Fire Protection Systems Chapter 6

Fire Protection Systems Most of the time you will work with an electrical engineer or fire-protection designer to coordinate fire protection systems with the rest of the design. Detection Systems Alarm Systems Extinguishing Systems

Fire Detection Smoke Detectors – Reference NFPA 72 for location requirements Heat Detectors – Often used in combination with smoke detectors Manual Fire Alarms – Typically should be within a travel distance of 200 feet – Must meet accessibility requirements

Alarm Systems Visual & Audible Alarm Systems – Refer to standard NFPA 72 – Must meet accessibility requirements Voice Communication Systems – Factories, hospitals & assisted living, large storage facilities, high-rise buildings, plus other Assembly and Hazardous occupancies Accessible Warning Systems – Additional systems to the required visual & audible systems Tactile systems (vibrations), etc. Emergency Alarm Systems – For emergencies other than fires – Computer controlled or manual and includes a voice communication system

Extinguishing Systems Fire Extinguishers – Refer to fire codes, LSC, and NFPA 10 – Must meet ADA guidelines

Extinguishing Systems Standpipes & Fire Hoses: refer to codes & NFPA 14 – Classes: Class I: Designed for fire departments to use – pipes with outlets for fire department hoses to hook up to Class II: Designed for occupants to use – hoses are attached – for buildings with no sprinkler system Class III: Combination of Class I and Class II – Types: Automatic wet system: water supply within piping system Automatic dry system: filled with pressured air & has a hose valve Manual wet system: doesn’t have water in pipes, but connects to water supply that can be pumped into pipes by fire dept. Manual dry system: no water within the pipes or in an attached supply – must be pumped in from fire dept. Semiautomatic dry system: – similar to automatic dry system, but requires a remote control to activate valve system for water

Extinguishing Systems Sprinkler Systems: refer to building codes, fire codes, LSC and NFPA 13 – Respond to heat – Types of sprinkler systems: Wet pipe system: most common. Pipes are filled with water all of the time Dry pipe system: used in unheated building types – filled with pressurized air or nitrogen that when released, fills pipes with water Deluge system: used in hazardous situations – activated by a separate detection system - open head water system to discharge large quantities of water for sever fires Preaction system: combination of wet and dry systems to allow delayed reaction & warning signals. Activated by detection system and allows for delayed reaction for system to be turned off if not needed – For areas where property is susceptible to water damage (museums)

Extinguishing Systems Sprinkler Systems, continued… – Types of sprinkler heads Standard spray head: most common type, can be used as an upright, pendant, sidewall, recessed or concealed. Each head covers approximately 225 square feet. Fast-response: activated by low level of heat Residential: used to minimize heat buildup and production of carbon monoxide while occupants are exiting (NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R, and NFPA 13 systems) Quick response: upright, pendant, or sidewall Extended coverage: can cover up to 400 sq. ft., can be upright, pendant or sidewall. Large-drop: deliver water in large droplets for hard-to-suppress fires Open: used in deluge systems – heads remain open and once turned on, release large amounts of water for sever fires Specialty: tamper-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and decorative.

Extinguishing Systems Alternative Extinguishing Systems – Non-water-based fire extinguishing Wet-chemical Dry-chemical foam Carbon dioxide Clean-agent