FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM (FPS)

DEFINITION:
A FPS is a system that includes devices, wiring, piping, equipment, and
controls to detect a fire or smoke, to actuate a signal, and to suppress the
fire or smoke.
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF A FPS:
To save lives
To protect property
To minimize interruptions of services due to outbreak of fire
OR
Fire Protection has three ( 3 ) major goals:
Life safety ( minimum standard in fire and building codes )
Property protection ( typically an insurance requirement, or a
regulatory requirement where the protection of building components
is necessary to enable life safety )
Continuity of operations ( typically for an insurance coverage ).
Interruption of operations due to fire damage can be very costly.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE COST OF A FPS:

The fire resistivity of the building

Type of occupancy
Number of floors below the ground level
Height of the building
Adequacy of escape routes or way outs
The degree of protection desired

CLASSES OF FIRE
Class A

Fires of ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber

and many plastics
Methods of extinguishing water, water based chemicals, dry chemicals,
CO2
Class B
Fires in flammable liquids, oils, greases, tars, oil-based paints, lacquers (or
varnishes) and flammable gases.
Methods of extinguishing foam, dry chemicals
Class C
Fires that involve energized electrical equipment.
Method of extinguishing electrically non-conductive
multipurpose chemical compound, CO2 agent.

chemicals,

Class D
Fires of combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium,
sodium, lithium and potassium.
Method of extinguishing heat absorbing extinguishing medium: Purple K,
Monnex, Super K
Categories of Fire Protection System
Passive fire fighting
Active fire-fighting
Passive fire-fighting system
Means the design of the building, its structure, fabric,
components and their installation to resist fire.
OR
The design of the structure or building itself to withstand the
outbreak of fire, such as the materials used to build the building,
fire protection doors, etc.
Passive fire-fighting deals with the fire indirectly, helps it not to
spread quickly or to delay the spread of fire.

Factors that influence Passive fire-fighting system:

BOMBA (Fire & Rescue Dept. of Msia) requirements i.e. firefighting accessibility, fire escape routes, fire door, etc.
Uniform Building By Laws (UBBL) Part V11 (fire requirements)
e.g. grouping of buildings, compartmentalization within building, fire
resistance, planning of escape routes, etc.
Local authority (PBT) requirements e.g. DBKL, MPKJ, MPPJ,
MBSA
Building insurance companys requirements minimum legislative
standards
Manufacturers materials specification
BOMBA (Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia) requirements of
Passive fire-fighting system for a building:

Location of safe staircase/exit door

Types of staircase
Fire door
Core design staircase
Steps dimensions
Party walls
Compartmentalization

Active fire-fighting system

refers to fixed or portable equipment installed or incorporated
into the building in order to control the outbreak of fire.
(the installation of active fire-fighting system usually goes hand
in hand with passive fire-fighting system).
So the installation of active fire-fighting equipment in the
building has two (2) main functions: detection of fire and
suppression of fire

SUMMARY
Examples of Passive fire-fighting system:
Fire door
Fire stop
Bounding
Fire stop pillow
Examples of Active fire-fighting system:
Portable fire extinguisher
Sprinkler
Fire alarm
Fire alarm control panel
Hose reel
Dry riser
Wet riser
Six (6) types of basic Active Fire-fighting System:
1) Portable fire extinguishers
2) Automatic fire alarm detectors:
Bimetallic strip
Ionization chamber
Light-scattering devices
Laser beam
3) Hose reels and Hydrants
Hose reel
Hydrants : Internal hydrant, External hydrant
Dry riser
Wet riser
Foam installation
4) Automatic extinguisher systems
Gas extinguisher system
Water sprinkler system ( based on building functions and
occupancy):
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Wet sprinkler
Dry sprinkler
Alternate wet & dry sprinkler
Tail end sprinkler
Pre-action sprinkler
Recycling sprinkler

5) Pressurized escape routes

6) Smoke extraction and ventilation
Vents
Shop extract and smoke control
Shop extractor
Mall extractor
In general, the basic elements or components in a fire-fighting system are:

Water supply
Water pump
Fire mains and Hydrants
Fire monitors
Fixed water sprays
Live hose reels
Portable fire extinguishers
Fire hoses fire foam

Shop extractor and Mall extractor are two (2) types of fire protection system
in a shopping centre.
Shop extractor
Is a method of smoke and fire collection or containment in a shop lot
unit.
It is controlled by the tenant or shop-lot keeper
Mall extractor
Is a common smoke collection and containment reservoir at the height
(on top) of a mall.
It is controlled by the building owner.
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FIRE DETECTORS
Principles by which fire detectors operate:
Reaction to heat
Radiation to flames
Products of combustion
Main Functions of fire detectors:
To give warning that a fire has taken place in unattended locations
To activate automatic fire-fighting equipments
Types of fire detectors available in industry:
Heat detectors
Smoke detectors
Automatic fire alarm detectors:

Bimetallic strip
Ionization chamber
Light-scattering devices
Laser beam

Important Terms related to Fire

Fire door
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 A door assembly within a building that provides protection against the

passage of fire
This door must NOT be locked as it is to used in emergency
Fire door usually composed of combination of materials, such as steel,
gypsum, which together form a system of fire protection.

Fire partition
A vertical assembly of wall material designed to restrict the spread of
fire.
The overall assembly shall have a fire resistance rating (in hours)
equal to or greater than that specified in the governing code.
Depending on the use of the building and whether it has a sprinkler
system, a fire partition shall have a rating up to 2 hours
Fire wall
A fire-resistant wall that extends continuously from the foundation of
a building up to or through the roof.
Fire walls are rated in hours.
Depending on the use of the building and the fire separation distance,
required fire resistance ratings may vary from 1 hour to 4 hours
Fire separation distance
Distance in feet or meters measured from the face of a building to the
adjacent building or the nearest public path/lane.
Fire extinguisher
Every building shall be provided with means of detecting and
extinguishing fire and with illuminated exit signs.
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device to extinguish or
control a fire, often in emergency situations.
Typically a fire extinguisher consists of a pressure vessel containing
an agent that when discharged, can put off a fire.
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Foams
Foams are commonly used on class A, B fires
They are mainly water based, with a foaming agent so that the foam
can float on top of the burning liquid and break the interaction
between the flames and the fuel surface.
Ordinary foams are designed to work on flammable liquids such as
petrol (gasoline) , but may break down too quickly in polar liquids
such as alcohol or glycerol.

Wet Riser
is a vertical pipe which is always full of water. Its function is to
supply water to the hydrant valve located at each floor of a tall
building.
Dry Riser
is a vertical pipe which is dry (without water) and with the hydrant
valve attached and located at each floor. This vertical pipe shall
function only when the BOMBA ( Fire & Rescue Department )
channels water through it during outbreak of fire.