential buildings with heights above 15 m and industrial and
commercial buildings with height above 24 m. If the height of building is above 35 m. It is necessary to have provision
of heat & Smoke Detectors

ALARMS

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DETECTORS & STOBES

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Training Services & Maintenances
• Training of personnel to handle a fire situation and effectively operate both hand fire appliances and fixed
equipment, installed within the premises, say of a factory or a high rise buildings, is normally overlooked. This is
incredible in view of the fact that the owner has spent several hundred lakhs to install the best of equipment to
protect life and property. In the event of fire emergency, the people around must respond very quickly and put to
gainful use of equipment's.
• In Addition to this a disaster management plan should be worked out by the owner and made known to all the
persons working within the premises.

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Safety Measures
• Apart from the training needs it is necessary to follow certain precautions and alertness while fire is on. Where ever
the height of your building, ensure you follow some basicprecautions:
• Remember to call 100, 101,102,103 (Police, Fire, Ambulance, & Traffic Police)
• Do not allow encroachments or storage in courtyards, open courtyards are needed for placing &
operating fire and rescue appliances,
• Do not allow storage or obstruction in the common corridors andstaircases
• Do not allow the fire door of staircases to be kept open
• Use staircase not lift, in case of fire as lifts may fail, trapping peopleinside.
• Do not allow refuge area to be enclosed or misused.
• Do not reenter the fire affected building to collect valuables or for other purposes.
• Do not allow fire fighting tanks to be misused or remainempty
• Do not switch off the fire or smoke detection system.
• Do not switch off electricity of entire building in the event of fire. This will also stop all the fire protection and fire
fighting systems installed within.
• Do not carry any alterations & additions in the buildings, without consulting the fire brigade.
• Acquire yourself with the layout of the escape route,staircases, refuge areas and the location of the fire alarms.
• Train yourself and the security personnel in the proper operation and use of first aid hose real and fire extinguisher.
• Practice evacuation drills.
• Irrespective of the magnitude of fire, summon the Fire Brigade at the earliest.
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