Fire Safety in Buildings

Danny H W Li
 Hose reels
• Hose reels enable first hand fire fighting by occupants
• Hose reels are provided to ensure that every location is
within reach of the hose.
• Each hose reel has a 30m long tube, and a minimum of 6m
length water jet from the hose reel nozzle has to be provided
 Hose Reel
• Intended to be used by occupants
• Swing type to be used if recessed (to make winding/unwinding
of the hose easily)
• Position : No rule for the height of the hose reel drum, but it
affects the reaching distance of the hosereel. Nozzle and valve
shall not exceed 1350mm AFFL and if hosereel is recessed the
nozzle and valve shall be reached within 500mm. Be careful to
decide the positions of hosereel that point to point distance shall
not exceed 30m.
• Break glass unit : Located at not exceeding 1200mm AFFL
(comply with disable persons rule). The breaking of break glass
unit should automatically call upon the activation of the fire
pump even in gravity feed zone.
Break Glass Unit and Hose Reel

1,200mm AFFL
 Fire Hydrants
• Fire Hydrants are designed for firemen’s use without
having to connect the water hose from ground level during
fire fighting
• Fire hydrants are installed inside every protective staircases
so that firemen can plug in their fire hose to obtain water
• Usually, the fire hydrants are located at the half landing for
more convenience in the operation
• Either wet or dry riser can be used in the fire hydrant system.
• Dry riser can only be used where there is a reliable local fire
brigade as it depends on the charging of water into the riser
by the fire brigade during fire.
• Wet riser is permanently charged with water and water
pumping device is installed to maintain the required
pressure.
• In Hong Kong, wet riser is generally used. Wet riser is
located in a protected staircase with the numbers of hydrant
outlet governed by the types of buildings served
Water Storage
 Manual fire alarm system

• To be used by occupants

• Break the break glass to actuate the alarm

• No Reset

• Located together with hose reel and alarm bell.

 Emergency Lighting
• For the areas inside where people
are not familiar with the exit routes

• Power supply is backed-up

by battery or uninterruptible
power supply when normal
power fails
 Fire Door

• The door should be self-closing.

• In case of fire, the fire can be confined inside
the fire compartment.
• The fire door should be able to withstand the
fire without major deformation .
• Visual panel with wired glass or fire rated glass
can be provided on the door.
 Concrete Encasement

• To surround and insulate the steel

• The concrete is cast to fill in all re-entrant
spaces. Alternatively, concrete column covers
may be used
• The concrete acts only to thermally protect the
steel