Fire Services-

Fire Detection
 Fire Detection
 The purpose of a building fire alarm system is to detect fires, notify occupants, summon emergency
responders, and provide information to help manage the response.
 Fire Detection and Alarm System is electronic equipment which detects fire and raises alarm as warning of
fire

FIRE PROTECTION
ACTIVE
FIRE DETECTION
is an integral part of the
building layout and materials of
LIFE SAFETY
construction
Heat
PASSIVE
Three things
LIFE SAFETY produced by fire forms
Underlyin the basis of detection
g principle
for
detectioncome into play only when a
fire is present and require
activation through a
combination of sensors or
Light Smoke means.
mechanical
 Fire Detection: Components
 The purpose of a building fire alarm system is to detect fires, notify occupants, summon emergency
responders, and provide information to help manage the response.
 Fire Detection and Alarm System is electronic equipment which detects fire and raises alarm as warning of
fire

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Fire Detection: System Types

Fire detection

Conventional/ Analogue

Addressable
 Fire Detection: Conventional
consist of a fire alarm must be wired in fire
Each detection zone
panel, which will have resistant cables for
is run in a radial from
a number of ‘zone- the bell circuits, and
the fire alarm panel to
circuits’ run from it can be wired in a
various initiation
(respective detection standard cable for the
devices
and signalling circuit) detection circuit

At the end of the

radial detection circuit, Upon fire occurrence, Panel will then
an ‘end of line’ device one or more detectors activate one or more
will operate. This action
is installed ( found signaling circuits to
closes the circuit, which
inside or beside the the fire control panel sound building alarms
last device). This recognizes as an and summon
device monitors the emergency condition. emergency help.
circuit

These systems are actually monitoring and controlling circuits, and not individual
devices
 Fire Detection: Addressable
Addressable detectors
detectors are
alarm control panel
wired in
is system may contain detector individually
are themselves,
'zoning' of the system
a loopable
around
to the one or more loops and receives
'intelligent' a status
devices & also
is not necessary,
display/indicate
building with eachthe depending upon the report,
able i.e. 'Healthy',
to provide pre-alarm
although it may be warnings when
precise
detector location
havingofits
the size of the system and 'In Alarm' or 'In Fault',
ownLoops
Theunique
for
device
loop
detection,
'address'
also has
and radials
done for convenience. Loops that
design requirements. can
smoke/heat both act for
levels reach
etc
Each devices number is
‘isolator’ for the sounders unique to that loop, anddetection and asounders
devices pre-set leveltogether
These systems utilizes a
installed in the loop at once all devices are minimum of two loops,
selected points, numbered, the fire generally one per floor,
(normally where the alarm panel is then with upto a maximum of
loop cable passes programmed to 128 devices on a loop.
through a wall). recognize
 Fire Detection: Comparison

Conventional Addressable
DISADVANTAGES

-extensive
amounts of wire
that are necessary ADVANTAGES
to accurately
ADVANTAGES monitor initiating - Reduced
devices. possibility of false
- relatively simple -no accurate way alarms, by means DISADVANTAGES
for small to of determining of Control station
intermediate size which detectors reset. -Requires trained
buildings. are in need of -they are able to servicemen, to
servicing. monitor the status install and
- Servicing does - If a fault occurs, of each detector, operate.
not require a large the "trouble" thus providing
amount of indication only enhanced
specialized states that the maintenance.
training. circuit has failed, -Accuracy and
but does not ease of
specifically state modification
where the problem
is occurring.
 Fire Detection: Initiating devices
Smoke detector

Ionization

Optical/ photoelectric
Heat detector

Fixed temperature

Rate of rise

Flame detector

Infrared detectors

UV detectors
 Fire Detection: Smoke Detectors
 A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire.

IONIZATION PHOTO- AIR SAMPLING BEAM

generally more ELECTRIC capable of DETECTOR
responsive to generally more detecting consists of a
flaming fires. responsive to microscopic transmitter and
have a small fires that begin particles of receiver and
amount of smoke. consists operates in line of
with a long
radioactive of a central sight has a
material between period of
detection unit separate alarm
two electrically smoldering. aim which draws air and trouble
charged plates, a light source through a signals. suitable
which ionizes the into a sensing network of pipes for protecting
air and causes chamber at an to detect smoke. open areas with
current to flow angle away from capable of high ceilings
between the the sensor. detecting the where
plates. When Smoke enters presence of conventional spot
smoke enters, it the chamber, smoke particles type smoke
disrupts the flow reflecting light suspended in air detectors are
 Fire Detection: Heat Detectors
 Ideally suited to locations where high sensitivity is required for change in heat and where
smoke detectors are found unsuitable
 response temperature of a heat detector should be a minimum of 29°C above the
maximum ambient temperature likely to be experienced for long periods of time

Types of Heat detectors

Combination type heat

Fixed temperature heat
Detector
Rate of rise heat detector detectors- Rate
compensating

-Typically- 8-110 C/min

-fixed temperature
backstop to
ensure that even very
slow increases in
temperature will
eventually raise an
alarm, if the
increase continues for a
sufficiently long period.
Fire Detection: Heat Detectors V/s Smoke Detectors

Smoke Detector

transmits a signal to the control unit when the concentration

of airborne combustion products reaches a predetermined
level.

give the earliest warning of fire, typically responding to a fire

1/10th of the size as that required to operate a heat detector
Fire Detection: Detector Recommendation
Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors

In corridors up to 2 m wide
Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors

a detector should be mounted near to the

apex but spacing can be increased by 1%
for each 1 degree of slope up to 25%.

‘Near’ is defined as within 600 mm for

smoke
detectors and within 150 mm for heat
detectors.

Mounting height for detectors

Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors
Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors
Fire Detection: Sound & Visual Alarms
 DAMPERS
 Dampers are used to:
 Balance airflow
 Control airflow
 Resist the passage of fire
 Resist the passage of smoke.
• Balancing dampers are used in ducts to adjust the airflow to the
design values. These dampers can be of simple construction or of
multi-blade construction.
• Multi-blade dampers operated by electric motors or pneumatic
pistons to vary the flow rate are called control dampers.
• Dampers used to resist the passage of fire through a duct opening or
an air opening in a fire rated wall are called fire dampers.
• Dampers used to Prevent the passage of smoke through a ductwork
opening or an air opening in a smoke barrier or smoke partition are
called smoke dampers.
• Combination dampers can be used to balance airflow, control
airflow, resist the passage of fire, and resist the passage of smoke.
FUNCTIONS OF DAMPERS IN HVAC SYSTEMS
 When a rise in temperature occurs, the fire
damper closes, usually activated by a
thermal element which melts at
temperatures higher than ambient but low
enough to indicate the presence of a fire,
allowing springs to close the damper blades.

 Fire dampers can also close following

receipt of an electrical signal from a fire
alarm system utilizing detectors remote from
the damper, indicating the sensing of heat or
smoke in the building occupied spaces or
in the HVAC duct system.
 TYPES OF DAMPERS

FIRE DAMPER SMOKE DAMPER

• Sleeve
• •Sleeve
Prevents the passage of fire • Prevents the passage of
• Curtain Blade
through a duct, opening or air smoke through ductwork
• Smoke Blades
opening in a fire rated wall • opening
Breakaway or Joints
air opening in a
 
• •Breakaway Joints in wall & floor
Can be installed • smoke barrier or smoke
Fusible Link
openings. partition.
• Damper Actuator • Access Door
• Fusible Link • Curtain Blades
• Access Door
• Ductwork
 FIRE DAMPER SMOKE DAMPER
Installed in ducts ducts
Designed to Close automatically upon Resist the passage of air and
detection of heat. smoke.
Primary function Prevent the passage of flame Prevent the passage of smoke
from one side of a fire-rated through the heating, ventilation and
separation to the other. air conditioning system, or from
one side of a fire-rated separation
to the other.
Operated by A fusible device, typically a Either a factory-installed electric or
melting link. a pneumatic actuator. Controlled
by smoke detectors and fire
alarms.
Their Application Static fire dampers can only be Passive smoke control system in
applied in HVAC systems that which they close upon detection of
are designed to shut down in the smoke engineered smoke control
event of a fire, system.
Dynamic fire dampers have
been tested for closure under
airflow and carry both an airflow
velocity (fpm) and pressure
differential rating.
NBC GUIDELINES
NBC GUIDELINES
 Escape routes like staircases, common corridors, lift lobbies, etc., shall not be used
as return air passage. The ducting shall be constructed of substantial gauge metal
in accordance with good practice

 Wherever the ducts pass through fire walls or floors, the opening around the ducts
shall be sealed with materials having fire resistance rating of the compartment.

 Where duct crosses a compartment which is fire rated, the ducts shall be fire rated
for same fire rating. Further depending on services passing around the duct work,
which may get affected in case of fire temperature rising, the ducts shall be
insulated.

 As far as possible, metallic ducts shall be used even for the return air instead of
space above the false ceiling.

 Where plenum is used for return air passage, ceiling and its fixtures shall be of
noncombustible material.
NBC GUIDELINES
 The materials used for insulating the duct system (inside or outside)
shall be of noncombustible materials. Glass wool shall not be
wrapped or secured by any material of combustible nature.

 Area more than 750 sqm on individual floor shall be segregated by a

fire wall and automatic fire dampers for isolation shall be provided.

 Air ducts serving main floor areas, corridors, etc., shall not pass
through the staircase enclosure.

 The air-handling units shall be separate for each floor and air ducts
for every floor shall be separated and in no way inter-connected with
the ducting of any other floor.
NBC GUIDELINES
 No combustible material shall be fixed nearer than 150 mm to any duct unless
such duct is properly enclosed and protected with noncombustible material
(glass wool or spun-glass with neoprene facing enclosed and wrapped with
aluminium sheeting) at least 3.2 mm thick and which would not readily
conduct heat.

 FIRE DAMPERS
These shall be located in conditioned air ducts and return air ducts/passages at
the following points:
• At the fire separation wall.
• Where ducts passages enter the central vertical shaft.
• Where the ducts pass through floors.
• At the inlet of supply air duct and the return air duct of each compartment on every
floor.

The dampers shall operate automatically and shall simultaneously switch off the
air-handling fans. Manual operation facilities shall also be provided.
NBC GUIDELINES
 Fire/smoke dampers (for smoke extraction shafts) for buildings more than 24
m in height :

FOR APARTMENT In Non-ventilated Lobbies , Corridors Operated

HOUSES By Fusible Link/Smoke Detectors And With
Manual Control.

FOR OTHER On operation of smoke detection system and

BUILDINGS with manual control.

• Automatic fire dampers shall be so arranged as to close by gravity in the

direction of air movement and to remain tightly closed on operation of a
fusible link/smoke detector.