DCA30142

BUILDING SERVICES 2
TOPIC 2:
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
(ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM)
 TODAY’S LEARNING OUTCOMES
(PART 2 OF 3 PARTS)
At the end of this topic, students must be able to:

2.1 Apply knowledge of fire protection system into design-based task (people habitat/ community
building):
2.1.4 Explain active fire protection system, in term of arrangement of the equipment and
space provision of portable fire extinguisher, fire hydrant, hose reel, dry riser, wet riser,
downcomer system, automatic sprinkler and fire water tank as stated in the UBBL
2.1.5 Explain sensor, detectors and alarm, in term of design and operation requirements as
stated in the UBBL
2.1.6 Explain the centralized monitoring system (CMS) in fire protection system
CONTENT OF TODAY’S LECTURE
1. Active Fire Protection System:
1.1 Portable Fire Extinguisher
1.2 Fire Hydrant
1.3 Hose Reel
1.4 Dry Riser
1.5 Wet Riser
1.6 Downcomer System
1.7 Automatic Sprinkler System
1.8 Fire Water Tank
CONTENT OF TODAY’S LECTURE
2. Types of sensors, detectors and alarms
3. Centralized Monitoring System
ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Definition of Active Fire Protection System
According to Guide to Fire Protection on Malaysia (2006), Active Fire Protection is
basically the manual or automatic fire protection systems such as fire alarms,
detectors (heat & smoke) rising mains, hose reels, fire telephones, CO2 fixed
installation, automatic sprinklers and smoke spills system to give a warning of an
outbreak of fire and the containment and extinguishment of a fire.
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Active Fire Protection

According to Guide to Fire Protection on Malaysia (2006), Active Fire Protection

is basically the manual or automatic fire protection systems such as fire alarms,
detectors (heat & smoke) rising mains, hose reels, fire telephones, CO2 fixed
installation, automatic sprinklers and smoke spills system to give a warning of
an outbreak of fire and the containment and extinguishment of a fire.
Active Fire Protection System
1. PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Portable Fire Extinguishers are
elementary firefighting equipment
intended for first-aid firefighting
during the initial outbreak of fire
incident to prevent escalation into a
full scale fire. PFE should be suitably
selected for the type of fire in
accordance to the classification and
the fire size and sited in suitable
locations in close proximity to the
potential fire hazards.
Active Fire Protection System
2. FIRE HYDRANT
Pillar hydrant should comply with M. S.
1395 and located at not more than 30
metres away from the breeching inlet
for the building. The hydrant should be
not less than 6 metres from the
building if it is a high rise building so as
to allow firemen to operate the hydrant
safely, away from the burning building
or falling debris. Generally, hydrants
are spaces at not more than 90 metres
apart along access roads of minimum
6 metres in width and capable of
withstanding a load of 26 tons from fire
brigade vehicles.
Active Fire Protection System
2. FIRE HYDRANT
Hydrant should be located:
i. away from obstructions such as street
furniture (benches), phone booths, etc.
ii. not less than 2m from Fire Appliances
Access
iii. between 0.61m to 2.4m from Fire
Appliance Access
iv. away from risks of vehicular damage
v. not more than 90m apart from each
other (in new buildings adjacent to
existing developments, a new hydrant or
hydrants will have to be provided if there
is no hydrant within 45m radius of the
new building).
Active Fire Protection System
3. HOSE REEL
Hose reel system is intended for the
occupants to use during the early
stages of a fire and comprises hose
reel pumps, fire water storage tank,
hose reels, pipe work and valves.
Active Fire Protection System
4. DRY RISER
Dry risers are a form of internal hydrant
for the firemen to use and are only
required for buildings where the
topmost floor is higher than 18.3
metres and less than 30.5 metres
above the fire appliance access level.
Dry risers are normally dry and depend
on the fire engine to pump water into
the system.
Active Fire Protection System
5. WET RISER
Wet risers are a form of internal
hydrant for the firemen to use and are
always charged with water. Wet risers
are only required for buildings where
topmost floor is higher than 30.5
metres above the fire appliances
access level.
Active Fire Protection System
6. DOWNCOMER SYSTEM
Downcomers are also a form of
internal hydrant for the firemen to use
and are always charged with water
from a water tank located at the top of
a building but without any pumps.
Downcomers are only permitted for
private residential buildings with open
balcony approach where the topmost
floor is not higher than 60 metres
above the fire appliance access level
and should be adopted for low cost
flats only.
Active Fire Protection System
7. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
Automatic sprinkler system is intended
to detect, control and extinguish a fire
and warn the occupants of the
occurrence of fire. The installation
comprises fire pumps, water storage
tanks, control valve sets, sprinkler
heads, flow switches, pressure
switches, pipework and valves. The
system operates automatically without
human intervention.
Active Fire Protection System
8. FIRE WATERTANK
Fire water storage tank should be sized for a
minimum effective capacity of 45 500 litres
with automatic refill rate of 455 l/min. The
tanks may be of pressed steel, fibre
reinforced polyester (FRP) or concrete. The
water tanks should be compartmented unless
they are of reinforced concrete and ball float
valves, overflow pipes, drain pipes and water
level indicators should be provided for each
compartment. The external surface of the
tank should be painted red or where this is
not desirable, a red band of minimum 200mm
should be painted to indicate that this is a fire
tank. The tanks are usually located on the
roof to provide the maximum static pressure
possible. The tank is usually separated from
other water storage tanks.
TYPES OFSENSORS, DETECTORS AND ALARMS
Fire detection and alarm systems are
designed to provide warning of the
outbreak of fire and allow appropriate
firefighting action to be taken before
the situation gets out of control. As all
systems are designed primarily to
protect life, property, this places a
great responsibility on the designer
because each building will present a
different set of problems in relation to
the risk of fire and fire spread. Each
fire detection and alarm system
therefore must be specially designed to
meet the requirements for each
building.
CENTRALIZED MONITORING SYSTEM (CMS)
In UBBL 1984 Section 238 mentioning the command and control centre. Every large
premises or building exceeding 30.5 meters in height shall be provided with a
command and control centre located on the designated floor and shall contain a panel
to monitor the public address, fire bridge communication, sprinkler, water flow
detectors and alarm systems and with a direct telephone connection to the
appropriate fire station by passing the switchboard.
Control panel is the brain of the fire detection and alarm system. It is responsible for
monitoring the various alarm input devices such as manual and automatic detection
components, and then activating alarm output devices such as horns, bells, warning
lights, emergency telephone dialers and building controls. It is use to test whether the
pumps are working properly by the management staff. When an automatic or manual
device is activated it send a signal to the control panel where, depending on the type
of system and hazards, can be programmed to activate a pre-discharge alarm, initiate
agent release, shutdown ventilation system, shutdown machinery or equipment,
activate visual and audible fire alarms and notify emergency response personnel
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
TOPIC 2 TASK 2
 NEXT WEEK’S LEARNING OUTCOMES
(PART 3 OF 3 PARTS)
At the end of this topic, students must be able to:

2.1 Apply knowledge of fire protection system into design-based task (people habitat/
community building):
2.1.7 Identify the passive fire protection system in a building according to the UBBL
2.1.8 Choose the suitable active fire protection system in a building according to the
UBBL
2.1.9 Construct diagram of fire protection system in a building with appropriate label
and explanation

COMMENCEMENT ASSIGNMENT 1(b)

END OF LECTURE 02