Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems

Automatic Fire
Extinguishing Systems
•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally
Scope
• Introduction
• Automatic Sprinkler Systems
• Water Spray System
• Foam System
• Halon Systems
• Carbon Dioxide System
• Dry Chemical System
• Conclusion
Learning Objectives
• Know the
operation of
various automatic
fire extinguishing
systems
Automatic Sprinkler
System

What are the advantages of
Automatic Sprinkler System
• Gives warning / alert

• Fights fire & access seat of fire
• Early response
• Lowers smoke level
• Cools smoke
Benefits
• Prevents /reduces loss of life &

property
• Reduces interruption to business
• Lesser water damage compared to
hose streams

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
• Main components
• breeching inlets
• water storage tank.
• Sprinkler pumps
• Sprinkler control valves.
• Sprinkler pipe network, sprinklers
• Fire alarm system.
Internal
Breeching
Inlet
External
Water supply
Control
valves Alarm & monitoring
unit
Sprinkler
Pump
Types of Sprinkler Systems
• Wet pipe system

• Dry pipe system
• Pre-action system
• Deluge system

Wet Pipe Sprinkler System
• Sprinklers attached to pipes

• Contains water under pressure
• No danger of water freezing
Wet Pipe Sprinkler Systems

Dry Pipe Sprinkler System
• Sprinklers attached to pipes

• Contains air or nitrogen under
pressure
• Upon activation, pressure reduces
• Pressure on supply side forces open
valve
• Freezing environment
Dry Pipe Sprinkler Systems

Preaction Sprinkler System
• Pipes contain air
• Upon fire occurence, fire detector
activates
• Water control valve opens & water
flows into pipes
• Water discharges upon activation of
sprinkler
• Designed for accidental damage to
sprinklers & broken pipes

Pre-Action Sprinkler Systems

Deluge Sprinkler Systems
• Upon fire occurence, fire detector
activates
• Water control valve opens & water
flows into pipes
• Water discharges through all the
open sprinklers simultaneously
• Used for high hazard areas
Deluge Sprinkler Systems

Design Considerations
• Type of Sprinkler System

• Type of Hazard Occupancy
• Location of Sprinklers
Hazard Types
3 CLASSIFICATIONS
• Light hazard - schools, prisons

• Ordinary hazard -
– Group 1- offices, restaurants
– Group 2 – bakeries, laundries
– Group 3 - departmental stores, cinemas
– Group 3 Special – exhibition halls, film/ TV
studios

• High hazard
– Process Risks - aircraft hangars, plastic
/ rubber factories
– High Piled Storage Risks
• Category 1 – carpets, electrical
appliances
• Category 2 – wooden furniture,
flammable liquids
• Category 3 – rubber goods
• Category 4 – foamed rubber / plastics
High Hazard Occupancy
• High hazards result in rapid fire spread

• Causes opening of many sprinklers
• Require large quantities of water
supply and high pressure
• Sprinkler system has to be
appropriately designed according to
the severity of the hazard

Design parameters
• Water discharge density
(mm/min)
• Area of operation (m2)
• Water supply duration (min)
Standard Spacing
Hazard group Spacing of Distance SxD
sprinklers between pipes (max)
on pipe D (max)
S (max) m
m m2
Light 4.6 4.6 21
Ordinary 4.2 4.2 12
High 3.7 3.7 9

Design Data
Design density Max area coverage Assume area of
(mm/min) per sprinkler operation
(m2) (m2)
Light 2.25 21 84
OH I 5 12 72
OH II 5 144
OH III 5 216
OH III special 5 360
Process Risk 7.5 - 12.5 9 260
Piled storage•Building
7.5Capacity
- 30 • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally
260 - 300
Design Fire Size design

AO sprinklers
Hazard Class Occupancy density
[m2] operating
[mm/min]
light hazard hotels, hospitals, offices, schools 84 4 2.25

restaurants, brewery, cement
ordinary hazard 1 works 72 6 5
bakeries, retail shops, food
ordinary hazard 2 manufacturers, light metal works,
motor garages 144 12 5
aircraft factories, departmental
ordinary hazard 3 stores, manufacture paper goods &
plastic goods 216 18 5
ordinary hazard 3 distilleries, film studios, match
special factories, flax, hemp mills, oil mills 360 30 5
high hazard
process aircraft hangars, 260 30 7.5-10
high hazard
storage categories 1-4 260-300 30+ 7.5-30

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
• Water supply - pressure/ flow rate
• Depends on • Hazard Group
• Height of sprinkler above control valve.
Hazard Minimum Running Flow rate of Installation

Group Pressure of Installation Control Valve (l/min)
Control Valve (kPa)
LH 220 + Height equivalent 225

170 + Height equivalent 400
OH I 100 + Height equivalent 375

OH II 140 + Height equivalent 725
OH III 170 + Height equivalent 1100
OH III special 200 + Height equivalent 1800
HH – subjected to individual calculation depending on design density of discharge
and operations area.
Water Supply- Duration
Hazard Duration (mins)
Light 30
Ordinary 60
High 90

Ordinary Hazard Class
Occupancy Maximum height of Minimum capacity
Group highest sprinkler above
lowest sprinkler in
building or stage
(m) (L)
I 15 55,000
30 70,000
45 80,000
60 90,000
75 100,000
II 15 105,000
30 125,000
45 140,000
60 160,000
75 175,000
Location of Sprinklers
• Chapter 6 of Fire Code stipulates buildings
requiring sprinkler protection. Such buildings are
to be fully sprinkler protected throughout.
• Location of sprinklers on a line of pipe & location
of lines determine size of area protected by each
sprinkler. In turn determined by type of hazard.
• Clearance from beams, ducts, walls, ceiling and
other obstructions. Refer to CP 52.
• Other spaces such as concealed areas (ceiling,
raised floor) and shafts eg lift shaft. Refer to Fire
Code.

Supplementary Protection
• Roof space
ª < 400 mm in depth, no need protection
ª > 400 mm < 800 mm shall be protected by

sprinkler installed on the extended basis (using
light hazard group concept)
ª > 800 mm in depth shall be fully protected
What is an Automatic Sprinkler ?
Thermosensitive device designed to

react to a predetermined
temperature by automatically
releasing a stream of water &
distributing it in a specified pattern
& quantity over a designated area

Parts of Automatic Sprinkler
• Frames & releasing devices
• Cap is held tightly against orifice by
releasing devices
• Deflector
• Water discharge is restrained by the
Cap
• Amount of water discharge depends on
– Water pressure
– Size of sprinkler orifice
Type of Sprinkler Operating Elements
• Fusible type sprinkler

• Frangible type sprinkler

Fusible type sprinkler
• Combination of levers, struts &
links
• Held together by metal alloy of
predetermined melting point
• Fusible metal alloy of smallest
practical amount for effective
operation

Frangible type sprinkler

• Small bulb (pyrex glass) containing
liquid with small bubble
• When heated, liquid expands &
absorbs bubble
• Pressure increases & bulb shatters
• Cap is released and water flows
through orifice


TEMPERATURE RATING AND C0LOUR CODING
OF SPRINKLERS
Fusible type Colour of yoke arms Frangible type Colour of bulbs

oC oC
68/ 74 Uncoloured 57 Orange
93/100 White 68 Red
141 Blue 79 Yellow
182 Yellow 93 Green
227 Red 141 Blue

182 Mauve
204/260 Black
• Selection: > 30 oC above expected max ambient

air temperature.
Ultra
High High Intermediate Ordinary
Green: 93 oC
Yellow: 79 oC
Blue: 141 oC Red: 68 oC
Mauve: 182 oC Orange: 57 oC

Types of Sprinklers
• Standard sprinkler • Sidewall sprinkler
• Recessed sprinkler • Extended coverage

sidewall coverage
• Flushed sprinkler
• Open sprinkler
• Concealed sprinkler
• Intermediate level
• Ornamental sprinkler sprinkler
• Dry sprinkler • Quick response
sprinkler
• Large drop sprinkler
Standard Sprinkler
• Deflector
• umbrella shaped spray (half sphere)
• uniform distribution
• upright & pendent

WATER DISCHARGE PATTERN
STANDARD PENDENT HEAD
FLAT CEILING
Recessed Sprinkler
• Part or most of
body mounted
within a recessed
housing
• Operation same
as standard
sprinkler

Flushed Sprinkler
• Same water discharge

pattern as pendent
• Min projection of parts
for appearance
• Upon a fire,
thermosensitive device
operates & deflector
drops & water
discharges
Concealed Sprinkler
• Entire body above

cover plate
• Upon fire occurence,
plate drops &
exposes
thermosensitive
assembly

Dry Sprinkler
• Freezing areas
• Attached to a drop
or riser pipe to a dry
pipe system
• Seal is provided to
prevent water from
entering
Sidewall Sprinkler
• Discharges water to one side

• One quarter of sphere
• Desired direction

WATER DISCHARGE PATTERN
SIDEWALL SPRINKLER
SIDEWALL Horizontal range greater

than standard pendent
Open Sprinkler
• Standard or sidewall
• without valve cap & heat responsive
element
• deluge systems

Intermediate Level
Sprinkler
• Rack storage
• Large protective disc to prevent cooling
of thermosensitive element
• Suspended at higher level
Quick Response Sprinkler

• More sensitive
element
• Operation same as
standard
• Responds more quickly

Duties of FSM
• Check that sprinkler system is regularly
maintained – check maintenance records.
• Ensure that sprinkler system is in good
operating condition for Fire Certificate
(FC) renewal.
• Check renovation works by tenants
affecting sprinklers. Check for plan
submission to FSSD.
• Ensure sprinklers are not blocked by
goods, painted over, used for hanging
decorations, etc.
Water Spray System

What is a Water Spray System
A designed fixed water pipe system
connected to a steady water supply
& equipped with water spray
nozzles for specific water discharge
& distribution over a surface or area
to be protected
Water Spray System

• Connected to water supply thru’
automatic or manual actuated valve
• Water fog
• Differs from normal sprinkler only in
the form of spray
• Can serve both purposes

Water Spray Nozzle
Purpose of Water Spray

System
• Extinguishment
• Controlled burning
• Exposure protection
• Prevention of fire

Extinguishment
• Cooling
• smothering from steam produced
• dilution
• combination
Controlled Burning
• Burning materials not easily
extinguished by water spray
• Extinguishment not desirable –
product on fire to be totally burned
off

Exposure Protection
• Application of water spray on

exposed structures or equipment
• Can be used as water spray curtain
– but less effective
Water curtain
Prevention of Fire
• Dissolve
• Dilute
• Disperse
• Cooling
Flammable & Combustible material
Water Spray System

Suitable Areas Of Protection
• Ordinary combustible materials
• Electrical Equipment Installation
• Flammable gas and liquids
• Flammable liquids and gas tanks
• Open cable trays and runs
containing electrical cables or
tubing
Foam System
What is Fire Fighting

Foam ?
An aqueous solution containing
specially formulated concentrated
foam agents for fighting flammable
liquid fires

Types of Fire Fighting
Foam Agents
• Aqueous film-forming foaming agents
(AFFF)
• Fluoroprotein foaming agents (FP)
• Film-forming fluoroprotein agents (FFFP)
• Protein foaming agents (P)
• Alcohol type foaming agents (AR)
How Foam is produced?

• Foam Concentrate
• Water
• Air
• Foam bubble structure

Foam generation
thru’ pump
Water
+pump
Proportioning
Process (liquid) Foam
Generation (air)
Foam
Foam distribution
How Foam Extinguishes a

Flammable Liquid Fire
EN
HE
YG
A
OX
FUEL
Cuts off
Oxygen
Suppresses Cools the Fuel

Vapors and Surrounding
Objects (tanks)

What happens when foam is
applied on flammable liquid fire ?
• Foam solution floats on & blankets

flammable liquid on fire – cuts off oxygen
• Foam solution breaks down
• Water in foam solution is vaporized by
heat & flame – cooling effect
• To be applied in sufficient volume & rate
Range of Foam
• Low expansion foam
- expansion up to 20:1
• Medium expansion foam
- expansion 20:1 to 200:1
• High expansion foam
- expansion 200:1 to 1000:1

Production of Mechanical Foam
Foam
Concentrate
Water Finished
Foam
Proportioning Foam Air

Equipment Solution
Foam generation
thru’ portable means
Pick-up tube
foam
Foam Branch
Inline
inductor
Foam con
water

Foam Installations
Fixed Foam System

Foam Installations
Semi-fixed Foam System

Total Flooding
Total Flooding System
• Protect enclosed hazard area

• Discharge of extinguishing
medium to provide uniform
concentration over the enclosed
area

TOTAL FLOODING
Local Application System
• Need only protect a specific object or

installation and not the entire area
• Object surrounded locally by fire
extinguishing system of suitable
agent
• Enclosure not suitable for total
flooding

Local Application
Halon Systems

What is Halogenated
Extinguishing Agents ?
Hydrocarbons in which one or

more hydrogen atoms have been
replaced by atoms from halogen
series : fluorine, chlorine,
bromine or iodine
Halogenated Extinguishing
Agents
• Gases or liquids
• Vaporize
• Non-corrosive
• Non-conductor of electricity
• Protection of electrical & electronic equip
• Petroleum production facilities
• Engine compartments
Total Flooding
System
Halon Systems
• New installations of Halon

systems not allowed since
1990

Carbon Dioxide System
Properties of CO2
• Cooling effect
• Non combustible
• Noisy
• Reduce visibility
• Does not react with most substances
• Provide its own pressure
• Penetrate & spread to all parts
• Will not conduct electricity
• No residue
Extinguishing
Capabilities of CO2
• Reduce oxygen content
• Dilution to a point where
atmosphere no longer support
combustion
• Smothering
• Cooling
Components and Application Systems

• Main components
– CO2 supply
– Discharge nozzle
– Piping system
– Control valves
– Detecting devices
• Total Flooding System

• Local Application
CO2 System
Total Flooding
System

Exposure of Human Being
to CO2
Up to 9% Most people can

withstand without
losing consciousness
within a few minutes
> 9% Can render a person
helpless almost
immediately
Other Fire Extinguishing

Gaseous systems
• FM 200
– new generation of clean, safe
suppression system
– does not damage ozone layer
– low toxicity

Other Fire Extinguishing
Gaseous systems
• Inergen
– 40% argon + 52% nitrogen + 8% CO2
– non-corrosive gas
– does not support combustion
– does not react with most substances
– does not damage ozone layer
– Reduce oxygen level to 12.5%
Dry Chemical
System

Principles of Dry Chemical Systems
• Contains a dry chemical powder which

is effective as a fire extinguishing agent
• When discharged it extinguishes fires
by smothering, cooling & radiation
shielding
Dry Chemical
Extinguishing Agents
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Monoammonium phosphate
• Potassium chloride
• Potassium bicarbonate
• Urea-potassium bicarbonate

Components of Dry Chemical
Systems
• Dry chemical supply
• Expellant gas
• Activating devices
• Piping system
• Discharge nozzles
• Total Flooding
• Local application
Uses of Dry Chemical Systems
• Flammable liquid
• Kitchen hood
• Ducts
• Electrical equipment
• Transformers

Conclusion
• Types of Sprinkler Systems
• Hazard classification
• Main components of sprinkler system
• Other types of auto fire extinguishing
systems

Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems

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Automatic Fire

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

• Gives warning / alert

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

• Prevents /reduces loss of life &

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Types of Sprinkler Systems

• Wet pipe system

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

• Sprinklers attached to pipes

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Wet Pipe Sprinkler Systems

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

• Sprinklers attached to pipes

Dry Pipe Sprinkler Systems

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Deluge Sprinkler Systems

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

• Type of Sprinkler System

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

• Light hazard - schools, prisons

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

High Hazard Occupancy

• High hazards result in rapid fire spread

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Light 4.6 4.6 21

Ordinary 4.2 4.2 12

High 3.7 3.7 9

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Process Risk 7.5 - 12.5 9 260

Design Fire Size design

light hazard hotels, hospitals, offices, schools 84 4 2.25

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Hazard Minimum Running Flow rate of Installation

LH 220 + Height equivalent 225

OH I 100 + Height equivalent 375

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Water Supply- Duration

Hazard Duration (mins)

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

ª > 400 mm < 800 mm shall be protected by

ª > 800 mm in depth shall be fully protected

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

What is an Automatic Sprinkler ?

Thermosensitive device designed to

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Type of Sprinkler Operating Elements

• Fusible type sprinkler

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

•Building Capacity • Enhancing Capabilities • Globally

Frangible type sprinkler