UGBA2373 MECHANICAL &

ELECTRICAL SERVICES II
TOPIC 1:Fire Protection &
 After completing this topic,
YOU must be able to:-
1. Understand the principles of fire.
2. Differentiate between the active and passive fire prevention and
control system
3. Explain on the principles of fire extinguisher
4. Discuss on the alarm & detection systems and its devices
5. Illustrate the hose reel and hydrants installations
6. Describe the automatic extinguishing system and installation.
7. Describe the objectives of pressurized escape routes.
8. Explain on the smoke extraction and ventilation.
9. Discuss the fundamentals of building designs in relation to fire
safety (passive fire safety)
10.List down relevant Laws & Regulations on Fire Protection System
testing & commissioning.
 There are no
building that is
completely safe
 Introduction

 Fire protection is an integral part of a building,

especially in high-rise buildings.

 With better automatic fire detection and fire-

extinguishing systems, the average size of fires
within buildings continues to decline, and as such
the emphasis in fire-protection is shifting more
towards that of minimizing water and smoke
damage.
 Nature and Structure of Fire

 Fire is a kind of oxidation known as

combustion. In combustion, oxidation
takes place rapidly producing a mixture
of gases and energy. Energy is released
as heat and light, and some gases
become visible as smoke.

 Deprived of any of the above needs,

building fires will be extinguished.
Fire Triangle of Needs
 Influence of Triangle of Needs
on Building Design

1. Fuel
The fuel is the building’s structure and contents. The designer can control the
choice of structural materials and finishes, but has no control over the final
contents.

2.Temperatures
The temperatures reached in fires are well beyond the ability of a building
cooling system to control. So special water systems are often installed to
deprive a fire of the high temperature it needs to sustain the combustion.

3. Oxygen
Oxygen may be denied to a fire by limitations on ventilation, but this has
serious safety consequences to the occupants. Another way is to install fire
suppression systems that either cover the fuel (foam, dry chemicals) or
displace oxygen with another gas (carbon dioxide, halon)
Halon refers to:
 Haloalkane or halogenoalkane, a group of chemical
compounds consisting of alkanes with linked
halogens
 Various gaseous fire suppression agents:
 Halon 1211
bromochlorodifluoromethane, CF2ClBr
 Halon 1301
bromotrifluoromethane, CBrF3
Stages of Fire Development

Ignition

Growth

Development

Decay
 Stages of Fire Development
1. Ignition – combustion can be very fast, as in a gas explosion
or it can be a slow soldering process

2. Growth – a fire once started can grow rapidly as it creates

the conditions for its own growth

3. Development – the fire passes through a development stage

after the initial rapid growth (Flashover), during this stage
the fire temperature increases more slowly. However, the
fire continues to spread into other areas, which then in turn
continues the process of rapid initial growth and
development.

4. Decay – the fire will burn itself out due to lack of fuel or
oxygen
 Sources of Ignition

1. Chemical combustion
Chemical combustion depends on the rate of heat
generation, the air supply and the insulation
provided by the immediate surroundings (the more
the insulation the easier the attainment of
combustion temperatures).

2. Electrical ignition
Electrical ignition can be set off by resistance
heating (such as in many electrical appliances and
space-heating equipment), induction, arcing, static
electricity as well as lightning.

3. Mechanical ignition
Mechanical heat energy (including sparks) is
produced by friction, overheating of machinery and
by heat of compression.
 Electrical ignition

 An electric arc is an electrical

breakdown of a gas which produces
an ongoing plasma discharge,
resulting from a current flowing
through normally nonconductive
media such as air.

 The arc occurs in the gas-filled

space between two conductive
electrodes and it results in a very A 3000 volt
high temperature, capable of electricity arc
melting or vaporizing most between two nails
materials. An electric arc is a
continuous discharge, while a
similar electric spark discharge is
momentary. An example use of
electric arc is for welding.
Products of Combustion

 The products of combustion are light (flame), heat and

gases. These products can be termed thermal or
nonthermal.

 Light and heat are termed as thermal products and they

are visible and tactile. These elements of fire can cause
burns, shock, dehydration, etc, but they are responsible for
only ¼ of deaths resulting from building fires.

 The bulk of fire deaths is caused by nonthermal products

– smoke and gases. Smoke irritates the eyes and nasal
passages – blinding and choking a person. Gases are
especially dangerous because they are invisible and
therefore difficult to detect. Some gases are directly toxic
but all are dangerous because they displace oxygen.

 The most common gases released in a fire are carbon

monoxide and carbon dioxide.
`
 ACTIVE
VS
PASSIVE
FIRE PROTECTION
SYSTEM
Definition of fire prevention &
control system:

“Protection in the aspects of fire

prevention, control and extinguishment
for a certain area based on the
availability of risks in that area"
(JPBM,1997)

Fire and Rescue

Department Malaysia
 Fire Protection & Prevention
System
Passive
Active Fire
Fire
Protection
Protection
Building
components
Pressurized Smoke , their
Portable Alarm Automatic Design of Building Building
Hose Reels Hydrants escaped extraction & resistance
extinguisher Detection Extinguisher building structure fabric
routes ventilation to fire &
their
installations
Active Protection
Portable Extinguisher
Methods of Fire Extinguishment
Smothering
Place another agent on the fire, which Cooling
will block out one of the 3 Water
components, i.e. sand or fire blanket

en

fu
yg

el
Ox

Heat

Starvation
Remove one of the three
components (Fuel, O2, or
Heat)
 Classification of Fire Risk
Wet
Fire Classification Fire Risk Water Foam CO2 Powder
Chemical

Wood, Paper, Textiles and

Class A √ √   √  
Fabrics
Flammable Liquids - Petrol,
Class B   √ √ √  
Oil, Paints

Class C Flammable Gases       √  

Special
Class D Metal Fires       Powder  
Only

Class E Electrical Fires     √ √  

Class F Cooking Oils and Fats         √

 The objective of using fire extinguishers - is to remove or
sufficiently reduce at least one component of the fire triangle.
• The contents of an extinguisher is indicated by a colour zone on
the body of the extinguisher.
• The usage and colour coding is in accordance to BS EN 3: 1996
Active Protection
Alarm Detection
 ACTIVE PROTECTION :
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTOR

Ionisatio
Bimetalli
n
c strip
chamber

Light-
Laser
scatterin
beam
g device
 The Objective of Automatic
Fire Detection

• To indicate location of the outbreak of

1 fire

• To operate alarm bells

2
• To communicate with the people
inside the building and the local
3 authority
1. Bimetallic Strip
 It is made from metal and contains a
strip which responds to temperature
increases
 The principle behind a bimetallic strip
thermometer relies on the fact that
different metals expand at different
rates as they warm up
2. Ionisation Chamber
 Ionise air by radiation to allow a small
current across two electrodes
 When smoke enters the chamber, it
reduces the current flow and this cause an
effect on the alarm relay
3. Light scattering device/ Smoke Detector
 Under normal condition, light source projects its
beam into a light trap
 When smoke enters the unit, light is scattered by
reflection off smoke particles to fall on a
photoelectric cell which energies an alarm relay
 4. Laser Beam

 Economic solution for fire detection in large

areas as concentrated beam can be effective
over distances of 100m
 Light beam can be visible or infra-red and
target on a photoelectric cell
 Smoke obscuration or air turbulence caused by
heat, deflects beam thus energising an alarm
relay
 Design consideration: should not exceed one
per 100m2 of floor area
Active Protection
Hose Reel System
Intended for occupant to use
during early stage of fire
Located at every escape
routes 19mm diameter 25m in
length
 A fire hose reel system in Malaysia is an
equipment mounted close to a fire service to
provide uninterrupted water supply in the event of
a fire outbreak.
 The presence and ease of accessibility to fire hose
reels helps people minimize damage caused by
accidental fires and explosions in premises.
 Firefighters and volunteers can efficiently initiate
a quick response to a fire outbreak if a fire hose
fitted in a building is full of pressurized water or a
suitable fire-extinguishing agent.
 Located in recesses along corridors and provided
with up to 45m of reinforced rubber hose
 One hose reel covers not more than 800m2 of
floor area Included in the calculations is an
allowance of 6m for the water jet
 A minimum delivery of 24 litres/min is
recommended at the most distant reel from water
source with 2 reels operating simultaneously.
 Installation

 Since fire hose reels are more effective than fire

extinguishers and fire blankets, they are
conveniently installed in premises with heavy traffic
for quick access.
 A fire hose reel system should be readily accessible
to people occupying a building. Other than knowing
the location of fire hoses in a building such as
cabinets, it is also important to know how to use
the hose reel in case of a fire.
 Length and Diameter

 The length of fire hoses often varies, but

standard hose reels have a maximum
extension length of 118 feet (36 meters). A
hose reel with a diameter of between 0.5
inches (13mm) to 0.75 inches (19mm) should
accommodate 11 ounces (0.33 liters) of water
in a fire fighting situation.
 Generally, a fire hose reel system is made up
of a unique ball valve shut-off device,
mounting bracket and a hose reel nozzle. The
direction and flow of water from a hose reel is
controlled by a nozzle located at the end of
the fire hose.
Reliability and Storage

 Other than plastic and stainless steel, hose reel nozzles are
made of solid brass to improve durability and resistance to
corrosion. However, stainless steel nozzles perform well in
severe fire fighting conditions while the plastic nozzles have
a longer shelf-life and are equally effective. Storage for hose
reels should be either a wall-mounting casing or
freestanding equipment that allows for mobility.
 A minimum water pressure of 200kPa is required at the highest level
and this condition usually limit direct supply from mains to 3 or 4
storeys
 Therefore, normal to use a break cistern or suction tank of minimum
capacity of 1125 litres
 Inlet supply float valves are at least 50mm nominal bore
 Duplicate pumps (standby & duty) are operated by pressure switch
which detects pressure drop when a hose reel valve is opened
 Sizing a Fire Hose

Hose reels are designed to take up little space

by collapsing into a flat profile for storage
purposes or for fire response situations, without
compromising the inner layers of rubber and
abrasion-resistant woven fabric.

Threaded metal connections on each end of a

fire hose join other segments and/or fit into
water nozzles at fire fighting points. Sizing is
based on the size of the bowl, hose diameter,
and the water or service pressure available at a
site.
Hose Reel Installation
Active Protection
Hydrants
WATER BASE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
2. HYDRANTS

External Fire Hydrants

• External hydrants for general use are installed
on the underground water mains
• Maximum spacing between adjacent hydrants
is 150m
• Maximum 70m from building entry
• A minimum distance of 6m to a building

Internal Fire Hydrants

• Dry Riser
• Wet Riser
• Foam installations
WATER BASE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
INTERNAL HYDRANTS – DRY RISER

 Dry riser has a 100mm nominal bore

galvanised steel pipe for 1 hydrant per
floor and a 150mm pipe if two outlets
are fitted
 A 100mm riser has two 65mm
breeches with instantaneous hose
couplings while a 150mm riser has
four.
 Riser is electrically earthed
Type of Dry Riser and Valve

2 Way and 4 Way Breeching

Inlet

German Type Inlet

Air Release
Valve

German Landing
Valve
 WATER BASE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
INTERNAL HYDRANTS – WET RISER

 A wet riser is permanently filled with water up to

hydrant valves on each floor
 A 100mm riser can serve one outlet per floor and a
150mm pipe will be sufficient for two
 Pressure requirements are between 400 and
500kPa, upper limit to protect fire-fighting hoses
from rupturing
 Orifice plates may be fitted to lower floors landing
valves to restrict pressure
 Direct supplies from the main street must also
provide a flow rate of 25 l/s
INTERNAL HYDRANTS – WET
RISER

 If above is not possible, a break cistern or

suction tank of 45,000 litres capacity must be
installed with duplicate pumps (1 electric, 1
diesel or 2 electric and a standby diesel)
providing the minimum delivery
 Beyond this, additional storage and further
pumping will be necessary
 Duty pump is activated by water flow and
pressure drop at the pipeline switch
 Later, when all hydrant landing valves are
closed, stoppage of flow and pressure build-up
disconnect the duty pump
 WATER BASE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
INTERNAL HYDRANTS – FOAM
INSTALLATION

 Foam extinguishing systems are preferred for

applications on ground floor/ basement boiler rooms and
fuel storage areas where oil is the substance concerned
 Foam is generated by special mixing equipment for fire-
fighters to connect through an external foam inlet box
about 500mm above ground level
 System has one inlet into a 63 or 75mm nominal bore
pipe, not exceeding 18m in length containing a
maximum of 3 outlets
 Maximum aggregate cross-sectional area of outlets is
3,200mm2
 Terminals may be about 1m above oil-fired boiler
burners and 150mm above leakage level of stored oil
Active Protection
Automatic Extinguisher System
Objective

 To remove smoke, heat and toxic gasses.

 Smoke, heat and gasses flow upwards and out of
building.
 Prevent smoke logging, risk of explosion, flash over
and distortion of steel trust
 Open automatically with a fusible link incorporated.
AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM
1. GAS EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

 Pressurised halon & carbon dioxide gas is

stored in cylinders
 Activated by smoke or heat detectors to
suppress fires where water may be
considered too damaging
 Both gases are colourless, odourless with
densities 5 times and 1.5 times that of air
 Halon is being phased-out as it is an
ozone depletion agent
 Non-conductive CO2 is ideal for electrical
hazards as well as O & G fuels
CARBON DIOXIDE SYSTEMS

High Pressure CO2 Systems Low Pressure CO2 Systems

• utilize spun steel pressure • These systems utilize a low
cylinders assemblies to house pressure storage unit that is
the CO2 gas refrigerated with a typical
• Cylinder keep at room CO2storage temperature of 0
temperature with the internal degrees F
pressure in the cylinder varying • International can provide low
depending on the ambient pressure CO2 storage units
temperature of the space in from 350 lbs. to 60 tons.
which the cylinders are stored
• cylinder sizes of 25 lbs., 50
lbs., 75 lbs
• Selection of cylinder size
depending on the size of the
hazard to be protected
 CARBON DIOXIDE SYSTEMS – HIGH
PRESSURE
Pro Con
Ideal for covering small hazards Protecting multiple hazards within a facility
with individual cylinders with a single cylinder bank can be limited by
throughout a facility. design complexities. (ex -. the relationship
between the location of the hazards to be
protected and the CO2cylinder bank.)
 

When using for local applications up to 40%

 

additional agent is required

 
 
Simultaneous discharge into separate
hazards requires added controls and/or
storage capacity when utilizing high
pressure CO2 systems.
 
When utilizing high pressure hose-reel
 

systems they must be recharged and serviced

if they have been used (just like a fire
extinguishers).
CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE
SYSTEMS
AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM
2. WATER SPRINKLERS

 In its simplest form, system

consists of sprinkler heads
attached to a rising main or a
cistern supply
Detect, control, extinguish fire

Warn the occupants of the

occurrence of fire
Equipped with control valve to

deliver the pressure of the

sprinkler water
 There are 4 types of sprinkler
heads:
• Glass bulb
• Fusible link
• Chemical
• Open
TYPE OF SPRINKLERS HEAD
Open Sprinklers Head
Simplified sprinkler installation
Simplified sprinkler installation
Water sprinkler in Action
Water sprinkler in Action
 HOW DOES IT’S WORKS??

1. The bulb type has its valve firmly

seated by a sealed glass tube
containing volatile fluid, which expands
in the presence of heat to burst the
tube and release water from the
associated pipework
2. On heating, solder melts and levers
spring apart to release water from pipe
work
3. A small block of chemical material
which melts at a predetermined
temperature is a variation on the fusible
link
4. Open sprinkler heads are part of a bank
of heads attached to a dry pipe which
 Design Consideration
 The type of business and procedures undertaken
in a building will determine the fire risk category
 These are classified as light, ordinary and high
hazard. Examples of light hazard include non-
industrial occupancies such as hospitals, hotels,
institutions, colleges, museums, etc., ordinary
hazard would be production engineering,
breweries, broadcasting studios, restaurants, etc.
and high hazards are fireworks factories, paint
and plastics manufacture and other volatile
chemical and fluid-operating premises
WATER SPRINKLERS
SYSTEM
Wet
Wet

Recycling
Recycling Dry
Dry

SPRINKLE
SPRINKLE
R
R
SYSTEM
SYSTEM

Alternate
Alternate
Pre-action
Pre-action Wet &
Wet & Dry
Dry

Tail
Tail end
end
 WATER SPRINKLERS SYSTEM –
WET SYSTEM
 All pipework permanently
charged with water for an instant
response when sprinkler head
fractures
 Suitable for building interiors that
remain above freezing point and
do not exceed 70oC
 The maximum number of
sprinklers on one set of control
valves is 1,000
WATER SPRINKLERS SYSTEM – DRY
SYSTEM
 Dry pipe systems are used in unheated
buildings such as warehousing and sub-
zero temperature production environments
 They are also used in bake-houses and
similar high-temperature situations where
the ambient temperature may exceed 70oC

 Sprinkler heads are installed upright with

range pipes falling slightly to a drain valve
so that water cannot remain trapped in the
pipework after use
 Efficiency is reduced as the air must be
discharged before water can reach a
fractured sprinkler, therefore, maximum
WATER SPRINKLERS SYSTEM – DRY
SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATION
Water supplies
 Adequate water supply at
sufficient pressure may be
obtained from the town water
main
 Capacities, pressures and
delivery rates vary considerably
for hazard groupings, building
size, numbers and spacing of
sprinklers and pipework
configurations
WATER SPRINKLERS SYSTEM – DRY
SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATION
Pipework configurations
 The building plan shape,
disposition of rooms and facilities
for pipework accommodation will
considerably affect sprinkler
arrangements
 The optimum is a central riser

with uniform lengths of

distribution and range pipes
Active Fire Protection

 Manual Fire Alarm System

Provides an alarm to be activated only when it is switch
on by someone

 Automatic Fire Alarm System

Automatically initiates and activates the alarm when it
detects fire
Active Protection
Pressurized Escape Routes
 The objective is to create greater air
pressure in escape routes such as
corridors & stairs, than the remainder
part of a building
 The effect is to contain smoke and fire at
its point of outbreak, allowing it to leak
out through windows or purpose-built
ventilation grills
 Air pressure of escape routes must be at
least 25Pa, possibly as much as 60Pa in
large buildings
 If fire occurs, a detector will automatically
close down ventilation and air-
conditioning plant
 Simultaneously, it will energise the
escape route pressurisation fan to deliver
sufficient volume through fire-protected
ductwork
 In some buildings, the pressurisation
plant runs continuously as part of the
normal ventilation system, increasing in
capacity in response to a fire
Exit Pathways For
Evacuation
 The designer has to critically
consider clear exit pathways for
evacuation of people and also
access to fire-fighting equipment.
These exits must be relatively clear
of smoke.
Forms of Exits
Exits can take a variety of forms:
 Vertical exits such as smokeproof towers (stairs with
direct access to outside air),
 Vertical exits with pressurized exterior or interior
staircases and ramps,
 Horizontal exits including doors leading directly to
the outside,
 Horizontal exits of 2-hr fire-enclosed
hallways/lobbies.
Forms of Exits (con’t)
 Vertical exits do not include elevators; they easily
stalled or, worse, opened at the floor of a fire.

 Because of the impracticality of rapid evacuation

in larger tall buildings, these buildings are required
to provide ‘refuge areas’ where smoke penetration
is less likely, e.g. smokeproof towers.

 Maximum allowable travel distances to exits are

specified in the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL)
1984. When automatic fire suppression systems
such as sprinklers are used, the allowable travel
distances to exits are increased.
Active Protection
Smoke Extraction and Ventilation
 Smoke Management
 Smoke kills more people in building fires than either heat or
structural collapse.
 As such:
- it has become more common to design for smoke management
beside the need to design for resistance to fire and fire
suppression
 9.1 Manners of spread of smoke

 Spread of smoke can be in the following manners:

(a) By air-induced convective air motion and by
differential air pressures caused by the expansion
of gases.
(b) In tall buildings by;
- Stack effect whereby smoke spread rapidly
vertically through vertical shafts;
- Wind forces from outside that fan the spread
of smoke;
- Forced-air systems (HVAC system) whereby
the smoke is spread quickly through air ducts;
9.2 Management and Control of Smoke Spread

Management and control of the spread of

smoke from a fire can be done in the
following ways:
1. Confinement
2. Dilution
3. Exhaust
4. Coordination of HVAC, Sprinklers and
Smoke
5. Automatic Ventilating Hatches.
9.2.1
Confinement
 The most passive
design response to
smoke is to try to
confine it to the fire
area itself.
 This can be done by
constructing special
smoke barriers called
curtain boards
suspended from the
ceilings.
 9.2.1.1 Curtain Boards
 The curtain boards trap the initial layer of hot air and
smoke, and therefore set off the fire
detection/suppression system more quickly.

 The curtain boards is useful as a partial barriers in

the early stages, but quickly lose their effectiveness
as the smoke layer thickens or when air pressures
force the smoke below the barriers.

 Therefore curtain boards is not very resistant to

spreading smoke, and smoke control.

 Used solely as confinement must be closely linked to

an effective detection/suppression system such as
sprinkler system.
 9.2.2 Dilution
Dilution is done by bringing in large quantities of outside air. This
can be done in 2 ways:
1. The dilution of smoke with 100% outside air provided by the
HVAC system.
As large quantities of fresh air is required in so short a time,
dilution alone using the HVAC system is insufficient. It is better
to combine dilution system with both confinement and early
detection/suppression systems.

2. Using fan driven dilution systems (pressurization system). This is

done by fans located at certain points in building, especially
above stairwell towers/escape routes where fresh air is forced
into the shafts to dilute the smoke from a fire.
However, fan driven dilution systems raise several issues like;
- is the fan located where the fire will not affect its performance?
- is the fan located where the fresh air intake can be kept free of
smoke?
 SMOKE EXTRACTION &
VENTILATION
 Objective is to aid fire control by
eliminating smoke, heat, toxic and
inflammable gases from source of fire to
retain visibility for evacuation and fire-
fighting
 In a fire, heat melts a spring-loaded
fusible link normally set a 70oC, enabling
the ventilator to open
 Alternatively, smoke detectors operating
through a relay to release the vent catch
are preferred as very smoky fires may not
generate enough heat to fuse a link
SMOKE EXTRACTION & VENTILATION – DESIGN
CONSIDERATION

Number & size of vents

 Refer to next table is used to estimate the

area of roof vents to provide a smoke-free

layer some 3m above floor level
 Example: shows a building with floor area of

2,000m2 and fire hazard perimeter of 50m.

From Table 9.4, vent factor is 0.37m
 Vent area = 50m x 0.37m = 18.5m2

 18.5/2,000 = 1% of floor area

Smoke extract & smoke control
 In practice, smoke can be controlled

by two methods:
 Direct extraction from individual

shop units (shop extract)

 A common extract system (mall

extract)
Shop extract for Individual Units
 The extract duct and fan system

shown in next Figure must be fire

specified and be separate from any
other means of shop ventilation
 It must have smoke detection

equipment connected to a control

system to operate dampers & fan
 It must also have the facility to shut

down any other ventilation system

Mall extract
 Strategically dispersed smoke detectors

can be deployed to effect individual vents

in smoke collection zones
 Provided building design accommodates

features like restricted smoke reservoir

areas and permanent replacement air
ventilation, shoppers and fire-fighters
would have no difficulty in terms of
visibility
9.2.3 Exhaust System
Exhaust (cont'd)
 The exhaust system employ both air velocity
and pressure to help control smoke. Here
fans are installed to remove smoke and toxic
fumes through special smoke exhaust shafts.
 This system is particularly useful in large-
volume atria spaces. Smoke accumulated at
the ceiling is removed, while fresh air is
supplied lower in these high places.
 Exhaust system is more expensive compared
to the others but it has several advantages.
 Exhaust (cont’d)
 Exhaust system is more expensive compared to the others
but it has several advantages over simple confinement and
dilution system;

1. They can remove toxic gases from refuge areas.

2. They help to improve air quality in the vicinity of the fire
itself, thus enabling firefighters to reach and fight the fire.
3. They help control the direction that a fire takes by
creating air currents that a fire will follow.
4. They help to removed unburned but combustible gases
from a fire before the gases cause a ‘backdraft’ or ‘flashover.
5. By creating higher air pressures in refuge areas and lower
pressures in the fire zone, thus keeping smoke out of refuge
areas, even when doors are temporary open.
6. They help to remove the post fire smoke.
 9.2.3.1 Coordination HVAC,
Sprinklers and Smoke Controls
 For effective working, two systems must be closely
coordinated with the smoke exhaust system;
- the HVAC system
- the fire detection/suppression system (sprinkler
system)

 As the fire detection system activates the smoke

exhaust fans, it must also override the conventional
HVAC system operation by switching to 100%
outside air and simultaneously blocking the return
duct system. This process pressurizes each HVAC
zone to form a barrier against smoke and also
keeps smoke out of the return duct system.
(Fig. 24.9 pg. 1083)
 9.2.4 Automatic Ventilation
Hatches
 These are heat-and-smoke venting devices (without fans) are
often installed in smaller buildings, or larger single-storey
buildings such as shopping malls. These hatches open
individually (and automatically) as heat or smoke from the
fire trigger their control devices
1. Smoke detector would detect the smoke emitted from the fire
and send the signal to the main fire alarm panel.
2. Heat detector will detect the heat emitted from fire and send the
signal to the main fire alarm panel.
3. When break glass is manually broken, this would send the
signal to the main fire alarm panel.
4. The main fire alarm panel which receives signal from smoke
detector, heat detector, break glass and sounds the alarm bell.
Fire Alarm Systems
 Part of the overall fire protection system
design of the building
 Serves primarily to protect life, and
secondarily to prevent property loss
 Three basic parts of a fire alarm system:
1. signal initiation
2. signal processing
3. alarm indication
Further reading: Stein pg. 1115 – 1121.
 ACTIVE PROTECTION :
MANUAL FIRE DETECTOR

Single Manual
Pull up Call
FurtherStation PointStein et al.
reading: reference
pg. 1084 – 1110.

Flash
Alarm/ Light
Bell with
Alarm
FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT
Sprinkler System
 When signal is received from smoke detector (A) and / or heat
detector (B) the CO2 Panel (C) Would sent the alarm and send
signal to activate the CO2 gas cylinder (E) through Actuator (D).

 Once the CO2 gas is discharged through the CO2 nozzle (F), the
flashing light (G) and Evacuate Sign (H) will be illuminated.
Questions
1. How much water required to suppress
a fire?
2. What is the upper & lower limit of
water required?
 Oxygen dilution 21% O2 in air, fire
will stop < 15% O2
 To cool down temperature
 Upper limit
 Fire needs air; if water vapour pushes all
the air away, the fuel can no longer burn.
 But the replacement of all the air by water
vapour is harmful.
 Water vapour can carry much more heat
than air at the same temperature (one can
be burnt by water vapour at 100 ºC above
a boiling saucepan, whereas it is possible
to put an arm in an oven—without
touching the metal! At 270 ºC without
damage).
 This amount of water is thus an upper
limit which should not actually be reached
 Lower limit

 The optimal, and minimum, amount of

water to use is the amount required to
dilute the air to 15% oxygen: below this
concentration, the fire cannot burn.
 The amount used should be between the
optimal value and the upper limit.
 Any additional water would just run on the
floor and cause water damage without
contributing to fire suppression.
Calculation

Vr : volume of the room,

Vv : volume of vapour required,
Vw : volume of liquid water to create the Vv volume of
vapour,
Vw,max : volume of liquid water, upper limit
Vw,min : volume of liquid water , optimal
 Why Vv =
1723Vw at
100°C (at
1bar)

The volume (V) occupied by n moles of any gas has a pressure (P) at temperature (T) in Kelvin.
 Ideal Gas Law:
PV = nRT,
R = 0.08314 bar m3/kmol K

For water, 1 L = 1kg,

1 M.W.: 18 g/mole
n = 55.6 mole/kg (mole/L) or 55.6 kmole/m3,

1bar Vv = 55.6 kmole/m3 x 0.08314 bar m3/kmolK x Temp(K)

 A mole is a unit of measuring the quantity of
anything.
 A single mole is set to the number of
particles found in 12.000 grams of carbon-12.
 This number is 6.022 x 1023 carbon atoms.
“Avogadro's Number”
 A mole of carbon-12 atoms has 6.022 x 10 23
carbon-12 atoms.
 A mole of water has 6.022 x 1023 water
molecules.
Mass of 1 Mole of Water

 Water (H2O) is made from 2 atoms of

hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen. A
mole of water molecules would be 2
moles of hydrogen atoms plus 1 mole
of oxygen atoms.
 From the periodic table we see the
atomic weight of hydrogen is 1.0079
and the atomic weight of oxygen is
15.9994.

 Atomic mass is the number of grams per

mole of the element. This means 1 mole
of hydrogen weighs 1.0079 grams and 1
mole of oxygen weighs 15.9994 grams.
 Mass Mole of Water
 Water would weight

 weight of water =
2(1.0079) g + 15.9994 g
 weight of water =
2.0158 g + 15.9994 g
 weight of water =
18.0152 g.

 One mole of water

weighs 18.0152 grams.
Why Vv = 0.286Vr for dilution of oxygen from 21% to 15%

Vr  Vv 0.15
  0.714
Vr 0.21
Vr  Vv  0.714 Vr
Vv  (1  0.714) Vr  0.286 Vr
Formula to be used:

 For upper Limit:

Volv = Volr;
Volv = 1723 x Vol w,max (at 100ºC)
 For Lower Limit: Volv = 0.286
Volr; Volv = 3571 x Vol w,min (at 500ºC)
Maximum case concerning the water volume:
Vv = Vr

For a temperature of 100 ºC(373 K), probable

case when the fire is suppressed and the
temperature is lowered:
Optimal case concerning the water volume:
Vv = 0.286Vr
(Dilution of oxygen from 21% to 15%)

For a temperature of 500 ºC(773 K), probable

case at the beginning of the operation :
 Example
For room with a height of 2.70 m,

Amount of liquid
Area Volume water Vw
A Vr maximu
optimal
m
25 m² 67.5 m³ 39 L 5.4 L

50 m² 135 m³ 78.35L 10.8L

70 m² 189 m³ 109.7L 15.1L

Selection factor of fire –
fighting appliances
 It must contain the type of extinguisher agent
suitable for the fire it may be required to extinguish.
 It must be not be dangerous to the user.
 It must be simple to use.
 It must be efficient and reliable.
 Passive Fire
Protection (PFP)
Introduction

 Passive fire protection (PFP) also acknowledge as

fire proofing.
 PFP is a range of measures designed to prevent,
contain or slow the spread of fire from the area of
origin to other areas in the building
 PFP compartmentalizes a building to prevent and
slow the spread of fire, minimise damage and give
occupants more time to evacuate
 a passive fire protection measure, refers to the act
of making materials or structures more resistant to
fire, or to those materials themselves, or the act of
applying such materials.
Definition Fire Prevention & Control
System
 Applying a certification listed fireproofing system to certain
structures allows these to have a fire-resistance rating.

 The term fireproof does not necessarily mean that an item

cannot ever burn: It relates to measured performance under
specific conditions of testing and evaluation.
 Fire proofing does not allow treated items to be entirely
unaffected by any fire, as conventional materials are
not immune to the effects of fire at a sufficient intensity
and/or duration.

Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia

Objectives of fire safety
 Three common objectives of fire safety
(protection) are:
- Protection of life
- Protection of property
- Continuity of operation

 The above objectives, in varying degrees of

importance, determine the degree to which
the building should protect its occupants,
property contents, continuity of operations
and neighbours.
 Life Safety

 Design consideration for life safety must

address two major questions:
(1) Who are the occupants of the building?
(2)What will the occupants be doing most
of the time?

 The identification of specific function

patterns and constraints is important in
designing specific fire protection features.
E.g. a textile factory building.
 Property Protection
 An important question to be asked in the
design of buildings with regard to
protection of property: ‘Is there any specific
high-value content or one-of-a-kind feature
that will need special fire protection?’
 Materials of high value that are particularly
susceptible to fire/smoke damage need to
be identified in advance of building design.
E.g. vital records in land offices, valuable
paintings in museums, etc.
 Continuity of Operations
 A building design must take into consideration those specific
functions conducted in a building that are vital to continuing
operation and that cannot be transferred to another location.

 The degree of fire protection required varies with the number

and scope of vital operations that are non-transferable. E.g. a
production line in an electronic factory.
 Design For Fire Safety in
Buildings
 Many of the elements of building fire safety are covered by
building codes, but contrary to general perception, the codes
specify the minimum acceptable protection.
 It is important to realize that the building codes cannot cover
all aspects of fire safety, as there are too many variables to
building design. e.g. a designer may require a meeting room
to be sound-proofed with acoustic materials but these can be
highly flammable.
 Building codes typically prescribe design strategies
that are passive means of limiting fire spread and
protecting life, e.g design in relation to wall, floor
and ceiling construction; maximum open floor areas;
minimum distances to exits. The codes usually allow
some relaxing of such prescriptions when active
fire-suppression systems (such as sprinklers) are
designed into a building.
 Alternatively, a performance-based, rather than the
above prescriptive approach to design can be
adopted. Example, a detailed computer
analysis/simulation of fire spread and occupant
evacuation within a given design can help to
determine the actual fire safety requirements;
distances to exits, open floor areas, and alternate
construction.
Elements of Building Fire
Protection

 The fire safety of a building will depend on the

following:
(1) What is done to prevent a fire from starting in
the building?
(2) What is done through design, construction and
management to minimize the spread of fire when it
happens?
Preventive measures
 good housekeeping is the major factor in the
prevention of a fire from starting,
 discipline of the occupants,
 keeping the fuel load down; lessens the amount of
materials that can be ignited.
Design, construction &
management

 Once a fire has started, its spread will depend on;

- the design of the building,
- building furnishing,
- contents in the building,
- methods of ventilation, and
- fire detection and suppression systems.
Fire Safety Planning For Building
Important fire safety considerations in building design
are:
1. interior layout, e.g. not to locate a room of high fire
hazards close or next to source or possible source of
fire.
2. circulation patterns; circulation layout to be straight
and clear.
3. finish materials; to be of more fire resistant type and
do not burn with release of too much smoke/gases.
4. building services; with minimal vertical
ducts/openings. Where this is unavoidable like in the
case of escalator shafts, then sprinkler vent protection
for escalator openings need to be considered.
Fire Safety & Other
Environment Control Systems
Matching characteristics:
1. Thermal mass
2. High ceilings
3. Windows (what are some of the designs that could hinder fire
fighting?)
4. Noncombustible solid overhangs over windows
5. Elevated water storage
 Protection of Life
Protection of life is of paramount importance in consideration for fire
protection design. Human behavior and perception of a fire in the
following phases are described as follows:

 In the first phase, cues are detected; the smell of smoke and
sounds associated with a fire (e.g. breaking glass, sirens or alarm
bells). More rarely, seeing flames. Most occupants will take the cues
in the first phase lightly and will just carry on their normal activities
with little alarm. Open plans (in design) allow the cues to be
exposed to a wider population in the building.
 In the second phase, the occupants define the situation: “How
serious is this fire?” How other people are reacting influences
the behavior of the general population. In the absence of strong
cues, a group may refuse to evacuate in the early stages of a fire.
For this reason, the designer may consider installing a public
address system.

 In the third phase, coping behavior begins; fight or flight.

 Property Protection
Design should take into considerations the
following for property protection:
1. Access for fire department
2. Amount of time for fire department to reach
the place of fire.
3. Adequate water.
4. Exposure protection
5. Compartmentation
6. Concealed spaces in ceilings
7. Structural protection
1. Access for Fire
Department
 The site should permit access for firefighting
equipment. The fire trucks should be able to pull
alongside each exterior wall.
 If accessibility is limited by adjacent buildings or
roadways alongside buildings are impractical, more
reliance must be placed on internal fire suppression
systems.
2. Amount of Time for Fire Department

 The amount of time it will ordinarily take for fire

fighters to reach a site.
 In congested urban areas, or remote rural ones,
time that elapses between the alarm and the arrival
of firefighters can permit a fire to grow to
unstoppable proportions. In such cases emphasis
must again be on adequate internal fire suppression
systems.
3. Adequate Water Supply
 Another design concern is adequate water to fight the fire.
 Reliance can be made on city water mains but this is not
always a good solution.
 Elevated water tanks on buildings can help fight the fire in
the early moments but their capacity is exhausted quickly.
Good to rely on lakes or reservoirs if these are available
nearby.
4. Exposure Protection

 Exposure protection need to be considered where

highly flammable surroundings pose serious threat
of fire originating from outside a building. Eg. a
building surrounded by older timber buildings,
bordered by lumber yards or activities that utilize
highly flammable materials (e.g. petrol kiosks) or
bordered by open fields of dry grass or brush.
5. Ways to Minimise Exposure
To minimize the threat, exposure protection
guards can be installed against heat transfer by
radiation and convective currents and against
direct fire transfer via flying embers. Exposure
protection can be in the following forms:
 Use of nonflammable materials for the building’s exterior.
 Erecting fire walls between the building and a fire-
threatening neighbour.
 Installing external water sprinkler systems, in which
spray-heads are placed over (or under) openings such
as windows, doors, etc. Sprinkler systems that soak
the roof can also play an exposure protection role.
 Exterior doors can be chosen for their fire-delaying
characteristics. Windows can also be chosen to be
protected by fire-rated shutters that close
automatically at high temperatures.
 6. Compartmentation
 Compartmentation has become increasingly important in buildings due
to:
- buildings using more lightweight structures with decreased fire
resistance
- building floor spaces becoming more open that encourages flame
spread

 Building codes specify the maximum floor areas permissible for various
constructions and occupancies. If a building’s floor area exceeds such
limits, it must be subdivided by firewalls into smaller areas that fall
within the code limitation.

 Openings in firewalls must be protected by:

- fire-rated doors
- fire dampers in forced-air system (e.g. in air-conditioning ducts).

 Compared to horizontal spread of flame, the vertical spread of fire (its

natural path) poses a more serious problem. As such compartmentation
requirements around vertical openings need to be especially strict.
7. Concealed Spaces in Buildings
 Concealed spaces are found in many comtemporary
buildings, especially spaces over suspended ceilings,
under raised floors, within pipe service ducts, etc.

 All such spaces can offer paths for the spread of fire.
Design responses to such conditions can be:
(a) Use noncombustible materials in such spaces;
(b) Include automatic fire detection and suppression
systems in these uninhabited spaces; often the use of
oxygen-deprivation approaches.
(c) Compartmentation of the concealed spaces by
using firestops to break up the continuous concealed
spaces.
8. Structural Protection

 Structural protection is another important

requirement that allows a building to
continue to stand during a fire and enable
a building to be salvaged rather than
demolished after a fire.
 The building codes require various
protective covers for structural materials
(e.g. concrete covers, fire retardant
coating, etc). It is usually most important
to protect columns, girders, beams and
floor slabs.
Fire Protection
System in Malaysia
 The protection of the health and safety of Malaysian
was an early motive underlying legislation to
safeguard the quality of the construction industry in
Malaysia. In Malaysia, the government organization
that is responsible towards fire and life safety is the
Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (FRDM).

 The fire safety standards implemented are in

accordance with the regulations in the Uniform
Building By-Law (UBBL) 1984, NFPA codes and
standards, Fire Services Act 1988 and the
Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) code and guide.
Guide To Fire Protection
In Malaysia
 This book entails design
concepts, standard and code,
guidelines, charts, diagrams
and illustations, system check
list, testing and
commissioning check lists
which are very comprehensive
for any fire safety engineering
professionlas fire officers and
industrial players.
 Editor: Dato' Hamzah Bin Abu
Bakar (Director General of Fire
and Rescue Department
Malaysia
 Publisher: The Institution Of
Fire Engineers
 The 2nd Edition of the Guide to Fire Protection in
Malaysia is published by the Institution of Fire Engineers
(UK) Malaysia Branch (IFEM) in association with the Fire
& Rescue Department Malaysia (FRDM), Pertubuhan
Arkitek Malaysia (PAM), Institution of Engineers Malaysia
(IEM) and Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia
(ACEM).

 The latest edition of this popular Guide book is an

invaluable source of reference to the Uniform Building
By-law 1984 and those in the fire safety engineering
and fire protection industries as well as building
industries.
UNIFORM
BUILDING
BY-LAWS
1984
 UBBL is a published document, which is used as a required safety
standard and is emphasized by the government. The FRDM strives
to discharge its responsibilities in its prevention and safety
programs, and also to increase its enforcement in relation to
inspections of buildings and business licensing activities, in
accordance to UBBL especially in relation to Part 6 and Part 7 of
BS 476-10:2009 (Fire tests on building materials and
structures-Guide to the principles, selection, role and
application of fire testing and their outputs)
 UBBL 1984
• In exercise of the powers conferred by section
133 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act
1974, the Minister/ Authority makes a set of by-
laws known as the UBBL 1984
• All together, there are 258 by-laws
• The by-laws are split into nine parts, viz., from
Part I to Part IX
• There are ten schedules to elaborate on and
support the different Parts of the by-laws
 ARRANGEMENT OF BY-LAWS

 Part I – Preliminary
 Part II – Submission of plans for approval
 Part III – Space, light and ventilation
 Part IV – Temporary works in connection with
building operations
 Part V – Structural requirements
 Part VI – Constructional requirements
 Part VII – Fire requirements
 Part VIII – Fire alarms, fire detection, fire
extinguishment and fire fighting access
 Part IX - Miscellaneous
Schedules (slide 1)

 First Schedule – fees for consideration of plans, permits, etc

 Second Schedule – certification of building/ structural plans; notice of
completion of foundations; application for the issue of certificate of
fitness for application, etc

 The above schedules are related to Part II of the UBBL 1984

Schedules (slide 2)

 Third Schedule – Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning, by-law

41

 The above schedule is related to Part III of the UBBL 1984

Schedules (slide 3)

 Fourth Schedule – Weights of

materials, by-law 56

 The above schedule is related to

Part V of the UBBL 1984
Schedules (slide 4)
 Fifth Schedule – Design of purpose groups, by-law 134 & 138
 I – Small residential II – Institutional
 III – Other residential IV – Office
 V – Shop IV – Factory
 VII – Place of assembly VIII – Storage & general
 Sixth Schedule – Calculation of permitted limits of unprotected areas,
by-law 142,145
 Seventh Schedule – Maximum travel distances, by-law 165(4),
166(2), 167(1), 170(b), etc
Schedules (slide 5)

 Eighth Schedule – Classification of restriction of spread of flame over

surfaces of walls and ceilings, by-law 204, 206
 Ninth Schedule – Limits of compartments and minimum periods of
fire resistance for elements of structure, by-law 143(3), 147, 158(1),
162, 213, 216(2)
 The above schedules, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th are related to Part VII of
the UBBL 1984
Schedules (slide 6)

 Tenth Schedule – Table of requirements for fire extinguishment,

alarm systems and emergency lighting, by-law 226(1), 237(1)

 The above schedule is related to Part VIII of the UBBL 1984
 By-law 139 – Separation of fire risk area

The following areas or uses shall be separated from the

other areas of the occupancy in which they are located
by fire resisting construction of elements of structure
of a FRP (fire resistance period) to be determined by
the local authority based on the degree of hazard;
(a)Boiler rooms and associated fuel storage areas;
(b)Laundries;
(c) Repair shops involving hazardous processes and
materials;
(d)Transformer rooms and substations;
(e)Flammable liquids stores
 By-law 151 – Ventilation to lift shaft

Where openings to lift shafts are not connected to

protected lobbies, such lift shaft shall be
provided with vents of not less than 0.09
square metre per lift located at the top of the
shafts.
Where the vent does not discharge directly to the
open air, the lift shafts shall be vented to the
interior through a duct of the required FRP as
for the lift shafts.
By-law 166 – Exits to be accessible at all times

(1)Except as permitted by by-law 167, not less

than two separate exits shall be provided from
each storey together with such additional exits
as may be necessary.
(2)The exits shall be sited and the exit access
shall be so arranged that the exits are within
the limits of travel distance as specified in the
Seventh Schedule to these by-laws and are
readily accessible at all times
 By-law 167 – Storey exits (Maximum Travel Distances)

Purpose Group Unsprinklered (m) Sprinklered (m)

Hospitals, Nursing Homes, 30 45

etc

School 45 60

Hotels 30 45

Office 45 60

Factory – General & Special 30 45

Purpose

Factory – High Hazard 22 22.5

By-law 169 – Exit route

 No exit route may reduce in width along its

path of travel from the storey exit to the final
exit
By-law 173 – Exit doors
 All exit doors shall be openable from the
inside without the use of a key or any special
knowledge or effort
 Exit doors shall close automatically when
released and all door devices including
magnetic door holders, shall release the doors
upon power failure or actuation of the fire
 Malaysian Standards For Fire Safety
MALAYSIAN STANDARDS FOR FIRE SAFETY AND PROTECTION

The following Fire Safety and Protection Standards publications are

published by SIRIM Berhad and are available at SIRIM Berhad or SIRIM
Online.
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems
 MS 1590-2003
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems - Design & Installation
Fire Detection & Fire Alarm System
 MS 1745:Part 1: 2004
Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Introduction
 MS 1745:Part 2: 2004
-Fire Detection & Fire A larm Systems - Control & Indicating
Equipment
 MS 1745:Part 3: 2004
-Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Audible Fire Alarm
Devices
 M S 1745: Part 4: 2004
-Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Power Supply Equipment
 MS 1745:Part 5: 2004
Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Point Detectors
 MS 1745:Part 7: 2004
-Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Smoke Dectors - Point
Detectors Using Scattered Light Transmitted Light Or Ionisation
MS 1745:Part 10: 2004
-Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Flames Detectors - Point
Detectors
 MS 1745:Part 11: 2004
Fire Detection & Fire Al arm Systems - Manual Call Points
 MS 1745:Part 12: 2004
MFPA Membership News Resources Gallery IFCEM 2018
Contact Us
1/15/2019 Malaysian Standards For Fire Safety
http://site.mfpa.com.my/main/3121/index.asp?
pageid=129590&t=malaysian-standards-for-fire-safety 2/2
Fire Detection & Fire Alarm Systems - Smoke Detectors - Line
Detectors Using An Optical Beam
Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems
 MS ISO 14520 - 8: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems - Physical Properties And
System Design - HFC 125 Extinguishant
 MS ISO 14520 - 9: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems - Physical Properties And
System Design - HFC 227ea Extinguishant
 MS ISO14520 - 10: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishin g Systems - Physical Properties And
System Design - HFC 23 Extinguishant
 MS ISO 14520 - 11: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishin g Systems - Physical Properties And
System Design - HFC 236fa Extinguishant
 MS ISO 14520 - 12: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems - Physical Properties And
System Design - IG - 01 Extinguishant
 MS ISO 14520 - 13: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishin g Systems - Physical
Properties And System Design - Ig - 100
Extinguishant
 MS ISO 14520 - 14: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishin g Systems - Physical
Properties And System Design - IG - 55
Extinguishant
 MS ISO 14520 - 15: 2004
Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems - Physical
Properties And System Design - IG - 541
Extinguishant
Fire Dampers
 MS 555: Part 1: 2003 Fire Dampers: Specification (2nd
Revision)
 MS 555: Part 2: 2003 Fire Dampers: Installation (2nd
Revision)
Case Studies
 Hundreds battle wild fires across southern France

BASTIA: Hundreds of firefighters were battling blazes across southern France on Monday, with one inferno spreading
across 900 hectors of forest and threatening homes on the island of Corsica, emergency services said.

Residents were evacuated from homes at the edge of the town of Biguglia, on the island’s northeastern coast.

“The fire is very fierce and heading to urban areas of Biguglia,” lieutenant-colonel Michel Bernier, of France’s civil
defence forces, told AFP.

The blaze engulfed a sawmill and burned 10 vehicles.

“We are awaiting reinforcements,” said regional deputy fire chief Jean-Jacques Peraldi, adding that around 150 people
were battling the blaze aided by more than a dozen fire engines.

Local official Gerard Gavory said that three firefighting planes were also involved, and “have been surveying the area
to make sure no homes are effected.”

Another fire on the south of the island, which destroyed 110 hectares around the town of Aleria, was brought under
control on Monday, Bernier said.

Elsewhere in France, a fire raged in the forests around Luberon in the Vaucluse region, covering 650 hectares.

Several homes in the village of Mirabeau had to be evacuated, according to officials.

In the nearby Var region, another fire burned over 200 hectares at Gigaro, close to the Mediterranean resort of Saint-
Tropez.

Another blaze in Carros, north of Nice, burned a house, three vehicles and a warehouse and led to some homes being
evacuated, according to regional authorities.

More than 270 firefighters were on the scene.

“It’s a very dangerous day,” Bernier said. “And the fight is going to be very, very long tonight.” --AFP
Also in February 2005 the 32-storey Windsor Building in Madrid,
Spain, caught fire and burned for two days. The building was
completely engulfed in flames at one point. Several top floors
collapsed onto lower ones, yet the building remained standing.
In February 1991 a fire gutted eight
floors of the 38-story One Meridian
Plaza building in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. The fire burned for 18
hours. The building did not collapse.
In October 2004 in Caracas,
Venezuela, a fire in a 56-story office
tower burned for more 17 hours and
spread over 26 floors. Two floors
collapsed, but the underlying floors
did not, and the building remained
standing.
In February 2005 there was another "towering inferno" in
Taiwan. The fire burned for about an hour and a half, but
the building never came close to collapsing.
Malaysia EPF Building On Fire – 40% of
The Building Had Been Destroyed
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS
NETWORK) - The fire at the building
housing Malaysia’s biggest retirement
fund EPF in Selangor on Tuesday (Feb 13)
was caused by a spark that set a
flammable cladding panel on the
building’s exterior alight, a senior fire
department official said.
Fire and Rescue Services Department
deputy director-general Soiman Jahid
said the fire started on the first floor of
the six-floor Employment Provident Fund
(EPF) building at Jalan Gasing in
Selangor, as maintenance work was
being carried out on the exterior of the
building.
He confirmed that it was the first fire
involving flammable cladding panels in
Malaysia, and that the incident was
similar to the Grenfell Tower fire in
London last year, a fatal inferno also
blamed on flammable cladding.
“Initial investigations revealed
that due to the spark and the
cladding used as well as the hot
weather and strong wind, the
fire spread to other parts of the
building’s exterior," Jahid said.
Noting that the Universal
Building By-Laws requires
buildings to be fitted with non-
flammable cladding panels, he
said using highly flammable
ones is a clear infringement of
the law.
“A total of 70 firemen were
deployed to the scene and we
managed to put out the fire
completely within 30 minutes,”
he said adding that the
department received the call on
the fire at 11.52am and arrived
on scene six minutes later.
The blaze has been brought
under control. While almost 40
per cent of the building was
reportedly destroyed, no
casualties were reported.
September 11, 2001
Attacks (9/11) consisted of
a series of coordinated
suicide attacks by al-Qaeda
on that date upon the USA.
Three buildings in the WTC
Complex collapsed due to
structural failure caused by
fire. The south tower (2
WTC) fell after burning for 56
minutes in a fire caused by
the impact of UA Flight 175,
and the north tower (1 WTC)
collapsed after burning for
approximately 102 minutes.
The towers of the WTC burn shortly after UA Flight 175 crashed
into the South Tower on the right. To its left is the still smoking
North Tower, struck earlier by AA Flight 11. Each of the airliners
had a jet fuel capacity of nearly 24,000 U.S. gallons (91,000
liters).
 NOW you must be able to:-
1. Understand the principles of fire.
2. Differentiate between the active and passive fire
prevention and control system
3. Explain on the principles of fire extinguisher
4. Discuss on the alarm & detection systems and its devices
5. Illustrate the hose reel and hydrants installations
6. Describe the automatic extinguishing system and
installation.
7. Describe the objectives of pressurized escape routes.
8. Explain on the smoke extraction and ventilation.
9. Discuss the fundamentals of building designs in relation to
fire safety (passive fire safety)
10.List down relevant Laws & Regulations on Fire Protection
System testing & commissioning.
References