Fire fighting in buildings

by
Prof Sampath Kumar M C
Dept of Civil Engg
BMS College of Engg
sampathmc61@gmail.com
 Contents
 Basic Concepts
 Basic Terminologies
 Engineering Aspect
 Rules and Regulations
 Illustration
 Basic Services
 Water Supply
 Waste water services
 Storing water drainage
 Solid waste management
 Fire fighting
 Mandatory by Govt
Regulations
 Rainwater harvesting
 Roof top harvesting
 Fire fighting system
 Necessity

 EMS
 Cleaner Technologies
 EHS [SHE]
 Green Building Concepts
 Fire Safety means,
 Fire protection
 Fire extinguishing/fire fighting
 Fire Salvage

Types
 Active fire prevention
 Passive fire prevention
 Passive Fire Protection
 Structural design concepts
 Using special type of cement
concrete/material
 Architectural concepts
 Fire proof doors, dampers, paints

Active Fire Protection

 Modern fire fighting system with sprinklers
fire alarm, pumps & accessories
 Classification of Buildings
Group Type
A Residential
B Educational
C Institutional
D Assembly, Theatre
E Business
F Mercantile
G Industrial
H Hazardous[ explosives, oil
refining]
 Fire Hazard
Fire safety of Building W.r.t .3hazards
 Personal hazard

 Internal hazard

 Explosive hazard

Fire Load
 Fire load is amount of heat in

kilocals/sq.mtr of floor area generated.

 Low Fire Load - 2,75,000Kcal/m2
 Moderate Fire Load - 2,75,000-
5,50000Kcal/m2
 High Fire Load - 5,50,000Kcal/m2

 Fire Load =
Kg. of Combustible x Calorific Value
___________material [kg]_____________________________________

Sq.MTR
 Fire fighting system
 Starvation – limiting combustible/
 Smothering – limiting oxygen
 Cooling – limiting temperature

Fire Extinguisher – class – A,B,C,D

Agents – Water/Dry chemical Na2CO3
Foam/Halogenated Hydro Carbon
 Grading of Buildings
[Passive Fire Safety]
Grade no Time in Hrs Class of fire
1 6 Very High
2 4 High
3 2 Medium
4 1 Low
5 ½ Very Low
 Building Regulations
 Fire prevention & Provisions
 Applicable to high rise buildings
[15mts & above]
 As per NBC [2005] part 3 & 4
 State authority [NOC/clearance]
 Karnataka state fire & emergency
services
 Road Width
 Adjoining road = 12mts
 Carrying capacity = 45,000kgs min
 Entrance height = 5mts
 Access around building = 6mts

Staircase
 Minimum = 2 staircases [separated]
 Basement not connected to main stairs
 Lifts
 Minimum 1 lift [8 persons/545kgs]
 Not to use collapsible doors
 Solid doors - 1hr fire resistance

Service Ducts
 Sealed at floor levels
 Sealed at basement
 To prevent smoke & fire
 Power supply
 Alternate power supply
 Escape route
 External staircase on outside wall

Fire safety plan

 Diagram indicated at each floor
 All areas labeled [exit/alarm]
Setbacks or open spaces
Height [m] Setback all round [m]
15 5
18 6
21 7
24 8
27 9
30 10
35 11
40 12
55 & above 16
 Training & safety drills
 40% inmates trained
 Once in two months mock drill
 Minimum one fire technician per shift
 One fire officer per campus
 BIS Codes
 NBC – 2005
 BIS1239 – GI Pipes
 BIS1452 – Valves
 BIS 5290 – Fire hydrant system
 BIS 1641 – Fire grade of building
 BIS 1642-48 – Fire safety
 Cost Analysis
 12-15% of total building cost

Illustration
 High rise building [7 floors] – Rs.5.5crores
 Total floor area –56,000sq.ft[5,200sq.mts]
 Basement area – 740sq.mts
 Fire fighting systems = Rs.75lakhs