Fire Safety

in Building infrastructure of Bangladesh

Planning, Designing & Constructing

Fire Safe Building
Presented By:

Engr. Hasmotuzzaman
Types of Fire Extinguishers
A. Fire extinguishers are categorized
according to class of fire they will
suppress.
B. The fuel for a fire generally classifies
fires as A, B, C or D. Extinguishing agents
may be rated for one or more classes.
 Fire Classes
• Class A fires involve
ordinary and common
combustibles such as
wood, paper, cloth and
most plastics.
 Fire Classes
• Class B fires involve
flammable liquids such
as common solvents,
gasoline and oils.
 Fire Classes
• Class C fires involve
energized electrical
equipment where non-
conductivity of the
extinguishing agent is
important.
 Fire Classes
• Class D fires involve
combustible metals
such as sodium or
magnesium.
 Fire Classes

1. Fire extinguishers should only be

used for the class of fire for which
they have been rated.
2. Selecting the correct fire
extinguisher insures suitability for the
fire type and reduces damage from
the extinguishing agent.
 Extinguishing Agents
There are five common groups of
extinguishing agents:
water
carbon dioxide
dry chemical
halogenated agents
metal extinguishing agents
Water
• Water reduces the
temperature of a fire
and is inexpensive.
However, most organic
solvents float on water
which spreads the fire.
Water also conducts
electricity, posing a
shock hazard.
 Dry Chemical
The standard dry chemical agent
suppresses Class B and Class C fires
by binding oxygen.
Since the agent is either sodium or
potassium bicarbonate, the residue is
mildly corrosive and should be
cleaned immediately.
 Dry Chemical
• Multi-purpose dry
chemical agent
binds oxygen and is
useful on A, B or C
fires.
• Ammonium
phosphate is highly
corrosive and leaves
a sticky residue.
 Metal Extinguishing Agents
• Metal extinguishing
agents cover a variety
of compounds that are
specific to the fuel.
• Proprietary agents
generally melt and flow
over the fuel, caking or
forming a crust to
smother the fire.
Fire Extinguishers
• Fire codes dictate the
placement for the fire
extinguishers. In labs,
they are often found
next to exits and
particularly flammable
equipment or
operations.
Fire Extinguisher Use
• The fire is small and
contained…about the size of
a trash can. If it can be
extinguished in 30 seconds
or less, a fire extinguisher
may put it out.
Fire Extinguisher Use
• You can escape.
The exit is at your
back as you fight
the fire.
 Fire Extinguisher Use
Is the correct fire extinguisher immediately
available?
Placement of fire extinguishers is governed
by local regulations which draw on
The Uniform Fire
Code (UFC), National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA)
or National Fire Code (NFC).
 Fire Extinguisher Use
Placement of the fire extinguishers is
based on hazard occupancy, square
feet, travel distance to the extinguisher
and potential fuel type. Check with the
local fire marshal for code requirements
at your lab.
Travel distance to an extinguisher
should not exceed 50 feet.
Fire Extinguisher Use
The P A S S rules are as
follows:
#1
Pull the pin.
Fire Extinguisher Use
#2
Aim the nozzle at the
base of the fire.

PASS
Fire Extinguisher Use
#3

Squeeze the handle.

PASS
Fire Extinguisher Use
#4
Sweep the stream back
and forth over the fire.

PASS
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
• Extinguishers require
inspection and/or
servicing every year.
• Most labs hire a firm or
an individual to perform
these tasks.
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
Inspections should include (at a
minimum):
pressure gauge and reading
seal intact
general condition
extinguisher visibility and accessibility
check for caking with dry powders
most recent hydro test
Why Have a Fire Alarm
System?

For the
protection of
Life and
Property
 Fire Stages

• First stage – Incipient

- Products of combustion (PoC)
particles (<0.3 microns) are produced.

- There is no visible smoke or

detectable heat.

- Process may occur for milliseconds

or days.

- Detected by ionization detectors

• Second stage – Smoldering
- Visible smoke (>0.3 microns) particles produced.

- Little visible flame or noticeable heat.

- Detected by Photoelectric Detectors.

• Third Stage – Flame
- Rapid combustion produces radiant
energy in the visible and invisible (UV, IR)
spectrums starting heat buildup.

- Detected by Spark or Flame Detectors.

Fourth Stage – High Heat
Uncontrolled combustion caused by heating of
nearby combustibles to their ignition point.

Detected by Heat Detectors.

 A Graph of a fire condition
FIRE
[FLAMES]

Produces a
high
REMEMBER Produces temperature
THE visible
Start MICRON smoke
to SIZE
particles
produc
e PoCs
 Components of a Fire Alarm System

• These are the basic

components of a Fire
Smoke Detector
Alarm Control System.
Alarm Device
• An overview of each
component follows.

Manual
Call point
Fire Alarm System Components
 Fire Alarm Control Panel

 Sensors – Smoke / Heat

 Sounders – Acoustic Alarm

 Strobes – Optical Alarm

 Speakers – Voice Alarm

 Manual Call Points

 Cables
Advancement in Fire Detection has led to the new
generation Fire Alarm System – IQ8 Quad System

• Fire Alarm Control Panel

• Detector = Sensor + Sounder + Strobe + Speaker

• Manual Call Point

• Cables
 The new detector generation
… four-dimensional safety in a single device:
IQ8Quad.

Detection Optical alarm Acoustic alarm Voice alarm