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5 Fire Safety Principles
5 Fire Safety Principles
PRINCIPLES
4.0
Intro Definition and Causes of Fire2
Stages
Temperature Time
Outlet to
open air
Outlet to Enclosed
adjoining space
Area
Intro Fire Spread2
Internal Fire Spread due to:
Origin of Fire
Through Non-Fire
Rated Doors
Convection
Ignition of Materials
Currents
Ignition of Materials
Origin of Fire
Proximity of Buildings
Aims in
Fire Safety Design
A To prevent fire
5 Fire Control
6 Smoke Control
7 Escape Provisions
Basic
Fire Avoidance 1
Principles 1
This implies:
1. Life Risk Areas – areas in which all occupants are ambulant and
able to move unaided away from a fire
2. High Fire Risk Areas – areas which, due to their function, are
For Hospitals
4. High Life Risk Areas – areas in which persons may reside and
are not able to move unaided away from a fire.
- eg. Intensive Care Unit, Operating Department
Basic
PrinciplesFire Avoidance1
Fire Zoning (eg. Hospitals)
LEGEND:
LIFE RISK
HIGH LIFE RISK
HIGH FIRE RISK
HIGH FIRE LOAD
Basic
Fire Avoidance 1
Principles 2
Timber Glass
- combustible - standard float, toughened
- little loss of strength as and laminated glass panes do
charcoal formed not provide any fire resistance
insulates wood core - monolithic fire-rated glass is
- spreads flames available
Basic
Fire Avoidance 1
Principles 2
Lounge
Patient Room
St
o
Patient Room
Nurse Station
Basic
PrinciplesFire Detection2
Visual Fire Detection
Dry Chemical extinguishers are usually rated for multiple purpose use. They
contain an extinguishing agent and use a compressed, non-flammable gas as a
propellant
Halon extinguishers contain a gas that interrupts the chemical reaction that takes
place when fuels burn. These types of extinguishers are often used to protect
valuable electrical equipment since them leave no residue to clean up. Halon
extinguishers have a limited range, usually 1.2 to 1.8 meters. The initial application
of Halon should be made at the base of the fire, even after the flames have been
extinguished
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 1.0 to 2.4 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
Basic
Fire Growth Restriction3
Principles
Mechanical Means of
Restricting Fire Growth6
Sprinkler Specifications:
Provide 1 m. 3. Others:
ledge to prevent
spread of fire
- plugging all holes; extending CHB walls up to the slab;
- providing a 1-meter ledge to prevent fire from creeping up
exterior walls into the floor above through windows.
Basic
Fire Containment4
Principles
Concepts of Fire Compartmentation2
Definition Objectives
-To limit fire and smoke spread
Containing -To allow longer escape time
fire-prone areas -To reduce the maximum potential size of the fire
by means of
fire-resistive
enclosures
Room
Sub-Compartment
Compartment
Fire-Rated
Surface
4” 6”
Gypsum Walls
1 Hour 2 Hour
Wood Steel Wood Steel
125mm
min
1.370m 0.83m
max max
Access Road
CUL-DE-SAC
W
30m> DEAD END
Fire apparatus should have Bollards and fences used for traffic
control must allow for sufficient Prevent time-consuming, hazardous
unobstructed access to
open road width for fire truck back-ups at dead-ends by using
buildings.
T-turns and cul-de-sacs
MAX. 90 METERS
FIRE HYDRANT
0.3m
SIAMESE
CONNECTION
Place hydrants at max. 3 meters Hydrant must be Utility poles, kiosks, sculpture,
from curb. Siamese connection unobstructed; Fire hose fountains, plant boxes can impede
to standpipes must be visible connection should be at fire rescue operations
and within 60m from hydrant least 0.3m above grade
Basic
Principles Fire Control 5
Firetrucks
Aerial Apparatus
Specifications:
33 m
26 m
22
30 m.
25 m.
20 m.
.
m.
75 ° (safe 75 ° 75 °
angle)
Fire-rated
doors
Basic
PrinciplesSmoke Control6
Definition and Techniques2
Measures which can assist to some extent
occupants in the fire zone but are particularly
needed for others in adjacent areas or
compartments.
Venting
Techniques of Smoke
Control
Extraction of Smoke
Ceiling Reservoir a. SMOKE CONTAINMENT/
BARRIER – technique of
Smoke Plume restricting the movement of
smoke by the provision of fire
resisting elements.
Shop
b. SMOKE DISPERSAL –
Mall
Smoke Barrier technique of clearing smoke
locally by provision of natural
Make Up Air cross-ventilation or mechanical
venting.
Basic
PrinciplesSmoke Control6
Definition and Techniques2
c. PRESSURIZATION – technique whereby air is blown into
spaces which are designed to be kept clear of smoke.
High
Uses barriers including Pressure
walls, floors and doors,
to contain pressurized Low
Pressure
air generated by
mechanical means to
keep smoke away
from protected areas
such as escape
staircases and
corridors.
Basic
Escape Provisions7
Principles
Definition
Cover a range of passive or active systems which
permit the occupants to move or be moved to a
place of safety within or to the outside of a building.
CORRIDOR SYSTEM:
direct, not tortuous
simple lay-out
no barriers, cul-de-sacs, bottlenecks
doors open out, not in
easily detectible, not hidden from view
FIRE ESCAPE:
fire escape stairs designed to be used daily for familiarity
of escape route
well-maintained (not used as storage of junk)
Basic
Escape Provisions7
Principles
Protected Escape Routes1
To provide safety, This can be Escape Route Leading to:
the routes must achieved by: Protected Escape
be properly Route
- Compartmentation
protected from the Place of Safety Place of Safety
inside the occupants are safe from the immediate Place of Safety
danger from fire and smoke.
c. Protected Stairway Enclosure
Basic
Escape Provisions7
Principles
Alternative Means of Escape1
Place of Place of
Safety Safety
exit courtyard
Alternative Means
of Escape subcomp-
compart- subcomp-
-Doors should be as far as ment artment
artment
possible from each other;
preferably on opposite courtyard
walls Access through
-Both doors should not
subcomp-
Courtyards
open into the same
subcomp- artment
compartment artment
Basic
Escape Provisions7
Principles
Design of Fire Resisting Doors1
Additional width to
allow for door
swing
Reqd.
width of
escape
route
Design
width
Design
width
Basic
Escape Provisions7
Principles
Primary Considerations in the
Design for FIRE Safety
of Hospitals1
1. The presence of patients with various degrees
of dependency and immobility on one hand
and the constant presence of staff on the
other.
END