INTRODUCTION TO FIRE

What is fire?
Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation (combustion) of a fuel. Three basic
elements are required for fire to take place. These are fuel, oxygen, and heat. So, Fire is the
visible effect of the process of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs
between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel. Combustion is when fuel reacts with oxygen
to release heat energy. Combustion can be slow or fast depending on the amount of oxygen
available. Combustion that results in a flame is very fast and is called burning. Combustion can
only occur between gases. Oxygen, fuel and heat are needed for fire to occur. This is known as
the fire triangle

1. Fuel-the reducer; any combustible material, solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids must
vaporize before they will burn. Fuels can be solids, liquids or gases. During the chemical
reaction that produces fire, fuel is heated to such an extent that (if not already a gas) it releases
gases from its surface.
2. Oxygen--the oxidizer; sufficient oxygen must be present in the atmosphere surrounding the
fuel for fire to burn. Air contains about 21 percent oxygen, and most fires require at least 16
percent oxygen content to burn. Oxygen supports the chemical processes that occur during fire.
When fuel burns, it reacts with oxygen from the surrounding air, releasing heat and generating
combustion products (gases, smoke, embers, etc.).
3. Heat-sufficient energy must be applied to raise the fuel to its ignition temperature.
A heat source is responsible for the initial ignition of fire, and is also needed to maintain
the fire and enable it to spread. Heat allows fire to spread by drying out and preheating nearby
fuel and warming surrounding air
Classification of Fires
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) categorizes fires by class. This
classification of fire is done based on the combustible material that can possibly catch fire,
accordingly the safeguards against such different types of fires can be planned.
 Fires can be classified in five different ways depending on the agent that fuels them: Class A,
Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class K. Each type of fire involves different flammable materials
and requires a special approach. In fact, trying to fight a blaze with the wrong method might
make the situation worse. in these table here the first one is the ordinary combustible fire like
wood, paper, or cloth. The next one is the flammable liquids such as grease, oil, paints, and
solvents, while the third one is the live electrical equipment like electrical panel, motor and
wiring, on the other hand is the combustible metal such as magnesium and aluminum. The last
one is the commercial cooking equipment like cooking oil, animal fats and vegetable oils.
So basically,
 Class A fires – are fires involving organic solids like paper, wood, etc.
 Class B fires – are fires involving flammable liquids.
 Class C fires – are fires involving flammable gasses.
 Class D fires – are fires involving burning metals (eg aluminium swarf)

Types of Fires (Hydrocarbon)

Hydrocarbon fires are a principal concern in many processing facilities. There are many
different types of hydrocarbon fires. The mode of burning depends on characteristics of the
material released, temperature and pressure of the released material, ambient conditions, and
time to ignition. Hydrocarbon Fire (HF) – Hydrocarbon fires are caused by combustible liquid
such as oil and gas. Carbon and hydrogen make up hydrocarbons and they do not have affinity
for H2O (water). Some examples are petrol, diesel, benzene and kerosene
Types of hydrocarbon fires include:
 Jet fires
 Unconfined vapor cloud fires or flash fires
 Pool fires (two-dimensional fires)
 Running liquid fires (three-dimensional fires)
 Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions (BLEVE) or fire ball
Fire Fighting Agents
The agents available for fire protection and their particular application are water, foam, CO2,
Dry Chemical & Clean Agent. Advantages and limitations are as follows:
There are a variety of fire extinguishers you can utilize to enhance your fire safety. The five
most commonly used fire extinguishers are water, foam, powder, carbon dioxide and wet
chemical. There are also more specialized fire extinguishers including Halon, clean agent
extinguishers FE-36 and powder extinguishers such as the class D fire extinguishers for metal
fire risks and monnex powder.
The most commonly used and affordable fire extinguishers are the water fire extinguishers.
They can extinguish flammable solid fires of paper and wood, which are categorized under
class A fires.
Additives can be added to water extinguishers to boost their fire rating and help them combat
fires better. For example, low freeze additives can protect water from freezing in cold
conditions. This kind of water extinguisher is perfect for parks or unheated warehouses and
outbuildings.
Another great fire extinguisher is the foam extinguisher, which offers class A coverage and
coverage against flammable liquid fires. For example AFFF foam extinguishers are great for
areas where there are no flammable liquid risks because the foam extinguisher is able to cover
class A risks while still meeting the flooring rating of a facility.
Foam extinguishers used with a spray nozzle, help improve fire safety especially in situations
where the foam extinguishers accidentally may spray on electrical appliances. There are foam
and water extinguishers that comply with a 35kva dielectric test to certify their safety if
accidentally used on electrical risks.
ABC dry powder fire extinguishers can also be safely used on fires involving electrical
equipment like flammable solids and liquids. ABC dry powder is also acceptable to use on
flammable gases. In other words, they are a multi purpose fire extinguisher.
However, be careful with the powder Mono Ammonium phosphate. It is not the first choice of
extinguishers to be used on sensitive electrical equipment. Instead, use a carbon dioxide
extinguisher (co2). This kind of extinguisher protects electrical equipment without leaving
residue. Also, Carbon dioxide extinguishers can be used on petrol and oil but never use them
on cooking fat fire because the fast discharge has the potential to spread cooking fat.
Wet chemical fire extinguishers are best for cooking oil or fat fires because they carry the F
class rating. This extinguisher type smothers and cools flammable cooking fat to eliminate the
risk of re-igniting. They are also perfect for class A fires and passed the 35kv electricity
conductivity test for added user protection.
Firefighting Agents vs Types of Fire
The following fire classification chart explains different types of fire extinguishers useful for
putting off different types of fire.

Water mist extinguishers are primarily for Class A fires, although they are safe for use on Class
C fires as well. Cartridge Operated Dry Chemical – Cartridge Operated fire extinguishers
extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle..
However, each firefighting agents have its different purpose as to the extinguishing different
types of fires.
Fire Protection vs Prevention
Fire Protection--The science of reducing loss of life and property from fire by control and
extinguishment. Fire protection includes fire prevention, detection of a fire, providing systems
to control or mitigate the fire, and providing manual firefighting capabilities.
The aim of a fire protection system is to protect a building’s occupants and minimise the
damage associated with fire. Overall, the goal is to provide the widest possible window for a
safe evacuation, whilst also reducing potential repair costs.
Fire protection systems can be categorised as either active or passive. Which will be further
elaborated by the next reporter
Fire Prevention--Activities whose purpose is to prevent fires from starting. Fire protection
and fire prevention go hand-in-hand. All fire protection programs include a fire prevention
program. For example, control of ignition sources is very important in minimizing the risk of
fire, but does not meet the definition of fire protection in this Guideline.
Fire prevention systems are put in place so a building’s fire load is as low as it can possibly be.
‘Fire load’ is a term used by fire protection professionals to determine the potential severity of
a fire in a building, based on the presence of certain hazards. Essentially, fire prevention
reduces the likelihood of a serious fire. By safely storing combustible materials, and taking
care of points of ignition (such as heating systems and plug sockets), we are reducing the risks
associated with fire.
We must always be vigilant of any potential fire hazards – a big part of this is carrying out
regular fire safety inspections and risk assessments. However, fire prevention measures are
mostly just common sense. We don’t need to be trained fire safety technicians to know the
dangers of smoking indoors or blocking fire exits. We do, however, need to be advised on any
specific measures put in place to prevent fire in a building. This applies to both residential and
commercial buildings.
We can now see how fire prevention differs from fire protection. Fire prevention is about
proactively identifying and removing fire hazards. However, we can never be 100% sure that
a building cannot be at risk from fire. This is why we must supplement our fire prevention
strategy with a fully-compliant, high-quality fire protection system.

Fire Detection- Fire detection systems are designed to discover fires early in their development
when time will still be available for the safe evacuation of occupants. Early detection also plays
a significant role in protecting the safety of emergency response personnel. Property loss can
be reduced and downtime for the operation minimized through early detection because control
efforts are started while the fire is still small. Most alarm systems provide information to
emergency responders on the location of the fire, speeding the process of fire control.

To be useful, detectors must be coupled with alarms. Alarm systems provide notice to at least
the building occupants and usually transmit a signal to a staffed monitoring station either on or
off site. In some cases, alarms may go directly to the fire department, although in most locations
this is no longer the typical approach.

These systems have numerous advantages as discussed above. The one major limitation is that
they do nothing to contain or control the fire. Suppression systems such as automatic sprinklers
act to control the fire. They also provide notification that they are operating, so they can fill the
role of a heat detection-based system if connected to notification appliances throughout the
building. They will not, however, operate as quickly as a smoke detection system. This is why
facilities where rapid notice is essential, even when equipped with sprinklers, still need
detection and alarm systems.

Fire Suppression- The sole objective of a fire suppression system is to extinguish a fire as
quickly as possible. Once occupants are alerted to the presence of a fire, the system will begin
to emit a concentrated substance to suppress the flames. The exact nature of this substance can
vary, based on the environment the system is designed to protect. Common examples include
carbon dioxide and inert gas, as well as a range of both liquid and dry chemical agents.
One of the defining features of fire suppression systems is that they don’t use water. The only
exception is water mist suppression systems, which we explore in our article on fire protection
and suppression technologies. For this reason, fire suppression systems are often used in spaces
which are particularly susceptible to water damage, such as rooms with large amounts of
electrical equipment. Fire suppression systems also tend to be installed in galleries and
museums, as they usually contain highly valuable and fragile materials.
Fire suppression is the final measure put in place to fight the spread of fire. In this context, we
can understand fire prevention, protection, and suppression as a three-stage process, with each
stage containing specific measures to prevent and fight fires. Therefore, we have a
responsibility to regularly review and assess each part of the system, so we can quickly identify
risks and rectify any damage or neglect.
 FUNDAMENTALS OF FIRE PROTECTION
FIRE PROTECTION
Fire is detrimental to health, destructive to lives and destructive to properties. These
made Fire protection vital in building structures as it protects and prevent fire to compromise
the structural integrity of the buildings. A good and proper design of space planning,
architecture, and proper selection of building materials are needed to achieve a safe living
environment.
Fire protection involves the installation and use of structural and operational systems
to minimize the impact of fire on people and property.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9514
An act strengthening the programs for the prevention and suppression of all destructive
fires in the country, repealing for the purpose republic act no. 9514, otherwise known as the
“Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008”
Applicability: The provisions of the Fire Code shall apply to all persons and all private and
public buildings, facilities or structures erected or constructed before and after its effectivity.
Responsibility for the Enforcement: Fire Code and its IRR shall be under the direct
supervision and control of the Chief, BFP through RA 6975 (The DILG Reorganization Act of
1990) and RA 9263 (The BFP and BJMP Professionalization Act of 2004)

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)

It is the government body in the Philippines responsible for the provision of fire
services. It is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
BFP is responsible for ensuring public safety through the prevention or suppression of all
destructive fires on buildings, houses, and other similar structure, forests, land and water
transportation vehicles and equipment.
The Primary functions of the BFP are:
 Prevention and suppression of all destructive fires;
 Enforcement of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) of the
Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines and other
related laws;
 In events of national emergency, will assist the military on the orders of the President
of the Philippines;
 And establish at least one fire station with all personnel and equipment per municipality
and provincial capital.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
It promotes peace and order, ensures public safety, and strengthens local government
capability to effectively deliver basic services to the citizenry.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
 An international nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property
and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.
Fire department or fire brigade
Also known as a fire authority, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an
organization that provides fire prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and hazardous materials
mitigation.

ACTIVE VS PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
An active fire protection system requires some action to occur before it functions per
its design intent. This action may be taken by either a person or control system. It is a
dormant system that requires to be activated in order to perform its function. Examples of
active fire protection systems are:
 Fire Water Pumps  Clean Agents
 Detection & Alarm  Carbon Dioxide Systems
 Gas Sensing Detectors  Dry Chemical
 Sprinklers  Steam Snuffing
 Water Spray Systems  Portable Fire Suppression Systems
 Water Mist Systems  Hydrants & Monitors
 Foam Systems  Emergency Isolation Valves &
 Foam – Water Deluge & Water ESD systems
Spray Systems

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

A passive fire protection system requires no action to occur for it to function per its
design intent. It uses fire resistance and compartmentalization to slow the spread or effects of
a fire. Examples of passive fire protection methods are:
 Fireproofing
 Spill Containment and Drainage
 Diking
 Fire Walls
 Electrical Area Classification
 Static Electricity, Lightning & Stray Current Protection
 Physical separation of units & buildings

Passive Fire Protection Systems

1. Fireproofing – is rendering something (structures, materials, etc.) resistant to fire, or
incombustible; or material for use in making anything fire-proof. It provides resistance
 to fire so that critical structures remain standing and critical control systems continue
to operate until the fire is brought under control. Can also be applied to floor.

2. Fire Doors - a door with a fire-resistance rating (sometimes referred to as a fire

protection rating for closures) used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce
the spread of fire and smoke between separate compartments of a structure and to
enable safe egress from a building or structure or ship.

3. Firewalls - a fire separation that subdivides or separates adjoining buildings; such fire
separations restrict fire to a prescribed degree and most importantly, have structural
stability under fire conditions.

4. Emergency Exit Lights - are designed to guide people to safety during an emergency.
Emergency exit lights are a stand-alone system, which means they will stay lit during
a power failure.

5. Fire dampers - are passive fire protection products used in heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) ducts to prevent the spread of fire inside the ductwork through
fire-resistance rated walls and floors.
 AUTOMATIC VS MANUAL ACTIVATION
Active fire protection systems can be installed to provide the desired mitigation by
either automatic or manual activation.
Automatic activation is a system where fire protection devices are integrated with a detection
system designed to automatically activate upon sensing fire.
 Increased cost of initial installation due to inclusion of the activation system
 Additional maintenance is required
 Damage that could occur due to automatic activation
Manual activation requires a person to activate the system by pushing a button or opening a
valve in response to either an observation of a fire or a signal from a detection system.
 Additional emergency response capability may be required because the fire may be
larger and escalation is more likely.
 Surveillance capability
 Availability of personnel
 If a delay in activation occurs, the fire may be larger and longer, resulting in more
property damage (cost)

EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN SYSTEM

Emergency Shutdown System (ESD) is a system that is used in hazardous areas to prevent
situations that could have catastrophic effects economically, environmentally, or operationally.
They are designed to minimize the consequences of emergency situations, such as injury to
personnel or damage equipment, by protecting against things like leaks, escape of
hydrocarbons, fire outbreaks, and explosions.
Isolation
 Process fires will continue and may escalate until the flow of fuel is stopped, the fuel is
fully consumed, or the fire is extinguished. Isolation valves are used to reduce or isolate
inventories of flammable gases or liquids.
  Isolation valves may be located near the property line, the edge of a process unit, or the
liquid outlet of a vessel. Valves should be installed on all hazardous materials lines
entering or leaving the facility to ensure the facility can be isolated in the event of a
spill or fire.
 Similarly, valves should be located at or near the battery-limit of each unit or outside
dike walls for the same reasons and for safety and ease of access.
 Equipment such as pumps, compressors, tanks, and vessels associated with large
inventories of flammable gas or liquid (>5000 gallons) should be provided with
equipment emergency isolation valves to stop the flow of material if a leak occurs.
Depressurization
Depressurization is the process of letting down the pressure in a system, generally
through the removal of mass from the system. The mass is generally in vapor form. Generally
limited by your valve, relief line, or disc.
 FIRE STRATEGY
Building in fire safety
Building regulations require that there should always be an alternative escape route in the case
of a fire. This can be difficult in buildings with open plan design or single staircase escape
routes. A fire strategy sets out the means of escape and measures that have been put in place to
prevent fire and, if one should occur, to limit its spread.
What is a fire strategy?
Fire strategies should be developed at the same time as the blueprint for the building. They are
specific and tailored to each individual building, reviewing all aspects of the building’s fire
safety features including construction, compartmentation strategy, means of escape and other
fire safety features/measures - including management arrangements in place to ensure it is fit
for use for the end user of the premises or intended purpose group. Approved documents are
used predominantly as guidance for achieving the requirements of the Building Regulations for
new residential and commercial buildings: however, they are not lawfully enforced, unlike the
Building Regulations. Typically, they will cover:
 Evacuation routes and exits.
 Fire alarms and emergency lighting.
 Firefighting equipment.
 Fire rating of walls, doors, floors and structure.
 External fire spread issues.
 Facilities for the fire brigade.
The fire strategy will also include details of any fire engineering that had been used, such as
smoke modelling, evacuation modelling, structural fire engineering or radiation analyses. It
should also include control measures to make sure on-going maintenance is put in place, and
that the strategy remains effective for the life of the building.
Is a fire strategy a legal requirement?
Where a building is erected or extended, or has undergone a material change of use, Regulation
38 of the Building Regulations requires that a package of fire safety information must be
assembled and given to the responsible person of the premises. Completing a fire strategy will
protect business procedures and assets by analyzing potential fire spread and implementing a
plan to minimize the destruction caused by a fire. The fire strategy can be used alongside a
business continuity plan, which is a pre-planned management system implemented to ensure a
company can continue to operate after a disaster such as fire, flood or any other natural
occurrence.
What is included in a fire strategy?
means of warning – analyzing the standard of fire detection required for the premises
o is the premises required to be linked to an alarm receiving center in order for the soonest
possible arrival of the fire and rescue service (FRS)?
o where other actions are required to be taken automatically in the event the alarm is
raised, are they effectively implemented and interfaces with the alarm and detection
 system suitably established (such as for the release of fire doors, fail safe for secured
doors to open, or impacts on ventilation systems to prevent the spread of smoke
etcetera)?

means of escape – analyzing the travel distances and whether the existing escape routes
leading to a place of ultimate safety are suitable and sufficient for all persons at risk in the
premises and the intended capacities
o Provision of emergency/external lighting and signs to aid escape, as well as emergency
plans displaying designated evacuation routes do escape routes lead to a place of
ultimate safety?

internal fire spread/passive fire protection – analyzing that the level of internal protection
required along escape routes (including protected routes, fire doors, the treatment of service
penetrations and joints in construction) is necessary in order to ensure fire separation is
achieved to aid safe evacuation, and meet other fire safety objectives including those required
by Building Regulations (such as for maximum compartment size) or those implemented at the
behest of the building owner/operator (such as to protect areas of high financial or strategic
value)
o consideration should also be made of specific requirements for linings to ensure that
surface flame spread is effectively minimized – is the existing compartmentation
satisfactory?

external fire spread – analyzing the possible degree of further damage should the fire spread
externally via breakout, across roofs, via cladding or other materials used on the external
envelope, or through the transfer of heat to adjacent buildings

access/facilities for the FRS – ensuring all provisions satisfy both the Building Regulations
and the local fire authority, which includes reviewing external vehicle access; hydrants; and
establishing if there is a requirement for rising fire mains, access points, firefighting lifts
etcetera

other factors – these may include the use of sprinkler or other suppression systems, smoke
control and ventilation systems and such like
o the implementation of such systems may be used to compensate in a building with
increased risks present, such as extended travel distances, limited means of escape,
large compartment sizes or significant life risk (such as in healthcare) etcetera -
commonly in such circumstances, an approach in line with BS 9999 or a fire engineered
solution will be implemented

Fire safety management for the building – including the adopted evacuation strategy and fire
safety training specific to the building staff employed to work there, addressing any specific
fire risks within the premises and detailing particular duties which should be performed during
an evacuation for certain staff
o company policy and procedures to be implemented, such as maintaining compliance
with fire risk assessments; maintenance and testing of internal systems; implementing
in house fire door checks; arranging planned preventative maintenance (PPM)
schedules for the fire protection systems and any other relevant services; management
of contractors and creating hot work permits etcetera
 ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Active fire protection refers to systems that involve a triggered response to a fire. Active
systems are initiated by the flame and the response may be manual (for example, a hand
operated fire extinguisher qualifies as an active response) or programmed (for example, a
sprinkler system.

FIRE WATER DEMAND

- Fire water demand is the maximum rate of water that will be needed at any one time
and applicable to a single fire. Thus, the requirements of the largest single fire
contingency will determine the capacity and design of the fire water system.

The fire hazard analysis should serve as a basis for determining fire water demand.
Normally, this design will be based on the assumption that there will be a single unit
involved in the fire. Where separation of units or hazardous equipment is less than 50
feet (15m). The combined area should be considered as a single fire area.
Water demands for other areas within plant may include:
- Utility plants, 1500 gpm (gallons per minute)
- Loading racks, 1500 gpm
- Office buildings, workshops, storehouses, etc. 1000 gpm, plus sprinkler requirements
if specified
- Cooling tower 2,500 gpm
- Normally, fire water demands range between 2,000 and 10000 gpm (7600 to 38000
lpm) (liters per minute)
If the design water flow rate for the process unit requiring the largest flow is less than the
requirement for the largest tank or group of tanks, the tank protection demand should become
the design basis.
The design capacity of the firewater system should be at a minimum four hours of continuous
operation of the largest fire water demand.
The capacity is based on a number of factors, including:
- Sources of water available
- Reliability of make-up water supply
- Potential for escalation to other areas of the facility
- Isolation philosophy and the ability to depressure high pressure units
The reliability of the fire water supply should be such that the loss of any one source does not
result in a loss of more than 50% of the flow requirements of the system.

WATER DISTRIBUTION (How the water will reach to the various locations)
Water distribution within a facility involves fire mains, valves and fittings and fire hydrants
and monitors.

- Fire Mains:
Fire water mains should be design to handle the maximum pressures developed by fire
water pumps.

- Valves and Fittings: (used to isolate or regulate the water flow)

Valves used in a fire water system should be a type such that their position, open or
closed, can be readily determined (e.g. rising stem, post indicator)

- Fire Hydrants and Monitors:

Hydrants and monitors should be spaced so that they can be safely utilized during a fire
such that the total firefighting and equipment cooling water requirements for each area
can be delivered.
Fire Water Pumps
- Fire water pumping capacity (flow rate) should be sufficient to provide the required
amount of water at required pressure to the fire areas having the greatest demand.
- At least 50% of the pumping capacity should be from diesel driven pumps. Fire water
pumps should have a minimum capacity of 1500 gpm (5700 lpm) and can range up to
5000 gpm (18,930 lpm).
- It is common practice to provide pumping capacity so that when the largest fire water
pump is out of service, the total fire water demand can still be met.
- Each pump should be subjected to a full acceptance test upon installation, as specified
in NFPA 20. ( Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection)
Detection and Alarm
A system for reporting fires and alerting the plant fire brigade and the municipal fire department
should be provided. This system should be as simple as possible to minimize the potential for
confusion in emergencies.
(We are all aware that there are existing fire alarms and detections mostly in high rise
buildings, in public establishments like malls and even in schools. Since the facility is
divided to different fire zones/ areas that are prone to start a fire
(COMPARTMENTALIZATION) , the buildings are required to install alarms and
detection like fire alarm, sprinklers, fire detector, smoke detector etc. and basically there
are more than one detectors installed to determine also whether it is a real fire or false
alarm.)

A number of factors must be considered in the design of a reliable fire detection and alarm
system including:
- Data on the nature and arrangement of power sources
- Coverage provided by the system
- Alarm function on loss of system operability
 - Suitability of detection devices for the risk involved
- Testing and maintenance procedures to ensure a reliable system
- Consequence associated with false alarms
Sprinklers System
(From Fire Code of PH) An integrated network of hydraulically designed piping system
installed in a building, structure or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which
automatically discharges water when activated by heat or combustion products from a fire.
(Mostly we see sprinklers in malls, parking lots, school laboratories, so that whenever a
detector detected smoke or fire, it can quickly spray water along the area)
Sprinklers are the most common fire protection system used today. The success of fixed water
suppression systems depends on the following:
- Adequate and reliable water supply
- Adequate water density
- Automatic actuation of the systems
- Effective water spray patterns
- Alarms that indicate the operation or malfunction of the system
- Effective maintenance and testing
There are four basic types of sprinklers:
- Wet pipe
(There are water or foam available up to the last point)
The most common and least complicated of all sprinkler systems is the wet pipe system,
where all the pipes are normally full of water.
- Dry pipe
Dry pipe sprinkler systems were developed to provide sprinkler protection for unheated
buildings in cold climates. Also, a dry pipe sprinkler system can be used to minimize
corrosion (or destruction of materials).
- Pre-action
The principal difference between a pre-action system and a standard dry pipe is that in
the pre-action system, the water supply valve is actuated independently of the opening
of the sprinklers.
- Deluge (combination of wet and dry pipe system)
Deluge protection can be applied over the entire hazard area with open with sprinkler
heads located at various floor levels or fixed water spray systems can be applied
specifically on the equipment to be protected.
The design of sprinkler systems should be in accordance with NFPA 13 (THE STANDARD
FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS)

(Water sprinkler system and water spray systems works hand in hand)
Water Spray System
 - A water spray system is hydraulically designed with open spray heads to protect a
specific hazard.
- The term “water spray” refers to the use of water discharged from nozzles having a
predetermined pattern, droplet size, velocity, and density.
- While deluge systems are for the overall protection of a given area, water spray systems
can be installed for the protection of a given area or specific equipment/hazards.
- Water spray systems are used for protection against hazards involving gaseous and
liquid flammable materials and combustible solid materials.
- The design of water spray systems should be in accordance with NFPA 15
(STANDARD FOR WATER SPRAY FIXED SYSTEMS FOR FIRE PROTECTION)

Water Mist System (for specific uses, mostly used in companies)

- A water mist system is a propriety fire protection system using very fine water sprays.
The very small water droplets allow the water mist to control or extinguish fires by
cooling off the flame and fire plume, oxygen displacement by water vapor, and radiant
heat attenuation (main objective of the water mist system).
- Water mist systems are intended for rapid suppression of fires using water discharged
into completely enclosed limited volume spaces. Water mist systems are desirable for
spaces where the amount of water that can be stored or hat can be discharged is limited.
Potential Application include:
- Flammable and combustible liquids
- Electrical hazards, such as transformers, switches, circuit breakers, and rotating
equipment
- Electronic equipment
(Since water are not allowed as firefighting systems for electrical installations, dry
gases or FM200 (Heptafluoropropane) suppression gas system are the main or basically
source of fire fighting for electrical systems.)

Foam System
(very common, basically a hydrocarbon fires or specially for the tanks)
(Normal phenomena of a foam: chemical substrate + water = to create foam)
- Foam is primarily used for extinguishment of two-dimensional surface fires involving
liquids that are lighter than water. Foams may be used to insulate and protect against
exposure to radiant.
- Because of water content, foams may be used to extinguish surface fires in ordinary
combustible materials such as wood, paper, rags, etc. Foams are arbitrarily subdivided
into three ranges of expansion roughly corresponding to certain types of usage: (kind
of substrate material which are used to create foam)

 Low-expansion foam – expansion up to 20 times foam to solution volume

 Medium-expansion foam – expansion from 20 to 200 times foam to solution volume
  High-expansion foam – expansion from 200 to 1000 times foam to solution volume
- Foam systems have more components requiring higher maintenance and have
somewhat lower reliability than water-only systems (foam is required for example in a
floating roof, similarly to those many areas where water may not be effective
mechanism that should be used. In hydrocarbon industry for example, it is one of the
permanent fire-fighting systems along with water systems.)

- Foam systems are designed in accordance with NFPA 11 OR THE STANDARD FOR
LOW, MEDIUM, AND HIGH EXPANSION OF FIRE FIGHTING FOAM

Foam Application Methods:

Fixed systems (all in the system is installed) – are complete installations piped from a central
foam station to tanks or equipment, discharging through fixed delivery outlets.
Semi-fixed systems (some part of the system is installed) – employ fixed discharge outlets
connected to permanent piping that terminates at a safe distance from the tanks or equipment
to be protected.
Portable systems (like a TORQ that can throw foam in case of emergency, we can carry
it then use) – contain no fixed foam piping. Foam is delivered to the spill or burning surface
by hose streams or portable monitors.

Foam Proportioning Methods

In order that a predetermined volume of liquid foam concentrate may be taken from its source
and placed into a water stream to form a foam solution of fixed concentration, the following
two general method classifications are made:
(How the foam is made, there are two or three mechanisms, there is like when the
substrate is taken from the container of a substrate and the chemical is pushed through
the water. Other one is the venturi-action and water is passing with a high speed or high
velocity in a pipe and now can suscept the substrate from the chemical container then
prepare the foam basically.)

- Methods that utilize external pumps or pressure to inject concentrate into the water
stream at a fixed ratio (balanced pressure system)
- Methods that utilize the energy of the water stream by venturi-action and orifices to
induce concentrate (typically, such devices impose a 35% pressure drop on the water
stream).
Application of Foam for Suppression of Tank Fires:
Properly applied firefighting foam can be effective fire suppressant for most flammable or
combustible liquids stored in vertical cylindrical tanks.
IN THE FOAM CHAMBERS IN CONE ROOF TANK, YUNG SOLUTION LINE
MAGDEDELIVER SIYA NG MIXTURE NG SUBSTRATE AND WATER FOR THE
FOAM, THEN AAKYAT SA MAY FOAM CHAMBER, AT YUNG FOAM CHAMBER
ANG MAGRERELEASE SA MAY TANK)
(The minimum number of foam chambers depends on the tank diameter)

Foam - Water Deluge System

(Foam - Water Deluge System are normally installed in tank forms,, water system is
applied like a normal water hydrants, by the deluge systems (or the valves), as it activated,
the water will be mixed in the substrate in the chemical containers, then a foam system is
thrown as one system)
- The foam-water sprinkler system is basically the same as a sprinkler system except
foam concentrate is proportioned into the water causing foam to be discharged. These
systems can flow either water or foam effectively.
- The foam system should be designed in accordance to NFPA 16. The foam discharge
rate for a foam sprinkler system should be at least 0.16 gpm/ft2 (0.6 lpm/m2). The foam
discharge should be continuous for a minimum time of 10 minutes.
- With the exception of high expansion foams, all other foams can be used in foam-water
sprinkler system. However, AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) is the most versatile
agent because of its spreading capability and it can be applied though ordinary sprinkler
heads.

Clean Agent System (like FM200 and is mostly used in controlled rooms, basically
installed in rooms where water is not allowed)
- Clean agents are electrically, nonconductive, volatile, or gaseous fire extinguishing
agents that do not leave a residue.
Clean agents falls within two categories: halocarbons and inert gases. Typical
halocarbons include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),
per fluorocarbons (PFCs or FCs), and fluoroiodocarbons (FICs). Typical inert gases
include argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or combinations of these agents.
 - Clean agents can be used to protect enclosures containing:
 Electrical and electronic equipment
 Subfloors and other concealed spaces
 Flammable and combustible liquids
 Telecommunication equipment
- The design of clean agent fire protection systems should follow NFPA 2001 OR
Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems

Carbon Dioxide System (also used in rooms where water is not allowed)
Carbon dioxide systems should be designed and installed and tested in accordance in NFPA 12
(STANDARD ON CARBON DIOXIDE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS). Fixed CO2 systems
may be total flooding or local application systems.
 Total Flooding System
- This type of system may be used where there is a permanent enclosure around the area
or equipment to be protected that is adequate to enable the required concentration to be
built up and to be maintained for the required period of time to ensure complete and
permanent fire extinguishment
 Local Application System
- This type of system may be used for the extinguishment of surface fires in flammable
liquids, gases, and solids where the hazard is not enclosed. Examples of hazards that
may be successfully protected by local application systems include dip tanks, quench
tanks, and spray booths.

Dry Chemical System

- Dry chemicals are recognized for their unusual efficiency in extinguishing two-
dimensional fires involving flammable liquids. Fast extinguishing action is achieved
provided the agent engulfs the fire without interruption of the application.
- These agents are effective on small spill fires if there is risk of re-ignition of embers or
hot surfaces, these ignition sources should be quenched or cooled with water and
secured with foam, or the source or fuel should be shutoff before attempting
extinguishment.
- Dry chemicals agents are nontoxic and are suitable for extinguishing clothing fires on
individuals.
Portable Fire Support Equipment (most common)
- Based on the physical layout of site, the hazards of the process and the fixed fire
protection systems, additional fire suppression equipment may be required to
effectively manage a fire emergency. Portable fire suppression equipment assists in
providing fire protection for the equipment involved in an emergency.
- The use of portable equipment provides protection, where the cost of fixed system may
not be acceptable or the fire water supply may be limited.
Example of portable equipment include:
 Fire extinguishers
 Fire water monitors
 Foam monitors
 Foam eductors
 Foam tanks
 Water tanks
 Special high flow nozzles
 Trailer mounted fire water pumps
 Water/foam pumper
 Aerial and ladder fire trucks