FIRE SAFETY

DESIGN
PRINCIPLES
INTRODUCTION
 Fire comes under the most common reason for the loss in the
workplaces. And it is also one of the biggest reasons for the
accidental loss of human resources at the workplace. Also, the
numbers of fire accidents are not only increasing every year, but they
are also becoming dangerous to every year. Even a small fire can
cause a lot of loss in the business, so it is really important to have
proper fire prevention at the workplace.
 AIMS IN FIRE SAFETY DESIGN

CAUSES OF FIRE

 Fire is a rapid oxidation process accompanied by the

evolution of heat, light, flame and the emission of
sound.
 CLASSES OF FIRE

CLASS A
 Ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and
plastics, etc.

CLASS B
 Flammable or combustible liquids, flammable gases.

CLASS C
 Energized electrical equipment

CLASS D
 Combustible metals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium and other
reactive metals
FIRE GROWTH

STAGE 1: GROWTH PHASE STAGE 2: FLASHOVER

STAGE 3: FULLY DEVELOPED FIRE STAGE 4: DECAY (COOLING)

FIRE SPREAD
INTERNAL FIRE SPREAD

Through Air Ducts

Through Through Ceiling and

Vertical Collapsed Partitions
Shafts

Origin of Fire

Through Non-Fire Rated Doors

EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD

Congested High Fire Load Areas

EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD

Loss of Integrity of Fire Wall

EXTERNAL FIRE SPREAD

Convection
Currents

Ignition of Materials

Ignition of Materials

Origin of Fire

Proximity of Buildings
AIMS IN FIRE SAFETY DESIGN

A To prevent fire

B To safeguard the lives of

occupants and firefighters

C To reduce damage on the

building, its contents, and on
surrounding buildings
BASIC PRINCIPLES
1 Fire Avoidance

2 Fire Detection
3 Fire Growth Restriction

4 Fire Containment

5 Fire Control

6 Smoke Control
7 Escape Provisions
1. FIRE AVOIDANCE
 Reducing the possibility of accidental ignition of
construction materials, as well as fittings and
fixtures.

THIS IMPLIES:
a) keeping separate heat sources and materials
which might ignite readily through proper
planning and zoning
b) need to specify materials to reduce the risk of fire
starting
b) reducing fire load
 FIRE ZOINING
1. Life Risk Areas – areas in which all occupants are ambulant
and able to move unaided away from a fire
- eg. Outpatient department; Service Zone
2. High Fire Risk Areas – areas which, due to their function, are
more usually susceptible to an outbreak of fire, or to a rapid spread
of fire or smoke.
- eg. Kitchen or Boiler Room
3. High Fire Load Areas – areas which, because of their
construction or contents, contain large amounts of combustible
materials, thereby constituting a fire load in excess of that normally
found
- eg. Gas Storage, Linen Closets
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
FIRE AVOIDANCE

Choice of Materials and Knowledge on Material Performance

Concrete Masonry
- high fire resistance - high fire resistance
- disintegrates at 400-500°C - cracks at 575°C
- holes in concrete will expose - are subject to high temperatures
steel structural members during manufacture

Steel
- does not burn
Calcium Silicate
- may buckle in fire - excellent thermal shock resistance
- high conductivity spreads heat - up to 1000°C
- loses half its strength in 550°C - suitable for cladding structural
members

Timber
- combustible
Glass
- standard float, toughened and
- little loss of strength as laminated glass panes do not
charcoal formed insulates provide any fire resistance
wood core - monolithic fire-rated glass is
- spreads flames available
 2. FIRE DIRECTION
 To visually expose FIRE RISK and FIRE LOAD areas to building occupants.
Visual Fire Detection

fire-prone areas provide

should be peepholes on
visually doors
accessible
 Mechanical Fire Detection
Makes use of manual and automatic (electric/ electronic) methods of informing the occupants in
charge that a fire has occurred in a given location.

Heat and smoke alarm Fire alarm systems must be

systems inside Fire Risk accessible in all zones
and Fire Load areas. especially in fire-prone areas.
3. FIRE GROWTH RESTRICTION
 Aimed at ensuring that the growing fire is extinguished immediately and at providing adequate time for firemen to
arrive, control the fire and evacuate the occupants.

Manual Means of Restricting Fire Growth

Actively extinguishing or slowing down the development of
a fire before the full involvement of the room. This is done
by the room’s local occupants.
Means:
1. Fire Extinguisher
2. Water Supply
3. Fire Blanket
4. Bucket of Sand
 RATING OF FIRE EXTINGISHERS
Class A Extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles, such as wood
and paper. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher refers to the amount of
water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it will extinguish

Class B Extinguishers should be used on fires involving flammable liquids,

such as grease, gasoline, oil, etc. The numerical rating for this class of fire
extinguisher states the approximate number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire
that a non-expert person can expect to extinguish

Class C Extinguishers are suitable for use on electrically energized fires. This
class of fire extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The presence of the letter
“C” indicates that the extinguishing agent is non-conductive

Class D Extinguishers are designed for use on flammable

metals and are often specific for the type of metal in question.
There is no picture designator for Class D extinguishers. These
extinguishers generally have no rating nor are they given a multi-
purpose rating for use on other types of fires
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

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 they 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
4. FIRE CONTAINMENT
 Assumes that measures to control a growing fire may not be successful, hence its maximum size needs to be
restricted both to reduce the risk and to allow effective firefighting.

This implies:
1. Fire cladding of structural components to ensure stability of
structural frames.
Extend
CHB walls 2. The use of fire-rated walls and slabs to contain fire in rooms, sub-
up to slab compartments and compartments so as to segregate areas where
fire may occur.
3. Others:
- plugging all holes; extending CHB walls up to the slab;
Provide 1 m. - providing a 1-meter ledge to prevent fire from creeping up
ledge to exterior walls into the floor above through windows.
prevent
spread of fire
Concepts of Fire Compartmentation
Compartment The more combustible the contents of a building, the smaller the
compartment should be.
Sizes Joints must be filled with non-combustible materials to prevent the
spread of smoke or flame.

LEGEND:
- Department
- Rooms
FIRE RATING OF CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS
Concrete Masonry Wall Units
2 Hour 4 Hour

4” 6”

Gypsum Walls
1 Hour 2 Hour
Wood Steel Wood Steel

-One layer 12mm type X veneer
base nailed to each side of
50mmX100mm wood studs
400mm O.C.
-One layer 16mm type X gypsum
wallboard or veneer base applied
to each side of 40mm metal studs
600mm O.C.
-Two layers 16mm type X gypsum -Two layers 16mm type X gypsum
wallboard or veneer base applied to wallboard or veneer base applied to
each side of 50mmx100mm wood each side of 62mm metal studs
studs 600mm O.C. 400mm O.C.
 Ceiling Systems
1 Hour 2 Hour 3 Hour

STEEL
RUNNERS
12mm gypsum wallboard applied 12mm gypsum wallboard applied 12mm 3-16mm FIRE
to drywall resilient furring to drywall furring channels. 25mm RATED PANELS
channels 600mm O.C. and Furring channels 600mm O.C., 35mm x 22mm
nailed to wood joists 400mm attached with 18 gauge wire ties WIRE MESH ANGLE
O.C. Wood joists supporting open web steel joists 600mm RUNNER
CORNER
25mm T&G finish floor. O.C. supporting rib metal lath on REINFORCEMENT
28 gauge corrugated steel and
62mm concrete slab.
 For 1.2m X 3.0m single hollow metal doors (ga.20 steel face), with labeled single-
Door Openings point or 3-point latching hardware, steel hinges or pivots
1 Hour 2 Hour 3 Hour

125mm
min

1.370m 0.83m
max max

- Maximum glass area: 0.83 sq.m
- For openings in walls or partitions
between rooms and corridors having
a fire resistance rating of 1 hour or
less
125mm
min
- Maximum glass area 0.063 sq.m
- 6mm thk Wire glass in a steel frame
- For openings in enclosures of vertical
communications through buildings
and in 2-hour rated partitions
providing horizontal fire separations
- Flush Metal Door
- No Glass Permitted
- 3mm clearance at jambs
- 10mm clearance at non-combustible
floor
- For openings in fire walls or walls that
divide a single building into fire areas
 Load Bearing Capacity, Integrity and Insulation
Load Bearing Capacity Integrity Insulation

Collapse or Passage of
excessive Temperature
flame
deflection increase

Structural Performance: Ability to resist the *Insulated building elements will not
Building still stands development of crack or ignite in fire and will ensure passage of
during an emergency perforations so as not to human beings without damage on the
other side of the separating element.
Ability to carry load allow passage of smoke Ability to prevent heat transfer from
without collapsing and flame one face to the other face.
 5. FIRE CONTROL
 Covers those devices and systems which aid firefighters in actively extinguishing the fire and bringing it to an end
earlier than a free-burning fire.

Access Road

ensure that all areas inside and

outside the building are covered by
reach of the firehose

access road for firetrucks

Site Access for Fire Control:
L T-TURN

R
CUL-DE-SAC

W Bollards and fences used for traffic control 30m> DEAD END
Fire apparatus should have must allow for sufficient open road width for Prevent time-consuming, hazardous back-ups at dead-ends
unobstructed access to buildings. fire truck by using T-turns and cul-de-sacs

MAX. 90 METERS
FIRE HYDRANT

0.3m

Place hydrants at max. 3 meters from curb. Utility poles, kiosks, sculpture, fountains, plant boxes
Siamese connection to standpipes must Hydrant must be unobstructed; Fire can impede fire rescue operations
be visible and within 60m from hydrant hose connection should be at least
0.3m above grade
 FIRE TRUCKS

Aerial Apparatus
Specifications:
33 m

26 m
30 m.

25 m.
.

22 m
.

20 m.
75 ° (safe

.
75 °
angle)
75 °

8.5 m. 6.7 m.
Approx. 10 storeys 5.6 m.
Approx. 8-9 storeys Approx. 6-7 storeys
 6. SMOKE CONTROL
 Measures which can assist to some extent occupants in the fire zone but are particularly needed for others in
adjacent areas or compartments.
Techniques of Smoke Control

a. SMOKE CONTAINMENT/ BARRIER – technique of

restricting the movement of smoke by the provision of fire
resisting elements.
Smoke Plume
b. SMOKE DISPERSAL – technique of clearing smoke
locally by provision of natural cross-ventilation or
Shop mechanical venting.

c. PRESSURIZATION – technique whereby air is blown into

Mall spaces which are designed to be kept clear of smoke.
Smoke Barrier
 7. ESCAPE PROVISIONS
 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)
To provide safety, Escape Route Leading to:
This can be Protected Escape
the routes must Route
achieved by:
be properly Place of Safety Place of Safety

protected from - Compartmentation

the effects of fire - Fire resistance of escape a. Protected Escape Route

route structure Protected Lobby
and smoke for an
- Use of smoke control
acceptable time systems to keep smoke out
Place of Safety

period, usually a of escape routes Place of Safety

minimum of 60 b. Protected Lobby

minutes. Stairway
Enclosure
Place of Safety

Protected escape routes are designed in such a way that they Place of Safety
lead to a place of safety, and once inside the occupants are
safe from the immediate danger from fire and smoke. c. Protected Stairway Enclosure
 Alternative Means of Escape
Place of Place of
Safety Safety

exit courtyard
Alternative Means
of Escape
subcomp
- Doors should be as compart- -artment subcomp-

far as possible from ment artment

each other; preferably courtyard
on opposite walls
- Both doors should not
subcomp- Access through
open into the same artment subcomp-
compartment artment Courtyards
 Design of Fire Resisting Doors
Additional width to
allow for door swing

Reqd. width
of escape
route

Design
width

90° min 90° min

Design
width
Primary Considerations in the
Design for FIRE Safety of Hospitals
1. The presence of patients with various degrees of
dependency and immobility on one hand and the
constant presence of staff on the other.

2. It is assumed that there should be no reliance on

external; rescue or such manipulative types of
escape appliances as chutes or fire ladders.

3. The staff would be fully responsible in assisting

patients within their area of control to a place of
safety in an emergency.
THANK YOU