Fire Protection System

A Group Final Report for the Course in CIVMEC Mechanical Engineering

Practices of Civil Engineers

Submitted to:
Byron Michael C. Omboy, ME. MSe

By:
Isleta, Jonathan Sebastian P.
Jardiniano, Rockwell Moricz G.
Koa, Lance K
Landicho, Jan Marielle
Lim, Jeslie S.

For the 2nd Term of A.Y. 2017- 2018

 I. Introduction

Fire protection systems are one of the most important factors in defining the safety of the
building towards the public. It is a combination of different safety equipment and measures taken
to prevent fire from becoming destructive, to reduce impact of uncontrolled fire, and to save
lives and property. The design of these systems may take careful analysis and planning. The
design of any fire-protection system is an exact science that takes into account a building’s use,
occupancy, footprint, and even its other installed systems (“Fire-protection system design”,
2006). For that fact, it may be said that the designs of the fire protection systems are all relatively
different since there a lot of different factors affecting it’s design making it unique for every
buildings. There are two main requirements which the system must abide to before it is
implemented to the buildings.

The first is the code compliance of the system. All fire protection systems must abide by
the minimum requirements set by the respective fire code of that place. Different place may have
their own corresponding fire codes hence making the design different with every building
location as well. The minimum requirements set forth by the code is to ensure that the minimum
factor of safety for every building is met. Yet, designing a sustainable and properly planned
structure means designing the building by going beyond that what is stated in the minimum
requirements of the code. Assistance may be supplied whenever it is needed in order to produce
a well planned fire protection system. ​Well-versed architects and engineers, as well as
manufacturers’ representatives, will be able to guide you in determining if your system, new or
retrofitted, should meet minimum code or go beyond the essentials ​(“Fire-protection system
design”, 2006)​.

The second main requirement is having the fire protection system perform with the basic
function of a typical fire protection system. In order for one to design this type of system he/she
must have prior knowledge towards the basics of the mechanics and theories of the fire
protections system. The goals set forward for this kind of a system are to save lives, save
properties, and to ensure the business continuity by preserving them. The engineers or
consultants helping with the design must take in consideration the different concepts relevant to

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its design such as thermodynamics. ​All components of modern fire-protection systems need to
work together to effectively detect, contain, control, and/or extinguish a fire in its early stages -
and to survive during the fire (“Fire-protection system design”, 2006). Common components of a
fire protection system is composed of detection system, alarms and notification system, and a
suppression system.

Figure 1.1 Smoke Detection System

The first component of a fire protection system is the detection system. The smoke
detection system should differentiate the different heat threshold in order to determine whether
or not the building’s occupants are in danger as seen in figure 1.1. More advance kinds of
detection systems include the detection of dangerous heat levels. This is with the absence of the
need to detect smoke making the detection safer since it may detect dangerous heat level which
may require only to manual suppression systems which can ensure the safety of the occupants
before having the need for evacuation. This part of the system is vital in the protection against
the dangers of fires since it detects the danger in the first place (“Fire-protection system design”,
2006).

Figure 1.2 Alarms and Notification System

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 The second component is the alarms and notifications systems as seen in Figure 1.2. This
component is in charge of informing all occupants about the impending dangers of fires present
in their building as well as the fire department. More advanced alarms and notifications systems
have the systems provide additional information aside from alarming the occupants of the danger
of fire. Many modern systems now include speakers that provide alerts in place of (or in addition
to) traditional bell-type alarms. These speakers also can be used in emergencies other than fires
to instruct and inform occupants of the situation (“Fire-protection system design”, 2006). The
other features of the advance alarm and notification systems come with ensuring the preservation
of the life of the occupants such as the building’s ventilation or the pressurization of the
stairwells. Other provide additional information to the fire department so they may better plan
the course of action towards the building.

Figure 1.3 Suppression System

The last component is the suppression system As seen in figure 1.3. This part of the
system is in charge of suppressing the threat of fires. Automated sprinkler systems will scatter
water across the areas of the building once the fire is detected. There are also alternative
suppression systems gaseous / chemical suppression systems since water based suppression
systems may damage equipment and inventory in the process. There are also manual suppression
systems such as fire extinguishers which the occupant may handle to suppress fires.

II. History

The first ever fire recorded in the history of mankind occurred during Nero’s time as
emperor of the great Roman Empire in 64AD. Multiple accounts claimed that Nero set Rome on

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fire to exterminate the Christians in the said empire; while some claim the fire to be an accident.
The conflagration led to the first ever protection engineering act. These acts includes the
fortification of Rome’s exterior walls and using passive protection methods. This is the first
account of the utilization of engineering as a fire prevention system; although it would be
multiple centuries later that more effective fire prevention systems would exist.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages a significant stagnancy of
engineering focused on fire prevention occured; albeit, there were multiple political efforts and
reforms that aimed to reduce the large scale effects of a conflagration It was not until the
Renaissance era in the 17th century that large scale fire prevention was further developed to be
applied to existing cities.

Right around the 12th century, an attempt to legislate fire safety was attempted by a
mayor of London imporse that construction be made out of stone. Moreover, materials which
promotes fire spread were greatly avoided. century should be made of stones. This abandoned
thatched roofs construction, and timber chimneys and shared walls were thickened. One of the
greatest conflagration to ever occur in the middle ages is the “Great Fire of Southwark”in 1212.
This conflagration caused about 3000 deaths. The event led to stricter regulations on construction
of establishments and business who have higher chances of spreading fires like breweries,
alehouses, and bakeries. By 15th century, the first act of parliament were made. This opened up
opportunities for fire fighting and fire prevention; moreover, this act saw penalties for people
who are cause fire.

Figure 2.2 Great Fire of Southwark​ ( source: medium.com)

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 In the 17th century, another conflagration that almost wiped out whole London. “The
Great Fire of London” was a conflagration that burned for almost 4 consecutive days, wiping out
almost 80% of the city’s structures. As a response, London adapted its first building regulation
which required stones and brick houses to have a fire resistive partitions or fire walls. Narrow
streets within the city were also either widened or extinguished to prevent fire spread. Interests in
Europe on fire protection equipment significantly increased which brought about the idea of
hand pumped apparatus, but it was decades before the idea of fire extinguishers is brought upon.

Figure 2.3 First Fire Hydrants and Firefighters

The Industrial Revolution brought about huge advancements in the prevention of fire
spread. It is seen in this era that fires were significantly reduced mainly due to the availability of
non combustible materials such as steel, concrete, stone. Moreover, cities showed more
dedication to fire prevention by forming fire departments and dedicating public water supplies
with underground mains and fire hydrants in case of fires. In effect, fires damages were
significantly reduced and fire control gained popularity.

Further fire safety awareness was seen in the 18th century was the Fire prevention Act
was introduced. In the act, classifications of buildings were included which has corresponding
fire safety requirements depending on the class. This act also implemented a boundary of the
area that a warehouse should occupy. Warehouses was said to have at least 3 or more ladders for

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3 storey buildings for fire evacuation. This is the first account of buildings having a requirement
based on a law, similar to the modern practice regulation like Fire Codes and Structural Codes.

19th century brough new technological advancement in fire prevention. John Carey
patented a heat operated device which would allow distribution of water through a system of
perforated pipes to extinguish fires. This was implemented by Sir William Congreve who
implemented this to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane in the United Kingdom, making Theatre
Royal the first building to have a fire preventive mechanism. Further advancement followed John
Carey’s concept of extinguishing fires through perforated pipes. Henry Parmelee developed and
patented an automatic sprinkler head which would operate automatically when heated. Together
with Frederick Grinnell, they tested the effectiveness of a sprinkler system using Parmelee’s
sprinkler head by installing it in a square filled with combustible materials; the materials were lit
on fire and the mechanism quickly extinguished the fire. They gained popularity across the
United Kingdom and are recognized to be the pioneers of fire prevention systems.

Figure 2.4 Henry Parmelee (left) and Frederick Grinnell (right)

By the 20th century, multiple laws and codes required the installation of sprinklers to
schools, hospitals, and hotels. Moreover, fire engineering consultancies were a standard practice
and advancement in fire extinguishers and sprinklers were made. By 1971, a fire in a New York
skyscraper had a fire which brought new stipulations on fire prevention for high rise buildings.
All these events lead up to today’s world where innovation and advancements are done and
developed. (Newton, 2017)

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III. Basic Principles

Fire extinguishers are effective in putting out fires when they are small in size, but they
are not suitable in fighting large or spreading fires. Such fires should be extinguished by the
building’s fire extinguishing systems or fire fighters. Fire protection systems, including fire
extinguishing system, are very important to detect, control, extinguish, and alert building
occupants to fire or smoke. (Fire protection systems, n.d)

According to Jeffrey E. Harper, who is an engineering manager and vice president at Rolf
Jensen & Associates incorporation, ​“Fire-protection systems are complicated and sophisticated,
and are different for just about every building”. ​(Fire-protection system design, 2006) Every
well-designed fire protection system whether being designed for a new building or being
installed as a part of renovation or or retrofit, must be developed with specific objectives in
mind. One of the primary objective of designing the fire system is code compliance. Codes are
considered to be the legal minimum requirements and you have to satisfy all these requirements.
On the other hand, saving lives, saving property and preserving business community are the main
priorities in designing the fire protection system of such buildings. ​(Fire-protection system
design, 2006)

Moreover, fire protection systems are an essential part of any building’s security system,
and neglecting to install one in any new or remodelled building could lead to potentially dire
consequences down the line. There is no better time to be proactive about safety in your building.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can secure your building. These include both active
and passive fire protection systems. (Building’s fire protection systems, 2017) Active fire
protection system according to its definition, is the component of fire detection and prevention
which reacts to action or motion. (Building’s fire protection systems, 2017) In layman’s terms, is
that the role of active fire protection within the fire containment process is to detect, alert about,
and seek to eliminate the fire hazard. Furthermore, it is one of the most important elements to
consider and plan for when building any type of modern structure. ​(Fire-protection system
design, 2006) ​With furnishings for buildings, factories and commercial areas becoming

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increasingly more and more sophisticated and high-tech, it is paramount that said surfaces be
equipped with systems capable of immediately detecting any potential fire hazards, in order to
protect both said furnishings and the people making use of them.Fortunately, recent decades
have seen considerable developments in the area of active fire protection, with systems becoming
more sensitive and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, to ensure maximum efficiency.
This, in turn, has resulted in the number of serious indoor fire-related incidents across the
western world decreasing over the years, providing a safer and more protected environment for
modern citizens to live, work and shop in. Examples of active fire protection system are fire
extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire blankets, sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, fire
fighters/emergency services, automated fire doors, thermal detectors and fire control systems.
The most common among all active fire protection system is the fire extinguisher. Fire
extinguishers are very helpful in preventing a small fire from becoming a blaze, and the proper
use of one can potentially prevent thousands of Rupees in damage, injury, and even death. But to
be effective, fire extinguishers have to be maintained. Without proper maintenance, an
extinguisher is worthless. It comes in ​variety of types to combat many different potential fires,
ranging from ordinary fires to electrical fires to grease fires, and everything in between. Provided
below are some of the commonly used fire extinguishers. (Fire protection systems, n.d)

➔ Water and Foam fire extinguishers remove the fire by taking away the heat element of the
fire triangle. Foam agents also separate the oxygen element from the other elements. Water
extinguishers are one of the most cost-effective ways to fight Class A fires, those fuelled by
solid materials such as paper, wood and textiles. (Types of fire extinguisher, n.d)

➔ Carbon dioxide extinguishers ​are ideal for places with a lot of electrical equipment such as
offices or server rooms because they are safe to use on fires involving electrical apparatus.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers do not leave any residue, unlike a foam extinguisher. They can
also be used on Class B fires, those involving flammable liquids such paraffin or petrol. CO2
extinguishers work by smothering the fire and cutting off the supply of air. ​(Types of fire
extinguisher, n.d)

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➔ Water Mist extinguishers are a recent development that extinguish the fire by taking away the
heat element of the fire triangle. They are an alternative to the clean agent extinguishers
where contamination is a concern. (Types of fire extinguisher, n.d)

Another example of an active regulated fire protection system is sprinkler. A sprinkler

system is a fire extinguishing system that most times uses water as the extinguishing systems. It
is commonly found in residential buildings, retail stores and restaurants. They play an important
role in controlling the fire and because it reacts so quickly, it dramatically reduce the heat, flames
and smoke produced in a fire. Wet-pipe fire sprinkler system is the most commonly used indoor
sprinkler system. ​When the sprinkler heads detect heat, they release the water immediately.
(What are the different types of fire sprinkler systems, n.d) Furthermore, fire alarms are very
advantageous in such a way that it provide an early warning benefit, low cost and the opportunity
to place in the chosen locations. It is basically a device that emits signal, whether it is a siren,
horn, or buzzer. (John, n.d) ​On the other hand, Passive protection refers to fire resistance
measures. These systems are all about preventing the spread of flame and resisting ignition in the
first place. This resistance is generally structural and designed to compartmentalise your building
and isolate a flame and it ​requires no activation. For example, a fire door is an effective fire
resistant barrier without any need for external stimuli. The same can be said for fire rated glass
and plasterboard. Both of these materials are designed to be inherently fire resistant until the
point when they eventually give way to the fire, or the fire is extinguished. It is indeed valuable
both for the safety of building occupants and for the minimising of building damage. Through
effective compartmentalisation, you can maintain the structural integrity of your building and
ensure the safe evacuation of your team members. Other examples of these passive fire
protection systems are fire doors, fire walls, fire floors, emergency exit lights, dampers, flame
shields, spray proofing, etc. ​Fire and Smoke Dampers prevent the spread of flames and smoke
through the ductwork of a facility. ​Fire Walls/Barriers as well as ​Fire Doors​, if kept shut, help
contain the fire to one specific location of the building. Photoluminescent Egress Path Marking
Systems and Exit Signs will continue to glow in smoky conditions, allowing people to navigate
their way to safety. Ultimately these systems compartmentalize a building into sections to help

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contain and slow the spread of the fire and smoke, while helping to guide occupants safely out of
danger. (Building’s fire protection systems, 2017).

IV. Operation Methods

Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially
destructive fires. The study includes, the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression, and
investigation of fire and its related emergencies. In studying fire protection systems,
classification of fuels of fire are important to know how to extinguish the fire or conflagration.
There are 5 classification of fuels for fire. Class A fires originate from ordinary combustibles.
Wood, fabric, paper, and garbage are known fuels. Another source of fire is from flammable
liquids; also known as Class B. Paints, butane, kerosene, and gasoline are common examples.
Electrical fires are known to be Class C fires. The fire originates from motors, applicancess, and
electric transformers. In addition, combustible metals such as magnesium, aluminum, potassium,
and titanium as fuel is called Class D. Finally, cooking fires can be destructive. Common in the
food service, and restaurant industry, Class K originates from cooking oils, greases, and liquid
fats.

In Fire Protection systems include the design of the sprinkler systems. There are 2
common methods in designing sprinkler systems. The first method is called pipe schedule. The
pipes are sized according to the system’s pressure and required flow. Also, the sprinkler
discharge density, and estimated area of coverage determine the pipe size. The other design is the
hydraulic design method. The method tackles an engineered approach to match fire hazard to
potential water supply pressure and volume. Most automatic sprinkler systems are hydraulically
calculated.

There are 4 major types of sprinkler systems. The 1st type is called wet pipe systems.
Wet pipe system is the most common type of sprinkler system. For the wet pipe sprinklers, pipes
are always filled with water, and the heat from fires will activate the sprinkler head.

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 Figure 4.1 Wet Pipe System

For Wet Pipe systems, 1 or 2 sprinkler heads are activated. Furthermore, the sprinkler
continues to flow until the valve is turned to stop the flow. Also, the opened sprinkler heads
should be replaced, and the system is reset.

The next type of sprinkler system is the dry pipe system. Dry pipe systems are used
where water can freeze inside the pipes. Dry pipe systems are used in unheated buildings.
However, the valve room must be heated to prevent freezing. Dry pipe systems are more difficult
to design compared to wet pipe systems, and are harder to restore. For dry pipe systems, the
pipes are filled with pressurized gas, instead of water. Once the heat from the fire activates the
sprinklers, the air flows from the pipes first, before water begins to extinguish the fire. Dry pipe
systems react slower compared to wet pipe systems. Therefore, accelerators, and exhausters are
included to reduce the time for system operation.

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 Figure 4.2 Dry Pipe Systems

Finally, the last 2 types sprinkler systems are pre-action systems and deluge systems.
Pre-action fire protection systems are filled with air, similar to dry pipe systems, but require 2
triggers to activate. Pre-action systems prevent unnecessary or accidental activation. For deluge
systems, fire protection mechanisms are ideal for extinguishing fires across flat surfaces such as
floors. Deluge systems deal with the hazard by flooding it. Industrial parks and factories utilize
deluge systems.

All sprinkler systems require sprinkler heads. The sprinkler heads must be suitable in
design, performance, application, and temperature for type of property. Standard heads are
marked with SSU (Standard Sprinkler Upright) or SSP (Standard Sprinkler Pendent) on the
deflector. Sprinkler heads can be either frangible bulb, or fusible link.

Figure 4.3 Parts of a Sprinkler Head

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 V. Advanced Technologies, Techniques and Methods

The safety of the public during a fire breakout can be affected by the fire protection
system installed in the structure. The common fire protection systems that are being utilized are
considered to be effective and efficient in providing safety to the public. However, these fire
protection systems could further be improved by continuous research for better alternatives.The
technological advancement can make fire fighting faster, easier and more effective. There are
several advanced technologies, techniques and methods that have been developed by various
researchers.

Sound Wave Fire Extinguisher is an advanced technology developed by two engineering

students at George Mason University that could fight small fires. It is chemical-free, water free
extinguisher that harnessed sound to put out fires. It uses sound waves to separate burning fuel
from oxygen. Fire would die once it is out of oxygen. The use of these type of extinguisher is
ideal for home use as it is only suitable for small fires due to the absence of coolant. The
researchers suggest that this technology could be paired with other technology such as drones to
help in fight large fires (Strike First Corporation of America, n.d.).

Water Mist System is another advance fire protection system. It is similar to the typical
sprinkler systems. Instead of large droplets, water mist systems send outs smaller droplets or fine
mists. This increase the amount of droplets than the typical sprinkler system.There is a larger
surface area of droplets produced by the water mist system which converts water to steam faster.
The steam absorbs the heat and lowers the temperature of fire. This method suffocates the fire
faster that the regular sprinkler systems (Strike First Corporation of America, n.d.).

Early Suppression Fast Response Fire Sprinkler Systems are ceiling mounted fire
suppression systems. It is also known as ESFR. This type of system are a advance technology for
warehouses with high piled inventory. It has high pressure heads that could produce one hundred
gallons of water per minute. The ESPR does not only control the fire but it suppress the fire until
it shrinks back to the the point of origin. However, this type of systems requires a higher volume
of water and are hooked up to fire pumps (Strike First Corporation of America, n.d.).

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 There are advanced messaging systems that informs the public during a fire break out.
Integrated Voice Evacuation and Messaging System and Personalized Vocal Smoke Alarms are
some of the examples of advanced messaging system. The Integrated Voice Evacuation and
Messaging System follows a concept of distributed intelligence. It alerts the public with a
pre-recorded messages during a fire break out. It gives voice instructions or tones to inform the
public.The messages to be sent out could be customized to a particular location in the building.
The Personalized Vocal Smoke Alarms is a messaging system that could record personal voice in
the system. This is recommended to families with children because there are higher chance for
the children to wake up during their sleep and respond with a familiar voice (Strike First
Corporation of America, n.d.).

Detection Systems are also improved with the help advance technologies. Examples of
this are Birdi-Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detector, Video Image Smoke Detector and
Discriminating Detection. The Birdi-Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detector is a smart technology
that allows a constant watch over a property. The system is capable of monitoring the air quality,
pollen counts and the presence of carbon monoxide. It has the ability to detect fast and slow
burning fires quickly. Video Image Smoke Detector detects the source of smoke through a
computer that analyzes images from the cameras. This system can monitor the brightness,
contrast, motion and color of the smoke to assess whether there is an evidence of smoke, flame
or fire. This system can cover very large spaces. It can either be used indoor facilities or outdoor
spaces (Strike First Corporation of America, n.d.). The Discriminating System has the ability to
sense the gas and particulate signatures of materials under combustion. The technology process
these information to detect real fires. It is capable of discriminating real fires and other sources
of gases and particulates that do not represent fires (Transue, n.d.).

These are just some of the advanced technologies techniques and methods that could be
used as a fire protection systems of a structure. It is important to evaluate what type of fire
protection system is appropriate for a particular structure. Moreover, there is a need for further
improvements in the systems that are being utilized in the structures as this could reduce
casualties during fire break out. This could increase the safety of the public.

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VI. Application

Figure 5.1 Evacuation plan for the 2nd Floor

The Miguel building comprises of different laboratories needed for courses such as Civil
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Communications Engineering, and more. It
also houses the multimedia arts laboratories which is filled with computers and left to operate
during office hours. Coupled with these are the abundance of electrical and mechanical
equipment which may produce cases of fire breakouts. The abundance of engineering equipment
has cause the design of the building to be equipped with various wire connections which are seen
along the ceilings of the hallways as seen in Figure 5.2. Though they are properly organized, the
vast number of wire connections present may increase the chances of fire and its spread when not
maintained correctly. The main switches are also exposed increasing the risk of fire. Each floor
is provided with evacuation plans as seen in Figure 5.1 but even with the presence of these
evacuation plan, the users of the building are still not safe from fire as there are not enough fire
protection systems installed in the building. It was observed that the building does not have
sprinkler systems. Sprinkler systems are very important as it can reduce the chance of death and
average property loss from a fire. It can also be observed that there are fire alarms missing in the
building and the fire exit are narrow which could cause possible delays during fire breakouts.

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 Figure 5.2 Evacuation plan for the 2nd Floor

The manual fire suppression systems are also lacking proper instructions and
maintenance. As seen in figure 5.3, Some fire hoses have very low maintenance and information
for the use of the occupants during fires. With the vast number of students and teachers using this
building, more components of the fire systems such as the detection and suppression systems
should be needed considering the huge risk of fire due to the different laboratories. There are
only a few locations where proper components of the fire protection system are present.

Figure 5.3 Low maintenance of fire prevention equipment

There are a lack of fire detection systems in the classrooms as seen in figure 5.4.
Classrooms considering that they are a common location for students to be in should naturally be
equipped with fire detection systems to better ensure the safety of the students. Adding sprinkler
systems to every classroom is also recommended for each classroom in order to suppress the
threats of fire as soon as possible when present. The fire protection system in this building
should be able to suppress fire from all areas within the building in order to meet a better safety
factor for students.

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 Figure 5.4 Ceilings of classrooms present in the building

The current conditions of St. Miguel Hall recommends to further improve the fire
protection systems that are installed in the building. This is important to ensure the safety of all
the students utilizing the building. The university must maintain all the available fire protection
systems in the building. The fire hose around the building should always be checked if there are
in conditions. This is to make sure that it can serve its purpose during a fire breakout. Moreover,
necessary monitoring and maintenance of the fire alarms should be regularly done. There should
be instructions posted around the building on how to utilized the different fire protection system
in the building. Furthermore, evacuation plan should be available everywhere to ensure that the
students and teachers are aware on how they must evacuated the building during a fire breakout.

The classrooms in the said building are composed of wooden armchairs and doors. If a
fire was to break out of the said building, the electrical wirings of the whole building and the
material used in the building, a fire would immediately spread and most probably cause vast and
costly damages. To mitigate this, installation of a sprinkler system would be the top solution for
fire prevention. Furthermore, each classroom should be equipped with fire extinguishers which
would prevent fires in a small scale to prevent fire spread in the first place.

The various laboratories for civil, electrical and mechanical engineering students should
be properly equipped with the fire detection fire suppression systems as these laboratories are

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more likely to be the origin of a fire breakout. It is recommended to install Aspirating Smoke
Detection. The smoke detection system provides extremely sensitive smoke detection even for
rooms with high air circulation rates. Furthermore, ASD systems are capable of reliably
detecting even the smallest aerosol concentrations, which can be generated by the malfunction of
an individual electrical or electronic component. The presence of various equipment in
laboratories increases the risk of fire break out. Installation of Sprinkler Systems is necessary for
all the laboratories to reduce the risks during a fire break out.

As an overall solution for Miguel Hall, a water mist system would be the sprinkler system
advised by the group as it suffocates fire faster than the regular fire sprinkler systems. It converts
water to steam faster which absorbs the heat and lowers the temperature of fires. Moreover, it is
more effective and efficient in providing protection to the students and faculty members who
utilizes the facilities of the building. Moreover, to decrease the damages and casualties in case of
fires, an improved fire alarm system is also recommended to replace the existing system in the
building; fire exits should be renovated in such a way that an emergency evacuation would not
lead to a chaos if fire breaks out. In addition, students and teachers should have increased
awareness about the state of the building especially when utilizing it. The Integrated Voice
Evacuation and Messaging System is highly recommended as it is capable of providing voice
instructions to evacuees in case of emergencies such as fires. With this technology, occupants
would be able to easily determine that the alarms are warning them that there is a fire break out
in the building. Furthermore, there would be specific instructions on how they will evacuate the
building.

The project saw a needed change in the current fire protection system in St. Miguel Hall
and the proposed recommendation provided are just some of the possible solutions to improve
the fire protection systems in the building. Further improvements and recommendations may be
formulated given further calculations like egress flow calculations, air flow movement, and other
pipe water movement studies that would suggest a better evacuation and protection system for
fires in St. Miguel Hall.

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VII. References

Building’s fire protection system (2017). Retrieved from

http://news.lifesafetyservices.com/blog/building-fire-protection-system

Different types of sprinkler systems. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.thermotechsolutions.co.uk/thermotech-news/four-types-fire-protection-systems/

Fire-protection system design. (2006, June 5). Retrieved from

https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/3157/title/fire-protection-system-design

Fire protection system (n.d). Retrieved from

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/business/Support/fire-protection-systems.pdf

John, C. (n.d). The advantages of fire alarms. Retrieved from

https://www.hunker.com/13419398/the-advantages-of-fire-alarms

Newton, A. (2017). A Short History of Fire Protection, From Ancient Rome to Today. Retrieved from
https://medium.com/@alex.newton1992/a-short-history-of-fire-protection-from-anci ent-rom
e-to-today-3c0999b6b380

Strike First Corporation of America. (n.d.). 7 Remarkable New Fire Safety Technologies. Retrieved from
http://www.strikefirstusa.com/2016/08/7-remarkable-new-fire-safety-technologies/

Transue, R. (n.d.). Advances in Fire Alarm Technology. Retrieved from

http://www.sfpe.org/page/FPE_ET_Issue_2/Advances-in-Fire-Alarm-Technology.htm

Types of fire extinguisher (n.d). Retrieved from http://surreyfire.co.uk/types-of-fire-extinguisher/

What are the different types of fire sprinkler systems? (n.d). Retrieved from
http://www.lumarfireprotection.com/what-are-the-different-fire-sprinkler-system-types/

Portable Fire Extinguishers. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.femalifesafety.org/types-of-fires.html

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