Arc454 - 08 Lecture

MECHANICAL,
ELECTRICAL &
SAFETY SYSTEMS
8 FIRE PROTECTION
Systems
Dr. HAITHAM SAMIR HUSSEIN
Dr. Mady Mohamed
FALL 2021
Fire Protection FIRE PROTECTION
What is Fire ? FIRE PROTECTION
A process in which substances combine chemically with

oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat,
and smoke; combustion or burning.
Fire Triangle
The triangle illustrates the three elements
a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel, and an
oxidizing agent (usually oxygen).
A fire naturally occurs when the elements

are present and combined in the right
mixture
Fir Classification FIRE PROTECTION
• Class A Fires: Ordinary combustibles such as wood

and paper.
• Class B Fires: Flammable and combustible liquids

and gases.
• Class C Fires: Energized electrical equipment.
• Class D Fires: Combustible metals.
• Class K Fires: Cooking Oils and Fats.

Fire Protection FIRE PROTECTION
Protective Combative
Fire Protection of Buildings FIRE PROTECTION
Removing Fire
Fire Protection of Buildings FIRE PROTECTION
Active Fire Protection

❑ relates to extinguishing or suppressing the
fire after it occurs by using automatic
sprinklers for example.
❑ In addition to sprinklers, the active system

includes fire detection, an alarm system,
hydrants, standpipes, and other firefighting
equipment
FIRE DETECTION
& ALARM
FIRE DETECTION
Since both buildings and fire types vary, a variety of detection

devices are required. Most detectors fall into one of six
categories: ionization, smoke, heat, flame, combustible or
toxic gas, and water flow detectors.
1. Ionization detectors: To minimize the impact of a fire, it must

be caught as early as possible. At the first stage of a fire when mostly
invisible particles and gases are emitted, ionization detectors are best
2. Smoke detectors: Since most people in a fire are killed by smoke,

smoke detectors are much used.
3. Heat detectors: Heat detectors are useful for rapidly spreading

fires which produce little smoke (e.g., gasoline fire).
FIRE DETECTION
4. Flame detectors: Flame detectors are also useful in fires with little
smoke, but since they "see" the visible and infrared radiation of a fire, they
can respond to fires at a greater distance than heat detectors.
5. Gas detectors: The carbon monoxide detector is the most

commonly used gas detector. Other gas detectors are available including
those that respond to such gases as propane and natural gas.
6. Water flow detector: To trigger an alarm when a sprinkler head

is activated, a water flow detector is used.
FIRE ALARMS
Fire Alarm Control Panel

FIRE ALARMS
Depending on the building type, alarms can have one

or more of the following functions:
1. Alert occupants to a fire by means of bells, horns, and sirens. To

alert deaf people, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) now requires
alarms to include flashing strobe lights.
2. Alert the central building station where a control panel will

indicate with a light or words the location of the fire
3. Alert the local fire and police departments.
4. Close fire dampers in ducts.

FIRE ALARMS
6. Provide auxiliary power to operate fire safety systems such as

exit signs, egress lighting, and smoke exhaust fans.
7. Turn off air handlers to prevent the spread of smoke by the IIVAC
system.
8. Turn off certain machinery.
9. Have elevators return to the ground floor and stay there.

FIRE ALARMS
In larger buildings, the central

building station will also include
security functions and be monitored
by a human being who can give
verbal instructions over a public
address system.
Figure shows the relationship

between the various detectors and
the various alarm functions.
Active Fire Protection
Systems commonly used to extinguish and curtail

fires in buildings.
• Fire Extinguishers
• Sprinklers
• Risers
• Hose reels
• Hydrants
• Foam systems
Fire Extinguishers
• There are four different types or classes of fire extinguishers,

each of which extinguishes specific type of fire.
Ordinary
Class A Extinguishers A
Combustibles
are labelled in a triangle on the extinguisher.

❑ This extinguisher is used for ordinary combustibles
such as cloth, wood, rubber and many plastics.
❑ These types of fire usually leave ashes after they burn.
❑ Type A extinguishers for Ashes.
Fire Extinguishers FIRE PROTECTION
Flammable
Class B Extinguishers B
Liquids
❑ are labelled in a square on the extinguisher.

❑ This extinguisher is used for flammable
liquid fires such as oil, gasoline, paints,
lacquers, grease, and solvents.
❑ These substances often come in barrels.
Type B extinguishers for Barrels.
Electrical
Class C Extinguishers C
Equipment
❑ are labelled in a circle on the extinguisher.

❑ This extinguisher is used for electrical fires
such as in wiring, fuse boxes, energized
electrical equipment and other electrical
sources.
❑ Electricity travels in currents. Type C
extinguishers for Currents.
Combustible
Class D Extinguishers D
Metals
❑ are labelled in a star on the extinguisher.

❑ This extinguisher is used for metal fires
such as magnesium, titanium and sodium.
❑ These types of fire are very dangerous and
seldom handled by the general public.
❑ Type D for Don't get involved.
Types of Fire Extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

•Dry Powder extinguishers are

usually rated for multiple
purpose use.
•They contain an extinguishing agent and use a

compressed, non-flammable gas as a
propellant.
•Foam extinguishers have a

smothering affect, depriving fire
of oxygen.
•These type of fire extinguishers are especially

effective on Class B (flammable liquid) fires, it
can also be used on Class A (carbonaceous)
fires, paper and wood.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are most effective on

Class B and C (liquids and electrical) fires.
• Since the gas disperses quickly, these extinguishers are
only effective from 3 to 8 feet.
• The carbon dioxide is stored as a compressed liquid in the
extinguisher; as it expands, it cools the surrounding air.
• The cooling will often cause ice to form around the
“horn” where the gas is expelled from the extinguisher.
• Since the fire could re-ignite, continue to apply the agent
even after the fire appears to be out.
Sprinklers FIRE PROTECTION
❑ A sprinkler is a device that when activated will

automatically douse a fire with water.
❑ A glass bulb breaks with heat build up at between

60oC and 260oC depending on the risk and location.
❑ A fire is doused with water below the sprinkler.
❑ Other nearby sprinklers may be also activated at the

same time.
❑ Sprinklers are very useful in areas of high occupancy

such as supermarkets, leisure centers and shopping
malls.
❑ Also sprinklers are used in areas where materials of

high risk are stored or manufactured such as; carpets,
fabrics, clothing, wood, fuels, highly inflammable
products.
Aesthetics – Is that a problem?
• Is this how a typical

sprinkler installation
looks like?
• NO!

• Is this building sprinkler protected?
• Yes, with concealed sprinklers.


Concealed sprinklers:
• Different cover plate colours
• Different shapes and designs
• Integration into a
ceiling

• Examples of
sprinkler
integration
Technical opportunities – Visible/hidden pipework
❑ Installation with exposed

pipework, typical in industrial
applications
❑ Installation with concealed

pipework hidden in suspended
ceiling, typical in offices
❑ Installation with pipework cast

into concrete
• How much space do you need to install sprinklers?

• The minimum ceiling void depth for sprinkler pipes is 12
cm when the supply mains are installed in corridors or
service shafts

❑ How much space do you need to install the
water supply?
❑ It may be possible
• to feed the sprinkler system directly from the

town mains under certain circumstances, or
• use water storage tanks with a reduced

capacity and automatic infill to reduce the
space needed to store the water
 Depending on local regulations and circumstances the use of

special sprinklers may give you multiple opportunities in office
buildings:
 Sprinklers may be approved for larger areas e.g. a spacing up

to 6.1 m x 6.1 m
 Sprinklers may be installed in the wall and not at the ceiling

 Office area without walls

Sustainability
1- Every fire 2- Sprinkler systems 3- The installation of a sprinkler
suppressed in its early require only a small system saves the waste of resources
stage by an automatic percentage of the water needed to reconstruct a building which
fire-fighting system needed by the fire brigade,
produces much less burned down
owing to much earlier,
smoke, toxic gases and
automatic activation of the
polluted water
sprinkler system
Types of sprinkler system installations
• WET - A wet pipe system is permanently charged with

water, thus water is instantaneously discharged from a
sprinkler when it actuates.
• This system is suitable for premises with adequate
heating or normal conditions.
• DRY - A dry pipe system is suitable for premises
where low temperatures could cause a wet pipe
system to freeze e.g. Cold Stores.
• Dry pipe systems are charged with compressed air.
• When the sprinkler head actuates, the air is released
so that water can flow through the pipework and
reach the fire.
•ALTERNATE - An alternate pipe system is charged

with compressed air during the winter and water
for the remainder.
•TAIL END - A tail end pipe system is where a small
section of a Wet System is kept 'dry' during the
winter e.g. a canopy.
•PRE-ACTION - An electrical fire detection system
is fitted in conjunction with a dry pipe system,
which is water filled in advance of sprinkler
operation e.g. a computer suite.
Types of sprinkler heads.

Pendants
Uprights
Sidewalls
FIRE PROTECTION
Concealed
Sprinkler system
distribution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-ylvugYc0w
Risers FIRE PROTECTION
❑ A riser is a vertical pipe

in a building that the
Fire Authority can use
to connect hoses to at
any building level.
❑ A Wet Riser contains

water constantly
whereas a Dry Riser is
filled from a cabinet
from outside the
building.
❑ Landing Valves or Outlet Valves at each

floor level are typically located in foyers
and stair case landings.
❑ An inlet valve is positioned in a convenient

location outside so that the Fire Brigade
can readily connect into the water supply.
❑ Wet risers are necessary for buildings which are too

high for brigade pumps to supply the necessary water
pressure via a dry riser.
❑ If the mains pressure is higher than maximum brigade
operating pressure it is necessary to use pressure
regulating landing valves.
Hose Reels FIRE PROTECTION
❑ These are used to fight fires locally.

❑ There are various types of hose reel available,
recessed into wall, flush mounted, automatic
and manual.
Hose Reels FIRE PROTECTION
Hydrant/Hose reel
system
Hydrants FIRE PROTECTION
❑ Fire hydrants are used to

supply a large flow of water to
fight fires.
❑ They are positioned in public
roads and within large building
complexes.
❑ The fire brigade uses the
hydrant as a quick and easy
method of obtaining water
from the mains water system,
instead of having to rely solely
on water tanks in tenders.
Foam Systems FIRE PROTECTION
❑ These are used to protect vulnerable plant and

equipment in the event of a fire.
❑ A foam spreader allows foam to be pumped
into the area through pipework and a foam
entry box
❑ This is used in fuel storage areas where the
location of the oil or gas tank may cause danger
in the event of a fire.
❑ The fire brigade carry foam making equipment
on tenders so that they can connect to the inlet
box in a convenient location.
Foam Water Fire Sprinkler System

 Special application system
 Discharging a mixture of water and low
expansion foam concentrate
 Used with special hazards occupancies
 associated with
 high challenge fires
 flammable liquids
 airport hangars.
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MECHANICAL,

A process in which substances combine chemically with

A fire naturally occurs when the elements

• Class A Fires: Ordinary combustibles such as wood

• Class B Fires: Flammable and combustible liquids

• Class C Fires: Energized electrical equipment.

• Class D Fires: Combustible metals.

• Class K Fires: Cooking Oils and Fats.

Active Fire Protection

❑ In addition to sprinklers, the active system

Since both buildings and fire types vary, a variety of detection

1. Ionization detectors: To minimize the impact of a fire, it must

2. Smoke detectors: Since most people in a fire are killed by smoke,

3. Heat detectors: Heat detectors are useful for rapidly spreading

5. Gas detectors: The carbon monoxide detector is the most

6. Water flow detector: To trigger an alarm when a sprinkler head

Fire Alarm Control Panel

Depending on the building type, alarms can have one

1. Alert occupants to a fire by means of bells, horns, and sirens. To

2. Alert the central building station where a control panel will

3. Alert the local fire and police departments.

4. Close fire dampers in ducts.

6. Provide auxiliary power to operate fire safety systems such as

8. Turn off certain machinery.

9. Have elevators return to the ground floor and stay there.

In larger buildings, the central

Figure shows the relationship

Systems commonly used to extinguish and curtail

• There are four different types or classes of fire extinguishers,

are labelled in a triangle on the extinguisher.

❑ are labelled in a square on the extinguisher.

❑ are labelled in a circle on the extinguisher.

❑ are labelled in a star on the extinguisher.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

•Dry Powder extinguishers are

•They contain an extinguishing agent and use a

•Foam extinguishers have a

•These type of fire extinguishers are especially

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are most effective on

❑ A sprinkler is a device that when activated will

❑ A glass bulb breaks with heat build up at between

❑ A fire is doused with water below the sprinkler.

❑ Other nearby sprinklers may be also activated at the

❑ Sprinklers are very useful in areas of high occupancy

❑ Also sprinklers are used in areas where materials of

Aesthetics – Is that a problem?

• Is this how a typical

Aesthetics – Is that a problem?

• Yes, with concealed sprinklers.

Aesthetics – Is that a problem?

Aesthetics – Is that a problem?

Aesthetics – Is that a problem?

Technical opportunities – Visible/hidden pipework

❑ Installation with exposed

❑ Installation with concealed

❑ Installation with pipework cast

Technical opportunities – Visible/hidden pipework

• How much space do you need to install sprinklers?

Technical opportunities – Visible/hidden pipework

• to feed the sprinkler system directly from the

• use water storage tanks with a reduced

Technical opportunities – Visible/hidden pipework

 Depending on local regulations and circumstances the use of