UNDERSTADING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF

LIFE SAFETY, FIRE CODE,

AND FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEM
(FDAS)
IN BUILDING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION,
OPERATION, & MAINTENANCE
Ozone
Disco (1996)
Casualt
y
count: 162
Kentex Slipper Manufacturing Fire (2015)
Casualty count: 74
NCCC Mall (2017)
Casualty
count: 37
FROM 2013 to 2017, the BFP recorded a total of 77,724 fire incidents, or an average of
15,545 fire incidents every year or 42 fire incidents a day.

During the period, the total estimated damage to property reached P23.273 billion or
an average of P4.65 billion every year.

Also during the period, 1,257 people were killed or an average of 251 deaths every
year.
The number of injured persons during the five-year period reached 4,239, or an
average of 848 persons suffering from fire-related injuries that could have been
avoided.

According to the BFP, the top three causes of fires are electrical connection, lighted
cigarette butt and open flame.

Fire originating from electrical connections may either be triggered by electrical

overload, electrical arc or electrical short circuit.

Lighted cigarette butts that caused fires are those usually indiscriminately thrown
away by cigarette smokers, accidentally touching flammable material that starts a fire.

Fires caused by open flames can either be triggered by torch, candle or burning gas
stove left unattended.
The top three fire occurrences recorded hit residential areas, industrial and mercantile
or commercial buildings.

https://www.ifsec.events/philippines/visit/news-and-updates/tragedy-fires-death-
and-destruction-philippines
“Fire incidents in residential areas, on the other
hand, appear to have overtaken that of
industrial and commercial areas.”
What is Fire?

The active principle of

burning, characterized by
the heat and light of
combustion.
Revised IRR of RA9514 2019
Elements of the Fire Triangle

Physics and Chemistry of Fire

Fire is the result of a chemical reaction called

combustion. At a certain point in the combustion
reaction, called the ignition point, flames are
produced. Combustion is defined as rapid oxidation
producing light and heat flames. Combustion can take
place when 3 factors or elements are present: Fuel,
Heat and Oxygen. The Fire Triangle
Heat
A heat source is responsible for the initial ignition of fire, and is also needed to maintain
the fire and enable it to spread. Heat allows fire to spread by drying out and preheating
nearby fuel and warming surrounding air.

Fuel
Fuel is any kind of combustible material. It’s characterized by its moisture content, size,
shape, quantity and the arrangement in which it is spread over the landscape. The
moisture content determines how easily it will burn

Oxygen
Air contains about 21 percent oxygen, and most fires require at least 16 percent oxygen
content to burn. Oxygen supports the chemical processes that occur during fire. When
fuel burns, it reacts with oxygen from the surrounding air, releasing heat and generating
combustion products (gases, smoke, embers, etc.). This process is known as oxidation.
Fire safety is the set of practices intended to reduce the destruction
caused by fire. Fire safety measures include those that are intended
to prevent ignition of an uncontrolled fire, and those that are used to
limit the development and effects of a fire after it starts.

Fire safety measures include those that are planned during

the construction of a building or implemented in structures that are
already standing, and those that are taught to occupants of the
building.

Threats to fire safety are commonly referred to as fire hazards. A fire

hazard may include a situation that increases the likelihood of a fire
or may impede escape in the event a fire occurs.
Fire safety is often a component of building safety. Those who
inspect buildings for violations of the Fire Code and go into schools to
educate children on fire safety topics are fire department members
known as Fire Prevention Officers. The Chief Fire Prevention Officer
or Chief of Fire Prevention will normally train newcomers to the Fire
Prevention Division and may also conduct inspections or make
presentations.
Fire detection and alarm system FDAS

Fire detection and alarm system FDAS

Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 2, Buildings other than
dwellinghouses (2019 edition), defines a fire alarm system as a:
'...combination of components for
giving an audible and/or other perceptible warning of fire.'

Live investigations of false fire alarms, published by BRE in December

2015, suggests that a Fire Detection and Fire Alarm System is
‘…control equipment that utilises detectors, warning devices and
other components to detect fires and provide warning.’

Most fire detection and alarm systems operate on the same basic
principles. If a fire is detected, then an alarm is triggered. This
warns building managers and occupants that there may be a fire and
that evacuation may be necessary. Some systems include remote
signalling equipment which can alert the fire brigade or a
remote monitoring centre.

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Fire_detection_and_alarm_system_FDAS
Fire detection and alarm system FDAS

Fire can be detected by; heat detectors, flame

detectors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and
multi sensor detectors, or an alarm can be triggered
at manual call points. Alarms may consist of bells, sirens,
horns, lights or a combination these. Two power supplies are
required, generally a mains supply and batteries providing 24
hours back up.

Fire detection and alarm systems can be divided into a

number of general types:
Conventional systems.
Addressable systems.
Analogue addressable systems.
Wireless systems.
Self-contained units.

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Fire_detection_and_alarm_system_FDAS