Components of Fire Protection Systems

When hearing concerning fire protection, we tend to consider automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems and fire alarms. However, these are simply 2 among several parts that defend building occupants from fire. Smoke is additionally dangerous, capable of inflicting death by poisoning, so it should be controlled additionally. in addition, buildings should embody measures to assist firefighters work a lot of effectively when fire cannot be controlled by sprinklers alone.

This article describes the most parts of fire protection systems, whereas indicating the NYC codification sections with the corresponding technical requirements. keep in mind this can be simply an informative guide, to not be utilized in the place of building codes for an actual project.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems.

As inexplicit by their name, automatic sprinklers reply to fire with no want for human intervention. Movies and television series have unfolded some inaccurate ideas concerning fire sprinklers; for instance, there's a typical belief that sprinklers shower indoor areas fully with the slightest sign of smoke. In reality, fire sprinklers operate mechanically as they reply to heat, and in several cases one sprinkler is enough to douse a fire.

An automatic sprinkler system for an oversized building will represent a large investment, however repairing the injury of an uncontrolled fire are often far more dearly-won. additionally, occupants might suffer disabling injuries or maybe lose their lives.

There are special applications wherever discharging water is risky, and alternative fire-extinguishing substances are used instead (BC 904). Some examples are foam, CO2 and pollutant.

Standpipes

A standpipe could be a piping system that delivers water from a main supply to hose connections in key locations throughout a building.

Automatic dry

Automatic wet

Manual dry

Manual wet

Semi-automatic dry

Dry standpipes are usually full of pressurized air, and water enters the system once needed; on the opposite hand, wet standpipes are permanently full of water. Automatic systems establish the specified flow by themselves, whereas manual systems depend on a local department pumper truck. Semi-automatic systems want manual signal to activate, however will establish the specified flow by themselves once this happens.

Fire Alarm Systems

A fire warning device monitors the building for the presence of fire, creating audible and visual signals if fire is detected. a bearing unit receives inputs from all fire detection devices, automatic or manual, and activates the corresponding notification systems. additionally, fire alarms are often used to initiate the adequate response measures once fire is detected.

Smoke Management Systems

Humans avoid fire by instinct, however the hazards related to smoke don't seem to be public knowledge. Additionally, to limiting visibility, smoke will cause poisoning if massive enough amounts are inhaled. Therefore, a fire protection system should even be capable of handling smoke effectively, avoiding its accumulation and removing it from the building. Note that smoke movement is driven by pressure and temperature: you will not see smoke flowing from a lower-pressure area to a higher-pressure area, and it also tends to rise together with hot air.

Smoke management systems are often either mechanical or passive. Note that they complement every other:

Mechanical systems use fans to manage smoke movement.

Passive systems use smoke barriers to limit is movement, that don’t consume power.

Fire Pumps

As you would possibly guess from their name, fire pumps are used to establish a reliable water system for all fire protection systems that require it. If a fire pump is used with the only purpose of provision water for a fire sprinkler system, it's thought-about a sprinkler booster pump.

Fire pumps are expensive, however they're not obligatory for all fire protection systems. With good design choices, it should be possible to avoid their use fully whereas still having a code-compliant system.

Post-Fire Smoke Purge

As previously explicit, smoke hinders visibility and is very dangerous once inhaled. Clearing the smoke in an exceedingly building is very important to resume building operation as shortly as possible once a fire is extinguished. this can be exactly what post-fire smoke purge systems do: eliminating smoke quickly when a fire incident.

Since post-fire smoke purge systems operate when a fire, they're not classified as life safety systems. however, their use is mandatory altogether occupancy groups indicated by the code.