1. KURSUS PENGENALAN KEPADA PERKHIDMATAN MEKANIKAL DALAM BANGUNAN

2. AN INTRODUCTION TO FIRE FIGHTING DESIGN CARBON DIOXIDESYSTEM

3. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION DESIGN STANDARDS SYSTEM OPERATION
CARBON DIOXIDE CYLINDERS
CARBON DIOXIDE CONTROL PANEL
DISCHARGE NOZZLE
AUTOMATIC DETECTORS AND ALARM BELLS
PIPEWORK AND FITTINGS
WARNING SIGNS

4. AUTOMATIC CARBON DIOXIDE SYSTEM
Consists of CO2 cylinders, steel piping, discharge nozzles, heat/smoke detectors, gravity shutter, alarm system etc.
Discharged after a time delay upon detection of fire.
Usually for Transformer room, Switchroom, Standby Generator room and High Switch Gear room.

5. DESIGN STANDARDS
In the UBBL (1984), the By-laws relating to Carbon Dioxide is By-laws 235 and the applicable standard is:
NFPA 12

6. SYSTEM OPERATION
Quantity of agent should be sufficient to ensure rapid extinction.
The protected area should be flooded with CO2, concentration of 50% at 21C, with period of 30 seconds, adjustable up to 60 seconds.
Total discharge shall not exceed 1 minute.
For deep seated total discharge shall not exceed 7 minutes or 30% discharge within 2 minutes.
Supply Voltage 240V A.C, 50 Hz.
A 24V D.C standby battery in case of mains voltage failure.

7. SYSTEM OPERATION
The space protected by two or more heat or smoke detectors.
8. The indicator light on the control panel should illuminate and audible warning sounded via alarm bell.

8. CARBON DIOXIDE CYLINDERS
Gas stored in a liquefied form at ambient temperatures.
Working pressure of 59 bars at 21C and pressure tested at 228 Bars.
Name plate specifying the number, filling weight and the pressurisation level.
All cylinder supplying the same manifold outlet for distribution.
Where more than three cylinders are required, a pilot cylinder should be provided to activate the discharge from each cylinder.

9. CARBON DIOXIDE CONTROL PANEL
Should indicate the operation of the system hazards to personnel, or failure of any supervised device.
Complying with MS 1404 and BS 7273.
Alarm should be provided to give warning of a discharge.
A device should be incorporated into the system to shut down any exhaust fans and activate solenoid operated curtains across louvres before discharge.

10. DISCHARGE NOZZLE
The discharge nozzle should consists of the orifice and any associated horn, shield or baffle.
Discharge orifices should be of corrosion resistant metal.
Permanenrly marked to identify the nozzle and to show the equivalent shield orifice diameter regardless of shape.
Discharge nozzle should be provided with frangible disc

11. Automatic Detector and Alarm Bells
The Automatic detection is usually by means of either heat or smoke detectors.
Should be resistant to corrosion.
The alarm bells should produce an alarm at least 65dBA or 5dBA.
The bell should be of the trembling (not single stroke).

12. WARNING SIGNS
Warning and instruction signs should be installed at entrances to and inside protected areas at prominent positions.

13. PIPE WORK AND FITTING
The material of piping and fittings must be of non-combustible heat resisting.
Maintain its own shape in room temperature during the outbreak of fire.
All piping should be of API Schedule 40/80 steel pipe.

14. SAMPLE CALCULATION FOR CO2 SYSTEM
PROJECT : NEW MORTUARY FOR PENANG HOSPITAL
ROOM NAME : STANDBY-GENERATOR ROOM

15. STAND BY–GENERATOR ROOM
Area = 5.5 X 6.0m = 33m²
Volume = 5.5 x 6.0 x 4.15m = 137 m³
Nozzle coverage area = m²
Nos of nozzle required = 33/ = ~ 2 nos.
Flooding Factor = 1.35kg/m³
Design Concentration = 50%
Actual weight of CO¸ = 137m³x1.35kg/m³
= 185kg
Nos of cylinder = 185kg/45kg
= 5 nos
Consider 30% volume of C0¸ to be used
= 0.3x137m³
= 41m³

16. Design manual based on
desired flow rate = 30°C
Therefore flow rate for 2 mins
Q = 41m³ (exp.30°C) = 73.2kg
0.56m³/kg
@ 2mins = 73.2kg = 37kg/mins
2min
Time of discharge of CO² at volume
= 185kg = 5mins
37kg/min
Pipe sizing for flow rate, Q = 37kg/mins
Pipe size = 20mm

17. SWITCH – BOARD ROOM Area = 5.5x4.5 = 25m²
Volume = 5.5x4.5x4.15 = 103m³
Nozzle coverage area = 28.28m²
Nos Nozzle = 25/ = 0.9 ≈ 1 no.
Flooding Factor = 50%
weight CO² = 139kg
Nos cylinder = 139kg/45kg = 3nos
30% Volume = 03x103m³ = 31m³
Q = 31m³/0.56m³/kg (expansion 30°C) @ 0.56m³
= 2mins = 28kg/mins
Time Discharge = 139kg/28kg/min = 5 min
Pipe sizing Q = 28kg/mins
= 20mm

18. SCHEMATIC DRAWING FOR CO2 SYSTEM