KURSUS

PENGENALAN KEPADA
PERKHIDMATAN
MEKANIKAL DALAM
BANGUNAN
AN INTRODUCTION TO FIRE FIGHTING DESIGN

CARBON DIOXIDESYSTEM
 CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DESIGN STANDARDS
3. SYSTEM OPERATION
4. CARBON DIOXIDE CYLINDERS
5. CARBON DIOXIDE CONTROL PANEL
6. DISCHARGE NOZZLE
7. AUTOMATIC DETECTORS AND ALARM BELLS
8. PIPEWORK AND FITTINGS
9. WARNING SIGNS
AUTOMATIC CARBON DIOXIDE
SYSTEM

1. Consists of CO2 cylinders, steel piping, discharge

nozzles, heat/smoke detectors, gravity shutter,
alarm system etc.

2. Discharged after a time delay upon detection of fire.

3. Usually for Transformer room, Switchroom, Standby

Generator room and High Switch Gear room.
 DESIGN STANDARDS

In the UBBL (1984), the By-laws relating to

Carbon Dioxide is By-laws 235 and the applicable
standard is:

NFPA 12
 SYSTEM OPERATION
1. Quantity of agent should be sufficient to ensure rapid
extinction.

2. The protected area should be flooded with CO2,

concentration of 50% at 21C, with period of 30 seconds,
adjustable up to 60 seconds.

3. Total discharge shall not exceed 1 minute.

4. For deep seated total discharge shall not exceed 7 minutes

or 30% discharge within 2 minutes.

5. Supply Voltage 240V A.C, 50 Hz.

6. A 24V D.C standby battery in case of mains voltage failure.

 SYSTEM OPERATION

7. The space protected by two or more heat or smoke

detectors.

8. The indicator light on the control panel should

illuminate and audible warning sounded via alarm
bell.
 CARBON DIOXIDE CYLINDERS
1. Gas stored in a liquefied form at ambient temperatures.

2. Working pressure of 59 bars at 21C and pressure tested

at 228 Bars.

3. Name plate specifying the number, filling weight and the

pressurisation level.

4. All cylinder supplying the same manifold outlet for

distribution.

5. Where more than three cylinders are required, a pilot

cylinder should be provided to activate the discharge
from each cylinder.
 CARBON DIOXIDE CONTROL
PANEL
1. Should indicate the operation of the system hazards
to personnel, or failure of any supervised device.

2. Complying with MS 1404 and BS 7273.

3. Alarm should be provided to give warning of a

discharge.

4. A device should be incorporated into the system to

shut down any exhaust fans and activate solenoid
operated curtains across louvres before discharge.
 DISCHARGE NOZZLE
1. The discharge nozzle should consists of the orifice and
any associated horn, shield or baffle.

2. Discharge orifices should be of corrosion resistant

metal.

3. Permanenrly marked to identify the nozzle and to show

the equivalent shield orifice diameter regardless of
shape.

4. Discharge nozzle should be provided with frangible

disc
 Automatic Detector and Alarm
Bells
1. The Automatic detection is usually by means of
either heat or smoke detectors.

2. Should be resistant to corrosion.

3. The alarm bells should produce an alarm at least

65dBA or 5dBA.

4. The bell should be of the trembling (not single

stroke).
 WARNING SIGNS

1. Warning and instruction signs should be installed at

entrances to and inside protected areas at
prominent positions.
 PIPE WORK AND FITTING

1. The material of piping and fittings must be of non-

combustible heat resisting.

2. Maintain its own shape in room temperature during

the outbreak of fire.

3. All piping should be of API Schedule 40/80 steel

pipe.
SAMPLE CALCULATION FOR
CO2 SYSTEM

PROJECT : NEW MORTUARY FOR

PENANG
HOSPITAL

ROOM NAME : STANDBY-GENERATOR

ROOM
 STAND BY–GENERATOR ROOM
Area = 5.5 X 6.0m = 33m²
Volume = 5.5 x 6.0 x 4.15m = 137 m³
Nozzle coverage area = 28.28m²
Nos of nozzle required = 33/28.28
= 1.17 ~ 2 nos.
Flooding Factor = 1.35kg/m³
Design Concentration = 50%
Actual weight of CO¸ = 137m³x1.35kg/m³
= 185kg

Nos of cylinder = 185kg/45kg

= 5 nos

Consider 30% volume of C0¸ to be used

= 0.3x137m³
= 41m³
Design manual based on
desired flow rate = 0.56m³/kg @ 30°C

Therefore flow rate for 2 mins

Q = 41m³ (exp.30°C) = 73.2kg
0.56m³/kg

@ 2mins = 73.2kg = 37kg/mins

2min
Time of discharge of CO² at volume
= 185kg = 5mins
37kg/min

Pipe sizing for flow rate, Q = 37kg/mins

Pipe size = 20mm

 SWITCH – BOARD ROOM
Area = 5.5x4.5 = 25m²
Volume = 5.5x4.5x4.15 = 103m³
Nozzle coverage area = 28.28m²

Nos Nozzle = 25/28.28 = 0.9 ≈ 1 no.

Flooding Factor = 1.35kg/m³ @ 50%
weight CO² = 139kg
Nos cylinder = 139kg/45kg = 3nos
30% Volume = 03x103m³ = 31m³

Q = 31m³/0.56m³/kg (expansion 30°C) @ 0.56m³

= 56kg/2mins @ 2mins = 28kg/mins

Time Discharge = 139kg/28kg/min = 5 min

Pipe sizing Q = 28kg/mins
= 20mm
SCHEMATIC DRAWING FOR CO2
SYSTEM