7/28/2012

Fire Protection System in Buildings

Overview of
Fire Protection System
in Buildings

Fire Process
Fuel molecules + Oxygen molecules
gases (smoke & invisible gases)
+ energy (heat & light).
Fire has a triangle of needs. Fire
Extinguishing System serves to
deprive fire of its needs.

Fire Protection System in Buildings

Buildings commonly contain 3 basic sources of
ignition: chemical, electrical and mechanical
Objectives of Fire Protection System
Protection of Life
Protection of Property
Continuity of Operation

Fire Protection System in Buildings

Acts, Regulations & Codes in Singapore
Fire Safety Act;
Fire Safety Regulations;
Code of Practice For Fire Precautions in Buildings
Code of Practice for Automatic Fire Sprinkler System
Code of Practice for Fire Hydrant Systems and Hose
reels
Code of Practice for the Installation and servicing of
Electrical Fire Alarm Systems
Code of Practice of Emergency Voice
Communication System in Buildings

Fire Protection System in Buildings

Fire Protection System is divided into:
Passive Fire Protection Provision: Examples are
fire compartments, fire resistance, fire
stops,fire collars
Active Fire Protection Provision: Examples are
automatic sprinklers, wet & dry rising mains,
detectors, hydrants, extinguishers, smoke
controls, etc.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Why Water?
It cools, smothers, emulsifies and
dilutes. As it evaporates, it removes
2256 kJ/kg of heat and expands 1700
times, pushing away the oxygen
needed by the fire.
Why not Water?
It damages content of buildings,
conducts electricity as a stream and it is
heavier than oil

7/28/2012

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

SS CP52:1990 was evolved from AS 2118,

FOC and NFPA.
Some old buildings were designed using AS
2118. Hence care must be taken in dealing
with A&A works of these buildings.
Use of NFPA in industrial projects needs
waiver from FSSB.
Architect determines as to whether
building is sprinkler protected.

Areas to be Protected:
Buildings which is required to be sprinkler
protected shall be sprinklered throughout.
Areas exempted:
protected stairs with cut-off sprinklers at door
openings; 2-hr fire-rated rooms containing
only electrical equipment; open canopies;
computer rooms subject to conditions; indoor
pools

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Classification of Occupancy Hazards:

Extra Light hazard: sauna, boarding houses,
churches, hospitals, libraries, clinic, museums,
prisons, schools.
Ordinary Hazard I: Offices, Hotels, Restaurants,
Cafes, Clubs
Ordinary Hazard II: Car parks, laundries,
breweries, bakery and biscuit manufacturers, etc.
Ordinary Hazard III: Retail shops, department
store, cinemas, electronic manufacturing and
assembly, theatre and music halls, etc.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Classification of Occupancy Hazards:

Ordinary Hazard Group III Special: Exhibitions,
Film and television studios
Extra High Hazard (process risk): Aircraft hangars,
foam plastic/rubber and their goods
manufacturers
Extra High Hazard (high piled storage risk): divided
into four categories based on type of storage,
wrappings and storage method and heights

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Components of Automatic Fire Sprinkler System:

A reliable fire water supply source
Fire pumps to maintain water supply and pressures
Testing and Water Proving Facilities (test rack and
control valve or alarm valve controlling not more than
1000 sprinklers per valve for OH and EH group)
A network of main, distribution and range pipes,
usually Black Steel Pipe to BS 1387, Class B or C
pressure rating.
Sprinkler heads
Accessories such as flow switches, orifice plates, etc

T A

K
P U M P
F E
1 9 T H
T O
R O O F
O F F I C E
( O H I )

Watch out for the maximum

allowable stage height above the
lowest sprinklers 75 metres
B U L K
W A T E R
M E T E R

4 W A Y
B R E E C
I N L E T

E M

T A

IN

G R A V IT Y
7 T H
T O
1 8 T H
S T Y
O F F IC E
( O H I)

F E

E D

E D

P U M P
F E E D
B A S E M E N T
T O
6 T H
S T Y
C A R P A R K /
P L A N T
R O O M
C A F E
( O H II )

S P R I N K
( C P 5 2 )

L E

S T E

7/28/2012

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Water Supply
Elevated gravity tank
Automatic pump supply from a pump suction tank
Automatic booster pump supply drawing from an
elevated tank

Pump Suction Tanks

Shall be non-combustible & with two
compartments. FRP tank not permitted.
Shall be capable of completely refilling within 6hr
for capacity <500m3 and 24hr for capacity >500m3

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Sprinkler Pumps
Shall be listed by PSB and FM or UL or LPC.
Most commonly consist of two pumps, one duty
and one standby.
Either both pumps shall be connected to
emergency power supply or one is engine-driven.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Type of Sprinkler Systems
Wet Pipe System
Dry Pipe System
Pre-action System
Deluge System

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Pump Suction Tanks shall have minimum
effective capacity as stated in Table 12, 17 &
27 for respective hazard group classifications.
With reliable inflow, tank storage capacity can
be further reduced. CHECK with Project
Director.
In Nov 2001, FSSB has further reduced the
requirement of minimum storage capacity for
OH group. CHECK with Project Director before
committing.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Sprinkler Pumps
Must be housed in a sprinkler protected room.
Must meet the water and pressure requirement
stipulated in Table 6, 19 or 26 of CP52:1990
Pumps shall be installed under positive head
condition. Pumps installed under suction head is
NOT preferred.
Jockey pump (small flow and high head) is required
to cater for pipe leakage or small drainage.
Starts automatically when system pressure drop to
predetermined level and stops only manually.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Dry Pipe System
The system piping is permanently charged with
air/nitrogen under pressure above the dry-pipe
alarm valve. When sprinkler operates, pressure
reduces and valve opens. It is only allowed in
rooms close to freezing or above 70C.

Deluge System
A system of open sprinklers controlled
by a quick opening valve (deluge
(deluge
valve)) which is operated by detectors
valve
installed within the same area. Use for
wet--down or in areas where fire may
wet
flash ahead of sprinkler operation.

7/28/2012

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Pre-action Sprinkler System
A combination of a standard sprinkler system and a
system of detectors installed within the same areas.
The detectors operate to allow a pre-action valve to
open, and water flows into the sprinkler piping before
the first sprinkler operates.
It is commonly used in computer rooms and data
centres. The pre-action valve must be housed in a fire
compartment. A Pre-action panel is required to
reflect status of flow switch, detectors, solenoid
valve, air pressure, etc. The panel shall be linked to
the SFIB.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Sprinkler spacing (see Fig. 12 & 13 in CP52:1990)
Sprinklers are required in lift pits and shafts;
escalator boot and motor spaces; spaces under
escalators and unenclosed staircases, under
rectangular duct>800mm width, round duct>1m,
roof overhangs>1.5m, canopies>2.3m
Sprinklers may be required for concealed ceiling
and floor spaces exceeding 400mm in depth (see
Clause 6.6.2 in CP52:1990)

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Caution:
Minimum range pipe size is 25mm. It is used in
areas where future alteration works are known
to be very minimal, such as the upright
sprinklers in the concealed ceiling space of
office. It is NOT recommended to be used in
commercial area, whether pendent or upright.
Pipe directly feeding a dropper more than
300mm length is considered a distribution pipe
(see Fig. 5 of CP52:1990). In this case, 25mm is
not allowed.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Types of Sprinkler heads
Temperature ratings: 68C,
79C, 93C, 141C
K factors: 2.8, 4.2, 5.6, 8.0,
11.2, 14.0
Mounting: pendent,
upright, sidewall, recessed
pendent (Royal Flush)
Type of response: Standard
and quick response
Type of coverage: Standard
and extended coverage

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Sprinkler pipe sizing
Part pre-calculated pipe sizes
See Table 21 for OH group and Table 28 for EH
group for number of sprinklers allowed on
each pipe size. The pressure loss from each
Design Point to the control valve shall not
exceed 150 kPa with a flow of 1800 L/min.
Full hydraulic calculations shall be discussed in
separate session.

Automatic Water Spray System

Same as Sprinkler System but
equipped with water spray nozzles for
specific discharge over the surface or
area to be protected.
Water has a predetermined pattern,
particle size, velocity and density and
is discharged from specifically
designed nozzles or devices.
Most commonly used to protect
flammable liquid and gas tankage,
transformers, oil switches, etc.
Refer to CP40:1987 for requirements.

7/28/2012

Foam System
An aggregate of (inert) gas filled bubbles formed from
aqueous solutions of specially formulated concentrated
liquid forming agents.
Lighter than flammable or combustible liquids, it is the
only permanent extinguishing agent used for this type of
fire.
Low expansion foam is normally used.
Fixed (central foam station and fixed outlets) or semifixed systems (portable foam station and fixed outlets)
Needs large volume and rate. Unstable and easily
broken down by a physical or mechanical force.
Conductive and not recommended for use on electric
fires.

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Wet Riser Zone Height Limitation
Maximum zone height shall not exceed 120m.
Pressure regulating device regulate to <5.5 bar.

Number of Rising Main

All parts of any floor is within 38m from a
landing valve, the distance to be measured
along a route suitable for hose lines.
Each rising main shall serve not more than
930m2 of any floor and subject to all parts of
the floor to be within 38m from a landing
valve.

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Size of rising main:
100mm when habitable
height<45m and one landing valve
per floor
150mm when either habitable
height>45m or >1 landing valve per
floor

Breeching Inlets
Within 18m of adjacent fire engine
access road
2-way for 100mm riser
4-way for 150mm riser

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Dry Rising Main
for 24m<building with any habitable
floor<60m
Wet Rising Main
for building with any habitable floor>60m
Code: CP29:1998
Architect is required to indicate locations of
landing valves and breeching inlets in their
fire plan submission.

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Locations of rising mains and landing valves in the
following order of priority:
Within smoke stop lobby;
In the common area and within a protected shaft,
immediately outside the exit staircase if there is no
smoke stop lobby;
Inside exit staircase where smoke-stop lobby and
common area are not provided.

Protected against mechanical and fire damage;

Shall not be placed in shaft containing gas, steam,
fuel pipes or electrical cables.

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Landing Valve
Installed at 760mm~1000mm above ground
Recessed clearance as per Fig. 3 in CP29:1998
Dry Riser landing valve painted in yellow
Wet Riser landing valve painted in red
Shall be strap-locked in closed position.

Water supply for wet rising main

Reliable water supply source
Pump suction tank shall be non-combustible and twincompartmented. FRP tank not permitted.
Transfer tank effective capacity shall be at least 11.5m3

7/28/2012

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Water storage for wet rising mains
Capable of supplying water at the specified
rate for a minimum time of 30 minute.
Where PUB incoming rate is less than
appropriate flow, tank shall be sized to 45
minute supply.

Flow Requirement for wet rising mains

When 3 landing valves are in fully opened
position:
27L/s for residential building;
38L/s for non-residential or mixed occupancy
Running pressure within 3.5bar to 5.5bar.

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Wet Riser Pump
Must be listed by PSB and FM, UL or LPC;
Arrangement is the same as sprinkler pumps,
i.e commonly two pumps (one duty and one
standby)
Either both are connected to emergency power
supply or one of them is engine-driven type.
Starts automatically when pressure in the main
drops by more than 5% of the churning
pressure and stops only manually.
Must be housed in a fire-resistant room
housing fire pumps only.

Fire Hydrants
Fire hydrants location
and quantity to be
determined by
Architect.
Pillar type with two
63.5mm outlets or
three outlets
(1114mm &
263.5mm).
Code - CP29:1998

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

For common water supply to more than
one rising main (max. total 9 rising mains)
For residential building:
27 + 13.5 (n-1) L/s
For non-residential or mixed occupancy:
38 + 19 (n-1) L/s
Where n is the no. of rising main.

Dry & Wet Rising Main System

Other things to note:
Galvanized steel pipe is commonly used.
Rising mains must be electrically earthed.
Automatic air release valve must be installed at
top of the rising main.
Drainless wet riser landing valve
Landing valves are required at roof.
Testing facilities to be provided.
Standby Fire Hose next to landing valve.

Fire Hydrants
Private fire hydrants shall be painted with a
100mm yellow band on the stem.
Water supply
Hydrants installed below 125mRL can receive
direct supply from PUB mains. Otherwise, storage
tank and pumping facilities shall be provided.
Refer to Table 1 of CP29:1998 for storage tank
capacity for hydrants (45 minute storage)

7/28/2012

Fire Hydrants
Pressure and flow requirement for
private hydrants installed below
125m RL:
Running pressure at hydraulically most
unfavourable private hydrant 0.9
(running pressure of nearest public
hydrant P across bulk meter)
Flow at hydraulically most unfavourable
private hydrant 0.9 water flow of
nearest public hydrant or total flow
demand as required in Table 4.4.2 of
Code of practice for Fire Precautions in
Buildings 2002

Fire Hose Reel

Hose reel locations and
quantity to be
determined by
Architect.
Comes with or without
cabinet, but our
specifications call for it.
Fixed type and swing
type.
Automatic type: valve
automatically turn on
after one revolution of
reel.

Fire Hose Reel

Water supply
Hydraulically most unfavourable hose reel shall
provide a jet of 6m in length at 0.4 L/s. With
6mm nozzle, this means a running pressure of
2 bar is required at entry to each reel.
Pipe commonly used is galvanized steel.
Hose reel pumps shall be one duty & one
standby and connected to emergency power
supply.
Hose reel pumps starts automatically with a
drop in pressure and stopped manually.

Fire Hydrants
Fire Hydrant Mains
Ductile iron cement-lined pipe
Valve pit and cover on road must be able to
withstand vehicular load for that road
Hydrant mains trespassing a building shall have its
full length within the building protected with fireresistance construction of same fire resistance as
the element of structure.

Fire Hose Reel

All part of each floor shall be within 6m
of the nozzle attached to not more
than 30m of hose.
Preferable sited outside protected
corridors, lobbies or staircases on exit
routes.
Do not form obstruction on escape
route.
Recessed doors can open 180 and
should not be fitted with locks. If
locked, they shall be tempered glass
panel to facilitate unlocking from the

Fire Hose Reel

Water storage:
Minimum capacity 1100 L.
Shared with domestic tank or sprinkler tank shall
be such a manner that the hose reel suction pipe
is located below the domestic water suction pipe.
In this way, requisite reserve of water for hose
reels is always preserved. Provisions to be
allowed to prevent contamination.

7/28/2012

Automatic Fire Alarm System

System consists of:
Main Fire Alarm Panel
Sub Fire Alarm Panel

Mimic panels

Detector,
either heat,
smoke or flame ;

Manual call points (break
glass)

Alarm bells

Optional items such as
repeater
panels,
computer desktop &
printers

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Architect to advise manual or automatic fire
alarm system. (They have to state in their BP)
Only automatic fire alarm system requires
submission to FSSB.
Concealed spaces under raised floor not more
than 150mm depth shall not require
protection by detectors.

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Main Fire Alarm Panel controls the receipt
and transmission of signals within the fire
alarm system and provides indication of any
warning signal (alarm or fault), in visual and
audio form. It also initiates other actions.
Sub Fire Alarm Panel is located remotely
from MFAP and have either alarm zone
facilities or indicators to identify alarm
location and transmit such alarm to MFAP.

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Code - SS CP 10: 1993
Manual or Automatic Fire Alarm? Refer to Table
6.3A of Code of Practice for Fire Precautions in
Building 2002. It depends on type of building, floor
area & No. of storey.
For commercial-cum-residential occupancy, the
residential floors shall be provided with manual
alarm system at common area. If height<24m, only
alarm bells are extended to residential floor.
For residential apartments above car park, alarm
bells of the fire alarm system shall be extended to
residential floors

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Type of Automatic Fire Alarm System
Conventional System
A hard-wiring system in which only signals from each
alarm zone are identified at the control panel.

Addressable System
A microprocessor-based system in which signals from
each detector, call point and/or activating devices are
individually identified at the control panel.
Each device is coded with an unique address and these
addresses are programmed into the memory of MFAP.
Scanning, interrogation, decision and other signal
processing
Loop configuration, thereby flexible for additions and
alterations.

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Main Fire Alarm Panel shall consists of:
Indication facilities for alarm, fault, system
energization and isolation .
Monitoring facilities for power supply;
Warning buzzer for fault and alarm;
Signal transmitter to DECAM
Fire alarm sounder acknowledge/silencing
switch (only allowed to silenced after 3
minutes for buildings without EVC)
Output drivers for interfacing with lifts, life
saving fans, fire shutters, secured doors, etc.

7/28/2012

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Smoke Detectors

Sub Fire Alarm Panel

In conventional system, alarm and fault
indicators, and isolation facility shall be
provided.
In addressable system, only alarm indicators.

Mimic Panel
Shows alarm zone indication in a diagrammatic
form. It must be installed in accordance with
its floor and building orientation.

Repeater Panel
Duplicate panel installed in locations other

Optical Type (or Photoelectric)

Infra-red light beam and a photosensor inside
the optical chamber. Smoke causes the beam to
scatter & reach sensor, triggering the alarm
Application detecting visible smoke from
smouldering fires, e.g. plastic foam, cables

Ionization Type

Uses radioactive source to ionize the air. Smoke in
ionization chamber changes balance voltage, which is
compared against a level and raise alarm.

Application fast burning, high energy fires which
generate very small sized smoke aerosol products.

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Flame Detector

Heat Detectors

Designed to respond to fires involving

petrol or gases like methane.

Fixed Temperature Type

Operating when temperature at the
detector reaches a preset level of
temperature

Suited for areas where temperature can
fluctuate
for Type
natural
reasons

Rate
of Rise
(Preferred)

Operating when temperature rises
quickly

Ideal for areas where temperature is
normally fairly stable.

A fixed temperature backstop circuit
at preset temperature for greater

Duct Detector

For installation on air stream at

return air duct for AHU exceeding
15,000
cmH.
High
Performance
Optical

Detector

Combines optical & heat detector

technology
From slow smouldering fire to
open fire flames

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Automatic Fire Alarm System

Manual Call Point

Detector spacing
Between detectors

Detector to

wall

Smoke Detector

10m

5m

Heat Detector
7m(other areas) 3.5m
(below 3.5m height) 10m(corridor)
5m

Flame Detector requires unobstructed line of sight to see

Break-glass type
MUST be in red.
Locations to be advised by Architect
Should be fixed at 1.4m above floor
In case of fire, please call 995 for manual
fire alarm system

Alarm Bell

Our specification calls for 85dBA @

3m

7/28/2012

Very Intelligent Early Warning System

Very Intelligent Early Warning (VIEW) System
In critical areas, very early warning of a potential
fire in advance of damage to equipment is vital, e.g
data centre.
It can be combined with fire suppression system
such as FM200, Inergen, etc to complement fire
extinguishing.
Allows area personnel to investigate and handle
without system discharge.
VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Alarm) System
is the most widely used air sampling system.

Very Intelligent Early Warning System

Very Intelligent Early Warning

SystemAir samples are drawn
Detail of
Sampling
point

into the sampling pipe

and carried through to the
Detector by the aspirator.

Sampling point

Sampling pipe

Air samples

Overview of VESDA

Automatic Fire Suppression System

Gaseous Agent (cannot substitute
sprinklers unless otherwise permitted)
Inert gas agent reduces oxygen level
Inergen (52% nitrogen, 40% argon and 8%
carbon dioxide)
Argonite (50% argon, 50% nitrogen)
Argon
Carbon dioxide

Synthetic halon-like gases extinguishes by

chemical reaction
Zero ODP, low GWP and toxicity
FM200
FE-13, FE-25 and NAFG S111

Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers
Dry Chemical (ABC Dry Powder) Type
Suitable for Class A, B and C fire

Carbon Dioxide Type

Suitable for Class B and C fire

Emergency Voice Communication

System
Emergency Voice Communication System
Code: CP25
Architect to advise as to whether EVC (one-way or
two-way) are required in the proposed
development.
For buildings 24m~60m habitable height, twoway EVC is required in FCC & every fire fighting
lobby
For building >60m, additional one-way EVC shall
be provided in FCC, fire fighting lobbies, firerelated plant rooms, AHUs and lift motor rooms

10