Fire Fighting Systems

Fire fighting systems and equipment vary depending on the size, use and type of building construction. A
building may contain some or all of the following features:

 fire extinguishers
 fire hose reels
 fire hydrant systems
 automatic sprinkler systems.
 Clean agent Systems
 Foam deluge systems

Fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are provided for a 'first attack' fire fighting measure, generally undertaken by the occupants
of the building before the fire service arrives. It is important that occupants are familiar with which extinguisher
type to use on which fire.

There are different types of fire extinguishers to be used for various types of fires involved Most fires
start as a small fire and may be extinguished if the correct type and amount of extinguishing agent is applied
whilst the fire is small and controllable.

Following are the major type of fire extinguishers used,

Water

Carbon Dioxide

Dry Chemical

Wet Chemical

Foam etc.

Fire extinguisher locations must be clearly identified. Extinguishers are color coded according to the
extinguishing agent.

Automatic Sprinkler Systems

Automatic sprinkler systems are one of the most reliable methods available for controlling fires.

The sprinkler head is connected to a pressurized water system. When the fire heats up the sprinkler head, it
opens at a pre-set temperature, thus allowing pressurized water to be sprayed both down onto the fire and also
up to cool the hot smoky layer and the building structure above the fire. This spray also wets combustible
material in the vicinity of the fire, making it difficult to ignite, thereby slowing down or preventing fire spread and
growth.

When a sprinkler head operates, the water pressure in the system drops, activating an alarm along with fire
pumps. Fire Pump set normally includes an electric driven, diesel driven and an another smaller pump called
Jockey pump.

Electric and diesel driven pumps are sized each for total capacity of the required flow rate. Diesel drven pumps
are standby pumps in case of power failure. Jockey pumps are sized normally for 5% of the total flow rate
required and the purpose is to keep the pressurized lines under pre determined pressure. Any minor loss in the
line will cause Jockey pump to start first. If the Jockey pump were unable to maintain the required pressure in
the line, thus indicating a real fire because of the open sprinkler, big pump will come in to operation.

Areas are classified to different zones and sprinkler lines to each zones are controlled by zone Control valve
set. Zone control valve set typically includes monitored valves, flow switches, pressure reducing valves etc. An
open sprinkler will cause the water flow though the valve set, which the flow switch will detect and signal the
fire alarm panel.

Fire hose reels

Fire hose reels will have hose reels of 25 mm & 65 mm or both depending on design criteria. 65mm landing
valves with hose reels are intended for fire fighting by trained fire fighters considering the higher flow &
pressure involved. Hose reels normally are 30 m in length and shall be placed though out the building and
near fire escape routes.

Fire Hose connections are done normally with wet risers, which are connected to fire pumps. Upon releasing
water from nozzle, fire pumps starts and maintain the flow rate required for fire fighting.

Fire hydrant systems.

Fire hydrant systems are installed in buildings to help firefighters quickly attack the fire. Essentially, a hydrant
system is a water reticulation system used to transport water in order to limit the amount of hose that
firefighters have to lay, thus speeding up the fire fighting process.

Fire hydrants are for the sole use of trained firefighters. Because of the high pressures available serious injury
can occur if untrained persons attempt to operate the equipment connected to such installations.

Like Fire Hose Reels, Fire hydrants connected to fire pumps and will start operating upon pressure loss
detection when fire hydrants are operated.

Clean agent Systems

Electrical rooms & computer rooms required to protect more carefully and need to protect from the water
damage that would be caused by the sprinkler system, hence electrical & computer rooms are protected by
clean agent fire protection system like FM 200.

These systems will have smoke detectors in the protected space and will release the inert gas stored in the
cylinder to the protected space. This inert gas will replace the air, hence oxygen, within the room and
extinguish the fire.

System will activate only when two detectors in a strategically placed zones detect the fire. Protected area shall
be completely sealed before the gas release and all the associated AC equipment’s should have automatic
dampers to close off the area. Similarly civil construction should be in such a way that only a limited leakage is
allowed through the walls & other cracks. Attest shall be done to confirm the integrity of the room enclosure.

Main Componenets of the system are

a. Heat detection & release system control panel.

b. Smoke detectors

c. Nozzles.
d. Agent storage tank

e. Solenoid valves.

Foam Deluge System

Areas like fuel storage & generators rooms should have fire protection system suitable for the oil fire; hence the
foam system is used in these areas. Foam systems will have heat detectors to sense the fire and upon
detection of the fire in two zones, foam will be dispensed to area mixed with water in a predetermined ratio.

Main components of the systems are

a. Heat detection & release system control panel.

b. Heat detectors

c. Open Sprinklers/nozzles.

d. Foam storage tank/bladder tank

e. Deluge valves

Drainage systems

Sewer, waste

Drainage system is normally double stack system with separate lines connected for Water Closets and
normal wastewater.

Lines connected to WC s & urinals are called soil pipes and the lines connected washbasins, kitchen
sinks, laundries etc. are called waste pipes. These lines run separately throughout the building including
the riser pipes. Waste lines are connected to manhole named gully trap before connected with main
manhole named FIC (Final Inspection Chamber). FIC is the final manhole from which the city main line
connections are done.

If the drainage lines are running at basement levels, direct connection with manholes may not possible
because of the elevation differences of main lines and the lines in the basement. Hence, basement drain
water are stored in sump pits and then pumped to ground level manholes. A pressure-reducing manhole
(PRMH) will be required in between the pumped drain and manhole to avoid turbulence in the main
line.

Pipe material normally used for the drainage system is uPVC &HDPE. Joining method of UPVC pipes are
with push fit & solvent cement while HDPE uses welding process also for joining.

All the drainage lines are run with slope towards flow direction and plumbing codes specifies the
required slope to be maintained for each pipe sizes.

All the drain lines from Sinks, faucets, shower etc. shall run to the floor trap before connecting with
main waste line. It is important to have required minimum height of water column in the floor traps and
Water Closets to stop spreading foul gases from waste & soil lines to the occupied spaces.
It is important to have vent pipes connected to main lines and or individual WC and drain connections to
maintain the water trap. Vent connections maintain the water in trap by equalizing pressure on both
sides of the trap.

Water Supply System

Water supply systems in buildings are designed to provide water at various points at required pressure
and quantity. Required water quantity and pressure depends on the type of application. For example,
water supply quantity and pressure required for a water closet is different if the flush valves are used
instead of cistern type flushing system.

Pipes used for the water supply system normally is by PPR (Polypropylene random copolymer)and the
joining method is by electro fusion welding.

Water supply system in building can broadly explain as below,

1. Incoming water, storage & pump room

Water from the Authority like DEWA is stored in tanks near pump room. Water tanks are sized based on
the total consumption of the facility and as per the maximum allowed storage allowed by
authority/DEWA.

Pump room placed near the water tank will have pump set which will transfer water to the roof water
tanks depends on the demand on roof tank. Water is transferred to the roof through the riser pipes,
which run normally through the shafts in side the buildings.

2.roof tanks & Filtration

Water from transfer line is stored in roof tank, this generally made of GRP panels. Water from the roof
tank will pass though the filtration system like multimedia filters, UV filters etc. before supplied to the
required points like wash basins, sinks etc.

3. Booster Pumps

First few levels from top of the building may not have enough water pressure required due to the gravity
flow only. So a booster pump set is employed to supply water for up to first 3-4 floors from top. Other
floors will have developed enough pressure and can be served by gravity flow only. As the water gets
more pressure in the below floors, pressure reducing valves will have to use to bring down the pressure
to the acceptable levels.

4. Hot water system

Hot water required for the basins, kitchens etc. are provided by the electric water heaters or by the
centralized hot water system like boilers & calorifiers. Boilers and calorifires are sized based on the hot
water demand of the facility.

Hot water pipes shall be insulated for reducing the loss of energy.

HVAC System

Under HVAC system, following systems are covered;

1. Heating or cooling & Air Conditioning systems.

2. Ventilation systems including the fire life safety systems & normal ventilation systems

Air Conditioning is normally by the unitary air conditioners like window and split Ac systems or by the
centralized systems like Chilled water systems.

Type of AC equipment selection is determined by various factors like size of the building, shape/facade
of the buildings, aesthetic considerations, energy saving considerations, regulations by authorities etc.

a. Direct Expansion units

Window units & Split AC units are using refrigerants to exchange the heat from the occupied space to
the condensing units/outdoor without using a water medium in between and hence are called direct
expansion unit. These systems will have an indoor unit in the occupied space and correspondingly an out
door unit to reject the heat transferred to the refrigerant from the occupied space.

b. Chilled water System

Systems using chiller to cool the water to a low temperature and then passing through the fan coil units
in the occupied space for cooling. This system differ from the direct expansion by the fact that water is
used as medium to transfer heat from the occupied space to the chiller, while in direct expansions
system refrigerants are entering the Fan coil units in the occupied space.

Chiller –Chilled water pump-FCU/AHU configuration

Chillers are placed normally in the roof or basement area in the plant rooms. Water is typically cooled to
a temperature of around 6 degree C. Depending on the design, systems will have primary and or
secondary chilled water pumps, pressurization, dosing units etc. Occupied spaces are provided with
suitable capacity fan coil units. Chilled water is pumped to the FCUs, and return back to the chiller via
return chilled water piping

District cooling- Chilled water pump- FCU /AHU configuration

Another system that is being used widely is district cooling where the chilled water provider supplies the
chilled water at a low temperature to the facility. Chilled water from provider is connected to heat
exchanger in the plant room, while chilled water from the building is connected to the secondary side of
the heat exchanger. This cooled water is pumped to the FCUs/AHUs etc as normal system then return to
the heat exchanger to transfer heat to the district cooling line.

District cooling- ETS room/Heat exchange room

This room located normally in the ground or basement level where the line from the district cooling
provider is connected to the heat exchanger. This room will have heat exchangers, pumps, pump
controllers, dosing units, pressurization units, metering stations etc.

Chilled water piping

Chilled water from the chiller or heat exchangers are pumped to the AHUs and FCUs in required
quantities though the riser pipes and horizontal lines. Each FCU and AHUs are provided with valves and
other metering devices as required for the balancing of the system.
Pipe material normally used is black steel pipes with welded joints for bigger pipes sizes and threaded
joints for smaller pipe sizes.

Pipe sizes are determined based on the consideration for maximum limit on velocity and friction rates.it
is important to ensure that proper pipes sizes are selected to work the system as designed.

FCUs/AHUs

FCUs/AHUs are the terminal points in the chilled water system. Main components of the FCUs are
cooling coil and fans. Modulating valves on chilled water pipes feeding to the FCU/AHU regulates the
flow to the unit, in response to the set point temperature & room temperature

Ventilation systems for normal ventilation systems

Apart from the space cooling, ventilation for the space is also important for maintaining the quality of
air. ASHRAE 62.1 is widely used as a reference to ensure the minimum required ventilation airflow rates
to the space. This is normally using the fresh air handling units, which will take outdoor air and will cool
to the required temperature before feeding to the space at required minimum quantities.

Ventilation systems for fire life safety & car park system

HVAC system also covers the pressurization system like corridor pressurization. Lift lobby/shaft
pressurization; smoke exhaust and car park ventilation system.

During fire and evacuation from the building, it is important to keep the escape route clear of the
smoke. This is attained by keeping the escape routes at a higher pressure compared to adjacent areas
and also by exhausting the smoke from the fire area. Fan are sized to pressurize and exhaust the area
and will operate based on the fire evacuation strategy during the fire mode.

Ventilation systems for car park system

HVAC also covers the car park ventilation system. Car park ventilation fans work normally when a
specified threshold of the CO (carbon monoxide) is exceeded in the car park area. Ventilation fans
exhaust & replenish the air to dilute the noxious gases to bring down to safe levels.