TCVN 5760:1993

VIETNAM STANDARDS TCVN 5760:1993

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGN, INSTALLATION AND
UTILIZATION

This Standard is applied for design, installation and utilization of fire-extinguishing

systems equipped for construction works, (factories, enterprises, warehouses, offices, and
houses, etc.)

1 Terminology and definitions

1.1 Fire-extinguishing system is a general term for specialized technical equipment,

pipework and fire-extinguishing substances used to extinguish a fire.

1.2 A fixed fire-extinguishing system means a fire-extinguishing system which is

installed in a fixed location.

1.3 A semi-fixed fire-extinguishing system is a fire-extinguishing system which part of

the system is installed fixedly while the remaining is to be completely installed under
fire extinguishing.

1.4 An automatic fire-extinguishing means a fire –extinguishing system which is

automatically controlled once a fire occurs.

1.5 A manual fire-extinguishing system is a fire-extinguishing system which is operated

by hand.

1.6 Volume-based fire-fighting system is a fire-extinguishing system creating an

environment where fire is not sustained within the volume requiring fire protection.

1.7 Surface fire-extinguishing system is a fire-extinguishing system which is sued to

cover by spraying over the surface of the fire substance.

1.8 Water fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system of which the substance used
for fire extinguishing is water.

1.9 Foam fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system of which the substance used
to fight fire is foam.

1.10 Powder fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system of which the substance
used for fire extinguishing is powder.

1.11 Gas fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system of which the substance
used to extinguish fire is gas.

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1.12 Steam fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system of which the substance
used for fire extinguishing is steam.

1.13 Sprinkler fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system with a closed ejector
set in permanent status. Such ejector will open once fixed temperature is reached and
it only extinguishes partly on a pre-fixed area.

1.14 Drencher fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system with open ejector.
Once a fire occurs, the whole are below the ejectors will spray fire-fighting
substance.

1.15 Wall fire-fighting system means a fire-fighting system which is installed on the
wall inside the construction building.

1.16 Control unit means the equipment that controls the operation of a fire-fighting
system.

1.17 Fire-extinguishing substance supply and storage unit means the equipment that is
used to store and convey fire-fighting substance.

1.18 Fire-fighting substance distribution unit is a general term for technical equipment
used to distribute, conduct and transfer fire-fighting substance.

2. Fire classification

2.1 Subject to the status of fire substances and materials, a fire is divided into 4
categories: solid fire is symbolized as A, liquid fire as B, gas fire as C and metal fire
as D. Each category is also classified into group to ensure high efficiency when
employing fire-fighting system.

2.2 Fire category and group are stipulated in Table 1

Fire category symbol Fire feature
1 2
A Solid fire
B Liquid fire
2
Table 1
Fire group Fire group feature
symbol
3 4
Solid burned in
smouldering process
A1 (e.g. wood, paper, dry
weeds, straw, coal and
textile products
Solid burned without
A2 smouldering process
(e.g. plastic materials)
B1 Burning of liquid not
mixed in water (e.g.
gasoline, ether, fuel,
mineral oil), solid fire
turning to liquid (e.g.
TCVN 5760:1993

paraffin)
Burning of liquid mixed
B2 in water (e.g. alcohol,
methanol, glycerin)
Gas fire (e.g.
C methane, hydro,
propane..)
Burning of light metal
(e.g. aluminum,
D1
magnesium and their
alloy)
Burning of alkali metal
D Metal fire D2 and other similar metals
(e.g. natrium, kalium)
Burning of alloys
containing metal (e.g.
D3
metal organic
compound, metal hydro)

2.3 The fire symbols help to use fire-fighting equipment, tools properly with each type of
fire. Each fire-extinguishing tool, equipment shall be labeled with symbol,
conforming to regulations. Fire symbols are stated in Table 2.

Table 2
Fire symbols (black shape, white word)
Fire category
(pls. see original)

A
A (triangle)

B
B (square)

C
C (round)

D
D (diamond)

Note: For equipment, tools which can fight various fires, they shall be labeled sufficiently
types of required symbols.

3. Design requirements

3.1 When designing fire-fighting system, it is required to base on fire category, fire-rate
and quantity of fire substance in the work and fire-fighting efficiency of the system.

See Table 3 for fire-fighting efficiency when designing system.

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Table 3
Fire- Efficiency when fighting types of fire
fighting System A B C D
substance A1 A2 B1 B2 D1 D2 D3
Wall
Water Sprinkler ++ - - -
Drencher

Light foam ++ + - - -
Foam Heavy foam
+ ++ + - -
Average foam
Gas CO2 - ++ + -
BC Powder - -
Powder ++ ++
ABCD Powder + ++ -

Note: Symbol “++” means Very efficient

Symbol “+” means
Symbol “-” means
Light foam means
Average foam means
Heavy foam means
BC Powder means
ABCD Powder means
Suitable for fire fighting
Not suitable for fire fighting
Foam with high expanding multiple
Foam with average expanding multiple
Foam with low expanding multiple
Powder used for fighting fires symbolized as B,C
Powder used for fighting fires symbolized as A,B,C
and D

3.2 Fire-extinguishing system with:

- Alarm unit
- Control unit
- Fire-fighting substance supply and storage unit
- Fire-extinguishing distributor and ejector/sprayer
- Pipework
- Power supply unit

For manual and semi-fixed fire-fighting systems, it is allowed to reduce some

components which are considered unnecessary in the system.

3.3 When designing a fire-fighting system, fire-fighting substance capacity shall be

ensured. The fire-fighting substance capacity is subject to types of fire-fighting
substance, fire materials, area and volume requiring fire-extinguishing.

3.4 The fire-fighting system shall ensure sufficient pressure to put the fire-fighting
substance into the place on fire.

3.5 The fire-fighting substance supply and storage unit shall ensure a continuous
operation and shall have a reservation suitable for each type of fire-fighting systems,
in conformity with TCVN 2622-78 and TCVN 5307 – 1991

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3.6 The fire-fighting distributor, ejector and spraying head (lăng phun) shall ensure to
cover the fire surface with fire-fighting substance.

3.7 It is required to use suitable sprayers and spraying heads for each type of fire-
fighting system.

3.8 The alarm unit shall ensure normal operation. When fighting fire, alarm signals shall
be given.

3.9 The power supply unit shall ensure to supply sufficiently energy for a fire-fighting
system to operate. There shall be a standby power supply source to duly substitute
once the main power supply source is cut off.

3.10 When designing fire-fighting systems for a construction work, it is required:

- Explanation for structure and operation principle of the system

- Technical specifications
- Calculations and definitions of specifications
- Instructions for system function checking and technical maintenance manual.
- Technical drawings.

3.11 When designing fire-fighting system, it is required to review the work structural
features to ensure efficiency when putting it in use.

3.12 SPRINKLER fire-fighting system shall only be designed for construction work
having ceiling or roof height from 10m downwards. The distance from sprayer,
spraying head to fire materials shall be ensured from 0.5m onwards.

3.13 The DRENCHER fire-fighting system is designed for construction work without
any limit for ceiling or roof height. When designing DRENCHER fire-fighting
system, it is required to have an regional division to avoid uncontrollably fire-
extinguishing.

3.14 When designing foam or gas fire-fighting system, it is required to consider the
ability of excessive gas getting out in order to reduce extra pressure in the work.

3.15 The fire-fighting substance supply and storage unit shall be designed either
indoors or outdoors subject to specific conditions of the work.

4. Installation requirements

4.1 It is only allowed to carry out installation or replacement a fire-fighting system

according to design documents approved by a fire-protection authority.

4.2 When installing a fire-fighting system, all equipment shall be ensured for tightness
and durability, especially the systems which contain pressured fire-fighting
substance.

4.3 The fire-fighting substance supply and storage unit placed outdoors shall have a
weather-protection roof.
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4.4 After completely installing a fire-fighting system, it is required to carry out testing,
making assessment for the quality and technical specifications of the system and
recording all data in inspection minutes.

5. Utilization requirements

5.1 It is only allowed to put into operation those fire-fighting system which ensure that
the quality and technical specification conform to design.

5.2 Each fire-fighting system must have a record book to record all data relevant to such
system. The record book shall be kept and recorded by the operator.

5.3 The fire-fighting system shall be periodically maintained according to

manufacturer’s instructions.

In case of repair and/or replacement once there is operation problem or failure, it

shall be performed in compliance with the instructions.

5.4 After using fire-fighting system for fire extinguishing or practicing, the managing
office shall quickly replace or repair the system if so required.

5.5 The fire-fighting system operator shall have a certain professional understanding and
shall be well aware of operation procedure as instructed by manufacturer.

5.6 The system operator shall regularly inspect the fire-fighting capability and
availability of the system according to manufacturer’s instructions as well as other
relevant documents. When failures are found, it is required to inform the person in
charge in the company/office to overcome/resolve.

5.7 The person who carries out repairing or maintenance or replacement of fire-fighting
system components shall be qualified and decided by an authority.

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