Fire Fighting Design Case study

Prof. Dr Ali Hammoud

OUTLINE
Chapter 1: Definitions
Chapter 2: Fire Fighting Equipments
Chapter 3: Project Description
Chapter 4: Hand Calculations
Chapter 5: Elite Software Calculations
Chapter 6: WaterCAD Software Calculations
Chapter 7: Fire Pump Selection
Introduction
Fire protection has three major goals:
Life safety (minimum standard in fire and building codes)
Property protection (typically an insurance requirement, or a
regulatory requirement where the protection of building
components is necessary to enable life safety)
Continuity of operations (typically an insurance requirement or
an item of self-motivation for building owners - not a regulatory
issue). Interruption of operations due to fire damage can be
very costly.
Chapter 1
Definitions
Fire:
Fire is the visible heat and light energy
released during a chemical reaction
Fires start when a flammable and/or a
combustible material with an adequate
supply of oxygen or another oxidizer is
subjected to enough heat and is able to
sustain a chain reaction.
Fire Triangle
Fire is a chemical reaction
involving rapid oxidation of a
fuel. Three things must be
present at the same time in
order to produce fire:
Fuel
Oxygen
Heat
Chemical, exothermic
reaction
Fire Tetrahedron
chain reaction must
take place
The Critical Stages of Fire
The incipient period
The growth period
The fully developed
stage Burning
The decay period
Incipient Period
The incipient period is the pre-fire period before the
flames develop. The typical accidental fire begins as
a slow growth, smoldering process, which may last
from a few minutes to several hours.
During this period heat generation increases,
producing light to moderate volumes of smoke. The
characteristic smell of smoke is usually the first
indication that an incipient fire is underway.
Growth Period
The growth period commences with ignition and
ends with 'flashover', which is best thought of as the
transition between the second and third stages.
In the growth period, most fires spread slowly at first
on combustible surfaces, then more rapidly as the
fire grows, providing radiant feedback from flames
and hot gases to other fuel items.
Fully developed (Burning)
In fully developed period all combustible
materials will become involved, and flames
will emerge through the upper parts of any
opening (door, window, etc.)
Decay
The fire is dying out because either the fuel
is burning out or there is insufficient air
supply
The temperature of the enclosure drops
gradually
Fire Classes
Class A - Ordinary Combustible
Class B - Flammable Liquids
Class C - Electrical Hazards
Class D - Combustible Metals
Class K - Cooking Oil or Fat
Class A - Ordinary Combustible
Materials: Ordinary Combustiles
Wood
Paper
Rubber
Plastic
Extinguishing methods:
Cooling with water
Class B - Flammable Liquids
Materials:
Flammable or combustible
fuels
Liquids
Gases
Extinguishing methods:
Removing fuel
Reducing temperature
Class C - Electrical Hazards
Materials:
Energized electrical
equipment
Extinguishing methods:
Non conducting extinguishing
agent (halon, dry chemicals,
carbon dioxide)
Class D - Combustible Metals
Materials:
Magnesium
Titanium
Zirconium
Lithium
Calcium
Zinc
Extinguishing methods:
Dry powders
Class F - Cooking Oil or Fat
Materials:
Cooking oils
Hotter than other typical
combustible liquids.
Extinguishing methods:
Wet chemical extinguisher.
Hazard Classes of Occupancies
The Classes of Occupancies are:
1) Light Hazard.
2) Ordinary Hazard.
Ordinary Group 1 Hazard
Ordinary Group 2 Hazard
3) Extra Hazard.
Extra Group 1 Hazard
Extra Group 2 Hazard
Light Hazard
Combustibility of the contents is low
Quantity of the combustible is low
Low rates of heat release
Example:
Residential
Hospitals
Schools
Ordinary Group 1 Hazard
Combustibility of contents is moderate
Moderate rates of heat release are expected
Example:
Bakeries
Laundries
Ordinary Group 2 Hazard
Combustibility of contents is moderate to high
Moderate to high rates of heat release are expected
Example:
Parking
Post offices
Libraries
Extra Group 1 Hazard
Quantity and combustibility of contents is
very high
Examples:
Die casting,
Metal extruding
Extra Group 2 Hazard
Moderate amounts of flammable or
combustible liquids
Examples:
Asphalt saturating
Flammable liquids spraying
Flow coating
Chapter 2
Fire Fighting Equipments
Fire Control Systems
1. Active Control
Sprinklers
Fire Extinguishers
Sensors
2. Passive Control
Furniture
Carpets
Walls
Floors
Active Protection
Manual or automatic
suppression of fire
that would:
1. Control and
extinguish fires
2. Protect people and
surrounding
structures from the
effects of fire
Passive Protection
Materials by nature of design,
or physical arrangement
would:
1. Resist damage due to heat
and flame
2. Resist or prevent the spread
of heat, smoke and flame.
3. Facilitate the safe evacuation
of people
4. Aid fire-suppression
operations
Manual Fire Suppression
Fire hose reels
Standpipe system
Portable extinguishers
Hose Reel
Nominal diameter : 2.5 in
Temperature range: -20 to
50C
Hose Length: not less than
32 m.
FHC Spacing between two
adjacent: 20 m
Minimum allowable hose
diameter is 1 in at the flow
rate of 33 gpm.
Portable Extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers are
intended as a first line of defense
to cope with fires of limited size
Use CO2 extinguisher in rooms
containing electrical equipments
Use dry chemical fire extinguisher
for remaining areas
Fire extinguishers used shall not
exceed 12 kg
Stand Pipe System
A standpipe is a type of rigid water piping
which is built into multi-story buildings in a
vertical position, to which fire hoses can be
connected, allowing manual application of
water to the fire. Within buildings standpipes
thus serve the same purpose as fire
hydrants.
Dry standpipe system
A "dry" standpipe is a pipe
extending into a building that
can be used by the fire
department to supply fire
fighting water to the interior of
the structure.
The pipe is fixed, located near a
road or driveway so that a fire
engine can supply water to the
system.
Wet standpipe system
A "wet" standpipe, on the
other hand, is filled with
water and is pressurized at
all times.
wet standpipes may be used
by building occupants.
they come with hoses so
that building occupants may
fight fires quickly.
System Component Definitions
Branch Lines: The pipes in which the sprinklers are
placed, either directly or through risers.
Cross Mains: The pipes supplying the branch lines,
either directly or through risers.
Feed Mains: The pipes supplying cross mains,
either directly or through risers.
Risers: The vertical supply pipes in a sprinkler
system.
System Component Definitions
Sprinkler Systems
There are 3 systems:
1. Tree System
2. Grid System
3. Looped System
Tree System
It is a system of dead-end
branch lines that is centrally
fed by a cross main. The
cross main is the pipe that
supplies water to the branch
lines, Long branch lines
should, if possible, be fed so
that the cross main is
equidistant from the ends of
the branch lines.
Grid System
A grid is a system of branch
lines interconnected by
cross main on both ends of
the branch lines. A grid can
be used only for wet pipe
systems to provide a
hydraulic advantage for
systems with numerous
branch lines by providing
water flow to sprinklers from
more than one direction.
Looped System
A looped system connects
cross mains at two or more
locations. This arrangement
can provide a hydraulic
advantage over the
traditional tree system by
providing water flow to
sprinklers from more than
one direction. It is used for
wet & dry systems.
Type of Sprinklers Head
Pendent Sprinkler: A sprinkler designed to
be installed in such a way that the water
stream is directed downward against the
deflector.
Upright Sprinkler: A sprinkler designed to be
installed in such a way that the water spray
is directed upwards against the deflector.
Type of Sprinklers Head
Detectors
The first step in fire fighting
is the detection of the fire
Fires are detected either by
persons or by electrical
detectors
Electrical detectors can be
Heat detectors
Smoke detectors
Flame detectors
Detectors
According to NFPA standards
detectors shall be located at a
distance of 7 m from each other
We can know the number of detectors
we need per floor by dividing the area
to be protected by the area protected
by each detector
Smoke detectors are installed in
offices and parking garages
heat detectors are installed in pantries
Alarm bell
After detecting the fire ,alarm bells ring to
warn occupants and personnel.
Alarm bells are directly connected to the
detectors and rings automatically ,and they
can be manually operated.
Chapter 3
Project Description
Project Description
The project consists of designing a fire
fighting system for ABRAJ ACHRAFIEH in
BEIRUT. The building consists of 3
residential buildings (Block A, B and C):
each containing four basements, a ground
floor, a mezzanine floor, a +6.55 floor, a
technical floor, 21 floors, and a roof.
Project Description
Concerning the type of hazards, we have:
- Light hazard occupancy for apartments.
- Ordinary hazard occupancy, group 1 for parking
Lots.
The classifications of fires that can happen in that
project are:
- Class A for apartments and parking lots.
- Class B for parking garages and fuel tanks.
- Class C for electronic and generator rooms.
Design Calculations
The Project is mainly composed of
apartments and parking lots.
Sprinklers are added in the four basements
which contains the parking lots.
Hose reels are placed in the stairways at
each floor
Design Calculations
In each residential building we have two
risers:
One wet riser feeding the hose reels
One dry riser feeding the landing valves
via a siamese connection
Design Calculations
The design studies should be done for:
Temperature classification (glass bulb color).
Fire hose reels.
Hydraulically most demanding area (HMDA)
Fire pumps.
Chapter 4
Hand Calculations
Temperature Classification
The maximum ceiling temperature is
supposed to be 38C and the temperature
rating at which the sprinkler should be active
is between 57and 77C since there is no
boiler or furnace in the designed area. The
sprinkler glass bulb should be orange or red.
Temperature Classification
Temperature Classification
Sprinkler calculations
Automatic sprinkler systems are designed in
accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the
installation of sprinkler Systems.
NFPA-13 provides the minimum
requirements for the design of sprinkler
systems protecting buildings of a wide
variety of uses.
Step1- Number of sprinkler risers needed
Based on NFPA 13-4-2.1
Since the parking area is less than 4831m
2
, one
sprinkler riser is sufficient
Step 2- Area-Density Method
Step 3- Area of Coverage/sprinkler spacing
Protection Areas and Maximum Spacing (Standard
Spray Upright/Standard Spray Pendent) for Ordinary
Hazard. NFPA-13 4.4.1.1
4.6 15 12.1 130 All All
m ft m
2
ft
2
System
type
Construction
type
Maximum
spacing
(s)
Protection
area (A
s
)
4.6 15 12.1 130 All All
m ft m
2
ft
2
System
type
Construction
type
Maximum
spacing
(s)
Protection
area (A
s
)
Step 3- Area of Coverage/sprinkler spacing
As = S X L
Distance between branch lines L = As / S = 12.1 / 4.6
= 2.63 m
Sprinklers Distribution
Step 1: Meshing for distribution of sprinklers
Sprinklers Distribution
Step 2: Determining sprinklers needed in the uncovered areas
Sprinklers Distribution
Step 3: Sprinklers addition
Step 4- Calculation of the total number of sprinklers
per floor
The area of the parking is 3000 m with a
height of 3 m
The protection area of one sprinkler is 12.1
m
A total number of 247 sprinklers / floor is needed
(255 by design constraints and specifications)
Sprinklers distribution
Adjustments
1- Distance from walls is between 4 in
minimum and Ls/2.
2- Obstructions (e.g.. Ventilation duct)
3- Uncovered areas (shape, Building
geometry)
Sprinklers distribution
Actual number of sprinklers per floor is 255
Step 5-Pipe sizing
Schedule size for Ordinary Hazard Occupancies systems
Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule
(as per NFPA (as per NFPA- -13.table6 13.table6- -5.3.2(a)) 5.3.2(a))
Steel Copper Steel Copper
1 in. 1 in. 2 sprinklers 1 in. 2 sprinklers 1 in. 2 sprinklers 2 sprinklers
1 1 in. in. 3 sprinklers 1 3 sprinklers 1 in. in. 3 sprinklers 3 sprinklers
1 1 in. in. 5 sprinklers 1 5 sprinklers 1 in. in. 5 sprinklers 5 sprinklers
2 in. 2 in. 10 sprinklers 2 in. 10 sprinklers 2 in. 12 sprinklers 12 sprinklers
2 2 in. in. 20 sprinklers 2 20 sprinklers 2 in. in. 25 sprinklers 25 sprinklers
3 in. 3 in. 40 sprinklers 3 in. 40 sprinklers 3 in. 45 sprinklers 45 sprinklers
3 3 in. in. 65 sprinklers 3 65 sprinklers 3 in. in. 75 sprinklers 75 sprinklers
4 in. 4 in. 100 sprinklers 4 in. 100 sprinklers 4 in. 115 sprinklers 115 sprinklers
5 in. 5 in. 160 sprinklers 5 in. 160 sprinklers 5 in. 180 sprinklers 180 sprinklers
6 in. 6 in. 275 sprinklers 6 in. 275 sprinklers 6 in. 300 sprinklers 300 sprinklers
Step 5-Pipe sizing
Calculation of pipe diameters
Step 6- Determination of the most remote area
Sprinkler which has the longest run and the highest pressure
drop is calculated using the equivalent length technique
Step 7- Number of sprinklers in the remote area
The maximum probable number of operating
sprinklers at the same time is
Ns =Ad /As
Ns=1500/ 130 = 12
Step 8- Number of sprinklers in one branch line
Number of sprinklers on one branch line
Where
S= spacing between sprinklers (ft)
Ad= sprinkler operation area (ft2)
Step 9- Determining the flowrate of the most remote sprinkler
Step 10- Determining the residual pressure of the most remote
sprinkler
2
|
.
|

\
|
=
k
q
p
Step 11- Total effective length between two adjacent sprinklers
Equivalent Length
Pipe Length
f
T
L L L + =
Step12- Friction Loss Formula
Pipe friction losses shall be determined on the
basis of the Hazen-Williams formula, as follows:
Where,
p = frictional resistance in psi per foot of pipe
Q = flow in gpm
C = friction loss coefficient
d = actual internal diameter of pipe in inches
87 . 4 85 . 1
85 . 1
52 . 4
d C
Q
P

=
Hazen- Williams C values
Galvanized steel is used
Nodes Distribution
The distribution is based on the longest run
Calculation sheet
Q = area of coverage of one sprinkler x the density
= 130 ft x 0.15 gpm/ft = 19.5 gpm
Calculation sheet
Using the formula Q = K.Pt, one can find the residual pressure at the sprinkler
Pt = (Q/K) = (19.5/5.6) = 12.1 psi
Calculation sheet
From Hazen-Williams formula:
p = (4.52 x 19.5^1.85) / (120^1.85 x 1^4.87) = 0.156 psi/ft
Then the friction loss is Pf = p x total length = 0.156 x 7.119 = 1.116psi
Calculation sheet
Step 3 differs slightly since a branch estimation is made as follows:
K = 39.819/17.86 = 9.5
Calculation sheet
Step 13 we compute the effect of the elevation on the pressure by
with Pel =0.433xH= 17.32 psi
Calculation sheet
Total water required including hose reels is 320 + 4(50) = 520 gpm
Riser pipe diameter 6 in
Pump pressure required 94 psi
Chapter 5
Elite Software Calculations
Elite Calculations
Selection of nodes for the calculations
Elite Calculations
Selection of nodes for the calculations
Elite Calculations
Selection of nodes for the calculations
Elite Calculations
Pressure and flow required as given by Elite
Elite Calculations
This small difference is due to the fact that the software
calculates the demand of each sprinkler alone, while hand
calculations required that a branch approximation be made
(Kbranch = 9.5).
Hand Calculations Elite Software
Flow rate = 320 gpm Flow rate = 338 gpm
Pressure = 94 psi Pressure = 97 psi
Chapter 6
WaterCAD Software Calculations
WaterCAD Calculations
The above picture is drawn in WaterCAD
WaterCAD Calculations
Pressure and flow required as given by WaterCAD
WaterCAD Calculations
This small difference is due to the fact that the software
calculates the demand of each sprinkler alone, while hand
calculations required that a branch approximation be made
(Kbranch = 9.5).
Hand Calculations WaterCAD Software
Flow rate = 320 gpm Flow rate = 342 gpm
Pressure = 94 psi Pressure = 96 psi
Chapter 7
Fire Pump Selection
Design Parameters
Total flow required including hose streams
345 + 200 = 545 gpm
Riser pipe diameter 6 in
Pump pressure required 97 psi
ESP software is used to select the pump
Pump Selection
The pump highlighted in yellow is chosen due to its low cost and high efficiency
Pump Selection
The above figure states all the pump details
Schematic drawing of the Fire pumps connection
Fire Pumps
The main fire pump is an electrical motor
driven pump having a capacity of 545 gpm.
The second fire pump, the diesel pump is
used as a back-up pump.
The jockey pump is used to maintain the
design system pressure and to compensate
for minor leakages.
Jockey Pump
Every system has a normal leakage rate that
will result in a pressure drop.
Jockey Pump will maintain the pressure in
the system
This will prevent the main fire pump from
starting for minor leaks
Jockey Pump
Jockey pumps should be sized according to NFPA
20
For 1-5 % of the flow of the main fire pump
To provide 10 psi more pressure than the main fire
pump
So that it cannot meet the demand of the lowest flow
fire protection fitting in the system that is less than
19.5 gpm (in our calculation).
Water Supply for fire fighting
Tank sizing must consider 150% of the fire
pump rated flow
2500 gallons
Sufficient for 30 min
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE