2 Fire

FIRE PROTECTION
SYSTEM
CONSIDERATION
ACTIVE
Hose reel
method
Means of
escape
Types of
exit
Portable fire
extinguisher
Riser
Soda-acid
-Operation/installation
-Components
-Drawings
-Functions/consideration
compartmentation
PASSIVE
location
Sprinkler
System
CO2
foam
Smoke
control
Pressurised
escape
routes
Smoke
reservoirs
3 parts
factors
Exit
Exit
access
Exit
discharge
door
ceiling
function
length
Dry
Fire
stopper
FIRE
PROTECTION
SYSTEM
Types
Wet
Fire
wall
definition
Consideration
Fire window
Needs/function
FIRE
TRIANGLE
The overall protection strategies for

development projects in Malaysia are
based on Fire Safety Philosophy of
the Malaysian Uniform Building ByLaws (1984) (UBBL)
UBBL are to ensure the safety of the
occupant in term of fire safety.
MALAYSIAN FIRE CODES & REGULATIONS
The
provisions of the fire

requirements
in
UBBL
are
implemented
by
several
Malaysian Fire Codes which are:
i) British Standard (BS)
ii) Malaysian Standard (MS)
A process of combustion characterized by the
emission of heat accompanied by smoke or

flame.
Mostly when the term fire is referred to, we
mean the uncontrolled fire such as happens

in furnaces, etc.
Fire
is
often
unwanted,
unexpected,
disastrous & costly, both in terms of human
life & business costs.
What causes a fire?

Fire
exist as a result of combustion

/reaction between 3 elements heat (high
temperature), fuel, oxygen.
There is an interrelationship between heat,
fuel & oxygen. This is known as fire

triangle.
Fire
cannot occur if one of the key

components is missing, i.e. : if the heat,
the fuel or oxygen is eliminated.
FIRE TRIANGLE
QSM 554
Methods of extinguishing fire

(Starvation.separation)
(1)EXCLUDE OXYGEN (smothering)

by covering the top surface of burning material
with foam, blanket, cover, lid, etc.
(2) COOLING
by applying water or other method to reduce
ignition temperature- sprinkler
(3) STARVATION (separation)
by reducing or separation fuel by
compartmentation, transferring liquid to
another tank, etc.
FIRE TRIANGLE
The
combustion process was

once depicted as a triangle with
three sides
Each
side
represented
essential ingredient for fire.
an
Heat, fuel and oxygen were
thought to be essential elements.
CLASSES OF FIRE
The classes of fire
Ordinary Combustibles
Fires in paper, cloth, wood, rubber, and many plastics
require a water type extinguisher labeled A.
Flammable Liquids
Fires in oils, gasoline, some paints, lacquers, grease,
solvents, and other flammable liquids require an
extinguisher labeled B.
Electrical Equipment
Fires in wiring, fuse boxes, energized electrical equipment,
computers, and other electrical sources require an
extinguisher labeled C.
FIRE PROTECTION APPROACH

Protection of a building and its
contents from damage by fire can
be divided into two (2) categories :
i) Passive
ii) Active
PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION SYSTEM
WHAT IS PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION?

the combination of all methods used in a building to warn people of
an emergency, provide for safe evacuation, and restrict the spread of
fire, and includes both active and passive protection.
PFP features relate to elements of construction which are generally
part of the fabric of the building as opposed to active features such as
sprinklers, detectors, alarms, etc.
Examples of PFP features in typical buildings are:
fire rated walls, floors, ceiling and roofs
fire and smoke control doors
fire and smoke stopping seals, collars, pillows, blankets, etc for
services penetrations
fire rated protective coatings for structural steel members etc
fire and smoke dampers/curtains
fire rated glass systems
fire rated lift landing doors
fire rated ducting
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

Control the fire growth through material control or
by providing physical barriers to the movement of

flame or smoke.
Often fixed in walls, floors, ceilings, beams,
columns, and shaft enclosures that are built to a

prescribed fire resistance rating.
Fire alarm systems used to initiate the closing of
fire doors and dampers (that may be otherwise

held open to allow normal building function.)

Passive fire protection systems
intended to maintain the following:
are
Provide structural integrity of floor,
wall, and ceiling assemblies during a fire

for a specified time period
Compartmentalize the fire room or space
to control the fire spread
Provide exiting systems for occupants
to evacuate the building safely.
COMPARTMENTATION

COMPARTMENTATION
A concept that reduce the likelihood of smoke
inhalation-deaths, these products of combustion

must be contained in the area of origin.
This is known as compartmentation - subdivided
a large building so that a fire starting anywhere

is caged within its cell of origin.
This compartmentation may be of; fire window,
fire door, fire wall, drywall, ceiling or fire stop.

COMPARTMENTATION
The Need
1. To subdivide a large building so that a fire
starting anywhere is caged within its cell of origin

2. To avoid large volumes and interconnecting
spaces
3. To contain specific hazards (bolters, fuel stores),
from the building and separate particular hazards

from high-risk occupancies
4. To isolate escape routes
5. To separate one building from another

Compartmentation The method
Obviously the smaller the compartment, the less potential
for damage , but there has to be sensible compromise.
The presence of sprinklers is a significant mitigation,
allowing larger compartment sizes perhaps double.
Walls and floors

Major compartment division will normally have longer fire
resistance periods than the enclosure to escape routes.
One hour is a common minimum, but up to four hours or
more are possible, demanded by fire authorities or insurers

anxious to minimise their risk.
Escalators in department stores break the compartmentation
between floors.

Compartmentation Door
Timber up to one hour, or steel more than one
hour. They can be self-closing and possibly, locked.
For ordinary circulations, i.e factory, they can be
counterweight or hung on inclined runners so that

they shut on the melting of a fusible link or the
release of an automatic catch.
Industrial scale take form of roller steel shutters.

Enclosure can include horizontal steel roller
shutters activated by detectors.

Metal door - wooden inner structure - Finishing
with, paint or stainless steel

Smoke curtains
Smoke curtains
(as part of a smoke and heat

ventilation system compartment
screens) may be required to form
part of the reservoir boundary
or to limit smoke travel from the fire
source.
Fixed smoke curtains are commonly
used in the roof

space of either large single
storey buildings, or above false
ceilings in commercial and retail
premises.
Compartmentation- Fire wall

Fire wall opening protection
Physical barriers such as fire damper & fire door
Fire damper
All ducts that pass through fire rated wall must

be equipped by fire dampers. Eg : in air
conditioning ducting.
Fire door
i) Horizontal type
ii) Overhead rolling
iii) Special fire door
COMPARTMENTATION Fire damper
DAMPER
Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting
DAMPER
Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting (at the
intersection of ducting)
DAMPER
DAMPER
Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting (at the
corner of ducting)
COMPARTMENTATION - Fire door
Horizontal type
-Mounted on roller and
suspended from a track
-It moves horizontally to

close the opening in the
fire wall.
Figure : Fire door, horizontal
Overhead rolling
Drop vertically into
place
-
Figure : Fire door, overhead rolling
Special fire door

- Installed in areas
such as where the
conveyor has to pass
through the fire wall.
Figure : Fire door, conveyor pass through
This
situation
will provide a
path of travel
for
fire
to
breach the wall
Figure : unprotected opening through fire wall
Compartmentation- the method :

Ducts and Pipes
Service runs often have
compartment divisions.
to
pass
through
Duct and pipe sections immediately adjacent to the
compartment wall or floor are made fire resisting

and the gap around them, where they pass
through, is minimal and filled with a non
combustible or intumescent packing .
The packing has to be flexible enough to allow for
the ordinary vibration of the service run, and its

expansion and distortion in fire.
An Intumescent is a
substance which swells as
a result of heat exposure,
thus increasing in volume,
and decreasing in density.
Intumescents are typically
used in passive fire
protection.

Most fire door close by gravity through the
door own weight or weight on a closing

mechanism.
It is essential to installed fusible link so they
are exposed to heat transfer from either side

of the door.

Regular checks should be made to ensure
that no materials are placed in the path of
the door.
Guides and bearings should be checked
regularly, as should the counter-balance
weights.
Any time that the facility is not in normal
operation, fire doors should be closed
manually.
This is particularly important if no guard or
security service is available in the plant.
MEANS
OF
ESCAPE

Means of Escape
Means of escape is a continuous, unobstructed
path for evacuees from any point in a building to a

public way.
Its 3 parts are:
exit access that portion that leads to an

entrance to an exit
exit the portion that is separate from all
other buildings spaces by construction or
equipment required to provide a protected
path to the exit discharge
exit discharge the portion that connects
the termination of an exit to a public way

Means of Escape
The effectiveness of All the exits must be ensured
by these following factors:
clear and unobstructed access is provided to

all exits
exits are identified and well lit
the proper type of door is used and it opens
in the direction of travel
exits are equipped with the proper opening
and locking hardware
Clear exits discharge to a public way

Means of Escape
Types of exit
corridors
exit passageway
exit doors
interior stairs
exterior stairs
Figure : Types of exit

SMOKE CONTROL
Pressurized escape routes
to create greater air pressure in escape routes
such as corridors and stairs, than the

remainder of rooms
Usually in an office block and other large and
high-rise compartmentation buildings.
The effect is to contain smoke -and fire at its
point of outbreak
allowing it to leak out through windows or purpose-
made ventilation grills.
SMOKE CONTROL
Pressurized escape routes
Figure : Pressurised escape route
Figure : Plan of escape route and rooms
Smoke Reservoirs
Most enclosed shopping centre have a mall
with a parade of shops.
A fire in a shop or in the mall can cause a
rapid spread of smoke and hot gases
If the centre is sprinkler the water may cool
the smoke and hot gases so reducing their

buoyancy and possible fogging at floor level.
Smoke Reservoirs
Smoke can be controlled by:
(a) providing smoke reservoirs into which the
smoke can flow through before being
extracted by either mechanical or natural
means;
(b) allowing cooler air to enter the centre at low
level to replace the smoke flowing out of the
centre
ACTIVE FIRE
PROTECTION SYSTEM
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Main groups under which active precautions must
be considered:
Installation of an alarm and detecting system to
give warning of outbreak.
Installation and equipment for automatic fire
extinction
Provision of first-aid fire fighting equipment

Provide for facilities to assist the fire services

Active fire protection system involves systems
which designed to:
1. Detect
2. Suppress a fire

Water Suppression System
1. Automatic sprinkler system
-most common & effective fire suppression system
with a success rate of 98.5%.
-not suitable for electronics industry, and electrical
sub-station
2. Water spray system
3. Deluge system
4. Wet riser system
5. Hydraulic hose reel system

6. Hydrant system

Foam
1. High expansion foam
2. Low expansion foam
3. Premix foam
Smoke & Fire Detection
1. Ionisation detector
2. Optical detector
3. Heat detector
4. Beam detector
5. Line detector
6. Infrared detector, flame detector

Gas Suppression System
1. Halogenated hydrocarbon
2. CO2 system
3. Halon alternative
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION

Active approach means of fire protection and fire
engineering is a specialised area of building
services and the following will be considered:
i)
portable extinguishers
ii)
iii)
iv)
hose reel and hydrants

automatic extinguishers
alarm detection

Portable extinguishers
Colour-coded cylinders
containing compressed liquids and gases appropriate to
various sources of fire
Standards fire-fighting equipment in all commercial and
public buildings.
Objectives : to remove or sufficiently reduce at least one
element of the fire triangle discussed previously.
A portable fire extinguisher must contain type of fire
extinguishing agent
extinguish.
suitable for the fire it is required to
It is identified by colour coding for its intended purpose.
Figure 1 : A Fire extinguisher

Figure : Colour coded cylinders and content

Types available:
Group 1: Water extinguisher
i) water (soda-acid)
ii) water (gas pressure)
Group 2: CO2 extinguisher
Group 3: Vapourising liquid extinguisher
i) bromochlorodifluoro methane
Group 4: Dry Powder extinguisher
Group 5: Foam extinguishers
i) foam (chemical)
ii)foam (mechanical or gas pressure)
TYPE OF PORTABLE FIRE

EXTINGUISHER
WATER
POWDER
Soda-acid water
fire extinguisher
It has a small glass

container of sulphuric
acid
It is released into the

water cylinder when a
knob is struck.
The acid mixes with the

water which contains
carbonate of soda to
create a chemical
reaction producing
carbon dioxide gas
The gas pressurises the

cylinder to displace water
from the nozzle
Figure : Soda- acid water fire extinguisher
Foam fire
extinguisher
Foam is formed by
chemical reaction
between sodium
bicarbonate and
aluminium sulphate
dissolved in water in
the presence of a
foaming agent
When the extinguisher
is inverted the
chemicals are mixed to
create foam under
pressure which is
forced out of the
nozzle.
Figure : Foam fire
extinguisher
Carbon dioxide fire

extinguisher
Carbon dioxide is
pressurised as a liquid
inside a cylinder
Striking a knob at the
top of the cylinder
pierces a disc to release
the carbon dioxide
It then converts to a gas
as it depressurises
through the extinguisher
nozzle.
Figure : Carbon dioxide fire

extinguisher
Dry Powder Extinguisher

Dry powder extinguishers
put out fires by coating the

fuel with a thin layer of fire
retardant powder,
separating the fuel from the
oxygen.
The powder also works to

interrupt the chemical
reaction, which makes
these extinguishers
extremely effective.
Dry powder extinguishers
are usually rated for class B

and C fires and may be
marked multiple purpose
for use in A, B, and C fires.
They contain an extinguishing
agent and use a compressed,

non-flammable gas as a
propellant.
Dry Chemical extinguishers will
have a label indicating they may

be used on class A, B, and/or C
fires.

Hose reel
Fire fighting equipment for use as a first aid
measure by building occupants

Location : in recess along corridors
Length : provided with up to 45m of
reinforced rubber hose (to cover 800m2 floor
area per installations)
A range of hose reels is available including
manual and automatic, fixed, swinging and
recessed and come with detachable mounting
plate for fast installation by one person
Figure : Fixed Manual Hose Reel
Figure : Swinging Manual Hose Reel
Figure : Recessed Manual Hose Reel

Hose reel
Water supply
Water can be supplied directly from the mains
if the supply to the highest reel can be
200kPa and also supply sufficient discharge.
If the supply cannot be supplied from the
main automatic pumping equipment will have
to be installed.
Operation
Source : R Greeno (2000). Building Services, Technology and Design.

Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.18 & 9.19
The
hose
reel
should be able to
discharge
0.4litre/second at
a distance 6m
from the end of
the nozzle.
If a suction tank is
required it should
hold a minimum
volume of 1.6m3
water.

Hydrant (wet & dry riser)
Dry and wet rising mains are
intended for use by the Fire

Brigade
or
other
trained
personnel
It provide a readily available
means of delivering considerable
quantities of water to extinguish
or to prevent the spread of fire.

Dry risers comprise vertical mains,
which
are
fitted
into
staircase
enclosures or other suitable positions
with outlet valves on each floor
inlets fitted at ground level to enable
the Fire Brigade to connect into the
water supply.

Wet riser is a pipe kept permanently
charged with water available either

direct from a storage tank, via a
booster pump, or fed directly from
the towns main water supply.
Before installation of a dry or wet
riser mains the local Fire Brigade
must be consulted, to ascertain
their exact requirements.
Hydrant (wet riser)

Wet risers are a form of internal hydrant for
the firemen to use and are always charged

with water.
Wet risers are only required for buildings
where the topmost floor is-higher than 30.5
m above the fire appliance access level.
Wet riser system comprises duty fire pump
with standby pump discharge into a 150mm
diameter riser pipe with landing valves at
each floor.
A jockey pump is usually provided to maintain
system pressure.
For high rise buildings, each stage of the wet
riser should no exceed 71m.

Hydrant (wet riser)
Installations :
The wet riser is permanently filled with water
to supply hydrant valves on each floor,

ensuring an immediate supply of water.
This system provide infrastructure for Fire
Brigade to connect its pipes and pump the
water from outside the building (mains).
Hoses supplied with water from standpipes
(vertically) are the usual means of manual
application of water to interior building fires.
(contd)

Hydrant (wet riser)
Installations :
Standpipes are usually designed for this
use by the fire department, but building

occupants also can use them.
Provision of a wet riser system, however,
establishes the need for building occupants
to be trained in the use of fire hoses.
Experience
is
normally
required
to
effectively use fire hoses because nozzle
reaction forces can be considerable.
Operations :
The duty pump is
activated by a fall
in
water
level
registering at the
pipeline switch.
The
flow
and
pressure
switch
responds to water
flowing
when all hydrant
landing valves are
closed , lack of
hydraulic
movement engages
the
flow
and
pressure switch to
disconnect
the
pump.
Pearson Education Ltd. Edinburgh. Figure 9.21
wet riser
Operations
:
The duty pump is activated by a fall in water
level registering at the pipeline switch.
The flow and pressure switch responds to
water flowing
when all hydrant landing valves are closed ,
lack of hydraulic movement engages the flow
and pressure switch to disconnect the pump.
Hydrant (dry riser)

Dry risers are a form of internal hydrant for the
firemen to use and are only required for buildings

where the topmost floor is higher than 18.3m and
less than 30.5m above the fire appliance access
level.
Dry risers are normally dry and depend on the fire
engine to pump water into the system.
Dry riser system comprises a riser pipe with landing
valves at each floor and to which rubber-lined hose
with nozzles can be connected to direct the water jet
at the fire.
Breeching inlets into which the firemen pump water
are provided at ground level and connected to the
bottom of the dry risers.

Dry riser

(Sprinkler system)
The most widely used apparatus for fire
protection in buildings is the automatic

sprinkler system
Special treatment and use of additional
extinguishing agents, though, may be

required in many high-hazard, industrial and
storage occupancies ( ie: foam, Carbon
dioxide)
Sprinkler system consists of a network of
piping installed at the ceiling or roof and

supplied with water from a suitable source
Figure : Sprinkler heads

ceiling mounted sprinkler head
Figure : Simplified sprinkler

installation
Sprinkler system
i)
On the piping at systematic intervals are

placed heat-sensitive heads, which discharge
water when a predetermined temperature is
reached at any head
ii) A stop/gate valve is installed in the main
supply, and drains are provided
iii) An alarm can be connected to the system so

that local and remote signals can be given
when the water flows
(concurrently : water flow and alarm)
The types of fire sprinkler systems:

Dry pipe system
This fire sprinkler system does not use water.
It uses dry air and it can cover a vast area.
It is mostly used in refrigerated coolers.
Air is pumped in the pipes then out.
A dry pipe sprinkler system is one in which pipes are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen, rather than water. Located in a
heated space, the dry-pipe valve prevents water from entering the pipe until a fire causes one or more sprinklers to operate.
Once this happens, the air escapes and the dry pipe valve releases.
Advantages of using dry pipe fire sprinkler systems include:
Dry pipe sprinkler systems provide automatic protection in spaces where freezing is possible. Typical dry pipe installations
include unheated warehouses and attics, outside exposed loading docks and within commercial freezers.
Wet pipe system

This is more popular than the dry pipe system.
This fire sprinkler system uses water.
It is more common in homes and small business premises.

Deluge Fire sprinkler system
This system uses open pipes.
Deluge valves open up and allow water
to flow into all the sprinklers.
It uses open pipes connected to the water
system. Water flow is constant in all
the sprinklers.
The arrangement of deluge system piping is similar to a
wet or dry pipe system with two major differences:
A. Standard sprinklers are used, but they are all open.
The activating elements have been removed so that when

the control valve is opened water will flow from all of the
sprinklers simultaneously and deluge the area with water.
B. The deluge valve is normally closed. The valve is opened by the activation of a separate fire
detection system.
Deluge systems are used where large quantities of water are needed quickly to control a fastdeveloping fire. Deluge valves can be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated.

Foam water fire sprinkler system
This uses foam and water. It is commonly used in gas stations and places
dealing with highly flammable goods like airports. This system is more
efficient than the wet system.
Pre action system
This is a combination of all the above mentioned
fire sprinkler systems. This system is used to protect
artifacts or things of great value. There are single
interlock pre action systems that operate like
the dry pipe systems. The double interlock
systems operate like the deluge systems.
pre-action sprinkler system is similar to a deluge sprinkler
system except the sprinklers are closed. This type system is
typically used in areas containing high value equipment or
contents and spaces which are highly sensitive to the effects of
accidental sprinkler water discharge. The pre-action valve is normally
closed and is operated by a separate detection system.
Sprinkler system

Sprinkler system
Operation :
The water from the appropriate supply is fed to an
automatically controlled pump and then to the
main control valve of the system.
Immediately above the main control valve is alarm
valve which separates the sprinkler systems from
the supply.
When a sprinkler operates, this pressure falls and
valve opens under the excess water pressure
beneath it, allowing water to flow into the system
to replace that discharged at the sprinklers.

Sprinkler system
Operation :
Water passing through the valve flows up a
vertical riser and then to the main distribution

pipes at each ceiling level in the protected
premises.
From the main distribution pipes it passes to
the distribution pipes and range pipes, on which

the sprinkler heads are mounted.

Sprinkler system
Operation :
It is then discharged at those sprinklers which
have been caused to operate by the hot gases

rising from the fire.
The sprinkler therefore acts as a detector as
well as a distributor, and its opening brings
the sprinkler system into operation
automatically.
Sprinkler system
Sprinkler system and dry riser piping layout
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM

1.
2.
3.
SMOKE DETECTOR
HEAT DETECTOR
GAS DETECTOR
END

2 Fire

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FIRE PROTECTION

The overall protection strategies for

MALAYSIAN FIRE CODES & REGULATIONS

provisions of the fire

A process of combustion characterized by the

emission of heat accompanied by smoke or

Mostly when the term fire is referred to, we

mean the uncontrolled fire such as happens

What causes a fire?

exist as a result of combustion

There is an interrelationship between heat,

fuel & oxygen. This is known as fire

cannot occur if one of the key

Methods of extinguishing fire

(1)EXCLUDE OXYGEN (smothering)

combustion process was

Heat, fuel and oxygen were

thought to be essential elements.

FIRE PROTECTION APPROACH

WHAT IS PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION?

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

by providing physical barriers to the movement of

Often fixed in walls, floors, ceilings, beams,

columns, and shaft enclosures that are built to a

Fire alarm systems used to initiate the closing of

fire doors and dampers (that may be otherwise

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

Provide structural integrity of floor,

wall, and ceiling assemblies during a fire

Compartmentalize the fire room or space

to control the fire spread

Provide exiting systems for occupants

to evacuate the building safely.

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

inhalation-deaths, these products of combustion

This is known as compartmentation - subdivided

a large building so that a fire starting anywhere

This compartmentation may be of; fire window,

fire door, fire wall, drywall, ceiling or fire stop.

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

starting anywhere is caged within its cell of origin

from the building and separate particular hazards

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

allowing larger compartment sizes perhaps double.

Walls and floors

more are possible, demanded by fire authorities or insurers

Escalators in department stores break the compartmentation

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

hour. They can be self-closing and possibly, locked.

For ordinary circulations, i.e factory, they can be

counterweight or hung on inclined runners so that

Industrial scale take form of roller steel shutters.

shutters activated by detectors.

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

(as part of a smoke and heat

used in the roof

Compartmentation- Fire wall

All ducts that pass through fire rated wall must

COMPARTMENTATION Fire damper

Figure : Location of fire damper in the air conditioning ducting

COMPARTMENTATION Fire damper

COMPARTMENTATION Fire damper