Excel Fire Engineering - Prevent Before Happen

Water Storage Tank
Material specification:
Hot rolled steel plate conformed to the requirement of BS 4360 grade 43A, BS 1449 material HR 14 or ISO equivalents.

Flages of Plate:
Combined double flanges at an angle of 45 degree and 90 degree to the face of the plate on all four sides.

Automatic Fire Detection And Alarm System
Fire detection and alarm systems are designed to provide warning of the outbreak of fire and allow appropriate fire fighting action to be taken before the situation gets out of control. As all systems are designed primarily to protect life, property, this places a great responsibility on the designer because each building will present a different set of problems in relation to the risk of fire and fire spread.Each fire detection and alarm system therefore must be specially designed to meet the requirements for each building.
The fire alarm system can either be operated automatically or manually. Automatic operation is via the detectors whereas manual operation is by breaking the glass at the manual call point (breakglass unit).
To override the automatic operation of this system in case of its failure during a fire, use the nearest unit of the manual breakglass.
The manual/automatic actuation of the detectors will cause an alarm condition on the master fire alarm panel which will then actuate all the alarm bells installed.
A set of standby battery with capacity for 72 hours supply is provided in the event of any power failure.

Type of Fire Detection System
There are four types of fire detection systems:
(a) Conventional system
(b) Addressable system
(c) Analogue addressable system
(d) Air sampling system

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM

Introduction
Automatic Sprinklers System have been in use in the U.S. since 1874. Fire sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages - before they can cause severe injury to people and damage to property.

Sprinkler Operation
The operation mechanism is a frangible glass bulb which contains a heat responsive liquid (Glycerin Solution).During a fire, the ambient temperature rises causing the liquid in the bulb to expand.When the ambient temperature reaches the rated temperature of the sprinkler,the bulb shatters.As a result, the waterway is cleared of all sealing parts and water is discharged towards the deflector.The deflector is designed to distribute the water in a pattern that is most effective in controlling the fire.

The Facts
According to the National Fire Protection Association, property damage in hotel fires was 87% less in structures with sprinklers than it was in structures without sprinklers during the year 1983-87. (Average loss per fire was RM9,200 in sprinklered buildings and RM41,200 in unsprinklered buildings.)
Nearly half of all hotels and motels, according to a 1988 survey by NFPA, have sprinkler systems.
NFPA has no record of a fire killing more than two people in completely sprinklered building where the system was properly operating, except in an explosion or flash fire or where industrial fire brigade members or employees were killed during fire suppression operations.

Hydrant System
Fire hydrant installation consists of pipework connected directly to the water supply mains to provide water to each and every hydrant outlet and is intended to provide water for the fireman to fight a fire.The water is discharge into the fire engine from which it is then pumped and sprayed over a fire.Where the water supply is not reliable or inadequate,hydrant pumps should be provided to pressurise the fire mains.

Hydrant Outlets
Pillar hydrants should comply with M.S.1395 and located at not more than 30 metres away from the breeching inlet for the building.The hydrant should be not less than 6 metres from the building if it is a high rise building so as to allow fireman to operate the hydrant safely,away from the burning building or falling debris.Generally,hydrants are spaced at not more than 90 metres apart along access roads of minimum 6 metres in width and capable of withstanding a load of 26 tons from fire brigade vehicles.
Hydrant outlets are typically of the twin outlet pillar type with an underground sluice valve.Where these are installed within the owner's boundary,each should be provided with 30 metres of 65mm dia. canvas hose, instantaneous couplings and nozzles, all housed within a steel cabinet beside the hydrant.Hydrants located along public roads need not be provided with hose stations.Underground hydrants are not encouraged due to the difficulty of access.

HOSE REEL SYSTEM

Introduction
Hose reel system is intended for the occupant to use during the early stages of fire and comprises hose reel pumps,fire water tank,hose reels,pipe work and valves. The hose reel system generally serves as an initial fire fighting aid. When the hose reel is brought into use the pressure in the pipe immediately downstream of the pump check valves will drops below the field adjusted pressure setting of the pressure switch thereby trigerring the pump to comes into operation automatically to feed a steady supply of water to discharge through the hose.
Fire fighting hose reel is the part which can be easily accessible. The fire hose reel outlets should be properly housed in glass fronted cabinet secured under lock and key.

Brief Description
Drum: The hosereel drum is a universal swing type, where the hose drum rotates around a horizontal shaft and the hose can be withdrawn from any direction.
Hose: The fire hose reel is made of non-kinking, braided rubber type and the length of the hose is 30 meter.
Nozzle: The shut –off nozzle assembly which is fitted at the end of the hose is constructed of corrosion resistant material conforming to BS 336. There are markings to indicate the open/shut positions of the nozzle.
Stop valve: A 25mm diameter stop valve to BS 1010 is provided for the connection of the hosereel to the water supply.

Principle of Operation
To operate the system efficiently, the following instructions should be followed .
a) Turn open the stop valve.
b) Run out the hose.
c) Turn open the water at the nozzle.

AUTOMATIC CO2 EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM
Carbon Dioxide extingusher system consists of carbon dioxide cylinders, steel piping, discharge nozzles, heat and/or smoke detectors and a control panel, which monitors the space, activates both visual and audio alarms before releasing the gas.
The carbon dioxide is discharged after a time delay upon detection of fire to warn any occupant to evacuate the room.Such system is usually provided for electrical transformer rooms, switchrooms and generator rooms and should not be installed for rooms, which are normally occupied.

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Portable Fire Extingusher are elementary fire fighting equipment intended for first-aid fire fighting during the initial outbreak of fire incident to prevent escalation into a full scale fire. Proper usage of portable fire extinguisher often effectively control and extinguish a fire even before fire authorities is summoned. However they are not suppose to be used against a large scale fire.
Portable fire extinguishers should be suitably selected for the type of fire in accordance to the classification and the fire size and sited in suitable locations in close proximity to the potential fire hazards
Portable fire extinguishers should have minimum gross weight but with higher fire rating in order to be user friendly and shall be able to be carried and operated by one person.
Portable fire extingushers should be maintained and serviced annually for their effectiveness.

WET RISER SYSTEM
Wet risers are a form of internal hydrant for the fireman to use and are always pressurized with water. Wet risers are only required for buildings where the topmost floor is higher than 30.5 metres above the fire appliance access level.

Wet riser system comprises duty fire pump with standby pump discharging into a 150mm diameter riser pipe with landing valves at each floor and to which canvas hose with nozzles can be connected to direct the water jet at the fire. A jockey pump is usually provided to maintain system pressure. For high rise buildings, each stage of the wet riser should not exceed 70.15 metres.

DRY RISER SYSTEM
Dry risers are a form of internal hydrant for the fireman to use and are only required for buildings where the topmost floor is higher than 18.3 metres and less than 30.5 metres above the fire appliance access level. Dry risers are normally dry and depend on the fire engine to pump water into the system.

Dry riser system comprises a riser pipe with landing valves at each floor and to which canvas hose with nozzles can be connected to direct the water jet at the fire. Breeching inlets into which the firemen pumps water are provided at groung level and are connected to the bottom of the dry risers.

DOWNCOMER SYSTEM
Downcomers are also a form of internal hydrant for the firemen to use and are always charged with water from a water tank located at the top of a building but without any pumps. Downcomers are only permitted for private residential buildings with open balcony approach where the topmost floor is not higher than 60 metres above the fire appliance access level and should be adopted for low cost flats only.

Downcomers system comprises a high level water storage tank discharging into 150mm diameter riser pipe with landing valves at each floor and to which canvas hose with nozzles can be connected to direct the water jet at the fire. No pumps are provided and therefore the system pressure is limited to the static pressure only.

FM-200 SYSTEM
A quality fire protection system is much more cost effective than replacing high-value critical data and sensitive electronic equipment.It has integrated state-of-the-art detection technology and clean-agent chemistry to provide affortable fire protection.

Fast: We offers releasing panels that are compatible with fast acting smoke detectors to sense fire in its early stages. Upon system release, FM-200 Clean-Agent is discharged.

Effective: Similar to Halon 1301, FM-200 agent extinguishes Class A, B and C fires by interrupting the chemical chain reaction. It absorbs heat, accelerating the suppression process.

Safe: The U.S. EPA has accepted FM-200 for use in occupied spaces at concentration up to 9% by volume and up to 10.5% by volume for normally non-occupied spaces. It is non-toxic when used in accordance with NFPA Standard 2001.

Clean: When protecting valuable assets or sensitive equipment, FM-200 agent stands above conventional agents. Unlike dry chemical, FM-200 is a colorless, odorless gas that leaves no residue to clean up. Unlike water, FM-200 is an electrically nonconductive agent that will not short-out electronic equipment. And unlike the very cold discharge of carbon dioxide, FM-200 will not thermally shock delicate circuitry.

Earth Friendly: FM-200 will not deplete stratospheric ozone and it has a short atmospheric lifetime (31-42 years). As such, it is part of the EPA's SNAP list of acceptable Halon alternatives that are approved for use in total flooding, special hazard fire suppression system.