SPRINKLERS

A sprinkler system is a series of sprinklers connected either in branches or grids to the main header pipe which
acts as a distribution system. The pipe is filled with water and when the predetermined temperature is
attained, the bulb in the sprinkler with a liquid bursts thus enabling water to spray on the fire. They are placed
at a distance of 3 mts. c/c. One sprinkler covers an area of 9 sq.mts.

Wet Sprinklers:- These consist of water lines under high pressure. Sprinkler heads are designed in such a
manner that on sudden outbreak of fire, the head breaks and water starts sprinkling down with great pressure.
They are designed with a metal tip or a glass capsule. The glass capsule will break or the metal tip will melt on
the sudden outbreak of fire.

Wet / Dry Sprinklers:-

This system consists of pipe lines which are connected to the O/H water storage tank. They consist of air under
pressure to hold back the water. On sudden outbreak of fire, the air which is under pressure rushes out first,
and the water afterwards. This air forms a kind of whistling noise while rushing out, which warns the
occupants regarding the possibility of fire inside the building.

Dry Sprinklers:-
This system consists of pipe lines which are connected to the O/H water storage tank with pipelines which are
dry. The stop cock is operated manually in case of fire. This system is operated by a central control room which
is provided in the building.

Alternate valve Sprinklers:-

As the name implies, the sprinkler system pipework is charged with water in the summer and with air in the
winter when there is a danger of pipework freezing. When the system is charged with air, the operation of one
or more sprinklers, activates the sprinkler control valve to rapidly allow the flow of water into the sprinkler
distribution pipework where it is discharged through the open sprinklers onto the seat of the fire. A typical
Alternate Valve sprinkler system comprises of a control valve, sprinkler discharge heads and a dedicated water
supply system.

Pre-Action Systems:-
Pre-action sprinkler systems are specialized for use in locations where accidental activation is undesired, such
as in museums with rare art works, manuscripts, or books; and Data Centers, for protection of computer
equipment from accidental water discharge. Pre-action systems are hybrids of wet, dry, and deluge systems,
depending on the exact system goal. There are two main sub-types of pre-action systems: single interlock, and
double interlock.

Fire Hose Reels

They are located to provide a reasonably accessible and controlled supply of water to combat a fire risk. The
length of a full extended fire hose is 36 meters with a diameter of 19mm (outside diameter). A control nozzle
attached to the hose enables the operator to control the direction and flow of water to the fire. Various types
of reels are available to meet your specific requirements.

WET RISER

Wet Riser cum down comer:-

Wet riser-cum-down comer is an arrangement for fire fighting within the building by means of vertical rising
mains of not less than 10 cm. Internal dia, with hydrant and hose reels on each floor landing connected to an
overhead water/storage tank for firefighting purpose through a booster pump, check valve and a non-return
valve near the tank end and a fire pump, gate and non-return valve over the underground static tank. A fire
service inlet at ground level filled with a non-return valve shall also be provided to the rising main for charging
it by a fire service pump in case of failure of static fire pumps over the underground static tanks. A facility to
boost water pressure in the riser directly from the mobile pump shall also be provided to the wet riser system
with suitable fire service inlets (collecting head with two 63 mm inlets for 10 cm rising main and four 63 mm
inlets with check valves for 15 cm. Dia rising main) and a non-return valve and a gate valve.

DRY RISER

A dry riser is a main vertical pipe intended to distribute water to multiple levels of a building or structure as a
component of the fire suppression systems. The pipe is maintained empty of water. The dry riser is the
opposite of a “Wet Riser" or "wet standpipe" system where the pipes are kept full of water for manual or
automatic fire fighting operations.
Dry risers have to have fire engine access within 18m of the dry riser inlet box. Depending on regional
nomenclature, this may refer to a standpipe intended to provide water to hose connections, or could refer to a
vertical main pipe in an automatic dry pipe fire sprinkler system.
A dry standpipe includes a fire department connection which is an external access point at ground level
through which water can be pumped from the fire department's fire engine pump to fire fighters' hose
attachments on each floor.

FIRE HYDRANTS

Fire Hydrants, or hydrant outlets, are installed within the building to enable firefighters to connect their hoses
to a water supply to fight fires. These hydrants are above ground level like a post by about 0.9 m to 1.2 m ht
and placed at 30 mts. c/c distance and connected to a water main underground. It consists of a sluice valve, a
65 mm dia. Post one, two or three outlets. These outlets are spaced around the periphery of the hydrant
barrel, so that it can serve more number of fire tendres at a time, they are painted red in color, flushed once in
every six months and kept in working condition.

REFUGE AREA

Refuge Area
The refuge area shall be provided within the building line at floor level.
In case of high-rise building more than 24 m, first refuge area shall be provided at 24 m . Thereafter, the refuge
area shall be provided at every 7th habitable floor.
The refuge area shall be 4% of the habitable floor area it serves.
For buildings having up to 70 m, as an alternate, refuge areas can be provided as RCC cantilever projections at
the alternative mid-landing levels of the staircase.
15m to 24 m – just above 18 m
24 m to 36m – just above 24m
36m and above – every 7 floor
Normally refuge is calculated as 1sqmt per person
Each refuge area at mid-landing shall have a minimum width of 3.00 m, and minimum area of 10.00 sq.m. for
Residential and 15 sq.m for nonresidential buildings.

Refuge Area shall be provided with the following facilities:

i.) Entrance door to the refuge area shall be painted or fixed with a sign painted in luminous paint mentioning
"REFUGE AREA IN CASE OF EMERGENCY".
ii) Adequate drinking water facilities shall be provided in the refuge area.
iii) Adequate emergency lighting facility connected to the electric circuits of staircase, corridor / passages etc.
shall be provided.

SMOKE DETECTOR

A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Smoke detectors consist of a
sensing chamber, alarm sounding device and a means of electrical power transmission.

There are two kinds of residential smoke detectors: ionization and photoelectric optical.

Optical smoke detector: triggered by visible smoke.

Ionization type:-
The ionization smoke detector uses a radioactive source to ionize the air within the sensing chamber. The
ionization of air by the radioactive particle causes a very small flow of electrical current. When smoke from a
fire enters the chamber, its presence causes a reduction in the current's flow. The electronic circuitry senses
the reduced flow and triggers the alarm.

Photoelectric type:-
Photoelectric smoke detectors use the principle of scattered or reflected light to indicate the presence of
visual smoke. They work much like the automatic eyes used to open doors. When there's no smoke, the
chamber is dark. The light shines across the chamber and is received in a light trap on the far side. When
smoke is present in the chamber, a photocell located at right angles to the light source senses the light
scattered off the smoke particles and, at a certain level of illumination, triggers the alarm.
Heat Detector
A heat detector is a fire alarm device designed to respond when the convected thermal energy of a
fire increases the temperature of a heat sensitive element.
These are useful for rooms in which smoke that could wrongly set off other early warning systems is generated
under normal working conditions (e.g. kitchen, workshops where welding work is carried out).

Heat detector selection

Heat detectors commonly have a label on them that says Not a life safety device That is
because heat detectors are not meant to replace smoke detectors in the bedrooms or in the
hallway outside of the bedrooms. A heat detector will nonetheless notify of a fire in a kitchen or
utility area (i.e., laundry room, garage, or attic), where smoke detectors should not be installed.
This will allow extra time to evacuate the building or to put out the fire if possible.

Mechanical heat detectors are independent fire warning stations that - unlike smoke detectors -
can be installed in any area of a home. Portability, ease of installation, and excellent
performance and reliability make this a good choice for residential fire protection when combined
with the required smoke detectors. Because the detectors are not interconnected, heat activation
identifies the location of the fire, facilitating evacuation from the home. [citation needed]
Each type of heat detector has its advantages, and it cannot be said that one type of heat
detector should always be used instead of another. If you were to place a rate-of- rise heat
detector above a large, closed oven, then every time the door is opened a nuisance alarm could
be generated due to the sudden heat transient. In this circumstance the fixed threshold detector
would probably be best. If a room filled with highly combustible materials is protected with a fixed
heat detector then a fast-flaming fire could exceed the alarm threshold due to thermal lag. In that
case the rate-of- rise heat detector may be preferred.

STATIC TANK

A satisfactory supply of water for the purpose of firefighting shall always be available in the form of an
underground static storage tank with capacity specified for each building with arrangements of replenishment
by main or alternative source of supply at 1,000 liters per minute. The static storage water supply should easily
be accessible to fire engines. Provision of suitable number of manholes shall be made available for immersion,
repairs and inspection of suction hose etc.
The covering slab shall be able to withstand a vehicular load of 18 tonnes. The domestic suction tank
connected to the static water storage tank shall have an overflow capable of discharging 2250 litres per minute
to a visible drain point from which by a separate conduit the overflow shall be conveyed to a storm water
drain.
The static water storage tank shall be provided with a fire brigade collecting breaching with four 63 mm. Dia.
(two of 63 mm. dia. for pump with capacity 1,400 liters/minute) instantaneous male inlets arranged in a valve
box at a suitable point at street level and connected to the static tank by a suitable fixed pipe of not less than
15 cm dia. To discharge water into the tank when required at a rate of 2250 litres per minute.

WATER SUPPLY OF HIGH RISE BUILDING

There are four basic methods of distribution of water to a multistoried building.

a) Direct supply from mains to ablutionary taps and kitchen with WCs and urinals supplied by overhead tanks.
b) Direct Pumping Systems
c) Hydro-Pneumatic Systems
d) Overhead Tanks Distribution

a) Direct Supply System

This system is adopted when adequate pressure is available round the clock at the topmost floor. With limited
pressure available in most city mains, water from direct supply is normally not available above two or three
floors.

b) Direct Pumping

Direct pumping systems are suitable for buildings where a certain amount of constant use of water is always
occurring. These buildings are all centrally air-conditioned buildings for which a constant make up supply for
air conditioning cooling towers is required.
The system depends on a constant and reliable supply of power. Any failure in the power system would result
in a breakdown in the water supply system.
Water is pumped directly into the distribution system without the aid of any overhead tank, except for flushing
purposes. A pressure switch installed on the line to controls the pumps. Normally a jockey pump of smaller
capacity installed, which meets the demand of water during low consumption, and the main pump starts when
the demand is greater. The start and stop operations are accomplished by a set if pressure switches are
installed directly on the line. In some installation, a timer switch is installed to restrict the operating cycle of
the pump.

c) Hydro-Pneumatic Systems:

Hydro-pneumatic system is a variation of direct pumping system. An airtight pressure vessel is installed on the
line to regulate the operation of the pumps. The vessel capacity shall be based on the cut- in and cutout
pressure of the pumping system depending upon allowable start/stops of the pumping system. As pumps
operate, the incoming water is the vessel, compresses the air on top. When a predetermined pressure is
reached in the vessel, a pressure switch installed on the vessel switches off the pumps. As water is drawn into
the system, pressure falls into the vessel starting the pump at preset pressure. The air in the pressure tank
slowly reduces the volume due to dissolution in water and leakages from pipelines. An air compressor is also
necessary to feed air into the vessel so as to maintain the required air-water ratio. The system shall have
reliable power supply to avoid breakdown in the water supply.

The system consumes energy in proportion to the work done and save considerable amount of power as
compared to a fixed speed pumps used conventionally.

Hydro-pneumatic system generally eliminates the need for an over head tank and may supply water at a much
higher pressure than available from overhead tanks particularly on the upper floors, resulting in even
distribution of water at all floors.
4d) Over-Head Tank Distribution
This is the most common of the distribution systems adopted by various types of buildings.
The system comprises pumping water to one or more overhead tanks placed at the top most location of the
hydraulic zone.
Water collected in the overhead tank is distributed to the various parts of the building by a set of pipes located
generally on the terrace.
Distribution is accomplished by providing down takes to various fixtures

BREECHING LINE/BREECHING INLET

The water feed from the Fire Service pump is routed to the Dry Riser system by means of an inlet breeching
which is installed at Fire Brigade level on the outside of a building. The inlet breechings are house in a red
protective box which is kept locked shut. In the case of an emergency the glass panel is designed to be broken
to provide access to the hose connection by fire crews.
Ideally the inlet breeching should be positioned as close as possible to the rising main in order to minimise
pressure loss- a common problem when dealing with High Rise buildings.
Consideration for the Fire Fighter’s safety should be paramount when deciding on an installation position for
the inlet breeching. Ideally it should be in an easily accessed location such as along a service road large enough
for vehicular access and away from fallen debris or hazardous obstructions.
they are available as either a single, 2-way or 4-way pumping in breeching
ESCALATORS

An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyer transport device for carrying people between floors of a
building. The device consists of a motor -driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on
tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.
Escalators are used around the world to move pedestrian traffic in places where elevators would be
impractical. Principal areas of usage include department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit
systems, hotels, arenas, stadiums and public buildings.
The benefits of escalators are many. They have the capacity to move large numbers of people, and they can be
placed in the same physical space as one might install a staircase. They can be used to guide people toward
main exits or special exhibits, and they may be weatherproofed for outdoor use.
Most escalators are designed with 1000mm wide steps which allow passengers to move comfortably when
carrying luggage and shopping bags.
600mm and 800mm wide steps are also available and generally used in low traffic areas.
Escalators are required to have moving handrails that keep pace with the movement of the steps. The
direction of movement (up or down) can be permanently the same, or be controlled by personnel according to
the time of day, or automatically.

Escalators have three typical configuration options:

Parallel -up and down escalators "side by side or separated by a distance", seen often in metro stations and
multilevel motion picture theaters.
Crisscross -minimizes structural space requirements by "stacking" escalators that go in one direction,
frequently used in department stores or shopping centers
Multiple parallel -two or more escalators together that travel in one direction next to one or two escalators in
the same bank that travel in the other direction.

LIFT SHAFT SECTION WITH PIT AND MACHINE ROOM

FIRE ESCAPE CHUTES

High rise building having height more than 70 m shall necessary be provided with fire escape chute shafts for
every wing adjacent to the staircase. Walls of the shaft shall have 4 hours fire resistance. One side of the shaft
shall be external face of the building with proper ventilation. The access to the fire escape chutes shaft shall be
made at every floor level from the lobby area or from staircase mid-landing. Alternatively, high-rise buildings
more than 70 m “external evacuation system” shall be provided.

FIRE ESCAPE STAIRCASE

The layout of the staircases shall be of enclosed type throughout their height and shall be approached at each
floor level through half an hour fire resistance self closing door (45 mm thickness) placed in the enclosed walls
of the staircase. The width of the flight shall not be less than 1.5 m.
Permanent vent at the top equal to 5% of the cross sectional area of the staircase shall be provided.
Openable Sashes or R.C.C. grills with clear opening of not less than 0.5 sq. m per landing on the external wall of
the staircase shall be provided.
All the staircases of the building up to the level where direct ventilation is not available shall be pressurized
with positive air pressure of 5 mm water Gauge.
The mechanism for pressuring the staircase shaft shall be so installed that it operates automatically and also
manually when the automatic fire alarm operates.

FIRE DAMPERS

A fire damper can be defined as “a device installed in ducts and air transfer opening of an air distribution or
smoke control system designed to close automatically upon detection of heat. It also serves to interrupt
migratory airflow, resist the passage of flame, and maintain the integrity of the fire rated separation. Its
primary function is to prevent the passage of flame from one side of a fire-rated separation to the other.

In general, a fire damper works when the heat from the fire causes the normal temperature of a room to rise
to about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The fusible link attached to the damper would then melt, causing the
damper’s door to close. In rooms where the normal temperature of the room is consistently higher, a higher
degree fusible link would be attached to the damper. These particular fusible links would melt at a
temperature about 212 Fahrenheit. There are two types of fire damper designs used to help prevent the
spread of flames, a dynamic fire damper and a static fire damper.

Dynamic fire dampers are located in vertical barriers, where the HVAC system fan will stay on in the event of a
fire. Because they are installed in vertical barriers, these particular fire dampers have a spring loaded design.
The spring loaded design is where the doors of the damper have a spring like action when they are forced to
shut. Since the HVAC system fan will remain on, the air pressure from the fan will help the doors of the
damper to spring shut.

Static fire dampers are located in barriers where the HVAC system fan will shut off in the event of a fire. These
particular fire dampers would be installed in horizontal barriers, and would have a curtain like design. Since
the HVAC system fan will turn off, there would be no air pressure and the door of the damper will fall due to
gravity.