FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

SERVICES

This looks at all systems and devices

that are used to stop and prevent fire
outbreaks in buildings and any
structure.
 SPRINKLERS

• Water sprinklers provide an automatic spray dedicated to the area of fire

outbreak.
• Sprinkler heads have temperature sensitive elements that respond
immediately to heat, discharging the contents of the water main to which
they are attached.
• They are used in factories and large commercial buildings, homes and
small buildings at a cost-effective price.
Pipework used
• For Domestic pipework -solvent cement bonded, post-chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride (CPVC).
• For Industrial and commercial pipework -threaded galvanised mild steel
Installation of sprinklers
 Types of Sprinkler heads

These Include
• Quartzoid bulb
• Fusible strut

• Duraspeed solder type

 Types of sprinklers
Wet pipe systems
The simplest and most widely used application, the pipework is permanently
charged with water.
It is only suitable in premises, where temperatures remain above zero, although
small sections of exposed pipework could be protected by trace element
heating.
The maximum number of sprinklers on one control valve is 1000.
Dry pipe systems
This is an air charged system applied to unheated premises such as
warehousing, where winter temperatures could drop below zero.
The maximum number of sprinklers on one control valve is 250, but this may
increase to 500 if the air controls include an accelerator.

Alternative wet and dry system

Essentially a wet system, but due to the slightly slower response time as air
precedes water on discharge, the pipework is charged with water for most of
the year and only air charged in winter. The maximum number of sprinklers is
the same as a dry system
 OTHER TYPES

• Tail end system

• Pre-action system
• Recycling pre-action system
• Cycling wet system-
• Deluge system
• Multiple control system
 WATER SUPPLIES FOR SPRINKLER
SYSTEMS
Sprinklers have to supplied with water and the following are systems of
suppling water to sprinklers
• Elevated private reservoir
• Suction tank
• Gravity tank
Usually located on a tower to provide sufficient head or water pressure above
the sprinkler installation
• River or canal
Strainers must be fitted on the lowest part of the suction pipes corresponding
with the lowest water level. Duplicate pumps and pipes are required, one diesel
and the other electrically powered.
 PIPEWORK DISTRIBUTION TO
SPRINKLERS
• The arrangement of pipework will depend;

1. on the building shape and layout,

2. the position of the riser pipe and
3. the number of sprinkler heads required.

To provide a reasonably balanced distribution, it is preferable to have a centre

feed pipe.
In practice this is not always possible and end feed arrangements are used.
 DRENCHERS
• A drencher fire control system provides a discharge of water over roofs,
walls and windows to prevent fire spreading from or to adjacent buildings.
Automatic drenchers are similar in operating principle to individual
quartzoid bulb sprinkler heads.
Types of drencher
 HOSE REEL INSTALLATIONS

• Hose reels are firefighting equipment for use as a first-aid measure by

building occupants.
• They should be located where users are least likely to be endangered by the
fire, i.e. the staircase landing.
 DRY RISER
• A dry riser is in effect an empty
vertical pipe which becomes a firefighter's
hose extension to supply hydrants at each
floor level. Risers should be disposed so
that no part of the floor is more than 60m
from a landing valve. The riser must be
electrically bonded to earth.

A dry riser is installed either in unheated

buildings or where the water main will
not provide sufficient pressure at the
highest landing valve. A hard standing for
the Fire Service Vehicle is required at the
base of the riser. One landing valve is
required for every 900 m 2 of floor area.
 WET RISER
• A wet riser is suitable in any
building where hydrant installations
are specified.
• It is essential in buildings where
floor levels are higher than that
served by a dry riser, i.e. greater
than 60m above fire service vehicle
access level.
• A wet riser is constantly charged
with water at a minimum running
pressure of 400kPa with up to three
most remote landing valves
operating simultaneously.
• One 65mm landing valve should be
provided for every 900m2 floor area
 FIRE HYDRANT SYSTEMS

• Fire hydrant systems are installed in buildings to help firefighters quickly

attack the fire. Essentially, a hydrant system is a water reticulation system
used to transport water in order to limit the amount of hose that firefighters
have to lay; thus speeding up the firefighting process.
 FOAM INSTALLATIONS
A foam installation is used for application from remote points on to flammable
liquid fire risks.
This type of installation is often used with oil-fired boilers and oil storage
tanks.

Types of foam installation

• Fixed Foam Installations
A pump operated mechanical foam installation consists of a foam concentrate
tank located outside of the area to be protected. The tank has a water supply
pipe inlet and foam pipe outlet. A venturi is fitted in the pipeline to draw the
foam out of the tank. When the water pump is switched on, the venturi effect
causes a reduction in pressure at the foam pipe connection, resulting in a
mixture of foam concentrate and water discharging through the outlet pipe.
• Pre-mixed foam installation
A pre-mixed foam installation
consists of a storage tank
containing foam solution. When a
fire occurs in the protected area, a
fusible link is broken to release a
weight which falls to open a valve
on the carbon dioxide cylinder.
Foam solution is forced out of the
tank at a pressure of about 1000
kPa to discharge over the protected
equipment, e.g. an oil tank.
 GAS EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS

• The majority of gas extinguishing systems have been either halon 1301 or
carbon dioxide

Halon and Halon Substitutes gas extinguishing systems

Gas is stored in spherical steel containers which can be secured in a ceiling or
floor void or against a wall.

When activated by smoke or heat, detectors immediately open valves on the

extinguishers to totally flood the protected area with a colourless and odourless
gas .
Gas Extinguishing Systems – Carbon Dioxide
• The Systems can be electrical, pneumatic or mechanical with a manual
override facility. Carbon dioxide is potentially hazardous to personnel;
therefore it is essential that the system is automatically locked off when the
protected area is occupied.
 FIRE DETECTION

• As fires can start anywhere. Ideally detectors should be provided in every

room except a bathroom, as dampness and steam can create a false affect.

• Likewise, for a kitchen, unless of sufficient volume to be unaffected by

cooking appliances and washing up facilities.

• Use in a garage can also be deceptive as exhaust fumes are likely to trigger
the detector.

• Detectors are available in two basic types. Each can be powered by a

simple battery cell or by mains electricity. The latter will normally have
battery backup if the mains supply fails.
 FIRE ALARMS
Fire alarm systems include
• fire detection and alarm systems
• smoke alarm systems
Fire detection and alarm systems may contain:
• system control unit
• primary (mains) electrical supply
• secondary (battery or capacitor stand-by) power supply. An emergency
generator could also be used
• alarm activation devices - manual or automatic
• alarm indication devices - audible and/or visual
• remote indication on a building monitoring system
• control relay via a building management system to effect fire extinguishers
and ventilation smoke control actuators.
A smoke alarm system
Smoke alarm devices should also have

• Point detectors - individual heat or smoke detection units which respond to

an irregular situation in the immediate vicinity.

• Line detectors - a continuous type of detection comprising a pair of

conducting cables separated by low temperature melting insulation to
permit a short circuit alarm when the cables contact. Suitable in tunnels and
service shafts.
 SMOKE DETECTORS
The Smoke Detectors Act requires all new homes to have a smoke detection
facility.

Types of smoke detectors

• Ionisation smoke detector
• Light scattering or optical smoke detector
• Combined- a unit containing both ionisation and optical detection

Ionisation smoke detector

An inexpensive device, sensitive to tiny smoke particles and fast
burning fires such as a flaming chip pan
The movement of ions between the plates reduces the resistance of air, such
that a small electric current is produced. If smoke enters the unit, particles
attach to the ions slowing their movement. This reduction in current flow
actuates an electronic relay circuit to operate an alarm.
 Light scattering or optical smoke detector
• A light beam projects onto a light trap into which it is absorbed. When
smoke enters the detector, some of the light beam is deflected upwards onto
a photoelectric cell. This light energises the cell to produce an electric
current which activates the alarm relay.
 Application
• Optical type (photo-electric) detectors used in circulation spaces, i.e.
hallways, corridors and landings.
• Ionization type detectors are used in living and dining areas
 HEAT DETECTORS
Heat detectors are used where smoking is permitted and in other situations
where a smoke detector could be inadvertently actuated by process work in the
building, e.g. a factory. Detectors are designed to identify a fire in its more
advanced stage, so their response time is longer than smoke detectors.
Types of Heat Detectors
• Fusible type
This has an alloy sensor with a thin walled casing fitted with heat collecting
fins at its lower end. An electrical conductor passes through the centre. The
casing has a fusible alloy lining and this functions as a second conductor. Heat
melts the lining at a pre-determined temperature causing it to contact the
central conductor and complete an alarm relay electrical circuit.
• Bi-metallic coil type
Heat passes through the cover to the bi-metal coils. Initially the lower coil
receives greater heat than the upper coil. The lower coil responds by making
contact with the upper coil to complete an electrical alarm circuit.
Heat Detectors
 LIGHT OBSCURING AND LASER BEAM
DETECTORS
• Light obscuring
• Laser beam
 RADIATION FIRE DETECTORS

In addition to producing hot gases, fire also releases radiant energy in the form
of visible light, infra-red and ultra-violet radiation. Radiant energy travels in
waves from the fire

Types of radiation detectors

• Infra-red detector
• Ultra-violet detector
 FIRE DETECTION ELECTRICAL
CIRCUITS
• Fire alarm electrical circuits may be of the ' open ` or ' closed ` types.

• In addition to, or as an alternative to, automatic smoke or fire sensing

switches, manual break-glass alarm switches can be wall mounted at about
1.5 m above floor level in lobbies, corridors and other common access
locations.

• No person should have to travel more than 30m to use an alarm. In large
managed buildings, a sub-circuit will connect to the facilities manager's
office or in more sophisticated situations the alarm can relay through
telecommunications cables to a central controller and the fire service.
Open circuit
Closed circuit
 FIRE PREVENTION IN VENTILATING
SYSTEMS
Ventilation of services enclosures is required to dilute flammable, toxic or
corrosive gases. This can be taken to include smoke and hot gases that will
occur as a result of fire, particularly where the void contains combustible PVC
cable sheathing and uPVC pipes
Fire Dampers in Ventilation Ductwork
Fire dampers are required in ventilation and air conditioning systems to
prevent smoke and fire spreading through the ductwork to other parts of the
building.
Dampers should be positioned to maintain continuity of compartmentation by
structural division.
Types of Fire Dampers in Ventilation Ductwork
• Dampers may be operated by Fusible link
• an intumescent-coated honeycomb damper
 Pressurisation of Escape Routes
• In multi-storey buildings, stairways and lobbies may be air pressurised to
clear smoke and provide an unimpeded escape route.
 SMOKE EXTRACTION AND
VENTILATION
• Automatic fire ventilation is designed to remove heat, smoke and toxic
gases from single-storey buildings.
Automatic smoke and fire ventilator
Smoke Control in Shopping Malls
• Provide smoke reservoirs into which the smoke is retained before being
extracted by mechanical or natural means.

• Allowing replacement cool air to enter the central area through low level
vents to displace the smoke flowing out at higher level.
 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

A portable fire extinguisher must contain the type of fire extinguishing agent
suitable for the fire it is required to extinguish. It must also be clearly
identifiable by colour coding for its intended purpose.

Types of portable fire extinguishers

• The portable soda-acid extinguisher

• Chemical foam type of extinguisher
• Carbon dioxide extinguisher
 CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
• CO detectors are an essential safety installation for all dwellings and other
buildings containing combustion appliances

Types of carbon monoxide detector/alarm

These are according to;
• Mains or battery powered.
• Audible, also available with a visual facility for people with hearing
difficulties.
• Size and appearance resembles a domestic smoke alarm, but the sensor
inside the unit differs being any of the following:
Carbon monoxide detector sensors

• An electro-chemical type of fuel cell that is energised in the presence of

CO.

• Biomimetic- a synthetic haemoglobin that darkens in the presence of CO.

The colour change activates a light cell.

• Semi-conductor - an electric circuit of thin tin oxide wires on a ceramic

insulator. Presence of CO reduces the electrical resistance allowing greater
current flow to activate the alarm.

The positioning and number of carbon monoxide detectors depends on the

layout of rooms. Several individual battery powered detectors/ alarms is
acceptable, but it is preferable to have a system or network of hard-wired
mains powered interlinked detectors
QUESTIONS
• Discuss the sprinkler systems and its associated
components, pipework distribution?
• Discuss the drenchers, dry risers, wet risers, hose
reels, and fire hydrants?
• Discuss the various detectors in fire preventions?
• What are fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide
detectors, gas extinguishers, foam installation
systems?
• What are the fire detection electrical circuits?