Flat PKNS Kerinchi,

17th storey.

Chapter 4: FIRE SAFETY

4.1 Fire Safety Rules & Regulations
4.2 Passive Fire Protection
4.2.1 Building Utilization
4.2.2 Compartmentation
4.2.3 Means Of Escape
4.3 Active Fire Protection
4.3.1 Fire Detection System
4.3.2 Fire Extinguisher
4.3.3 Sprinkler System
4.3.4 Mechanical Compartmentation

4.1: FIRE CHEMISTRY

DEFINITION OF FIRE:
A chemical reaction that occures when a combustible material &
oxygen is exposed to the source of heat or ignition

Each of these three elements must be present at

the same time to have a fire. A fire will burn until
one or more of the elements is removed.
Fuel
Any combustible material solid, liquid or gas

Oxygen
The air we breathe is
about 21% oxygen
fire needs only
16% oxygen

Heat
The energy necessary to
increase the temperature of
fuel to where sufficient
vapors are given off for
ignition to occur

DEFINITION OF FIRE
According to NFPA
Fire: A rapid oxidation process with evolution of
light and heat in varying intensities.
A chemical reaction between a fuel and an
oxidant.
Any instance of destructive and uncontrolled
burning, including explosion, of combustible
solids, liquids, or gases.
Any instance of destructive and uncontrolled
burning, including explosion
5

4.1: FIRE SAFETY RULES &

REGULATIONS
DEFINITION OF FIRE SAFETY:
Action Plans By Application Of Science And Engineering
Principals For Fire Prevention And Protection In A Particular
Building And Strategies To Reduce Fire Hazards During A Fire
Incident
Protection In The Aspects Of Fire Prevention, Control &
Extinguishment For A Certain Areas Based On Availability Of
Risk In That Area (Jpbd:2007)

 Fire safety refers to precautions that are

taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of
a fire that may result in death, injury, or
property damage, or to reduce the damage
caused by a fire.
Fire safety measures include those that are
planned during the construction of a
building or implemented in structures that
are already standing, and those that are
taught to occupants of the building.
7

Common Definition of Fire Safety Terms

a) High-rise building:
Any building having an occupied floor located more than 75
feet above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access.
b) Means of escape:
The routes by which persons may escape from a fire, and the
means by which these routes are kept useable.
These means include fire-doors to prevent smoke and flame
from spreading to an escape-route; signage to indicate the
direction to safety; panic furniture or other fast-release
systems on escape doors to allow free egress while
maintaining internal security at normal times; ladders or
mechanical devices to allow escape from upper stories where
internal staircases are unavailable.
(Tharmarajan, 2007)
8

Means of escape

c) Fire warning systems:

Systems provided to facilitate the alerting of occupants of the
building and others with fire safety responsibility to the existence
of fire within the premises. These include fire alarms, fire
detection equipment, and connection to remote terminals.
d) Escape lighting:
Lighting designed to switch on upon interruption of the mains
electrical supply, and to illuminate the means of escape for a predetermined period by means of stored electricity.
e) Fire-fighting equipment:

Apparatus such as fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire-blankets

provided for use by the Fire Service personnel or for occupants of
the building for fire-fighting purposes only.
(Tharmarajan, 2007)
10

4.1: FIRE SAFETY RULES & REGULATIONS

Fire can be extinguished by removing any

elements of the fire tetrahedron.

one of the

Example:
Consider a natural gas flame, such as from a stovetop burner. The fire can
be extinguished by any of the following:
turning off the gas supply, which removes the fuel source;
covering the flame completely, which smothers the flame as the
combustion both uses the available oxidizer (the oxygen in the air) and
displaces it from the area around the flame with CO2;
application of water, which removes heat from the fire faster than the
fire can produce it (similarly, blowing hard on a flame will displace the
heat of the currently burning gas from its fuel source, to the same
end), or
application of a retardant chemical such as Halon to the flame, which
DELAYS the chemical reaction itself until the rate of combustion is too
slow to maintain the chain reaction

4.1: FIRE SAFETY RULES & REGULATIONS

Objective Of Fire Safety :
To Identify In Details All Fixed Protection System In A Building.
Both for Passive & Active)
Two (2) Kinds Of Fire Protections:
1. Fire Prevention
2. Fire Protection (Active & Passive Fire Protection)

Measures undertake to prevent the occurrence of fire :

1. Education & Training
2. Enforcement
3. Engineering
4. Security
5. Maintenance
6. Good Housekeeping
12

Causes of fire:

Short circuit
Careless and unaware attitude among users
Dangerous activities held in building
Overheating
Pipe Leakage
Intentionally burning

Factors contribute to fire

Combustible materials used in building
Combustible goods placed in building
Poor fire fighting system in building
* Poor space arrangement
* Improper installation of fire fighting equipments
Malfunction of fire fighting equipments.
Water shortage in fire fighting system
13

4.2 FIRE PROTECTION

When deciding on what fire protection is appropriate for any given situation,
it is important to assess the types of fire hazard that may be faced.
Class
A

Type of Fire

Fire Fighting Agent

Fires that involve flammable solids such as wood, Water, Dry Chemical
cloth, rubber, paper, and some types of plastics
Powder, Foam
Fires that involve flammable liquids or liquifiable
solids such as petrol/gasoline, oil, paint, some
waxes & plastics, but not cooking fats or oils AND CO2, Dry Chemical
Fires that involve flammable gases, such as
Powder, Foam, Halon
natural gas, hydrogen, propane, butane

Fires that involve any of the materials found in

Class A and B fires, but with the introduction of an
electrical appliances, wiring, or other electrically CO2, Dry Chemical
energized objects in the vicinity of the fire, with a Powder, Halon
resultant electrical shock risk if a conductive
agent is used to control the fire
Fires that involve combustible metals, such as
Dry Chemical Powder
sodium, magnesium, and potassium
14

15

16

To Prevent Fires
Class

Ordinary Combustibles:

Keep storage and working areas free of trash.

Place oily rags in covered containers.

17

Class

Flammable liquids or gases:

Dont refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space,

in the presence of an open flame, or while the equipment is
hot.
Keep flammable liquids stored in a tightly closed container and
away from spark producing sources.

Use flammable liquids only in well ventilated areas.

18

Class

Electrical Equipment:

Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit.
Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells
strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of a potential fire.
Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over
them.

19

Class

Flammable metals:

Knowledge of the properties of the metals and using good

judgment and common sense will assist you in controlling or
avoiding potential fires/reactions.

20

Law & Requirement on Fire Safety

In Malaysia, the government organization that is
responsible towards fire and life safety is the Fire and
Rescue Department Malaysia (FRDM).
The fire safety standards implemented are in
accordance with the regulations in the Uniform Building
By-Law (UBBL) 1984, National Fire Protection
Associations (NFNA) codes and standards, Fire Services
Act 1988 and the Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) code
and guide.
(Tharmarajan, 2007)

21

LAWS & REQUIREMENT ON FIRE SAFETY

1) Uniform Building By Law (UBBL) 1984

UBBL, is a published document, which is used as a required

safety standard and is emphasized by government.
The FRDM strive to discharge its responsibilities in its
prevention & safety program, and also its enforcement in
relation to inspections of buildings & business licensing
activities according to UBBL especially Part 7 & Part 8
Part 7 : Fire Requirement
Part 8 : Fire Alarm, Fire Detection, Fire Extinguishment &
Fire Fighting Access.

22

2) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes and Standards

NFPA is an international non-profit organization which is authorized
on fire, electrical and building safety.
The NFPA was established in 1896 and it serves as the worlds
leading advocate in fire prevention and is an authoritative source
for information on fire safety.
The Building Code and Regional Fire Code Development
Committees provide representative input to the NFPAs codes and
standards and have helped develop about 300 codes and standards
which are used in every building, process, service, design and
installation in many countries.
It has earned accreditation from the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI).
Apart from that, NFPA 1600, the National Standard on Disaster /
Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs
provides a total program approach to the challenge of integrating
disaster and emergency management with business continuity
planning.

23

3) Fire Services Act 1988

The Fire Services Act 1988 is implemented to make

necessary provision for the effective and efficient
functioning of the Fire Services Department, and also for
the protection of persons and property from fire risks
and other purposes connected therewith.
Generally, this Act explains the duties of the Fire Service
Department and consists of implementing fire
prevention, fire safety inspection and fire hazard
abatement, investigation and prosecution.

24

4) Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Code and Guide

Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) code and guide is
actually conforming to National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
recommended standards.

25

 One of a crucial stage in building design

Building plans required to be approved by
the Fire Department (Jabatan Bomba &
Penyelamat Malaysia- JBPM) before the
building can be constructed.
Once the construction finished; the
building itself will again required to be
inspected before approved by JBPM.
The practice is part of the requirements by
the Local Council before CF is issued.
26

27

28

GOOD BUILDING DESIGN WITH FIRE SAFETY

MEASURE

Provide adequate fire appliances, fire hydrants and other facilities to assist
fire and rescue personnel
Provide adequate fixed installation where appropriate, for quick &
effective detection & extinguishment of fire
Designing & installing building services so that they do not assist the
spread of fire, smoke or any toxic fumes.
Designing & providing adequate & safe escape route for the occupants of
the building
Selecting materials for the construction which will not promote the spread
of fire or generates hazardous smokes.
Subdividing building into compartments of reasonable sizes by mean of fire
resisting floor& wall, providing fire stop to protect openings between floor
& compartments
Designing & constructing the exterior of a building so that the fire unlikely
to spread to it from another burning building
29

4.3 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

DEFINITION :
Passive fire protection (PFP) is defines as protection
through ignition delays, reduce rate of burning and fire
spread through use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors
(amongst other examples).
It is an integral component of the three components of
structural fire protection and fire safety in a building.
ASPECTS OF PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION:
1. Building Utilization/Operation
2. Compartmentation
3. Mean of Escape

30

4.3.1 BUILDING UTILIZATION

Building utilization mean the number of persons using an
undivided space, such as a meeting room, classroom,
auditorium, hotel room or stadium.
As with building codes, fire-protection authorities often set a
limit on the number of people that can occupy a space.

Reason of limitation number of person are :

To ensure occupant must be able to leave the building through
the available number of exits in a reasonable amount of time,
without tripping or trampling each other In a panicked
situation, possibly blinded by smoke.

31

4.3.2 COMPARTMENTATION

Compartment means any part of a building which is separated from all

other parts by one or more compartment walls or compartment floors or by
both such walls and floors; and for the purpose of the Part, if any part of the
top storey of a building is within a compartment, the compartment shall
include any room space above such part of the storey. (UBBL: Part VII)

Compartmentation is dividing spaces into small compartments which may

contain single or multiple rooms.

The purpose of compartmentation is to limit the spread of fire, smoke and

flue gases.

Examples of compartmentation :
1. dividing office area into working place, office equipments room
( photostate & paper shredder machine ) and storage area ( papers,
files)
2. dividing hospital area into treating room, operation theater and
chemical storage area
32

4.3.2 COMPARTMENTATION
Method of compartmentation :
The construction of such compartments and all its components must focus to
achieve fire resistance rating which all components are subject to stringent Listing
and approval use and compliance in countries, where product certification is
mandatory.

Type of component :
1)
2)

Fire - resistant elements

Interior furnishing / ceiling

33

FIRE - RESISTANT ELEMENTS

Firewalls are constructed of concrete or concrete blocks

FIRE - RESISTANT ELEMENTS

Fire-resistance rated door

37

This I beam has a fireproofing material sprayed

onto it as a form of passive fire protection.

38

INTERIOR
FURNISHING
/ CEILING
Spraying
fireproofing to
the ceiling using
a gypsum based
plaster
39

4.3.3 MEANS OF ESCAPE

DEFINITION :
OSHA define an escape route or an exit route as a
continuous and non-obstructed path of exit
travel from any point within a workplace to a
place of safety.
An exit route consists of three parts:
1. Exit access
Portion of an exit route that leads to an exit.
2. Exit
Portion of an exit route that is generally
separated from other areas to provide a
protected way of travel to the exit discharge.
3. Exit discharge
Part of the exit route that leads directly
outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area,
public way, or open space with access to the
outside.

Emergency exit in Stockholm's

underground station "Universitetet"

40

THE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF THE EXIT ROUTES

Exit routes must be permanent parts

of the workplace.

Exit discharges must lead directly

outside These exit discharge areas
must be large enough to
accommodate the building occupants

Exit stairs that continue beyond the

level on which the exit discharge is
located must be interrupted at that
level by doors, partitions, or other
effective means that clearly indicate
the direction of travel leading to the
exit discharge.
Exit route doors must be unlocked
from the inside. They must be free of
devices or alarms that could restrict
use of the exit route if the device or
alarm fails.

Side-hinged exit doors must be used to

Exit routes must support the maximum

permitted occupant load for each floor served,
and the capacity of an exit route may not
decrease in the direction of exit route travel to
the exit discharge.

Ceilings of exit routes must be at least 7 feet,6

inches high.

An exit access must be at least 28 inches wide

at all points. Where there is only one exit access
leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of
the exit and exit discharge must be at least
equal to the width of the exit access. Objects
that project into the exit must not reduce its
width.

connect rooms to exit routes. These doors must

swing out in the direction of exit travel if the
room is to be occupied by more than 50 people
or if the room is a high-hazard area.

41

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIT

Exits must be separated by fire
resistant materials - that is, onehour fire-resistance rating if the exit
connects three or fewer stories and
two-hour fire-resistance rating if the
exit connects more than three
floors.
Exits are permitted to have only
those openings necessary to allow
access to the exit from occupied
areas of the workplace or to the exit
discharge. Openings must be
protected by a self-closing,
approved fire door that remains
closed or automatically closes in an
emergency.
44

MEANS OF ESCAPE

45

4.4 ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION

46

4.1 ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION

Definition :

Active fire protection (AFP) is characterized by

items or system, which require a certain amount
of motion and response in order to work,
contrary to passive fire protection.
There are 2 kinds of active fire protections

1) Fire Detection
2) Fire Suppression

47

FIRE DETECTION

FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM

Fire

detection system is designed to identify unwanted presence of fire by

monitoring environmental changes associated with combustion.
There are 2 types of fire detection systems :
1) manually fire detection system
2) automatic fire detection system
Fire detection system components consist of:
1)Alarm
2)Manual call point
3)Detector (smoke, thermal / heat or flame)
48

Manual Fire Alarm Detection

Fire Occurrence

Fire Detection Device

Manual Call Point/Break

Glass/ Phone

Alarm Trigger

Manually Call Fire

Department
49

Manual Fire Alarm Detection Devices

50

Automatic Fire Alarm Detection

Fire Occurrence

Detected Devices (Automatic

detector/Heat Detector)

Fire Alarm Trigger

Detected on Control Panel

(Show fire location in
building)

Automatic Connected to Fire

Department
51

Automatic Fire Alarm Detection Devices

Smoke Detector
Fire Control Panel

Heat Detector
52

FIRE SUPPRESSION

Fire suppression system is used in conjunction with fire detection system to

increase public safety. This system are governed by the codes under the
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)

Types of fire protection:

1) Fire Extinguisher
* Portable fire extinguisher
* Automatic fire extinguisher
2) Hydrants
* Hose reel
* Wet riser
* Dry riser
* Foam riser
3) Smoke Extraction & Ventilation

53

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Portable extinguishers are
intended as a first line of
defense to cope with fires of
limited size.
They are needed even when a
facility is equipped with
automatic
sprinklers,
standpipe and hose, or other
fixed protection equipment.
Fire extinguisher training is
provided by contacting the
Health and Safety Office Fire
Safety Section.

54

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER

1) Sprinkler system
2) Gas / Foam system
Fire sprinkler system
Consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure
and flow rate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire
sprinkler are connected.

There are 2 main types of fire sprinkler system:

1) Wet pipe system
2) Dry pipe system
55

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM

Direct System
In-Direct System
Dry System: No Water in range pipe
Wet System: Water Ready in range pipe

56

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM

a) Wet Pipe System
When an automatic
sprinkler is exposed for a
sufficient time to a
temperature at or above
the temperature rating, the
heat sensitive element
(glass bulb or fusible link)
releases, allowing water to
flow from that sprinkler.
57

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM

58

Sprinkler Systems
Dry Pipe Systems
Dry pipe systems are installed in spaces in which the ambient
temperature may be cold enough to freeze the water in a wet
pipe system, rendering the system inoperable.
Dry pipe systems are most often used in unheated buildings,
in parking garages, in outside canopies attached to heated
buildings (in which a wet pipe system would be provided), or
in refrigerated coolers.
Dry pipe systems are the second most common sprinkler
system type.
In regions using NFPA regulations, dry pipe systems cannot be
installed unless the range of ambient temperatures reaches
below 40F.

Sprinkler System-Dry Pipe

Operation
Water is not present in the piping until the system operates.
The piping is filled with air below the water supply pressure.
To prevent the larger water supply pressure from forcing
water into the piping, the design of the dry pipe valve (a
specialized type of check valve) results in a greater force on
top of the check valve clapper by the use of a larger valve
clapper area exposed to the piping air pressure, as compared
to the higher water pressure but smaller clapper surface area.

Sprinkler System-Dry Pipe

When one or more of the automatic sprinklers is exposed, for
a sufficient time, to a temperature at or above the
temperature rating, it opens, allowing the air in the piping to
vent from that sprinkler.
Each sprinkler operates individually. As the air pressure in the
piping drops, the pressure differential across the dry pipe
valve changes, allowing water to enter the piping system.
Water flow from sprinklers, needed to control the fire, is
delayed until the air is vented from the sprinklers.
In regions using NFPA 13 regulations, the time it takes water
to reach the hydraulically remote sprinkler from the time that
sprinkler is activated is limited to a maximum of 60 seconds

Sprinkler System-Dry Pipe

Sprinkler System-Dry Pipe

Disadvantages of using dry pipe fire sprinkler systems include:
Increased complexity - Dry pipe systems require additional
control equipment and air pressure supply components which
increases system complexity.
Higher installation and maintenance costs - The added
complexity impacts the overall dry-pipe installation cost, and
increases maintenance expenditure primarily due to added
service labor costs.
Lower design flexibility - Regulatory requirements limit the
maximum permitted size (i.e., 750 gallons) of individual drypipe systems, unless additional components and design efforts
are provided to limit the time from sprinkler activation to water
discharge to under one minute. These limitations may increase
the number of individual sprinkler

Sprinkler System-Dry Pipe

Other disadvantages:
Increased fire response time - Because the piping is empty at
the time the sprinkler operates, there is an inherent time
delay in delivering water to the sprinklers which have
operated while the water travels from the riser to the
sprinkler, partially filling the piping in the process
Increased corrosion potential - Following operation or testing,
dry-pipe sprinkler system piping is drained, but residual water
collects in piping low spots, and moisture is also retained in
the atmosphere within the piping. This moisture, coupled
with the oxygen available in the compressed air in the piping,
increases pipe internal wall corrosion rates, possibly
eventually leading to leaks.

FIRE SPRINKLER

Types sprinkler head : Glass bulb, Fusible link, Chemical, Open

65

GAS / FOAM SYSTEM

Gas or foam water fire sprinkler system

is a special application system,
discharging a gas such as CO2 or
mixture of water and low
expansion foam concentrate, resulting
in a foam spray from the sprinkler.

These systems are usually used with

special hazards occupancies associated
with high challenge fires, such
as flammable liquids, electrical room,
computer and database room and
airport hangars

67

GAS / FOAM SYSTEM

http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/news/nrc/2002/12/16/photo-gallery-ircfire2.html

68

HYDRANTS
Fire hydrants consists of hose reel and riser.
There are 3 types of riser which are:
1) Dry Riser
2) Wet Riser
3) Foam Riser

69

HYDRANTS SYSTEM
Dry riser No water in riser pipe
Wet riser Water ready in riser pipe

70

SMOKE EXTRACTION & VENTILATION

Objectives
1) to aid fire control by eliminating smoke, heat, toxic and inflammable gasses from
the source of fire
2) to retain visibility of escapers
3) to provide clear access for firefighters

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Hose Reels

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Fire Extinguishers

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Lightning Protection

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Fire Hose & Nozzles

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Smoke-Flame-Temp Detectors

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Fire Hydrants

Fire Safety Products/Devices

CCTV

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Motion Sensors

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Automatic Extinguishers

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Fire Blankets

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Dry Riser System

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Sprinkler System

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Fire Doors

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Access Control System

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Safety Signs

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Surge Arrestors

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Dome Camera

Fire Safety Products/Devices

Intruder Alarms

Fire Safety Products/Devices

LPG Detectors

Fire Safety Products/Devices

SELF TEST QUESTIONS

WHAT IS ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION?
( 2 MARKS )

LIST 3 TYPES OF SPRINKLER HEAD

( 3 MARKS )
EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE OF MANUALLY AND
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
(5 MARKS)
92