FIRE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING

MEC 5003

Ing. Johan A. Psaila

Fire Spread

Aims to limit the spread of fire:

• To protect escape routes, in order to allow the evacuation of occupants from other
parts of the building
• To limit damage and losses to property to as small an area as possible

Main factors that determine the spread of fire from one enclosure to
another are:
• The fire severity within the enclosure, determined by the temperature and pressure
generated by the fire and the length of burning period
• The ability of the elemnets forming the boundaries of the enclosure to withstand the
fire of a particular severity
Fire Spread
Compartmentation
• Fire spread can be restriced by containing the fire within an enclosure or room of
origin
• Size of compartment is stipulated in relation to the type of building and it use

Compartmention is achieved by ensuring the following:

a. That all enclosing surfaces have an appropriate standard of fire resistance;
b. That all junction between constructional elements (i.e. Wall, floors, ceilings) are
effectively sealed;
c. That all openings, including (penetration of services, wiring, etc.) are fire-stopped;
d. That ducts (e.g. HVAC) are both fitted with fire-resisting dampers and are fire-
resisting, and
e. That all openings (such as doors, hatchways, etc.) are fitted with fire-resisting
shutters.
Fire Spread

Fire Resistance
• It is a measure of performance of construction elements or assemblies as
determined in a furnace in accordance with BS 476:Parts 20-22:1987
• It is given in terms of the time from the start of the test to the occurrence of failure

The test recognises three types of failure:

a. Loadbearing Capacity- The ability of an element to maintain its design load under
test conditions
b. Integrity- The ability of a separating element to remain free of openings (cracks,
holes, etc.) through which a flame or combustion products can pass
c. Insulation- The ability of a seperating element to resist transfer of heat, to ensure
that the temperature of the unexposed face of the element is below that which
could ignite combustible material in contact with or adjacent to it
BS 9999

BS 9999:2017- Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the design, management

and use of buildings

This document provides a transparent and flexible approach to fire

safety design through use of a structureed approach to risk-based
design where engineers can take account of varying physical and
human factors- Prescriptive Approach
Occupancy Characteristics & Risk Profiles

The Occupancy Characteristic is principally determined according to

whether the occupants are familiar or unfamialir with the building and
whether they are likely to be awake or asleep
Fire Growth Rate

The Fire Growth Rate is the rate at which it is estimated that a fire will grow.
Fire growth rates should be categorised in accordance with the following
table
Risk Profile

Risk Profiles are given as a combination of occupancy characteristic and

fire growth rate, as shown in the following table

Where a number of risk profile apply within one building, the higher risk
profile should be used
Variation of Risk Profile

Automatic sprinkler systems can provide an efficient means of fire control

within a building compartment. Such provision restricts fire growth,
prevents fire spread, limits heat and smoke generation, and can extinguish
the fire.
This means that if sprinkler systems are installed, the fire growth rate can be
reduced by one level e.g. B3 will become B2.
Sprinkler systems should be designed and installed in accordance with BS
EN 12845, BS 5306-2 or BS 9251.
However, where sprinklers are used to change the risk profile, only those
installed in accordance with BS EN 12845 (new systems) or BS 5306-2
(existing systems) can be used to adjust the fire resistance periods.
Determination of Number of People
Designing Means of escape
Designing Means of escape

Determine the minimum number

Designing Means of escape

Travel Distance
Fire Alarm/detection Systems
Fire Resistance Periods
Fire Resistance Periods
Compartmentation
Compartment sizes should be not more than the maximum
sizes given in the following table for the appropriate risk profile
Compartment sizes can be increased in a sprinklered building
or compartment
Facilities to assist the fire & rescue service
Fire-fighting shafts should be provided in tall buildings,
buildings with deep basements, and buildings with large floor
areas
Facilities to assist the fire & rescue service
Provision for Heat & Smoke Control

Means should be provided to ventilate the fire-fighting shaft of smoke. The

objective of such ventialtion is to minimise the possibility of serious
contamination of the fire-fighting stairwell
Fire-fighting shaft serving basements more than 10 m below ground floor or
floors higher than 30 m above ground floor shall be provided with a
pressure differential system in accordance to BS EN 12101-6:2005,
otherwise naturally ventilated through a smoke shaft
Provision for Heat & Smoke Control
Fire Safety Strategy Report

The aim of this report is to set-out the tactics- objectives and design
information for the fire safety design of the building