Advance building services-ii

Unit-5 Fire fighting

FIRE FIGHTING DEVICES:

( provide in the building as permanent fixtures)

Fire hydrantFire hydrant are known as fire plug in United state and Johnny plug in New York city. Fire hydrant are of two types- Dry riser - Wet riser Numerous wooden cased fire hydrant design existed prior to the development of the fimilar cast iron

- Dry riser (standard type )

A dry pipe fire sprinkler system is one in which pipes are filled with pressurized air, rather than water. This air holds a remote valve, known as a dry pipe valve, in a closed position. 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.
Water then enters the pipe, flowing through open sprinklers onto the fire

Valves of dry risers

- Wet riser ( with or without pump )

The overall system needs a substantial water storage at ground and overhead level for keeping the fire hydrant with water available at all times. The system of pipe lines that supply water to fire hydrant also supply water to directly connected rubber hose reels with a nozzle fixed near the fire hydrant which is always full with water and it can be used immediately up to a coverage of 50. The supply is also given to auto sprinklers which start automatically in the event of fire by fire detection and information system.

The pipes supplying water to the hoses are pressurized all the time. Three pumps supply the water from the tank to the hoses. The pumps are the duty pump, the stand-by pump, and the jockey pump. Pressure switches along the pipe control the starting of each pump. Wet canvas hose and hose reels are located at each lift lobby. Each canvas hose has a diameter of 65mm and a length of 30mm while hose reel having diameter 25mm and length 30mm.

JOCKEY PUMP The first pump to start will be the jockey pump. The controlling pressure switch is set to start the pump at a pressure of 150 psi and stop it when the pressure reaches 230 psi.

Jockey pump
DUTY PUMP If the pressure drops below 125 psi, this means a wet riser landing valve or a hose reel gate valve has been opened. The pressure switch that senses this set pressure activates and starts the duty pump. Stand-by Pump If for any reason the pressure continues to drop below 125 psi, it means either the duty pump has not started or is not available (under repair...etc.). The stand-by pump then takes over the function that is not performed by the duty pump. The stand-by pump is set to cut-in at 95 psi.

Duty pump

Stand by- pump

CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE HYDRANTA valve rod extends from the valve itself up through a seal at the top of the hydrant, where it can be operated with the proper wrench. This design is known as a "dry barrel" hydrant, in that the barrel, or vertical body of the hydrant, is normally dry. Hydrants are used with one or more valves in the above-ground portion, it is possible to turn the water supply on and off to each port. This style is known as a "wet barrel" hydrant. Both wet- and dry- barrel hydrants typically have multiple outlets. Wet barrel hydrant outlets are typically individually controlled, while a single stem operates all the outlets of a dry barrel hydrant simultaneously.

ITS APPEARANCES-

FIRE ESCAPE ,STAIRWAYS AND ESCAPE ROUTES :

1. The fire escape are defined as exits provided to a buildings for its occupants to get from the building safety in the event of fire in the building.

2. The provision is inbuilt and provide permanently on all floors including basement and terrace floor.
3. The information about the location where facility of exit is provided were displayed at various places at each floor for occupant and visitors. 4. Banners and symbols properly illuminated in the night for easy appearance. 5. The fire escape are comparable to emergency exits provided normally to all users. 6. Escapes are provided in the following manner on all the floor including basement and terraces :

A. Escape routes on the floorIt should be free of any barrier like door finally leading to a exit door. The plan of building of all floor including basement are drawn with these escape routes, corridor, exit door. Emergency outlets, escape staircase, ramps and lifts are shown by red color on the map. The maps of respective floor in adequate number are prominently displayed at readable height.

B . Fire Escape staircase It is a staircase not enclosed in walls from sides. It is very much of open type preferably of dg-leg. Type with series of landing as full and mid. RCC and MS staircases are well preferred with open railing. The approach and parking facility for fire brigade ladder carrying vehicle is properly provided.

C. Fire LiftsThese are special type lifts which are constructed as per regulation laid down by fire brigade authorities out of material of approved quality. The lift well is sealed and all doors on the vertical run are air tight not to allow the chimney effect to take place.
It is normally preferred to install the lift outside the building operating on open structure of vertical rails. Fire lift inside the building are preferred. The fire lift become indispensible and provided in case of building more than 30 floors in height.

Water demand for fire fighting. Storage system of water for fire fighting services.
INTRODUCTION Fire can be totally stopped with the use of use of water thrown on fire in adequate quantity. The dry riser, wet riser ,the auto sprinklers are water based .

The fire hydrant are managed by wet and dry riser.

A) WATER DEMAND FOR FIRE FIGHTING The calculation of general water demand of a building is based on variable like number of persons . Use of building , the major activity for which the building is provided. Fire prone situation developing in the building which are required to be taken care off. Nearly 25% of the demand is termed as fire demand.

B) STORAGE SYSTEM OF WATER

In the storage facility provided as suction tank on the ground floor and service tank provided over head. This water is stored separately and exclusively for fire fighting in separate tanks. On no occasion the fire tanks shall remain empty or partly filled. The water replenishing system shall fill fire tank first an on filling of this tank full the excess water shall over flow into the other general service tanks . The storage system thus provided will offer water for a duration ranging upto 5 min for fire fighting. The supplementary water quantity shall be available otherwise from fire tank etc.

Questions Q- Careful layout and design of site and building premises make fire fighting easy (5 marks) Q- Discuss above hydrant system for fire fighting in building. (10 marks) Q- Discuss the importance of escape routes and hydrant system in fire fighting. (10 marks)

SHORT NOTES- (5 marks)

1.water storage tank for fire fighting 2. fire hydrant

FIRE FIGHTING REGULATIONS ( UNDER REFERECE TO NBC )

National building code (NBC) is now called as Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) Fire protection of building and occupant are primary consideration for BIS As it is observed from the content it is covering as below:1.Buildings are classified as per purpose and occupancy. 2.Buildings are also classified s per type of construction. 3.Fire zones are identified. 4.General requirements of all occupancies are given. 5.Specific requirements as described as Exit Requirement are listed.

6. Requirement of following are givenResidential Building (group A) Educational Building (group B) Institutional Building (group C) Assembly Building (group D) Business Building (group E) Mercantile Building (group F) Industrial Buildings (group G) Storage Buildings (group H) Hazardous material storage Building (group I)

7. The Fire protection requirements for buildings more than 15m in height. 8. The guide lines for selection of fire detector. 9. The sanctioning of plans for proposed buildings ,issue of completion certificate and building occupation, permission is now linked with provision of fire safety device and systems. 10. The building plans submitted to local sanctioning authorities for new construction, addition & alteration etc are checked by fire authority