BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Fire Safety

Ar. N.Ramesh Babu. B.Arch,M.T.P

Associate Professor
Department of Architecture
PMIST
What are the Major Building Services?

• Electrical
•Plumbing
•HVAC
•Fire

Fire Protection Engineering/ Fire safety Engineering/ Fire Engineering

What is fire safety engineering?

•Active fire protection - fire suppression systems, and fire alarm.
•Passive fire protection - fire and smoke barriers, compartmentation
•Smoke control and management
•Escape facilities- Emergency exits, Fire lifts etc.
•Building design, layout, and space planning
•Fire prevention programs
•Fire dynamics and fire modeling
•Human behavior during fire event

What is NFPA?
National Fire Protection Association
 SAFETY SYSTEM

FIRE ALARM PUBLIC ADDRESS GAS BASED FIRE

EXTINGUISHER
SYSTEM SYSTEM SUPPRESSION

FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM

CONVENTIONAL ANALOGUE ADDRESSABLE

FIRE ALARM FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM SYSTEM
 ANALOGUE ADDRESSABLE
FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM

CONTROL
PANEL

MANUAL CALL SOUNDER CUM SHORT CIRCUIT

DETECTORS MODULES PANIC BAR
POINT STROBE ISOLATER

DETECTORS

SMOKE
HEAT DETECTOR BEAM DETECTOR VESDA FLAME DETECTOR
DETECTOR
Active fire protection
Fire detection
The fire is detected either by locating the smoke, flame or heat, and an alarm is
sounded to enable emergency evacuation as well as to dispatch the local fire
department.

Fire suppression
Fire can be controlled or extinguished, either manually (firefighting) or
automatically.

Manual -fire extinguisher

Co2, powder & foam type

Automatic means - fire sprinkler system, a gaseous clean agent, or fire fighting
foam system..
CIRCUIT - FIRE ALARM PANEL
CIRCUIT - FIRE ALARM PANEL
FIRE ALARM PANEL
HEAT DETECTOR SMOKE DETECTOR
Fire Sprinkler systems
A typical sprinkler system operates when heat at the site of a fire causes a
glass component in the sprinkler head to fail, thereby releasing the water
from the sprinkler head.
This means that only the sprinkler head at the fire location operate - not
all the sprinklers on a floor or in a building.
SPRINKLER HEAD
SPRINKLER HEAD
DOWN -COMER
DRY RISER
FIRE HOSE REEL

FIRE HOSE REEL CABINET

WITH EXTINGUISHERS
FIRE ALARM BELL

FIRE ALARM CALL POINT

SPRINKLER SYSTEM
WET RISER
 FIRE HYDRANT

RISER INLET
BREECH INLET

EXTERNAL OUTLETS/ INLETS PIPES

 FIRE PUMP ROOM
•Sprinkler pump - Sprinkler system
•Hydrant Pump - Hydrant system
•Common Jockey pump - Hydrant/ sprinkler
•Common Standby pump - Hydrant/ sprinkler
•Diesel pump
SPRINKLER PIPES
SAFETY SYSTEM
 Comparison between
Conventional & Analogue Detectors
Zone wise alarm will only be annunciated. Exact location of alarm in terms of sensor location
will be displayed.
   
Event log not available Event log is available
   
Health of the detector cannot be monitored Health of the detector can be monitored
   
Conventional zone base system, for every zone Addressable can cater up to 250 detectors &
approximately 20 detectors & devices are devices per loop, hence the quantity of cabling
connected, so for every 20 detectors or devices is comparatively lesser.
one cable need to be run from Fire alarm panel.
   
Conventional detectors normally do not come with It has an inbuilt logarithm to adjust its sensitivity
environmental compensation based on dust level accumulation. Hence false
alarm is comparatively lesser.
   
Dust level warning not available. Dust maintenance indication will be transmitted to
the panel. When the dust level inside the
detector goes beyond set value.
Networking of multiple panels is very limited in Network of panel on peer to peer communication
conventional system. is a standard feature and a fundamental
requirements for a large facility like foxconn.

   
Even if networked only zone wise indication will Exact location of detector & devices that has
be available in the master repeater. activated alarm will be transmitted across all
panels & the master repeater.

   
PC connectivity is not available. Graphics interface with PC connectivity is
possible. This will help security to
geographically identify alarm on the PC
screen. The response to alarm will be faster.

   
If there is a short or open circuit on one zone, the Since the cable loop is coming back to panel
zone need to be fully isolated. there is a 2-way communication, hence the
balance loop will be operable even if one
section fails.
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
CONTROL PANEL
 All the detectors, isolators, sounder cum strobes,
modules are connected to the panel on the loop
through the loop card which sits on the panel.
 The capacity of the panel is decided based on
the number of loop cards.
 From here through control module AHU is shut
down.
 It gives input signal to the PA system during
evacuation and emergency.
 It also gives the control signal to the ACS to
open the doors in case of emergency.
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
SMOKE DETECTOR
 Itdoes the operation of both heat and smoke
detector.
 Inside it contains a micro chip which is
connected to two electrodes with spacing in
between.
 On giving supply to the detector there is a flow
of current between the electrodes.
 When the smoke enters this region the flow of
current is blocked and thus the alarm is
generated.
SMOKE DETECTOR
HEAT DETECTOR
 Electronic heat detectors use a thermistor as the primary
heat sensing device. A thermistor is a component whose
resistance changes with temperature.
 Mechanical heat detectors can either be bi-metallic or
pneumatic.
 When either the fixed temperature is exceeded or a pre-
set temperature increase rate is exceeded, the detector
will alarm
 The fixed temperature feature reacts to heat by
responding to a certain temperature setup.
Note : Heat detectors are one time use detectors
HEAT DETECTOR
BEAM DETECTOR
 Itcomes in two options.
 Option 1(One transmitter and one receiver):
 Transmitter keep emitting the signal continuously to
the receiver. When the smoke enters between the path an
alarm is generated.
 Option 2(One transreceiver and one reflector)
 Receiver receives the signal from the transmitter after
the signal getting reflected from the reflector. When the
smoke enters between the path an alarm is generated.
BEAM DETECTOR

OPTION-1

OPTION-2
 Flame Detector

 A device that detects the infrared, ultraviolet, or visible

radiation produced by a fire
 A flame detection system must be chosen for the type of fire
that is probable. For example an ultraviolet (UV) detector will
respond to a hydrogen fire, but an infrared (IR) detector
operating in the 4.4 micron sensitivity range will not ;which is
mainly used in hydrocarbon fires (liquid, gases and solids).
 Because flame detectors must be able to 'see' the fire, they
must not be blocked by objects placed in front of them
 The advantage of flame detection is that it is extremely
reliable in a hostile environment.
FLAME DETECTOR
VESDA
What is Aspirating Smoke Detection?
A system which draws air from an area, via a pipe
network, to a central detector which monitors for
small amounts of smoke

Sampling pipe

VESDA 88
LaserPLUS
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
INPUT MODULE
 Input module is used in the fire alarm loop.
 Through input module input is given and
monitoring can be done.
 Input module is given to the FAP from VESDA,
Pressure switch, fire exit door and sprinkler
flow switch to know the status.
 It is given to the public address system from
FAP to give the evacuation message in case of
emergency.
INPUT MODULE
ADDRESSABLE RELAY MODULE
 Addressable relay module is also attached on the fire
alarm loop.
 Through addressable relay module control signal is sent.
 It is used to send control signal to the gas release panel
to dis-charge the gas in case of fire.
 It is used to send control signal to trip the AHU in case
of fire.
 It is also used to send control signal to access control
system to release the doors in case of emergency.
 Addressable bell relay module is used to connect
sounder cum strobe to the loop.
ADDRESSABLE RELAY MODULE
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
 MANUAL CALL POINT
It is used when the fire is seen physically even
before the detector could sense it.
MCP is given first preference than the detectors in
case of fire.
Alternative terminals are provided for open or closed
circuits, When wired for open circuit working, the circuit
closes instantly when pressed hard to break glass.
When the lever is pulled , the glass capsule inside it
breaks and causes a change of state in the circuit to
which it is connected.
MANUAL CALL POINT
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
SOUNDER CUM STROBE
 The sounder shall be electronic type and shall give
continuous/ intermittent audible alarm from a command
from the Addressable Bell relay modules whenever any
detector or call point operates.
 The strobes shall be an electronic visible warning signal
device that flashes at least once every 1.5 Secs in an
event of an alarm.
 Sounder cum strobe can be directly mounted on the
wall/ceiling.
 The bell relay module is programmed to activate the
sounder cum strobe in event of an alarm from a single
detector/device or a group of detectors/ devices.
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
PANIC BAR
 A push to open type horizontal Single / Double
Door Panic Bar is used on the fire exit doors.
 It also comes with the Door Contacts and they
are connected to the access alarm controller.
 When the Fire/ emergency Exit Doors are
opened, an alarm message be displayed in the
Integrated security management software and
the sounder shall be activated.
ANALOGUE FIRE ALARM
SYSTEM
SHORT CIRCUIT ISOLATOR
It is used on the loop preferably after
every 20 devices.
It is used to isolate electrical short circuit
in the wiring.
By doing so all the other detectors in the
loop will remain functional because of the
Class A wiring of the loop.
GAS BASED FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM
(GFS)
INTRODUCTION
Suppression of fire is done using gas, thus
the it is called as gas based fire
suppression system.
There are different types of gas are used
to suppress the fire, they are FM200, C02
& INERT gases.
EXTINGUISHING MECHANISM
Gases fight the fire both physically and
chemically.
Physical Reaction:
Since the heat capacity of the gas is high, it
absorbs the heat high for the gas to break its
bond.
Chemical Reaction
On absorbing the heat the gas molecule breaks
and releases chlorine or fluorine which
interrupts the flame chemistry.
HAND HELD
EXTINGUISHERS
EXTINGUISHING MECHANISM
Gases fight the fire both physically and
chemically.
Physical Reaction:
Since the heat capacity of the gas is high, it
absorbs the heat high for the gas to break its
bond.
Chemical Reaction
On absorbing the heat the gas molecule breaks
and releases chlorine or fluorine which
interrupts the flame chemistry.
DIFFERENCES
The working principle is same as the
GFS.
The only differences are the Quantity and
it’s operation.
It comes in smaller volume according to
the area of application.
Hand held extinguishers are operated
manually.
MOUNTING
Mounting of a hand held extinguisher can
be done on wall using a bracket or
holding stand.
It can be also mounted on a trolley mount
in area were mobility is required and
when the volume of the cylinder is high
PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM
CONTROLLER
It is to the CONTROLLER, the call
station, amplifiers and routers are
connected.
When an input is received from the call
station to the controller, the signal is send
to the router.
On receiving the signal the router selects
the respective zone using a pre-
programmed micro processor and the
corresponding amplifier turns on.
SPEAKERS
 It is a device through which the sound is given
out.
 From the output it gives it is classified into 6w,
12w etc..
 It is connected to the amplifier of the public
address system.
 It can mounted on both the ceiling and wall.
 In industry ceiling, wall and horn type speakers
are used commonly.
 Wall mounted speaker

Ceiling mounted
speaker
Horn type speaker
AMPLIFIER
Amplifier does the operation of
amplifying the sound signal to the
speaker.
The speaker is connected to the amplifier
and the MIC is connected to a pre
amplifier.
Amplifier delivers different level of
output according to the Watts.
Amplifier without a pre-amplifier is called
as booster amplifier.
 Amplifier with pre-amp

Amplifier without pre-amp i.e.

booster amplifier
CALL STATION
 The amplifiers are connected to the call station.
 The speakers are separated and grouped into
zones for easy usage, easy maintenance and easy
identification during fault.
 This zone selection is done using the call
station.
 Actual selection is done using the router which
is connected to the call station.
Passive fire protection
References

1. Ron Cote P.E & Gregory E. Harrington P.E : NFPA 101 Life safety Code handbook.
edition,2006.
2. Ernst and Peter Neufert: Architects Data. Third edition.
3. Bureau of Indian Standards : National building code of India 2005
2. [Source : http://en.wikipedia.org]
2. [Source : http://www. brighthub.com]

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