Fire Protection Systems essay
Fire is an uncontrolled process of burning that creates a danger to human life and is accompanied by the destruction of property. Fire is characterized by chemical interaction of combustible substance with oxygen, allocation of a large amount of heat and intense gas exchange of combustion. The fire, which is extinguished at the initial stage, is called ignition. Fire protection systems are created to protect facilities from fire. Fire protection systems include: fire dampers, fire doors, windows and gates made of special materials, fire line systems, smoke management systems, automation of buildings, etc. There are modern hi-tech fire protection systems capable of detecting fires in the early stages. They include analog addressable fire alarm system and wireless fire detectors. When designing fire protection systems, individual factor should be considered: function of the protected object, its design features and private characteristics. The main purpose of fire protection systems lies in providing protection from fire through a combination of automatic fire alarm systems, mechanical means of individual and collective protection, fire extinguishing, smoke removal, and employees training to fire regulations (Sturzenbecker, 2012). If all its components work properly, protection is effective.
Fire alarm and connection systems
According to experts, one of the most sought and highly effective components of the fire protection system is a fire alarm system, whose main function is to save people’s lives. It is designed to react quickly to a fire, transmit a signal to fire extinguishing systems and alert about the fire. Fire alarm is considered a consolidation of all hardware designed for early fire detection.
Automatic fire alarm outputs signals to the inclusion of fire extinguishing installations, operates smoke protection systems, engineering and technological equipment and other fire protection. Fire alarm system is designed to ensure automatic fire detection in the time required to activate fire signals. Usually fire alarm and connection systems include such equipment: fire detectors, security and fire panel or a computer with the special programs and a system that collects and processes data from fire detectors. Fire alarm is triggered as a result of an open fire, the presence of smoke or carbon monoxide in the air, as well as rise of temperature. These signs are identified by sensors – light, smoke, heat, hand, combined and multi-touch. All administrative, industrial, ancillary buildings, outdoor installations, warehouses and constructions of oil refining and petrochemical industry should be equipped with the manual detectors of electric fire alarm. Receiving stations of fire alarm system must be installed in buildings of fire stations. In automatic mode the fire alarm should be transmitted in hospitals, child care centers, nursing homes, hotels, cultural and entertainment areas and other crowded places. By connection type, sensors are divided into wired and wireless, basing on the principle of creating an information signal about fire – active and passive. Active detectors produce a signal in a protected area, they are triggered if there is any change of parameters of generated signal. Passive sensors are triggered directly by changes in the environment, resulting in fire. According to ways of defining alarm and generating signals, detectors and fire safety systems are divided into: threshold alarm (triggering of a fire sensor determines a fire), questionnaire addressable alarm (control panel is conducting a survey of sensors to determine their status) and analogue addressable alarm (control panel detects fire). Analogue addressable alarm is considered the most effective and costly. A special place in the fire alarm is given to an uninterruptible power supply system. This is a prerequisite for its normal operation. Therefore, alarm is equipped with standby power and batteries, which enable the system to work smoothly for a few hours.
To ensure the necessary protection on large objects, alarm system is installed and connected to other security systems. Fire alarm systems must be installed at the facilities where the fire can cause personal injury or death.
Smoke management systems
People’s death and damage to property can be caused not only by fire, but also by the subsequent spread of smoke. Statistics prove that people’s death often occurs from carbon monoxide poisoning and other toxic combustion products. So the question of capabilities of ventilation networks and drainage systems needs careful analysis for security and preservation of property.
The main task of the smoke management system lies in localization of smoke and toxic gases, releasing evacuation routes, providing evacuation of citizens from the building covered by fire. Today, smoke protection system is an integral part of the project of engineering systems of many buildings. High-rise buildings, hospital complexes, building prisons, shopping malls, underground structures and tunnels are equipped with these systems. Smoke protection should be installed in stairwells, hallways, safety zones, and in the escape routes.
Smoke management system of the building is aimed primarily at protecting people on the escape routes and safe areas against fire hazards. Smoke protection system provides the following protection methods: use of space-planning and design solutions to deal with smoke in buildings during fire, use of smoke ventilation air supply to pressurize air in the protected areas, use of devices of mechanical and natural ventilation to remove the products of combustion and thermal decomposition. Ventilation of the room often plays a decisive role in the occurrence of fire. When the volume of incoming fresh air corresponds to the amount of combustion oxidant, there is the highest burning rate, and hence the highest heat output with minimum heat loss. Smaller air flow reduces the amount of heat, greater – decreases heat loss. Complete lack of ventilation is almost a full guarantee against fire, if there are no oxidizing agents in the air. Burning rate is associated with ventilation and is directly regulated by it. But in some cases, the combustion is not determined by the amount of air supply, and is dependent on the properties of combustible fibers. According to experts, smoke management systems must perform the following tasks: to prevent the spread of smoke to other premises and escape routes, to provide fire retardant and smoke-shielding zoning of each floor, to provide favorable environment for emergency services personnel and fire fighters. Thus, the task of smoke management systems is not only maintaining breathable air, but also ensuring maximum safety of designated routes in case of fire evacuation.
Smoke protection system is closely connected with fire suppression systems, network of alarm sensors and fire alarm system. Smoke management systems are of great importance, as they affect the whole complex of measures to ensure fire safety, including the operation of all devices (network extinguishers sprinkler, fire valves, safety switches, smoke detectors, etc.). Active smoke management system is based on the system of exhaust fans and air handling station, which provides a flow of fresh air into the room. Combining these two systems into one is, unfortunately, almost impossible.
Fire Protection Systems essay part 2
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