FIRE FIGHTING/ FIRE SUPPRESION SYSTEMS

Wet Riser
It is a vertical pipeline (dia. depends
on the floor area of the
building)connected to a bottom
tank(undergroundwater tank)
Wet rising mains are fitted in tall
buildings due to the excessive
pressures required to pump water to
high levels. A Wet riser is a supply
system intended to distribute water to
multiple levels or compartments of a
building, as a component of its fire
fighting systems.
Firstly they provide a fixed
distribution system within the building
that requires no fire service resources

FIRE FIGHTING/ FIRE SUPPRESION SYSTEMS

Wet rising mains are designed to supply 1500 litres per minute for 45 minutes as
minimum.

y riser

A dry riser is a main vertical pipe intended to distribute water to multiple levels
a building or structure as a component of the fire suppression systems.

The pipe is maintained empty of water.

ry risers have to access fire engine within 18m of the dry riser inlet box.

et riser cum down comer

own comers are also a form of

nternal hydrant for the firemen to use
nd are always charged with water
ank located at the top of a building
ut without any pumps.

own comers system comprises a high

evel water storage tank discharging
to 150mm diameter riser pipe with
nding valves at each floor and to which canvas hose with nozzles can
e connected to direct the water jet at the fire.

prinkler System

Sprinklers fixed on pipe work charged with water spaced at

regular intervals installed throughout the protected building and are connected
o a reliable water supply.

When a fire occurs, only the sprinklers in the immediate vicinity of the fire
automatically operate the discharged water to control the fire.

Each closed-head sprinkler is held closed by either a heat-sensitive glass bulb.

The glass bulb or link applies pressure to
a pipe cap which acts as a plug which
revents water from flowing until the
mbient temperature around the
prinkler reaches
he design
ctivation
mperature
the individual
prinkler head.

In a standard wet-pipe sprinkler system, each sprinkler activates

independently when the predetermined heat level is reached.
Thus, only sprinklers near the fire will operate, normally just one
or two.
This maximizes water pressure over the point of fire origin, and
minimizes water damage to the building.

Fire Extinguishers
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to
extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations.
It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one
which has reached the ceiling.
Types
Water and foam
Water and Foam fire extinguishers extinguish the fire by
taking away the heat element of the fire triangle. Foam agents
also separate the oxygen element from the other elements.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers extinguish fire by taking
away the oxygen element of the fire triangle and also be
removing the heat with a very cold discharge.

y Chemical

Dry Chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the
chemical reaction of the fire triangle.

his agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and the

y Powder

Dry Powder extinguishers are similar to dry chemical except that they extinguish
re by separating the fuel from the oxygen element or by removing the heat elem
f the fire triangle.

Heat detector
Smoke detector
Sprinkler
Fire resistance door
Wet riser
Dry riser
Fire dampers
Fire extinguisher

Heat detectors
Bimetallic disk bends at elevated temperature. The
circuit gets activated
Bimetallic materials are made of 2 metals with different
thermal expansion characteristics.
Fixed detector alarms when temperature reaches about
135 deg Fahrenheit.

Spacing of heat detectors

Spot type heat detector spacing ratings are based on detector
installation on a
flat, smooth ceiling that is 10 feet (3 m) high.
A spot type heat detector will cover all points located within 0.7
times the listed
spacing. The listed spacing for heat
detectors is S = 50 ft. (15.3 m).
When installed on the ceiling, spot
type heat detectors must be located a
minimum of 4 in. (10 cm)
from side walls. When installed on side walls, the
detector must be between 4 in. (10 cm) and
12 in. (30 cm) from the ceiling, as
shown below.

Example:
The following figure shows the
required heat detector spacing for a
200 ft. (60.9
m) by 200 ft. (60.9 m) room with a
10 ft. (3m) ceiling. The figure shows
16 heat
detectors with a required listed
spacing of S = 50 ft. (15.3 m).
Ceiling height and construction
When heat detectors are installed
on other
than flat, smooth ceilings or at
ceiling
heights greater than 10 ft. (3 m),
spacing
adjustments must be made. The
table
below lists the reduction in listed
spacing that
must be applied when detectors are
mounted

Ceiling height and construction

Smoke detectors
To detect smoke ionization detectors use interruption of small current
between electrodes in ionized sampling chamber.
Solar radiation can cause hot air layer to from directly under
roof surfaces. This thermal barrier can prevent the products
of combustion from reaching smoke detectors.

Spacing of detectors
Smoke detector recommendation of 30ft(9.1m) is given as
spacing.

Smoke detector coverage is a circle whose radius is 0.7 times the listed spacing

When installed on ceiling spot type detectors must be located min of 10cm from
walls.

tification

atified air within room may impede smoke from reaching detector. To improve
tection system response in situations where startification exists additional detec
y be installed on side walls.

itions

titions extending from floor to

hin 46 cm of ceiling do not
uence smoke detector spacing,
titions closer than 46 cm to
ing may require modification
spacing

Exposed beams
Beams are defined as members
extending 20 cm or more from
ceiling and spaced
more than 3 ft apart.
Detectors may be mounted on
bottom of
beams that are less than 30 cm. if
beams are
greater than 46 cm deep each bay
created by
beams must have at least one
detector
mounted on ceiling .

inkler system

prinkler systems is 96% effective in suppressing or containing fires.

a fire, sprinkler systems discharge water to extinguish the fire or prevent sprea
om area or room of origin.

e water discharged from sprinkler cools burning materials by direct contact of

ater particles removes heat from room, wets unburned combustibles to prevent
read of fire.

ea of coverage

ea of sprinkler water coverage depends on physical

haracteristics of sprinkler head and water flow and pressure
ailable to head.

bstructions such as beams,lighting fixtures and partitions

hould be considered while placing sprinklers.

e max spacing between sprinklers is normally 15ft.(4.5m)

prinkler must not be placed closed together because

scharging water from first operating head could wet adjacent sprinklers delaying
ctivation in fire situations where they may be needed.

inkler system types

Pipe

y pipe system contains air under pressure. Following loss ofair pressure through
rinkler head, a dry pipe valve automatically opens allowing water to enter the
ping network and flow through opened sprinkler heads.

is system is generally used only where areas are not heated and subjected to fre
mperature.

er fire the system must be completely drained to return to dry conditions with ai
pplied by compressor.

t pipe

et pipe contains water under pressure at all times for immediate release when sp
ads are activated.

is system is used in heated areas not subject to freezing.

Sprinkler system types

Deluge
In this system sprinkler heads are open
at all times and normally no
water in the piping.
Mechanical or hydraullic valves
operated by heat sensitive devices
are used to control water flow to
sprinklers.
The deluge system is designed to
rapidly wet down an entire area in
which fire may occur.
System is designed for special hazard
situations involving flash fires
where flame spread is rapid.

Sprinkler discharge pattern

Sprinkler arrangement

riser

y riser are water pipes used to connect hoses that fire fighters use in buildings to
ound level fire hydrants.

e hoses can be connected to dry standpipe outlets in the building to fight fires.

nd pipes are often installed in stairways which means that exit doors will be ope
ring fire fighting operations.

y standpipes can be installed outside the building also.

riser
riser are generally used in tall buildings and in industrial buildings.

ndpipes should be located so hoses will be able to reach every part of building.

er sources may be connections to public water mains, natural water bodies, sum
en swimming pools.

erience is generally required to effectively use fire hoses because nozzle reactio
be considerable.

Combined wet
and dry riser

extinguisher

able fire extinguisher should be mounted at positions where they can be easily
ched and removed.

ording to (OSHA) Occupational safety and health act, the top of unit should not b
n 1.5m above the floor.

perate extinguishers pull

restraining pin and by
eezing discharge lever,
y extinguishing agent in a
eping motion from side to
at base of fire.

ation of portable fire extinguisher

operly located fire extinguishers should be easily reached and be placed in consip
ations along normal path of protected egress away from potential fire hazard.

ey should be in good operating condition.

Fire resistance door

Fire doors must be fully closed position and latched
in order to provide effective barrier to spread of
fire.

Doors should be self closing or

automatic closing.
Wired glass panels are limited in size as they
radiate heat in portion to their area.

Exit door ( with fire exit hardware)

To provide rapid opening of exit doors panic hardware
can be used on outward swinging exterior doors.
When a min force is applied to horizontal bar, it
disengages latch from strike allowing rapid egress
from inside the building.

Structural elements
&
Fire resistance

 In fire resistance construction, the design should be such that components

can withstand fire as an integral member of structure for desired period.
We shall consider the following structural components.
Walls and columns
Floors and roofs
Wall openings
Escape elements
Strong room construction

Walls and columns

Masonry walls and columns should be made of thicker sections so that it

can resist fire for longer time.

In case of solid load bearing walls bricks should be preferred than stones.

In case of framed structure RCC should be preferred.

If steel is used for framed structure, steel should be properly enclosed by concr

If frame is of RCC thicker cover should be used. It is recommended to use 40 to

For columns and 35 to 40mm for beams and long span slabs and 25mm for sho
span slabs

All walls whether load bearing or non load bearing should be plastered with fire
resistance mortar.

Floors and roofs

From point of view of fire spread openings in walls should be bare minimum.

Doors and windows should be made of steel . Fire resistance door can be obtain
by fixing steel plates.

Rolling shutters should be used for garages, godowns, shops etc.

In case of timber door min thickness of door leaf should be 4cm and door fram
should be 8 to 10cm.

Escape elements

All escape elements such as staircases, corridors, lobbies, entrances should be

constructed of fire resistance materials.

Escape elements should be well separated from rest of building.

Fire proof doors to emergency staircases should be fixed in such a way to make
close from inside only and it should be self closing.

Escape elements

Staircase should be located to external wall and should be accessible from any
floor in direction of flow towards exits from the building.

Lift shafts should be vented at top to allow escape of smoke and hot gases.

Pressurization of protected escape routes

Causes of smoke of fire to move in a building

1. Smoke own buoyancy
2. Wind and stack effect
3. Mechanical ventilation.

Smoke buoyancy: Smoke and hot gases move into escape routes. As distance fro
Fire increases , the smoke gets thinner and floats in air.

Wind and stack effect: Its unpredictable. Totally dependent on weather condition
Wind induced air movement is to low to move adequate fresh air into buildings v
Permanent openings.

Mechanical ventilation:

Mechanical driven smoke and heat extraction system:

Smoke is removed by sucking it by creation of air vacuum by means of air extra
System which remove air.

Use of this system to remove smoke is not satisfactory because action of this wi

educe pressure level in escape route ( staircases, corridors, lobby).

ressurization system:

essurization system protect escape routes and fire fighting shaft against the ingr
moke by maintaining the pressure within escape route higher than in the
djacent spaces.

pressurization consist of 3 components

upply air : fresh air is injected into area that is to be protected.

essure relief: To avoid over pressure when doors are closed.
r release: Air and smoke is released from adjoining fire areas.

To prevent overcrowding one has to ensure that the corridor

and the exit
staircases serving a storey of a building are adequate in size to
receive all
the occupants on that floor at the time of evacuation.

The maximum width of exit staircases shall be not more than

2000mm. Where staircases exceed 2000mm in width,
handrails shall
be used to divide the staircase into sections of not less than
1000mm
of width or more than 2000mm of width.

All exit staircases shall be ventilated by fixed openings in the

external walls, such openings being of area not less than 10 per cent
of the floor area per floor of the
staircase, or mechanically ventilated. Exit staircase and occupancy
area shall not share the same air well or void for lighting and
ventilation.
All exit staircases shall discharge at ground level directly into a safe
exterior open space.

Exit doors and exit access doors shall open in the direction
of exit travel:

when lead to an area of refuge and exit passageway

Openings for natural lighting and ventilation
facing an air-well. The air well shall have an
area not less than 93m and a min. width not
less than 6m.The height of the parapet wall on
the air-well side shall not exceed 1100mm or
be less than 1000mm measured from the
finished floor level of the corridor.

The provision of air well to ventilate the internal smoke-stop lobby as

shown above is an alternative to providing mechanical ventilation. It is a
relaxation to allow toilets to ventilate into air well as toilets are
considered wet areas, having very low fire risk.
The top of the air-well shall be fully open to the sky.
Exit staircase is cross-ventilated &
maintained under smoke free
condition at all times. Unprotected
openings of the apartment or
units are not facing (as shown in
above diagram) or
ventilating into the exit staircase
enclosure.

The provision of two remotely located

staircases or other exits provides
for alternate escape for the
occupants if one staircase or
alternate exit
is blocked off or rendered unusable in
an emergency situation.

Single staircase is only permitted for buildings not

exceeding 4 storeys as the exit staircase is not
separately enclosed. The above diagram shows a
protected lift shaft, which is wrapped around by an exit
staircase.
Single exit staircase is permitted in
buildings more than 4 storeys and
with
habitable height not exceeding 24m,
if there is smoke free approach to the
exit staircase. This can be achieved
providing a smoke stop lobby or

In each residential apartment or

maisonette unit, the exit or exits shall
be provided such that the travel
distances measured from any point
within the unit to the exit door or
doors shall not exceed 20m.