Fire Protection

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– Detection and Communication System
– Fire Hydrant system
– Sprinkler System
– Portable Fire Extinguisher
– Fire Escape

Fire protection systems are standardised elements as approved by the local fire department. For a performance oriented design of fire protection system, various recognised guidelines such as the Singapore Fire Safety Engineering Guidelines [6] can be consulted. The fire authority is notified in advance of any shutdown due  to maintenance, especially when the automatic sprinklers are under maintenance. Such shutdowns could be scheduled during normal working hours and finished in the shortest possible time. If required, special precautions (e.g. fire petrol, temporary water connection, etc.) could be employed [7]. The fire safety defects raised in this chapter concern (a) detection and communication system;  (b) Fire hydrant systems; (c) Fire Hose; (d) Sprinkler system; (e) Portable fire extinguisher (e.g. poor discharge of portable fire extinguisher and obstructed fire door); (f) Fire escape and related services . Considerations for the maintainability of fire protection systems at the design stage could prevent the occurrence of these identified defects. Making sure that the fire protection system is in proper condition could help avoid inconveniences during cases of false alarms.

Fire Protection System

The two main objectives of a fire protection system are: (a) to reduce the risk of losing lives to the minimum, and (b) the protection of the building and its contents, as well as to prevent/minimise the spreading of the fire to adjacent buildings. It does so by:

• preventing the initiation of fire
• restricting the growth and spread of fire
• containing the fire within specified boundaries through compartmentation
• providing some means of escape for the occupants
• controlling the fire using automatic devices and by active fire-fighting.

A safe building begins with a carefully analysed architectural layout and planned maintenance schedules. This includes the appropriate locations and construction of the various subsystems and regular maintenance and repairs.

Most designs and operations of fire protection systems are strictly governed by local fire safety codes, as well as local and international standards. The designers and facilities managers (FM) need to be conscious of these codes and standards during the design and post-occupancy phases.

Reference is made to:

• SCDF Fire Code — Code of practice for fire precaution in buildings
• NFPA 1 — Fire Code
• SS 645 — Code of practice for the installation and servicing of electrical fire alarm systems
• SS 575 — Code of practice for the fire hydrant, rising mains and hose reel system
• CP 52 — Code of practice for automatic fire sprinkler system
  

Maintainability of Fire Protection System

A fire protection system can be subdivided into four major components, namely, (1) a detection and communication system, (2) a fire fighting system, (3) control and monitoring devices, and (4) fire escape. Each component can be further structured and divided into major sub components which are commonly found in commercial buildings.

The main tests for fire protection systems are:

• Fire Alarm System Test
• Hydrostatic Test
• Dry Riser Test
• Wet Riser Test
• Hose Reel Test

Common Defects

Fire protection engineering is multi-disciplinary. Planning the layout and escape routes involves the expertise of architecture, while the fire rating of the construction is covered by civil engineering. Mechanical engineering’s coverage involves calculating the flow of water through the pipe work, the discharge of the extinguishing agent through equipment nozzles, and fluid mechanics. Finally, chemical engineering deals with the hazards of chemical interaction and processes.

The common defects often faced by maintenance teams are summarised in the figure below. Many of these common defects could be avoided if maintainability is considered right from the design stage. Many cases are related to (1) exits not properly marked or blocked or locked, (2) the lack of/an inoperative alarm system, (3) missing fire hose(s), standpipe(s) or extinguishers, (4) the absence of a sprinkler system or a sprinkler system’s failure to respond, and (5) no fire training provided to the occupants or maintenance team.

Common problems associated with fire protection in a facility include:

Detection and Communication System

Fire Hydrant System

Sprinkler System

Portable Fire Extinguisher

Fire Escape and Related Services

For more information on Fire Protection, see the PDF below:

Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in Buildings

Standards

SINGAPORE STANDARDS

SS 638                      CoP for Wiring of Electrical Equipment of Buildings

SS 645                      CoP for Installation and Servicing of Electrical Fire Alarm System   

SS CP 52                   CoP for Automatic Fire Sprinkler System          

SS 99                        Specifications for Welded Low Carbon Steel Cylinders for Storage and Transportation of Low-Pressure Liquefiable Gases  

SS 213                      Unplasticised PVC Pipes and Fittings for Soil, Waste and Vent Application             

SS EN 3-10              Portable Fire Extinguishers  

SS 233                      Specifications for Flexible Rubber Tubing, Rubber Hose and Rubber Hose Assemblies for Use in LPG Vapour Phase Installations      

IEC 60079                Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas Atmospheres  

SS IEC 60598-2-22  Luminaires – Particular Requirements for Luminaires for Emergency Lighting

SS 281                      Specifications for Pressure Regulators for LPG      

SS 586                      Caution Labelling for Hazardous Substances  

SS 294                      Specifications for Valves for Use with Domestic and Industrial LPG Cylinders  

SS 299                      Fire Resistant Cables    

SS 332                      Specification for Fire Door  

SS 333                      Specification for Fire Dampers

SS 489                      Specification for Fire Shutters 

SS 508                      Graphical Symbols – Safety Colours & Safety Signs

Pt 1                           Design Principles for Safety Signs & Safety Markings  

Pt 2                           Design Principles for Product Safety Labels    

SS 532                      CoP for the Storage of Flammable Liquids       

SS 535                      CoP for Installation, Operation, Maintenance, Performance and Constructional Requirements of Mains Failure Standby Generating Systems      

SS 546                      CoP for Emergency Voice Communication Systems in Buildings

SS 550                      CoP for Installation, Operation and Maintenance of El Passenger and Goods Lifts      

SS 551                      CoP for Earthing           

SS 563                      CoP for the Design, Installation & Maintenance of Emergency Lighting and Power Supply Systems in Building Formerly CP 19

Pt 1                           Emergency lighting      

Pt 2                           Installation Requirements and Maintenance Procedures  

SS 572                      CoP for the Use of Timber in Buildings          

SS 575                      CoP for Fire Hydrant, Rising Mains and Hose Reel Systems 

SS 578                      CoP for Use and Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers

SS 586                      Specification for Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods         

SS 608                      CoP for Gas Installation

SS 634                      Plant Processing Facilities in Oil, Chemical and Process Industries

SS EN 3-7                Portable Fire Extinguishers – Part 7 : Characteristics, performance requirements and test methods

SS EN 3-8                Portable Fire Extinguishers – Part 8 : Additional requirements to SS EN 3-7 for the construction, resistance to pressure and mechanical tests for extinguishers with a maximum allowable pressure equal to or lower than 30 bar

SS EN 3-9                Portable Fire Extinguishers – Part 9 : Additional requirements to SS EN 3-7 for pressure resistance if CO extinguishers

SS EN 3-10              Portable Fire Extinguishers – Part 10 : Provisions for evaluating the conformity of a portable fire extinguisher to SS EN 3-7

AMERICAN STANDARDS

ASTM D635            Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent &Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position 

ASTM E108             Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings  

ASTM E119             Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction & Materials  

NFPA 16                   Standard for the Installation of Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems   Formerly NFPA 16A

NFPA 30                   Flammable & Combustible Liquids Code    

NFPA 33                   Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials           

NFPA 45                   Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals         

NFPA 54                   National Fuel Gas Code

NFPA 55                   Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code 

NFPA 58                   Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code      

NFPA 251                 Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Resistance of Building Construction & Materials  

NFPA 262                 Standard Methods of Tests for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces 

NFPA 400                 Hazardous Materials Code  

NFPA 432                 Code for the Storage of Organic Peroxide Formulations

NFPA 495                 Explosive Materials Code  

NFPA 502                 Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges and other Limited Access Highways         

NFPA 750                 Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems       

UL 132                     Standard for Safety Relief Valves for Anhydrous Ammonia and LP-Gas  

UL 144                     Standard for LP-Gas Regulators         

UL 300                     Standard for Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishing Systems for Protection of Commercial Cooking Equipment      

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

AS 1530                   Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components & Structures Pt 4 Fire-resistance Test of Elements of Construction  

AS 2208                   Safety Glazing Materials in Buildings          

AS 2714                   The Storage & Handling of Organic Peroxides        

AS 2941                   Fixed Fire Protection Installations – Pumpset Systems 

AS 4391                   Smoke Management Systems – Hot Smoke Test          

AS 4326                   The Storage & Handling of Oxidizing Agents          

AS 4587                   Water Mist Fire Protection Systems – System Design, Installation and Commissioning 

BRITISH STANDARDS

BR 186                     Design Principles for Smoke Ventilation in Enclosed Shopping Centres,  

BR 258                     Design Approaches for Smoke Control in Atrium Buildings

BR 368                     Design Methodologies for Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation        

BS 476                     Fire Tests on Building Materials and Structures  

Pt 4                           Non-Combustibility Test for Materials           

Pt 5                           Method of Test for Ignitability        

Pt 6                           Method of Test for Fire Propagation for Products  

Pt 7                           Method of Test to Determine the Classification of the Surface Spread of Flame of Products

Pt 11                         Method for Assessing the Heat Emission from Building Materials           

Pt 20                         Method for Determination of the Fire Resistance of Elements of Construction (General Principles)      

Pt 21                         Methods for Determination of the Fire Resistance of Load- Bearing Elements of Construction     

Pt 22                         Method for Determination of the Fire Resistance of Non-Load- Bearing Elements of Construction     

Pt 23                         Methods for Determination of the Contribution of Components to the Fire Resistance of a Structure  

Pt 24                         Method for Determination of the Fire Resistance of Ventilation Ducts          

BS EN 520               Pt 1 Specification for Plasterboard Excluding Materials Submitted to Secondary Operations

BS 4514                   Specification for Unplasticized PVC Soil and Ventilating Pipes of 82.4mm Minimum Mean Outside Diameter, and Fittings and Accessories of 82.4mm and of Other Sizes   

BS 5041                   Fire Hydrant Systems Equipment        

Pt 1                           Specification for Landing Valves for Wet Risers   

Pt 3                           Specification for Inlet Breechings for Dry Riser Inlets     

BS 5234                   Partitions (including matching linings)          

Pt 2                           Specification for Performance Requirements for Strength and Robustness including Methods of Test  

BS 5852                   Methods of Test for Assessment of the Ignitability of Upholstered Seating by Smouldering and Flaming Ignition Source  

BS 6206                   Specification for Impact Performance Requirements for Flat Safety Glass and Safety Plastics for Use in Buildings          

BS 6391                   Specification for Non-Percolating Layflat Delivery Hoses and Hose Assemblies for Fire Fighting Purposes  

BS 7346                   Components for Smoke and Heat Control Systems, Pt 7 CoP on Functional Recommendations and Calculation Methods for Smoke and Heat Control Systems for Covered Car Parks     

BS 8202                   Coatings for Fire Protection of Building Elements, Pt 2 CoP for the Use of Intumescent Coating Systems to Metallic Substrates for Providing Fire Resistance  

BS EN 54                 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems, Pt 2 Control and Indicating Equipment, Pt 4   Power Supply Equipment  

BS EN 520               Gypsum Plasterboards. Definitions, Requirements and Test Methods          

BS EN 12101-1        Smoke & Heat Control Systems – Specification for Smoke Barriers

BS EN 12101-3        Smoke & Heat Control Systems – Specification for Powered Smoke & Heat Control Ventilators (Fans)   Replaces BS 7346 Pt 2

BS EN 13501-1        Fire Test to Building Materials – Classification  

BS EN 50054           Electrical Apparatus for the Detection and Measurement of Combustible Gases. – General Requirements and Test Methods    

BS EN 50057           Electrical Apparatus for the Detection and Measurement of Combustible Gases. – Performance Requirements for Group II Apparatus Indicating up to 100% Lower Explosive Limit

BS EN 60079-14      Explosive Atmosphere. Electrical Installations Design, Selection and Erection Replaces BS 5345 Pt 1 & 3

BS EN IEC 62485-2 Safety Requirements for Secondary Batteries and Battery Installations. – Stationary Batteries      

BS EN IEC 62485-3 Safety Requirements for Secondary Batteries and Battery Installations. – Traction Batteries         

EUROPEAN STANDARDS

EN 81 – 58                Safety Rules for the Construction and Installation of Lifts. Examination and Tests. Part 58 – Landing Doors Fire Resistance Test  

EN 671 – 1                Fixed Firefighting Systems. Hose Systems. Hose Reels with Semi-Rigid Hose  

EN 13823                 Reaction to Fire Tests for Building Products – Building Products excluding Floorings exposed to the Thermal Attack by a Single Burning Item       

EN ISO 1182            Reaction to Fire Tests for Products – Non-Combustibility Test      

EN ISO 1716           Reaction to Fire Tests for Building Products – Determination of the Gross Heat of Combustion (Calorific Value)           

EN ISO 11925 -2     Reaction to Fire Tests – Ignitability of Products subjected to Direct Impingement of Flame – Part 2 : Single Flame Source Test  

IEC STANDARDS

IEC 60079                Explosive Atmospheres

ISO STANDARDS

ISO 834                    Fire resistance Tests – Elements of Building Construction     

ISO 1896                  Thermal Insulating Asbestos Boards   

ISO 5149                  Refrigerating Systems and Heat Pumps – Safety and Environment Requirements