Fire Safety Strategy of the Anywhere Community Centre in Preston - Term Paper Example

Building Regulations and Fire Safety Management Strategy. 1.0.Introduction : The aim of this report is to discuss the issues related to fire safety of the Anywhere Community Centre in Preston which offers a range of community support services for the local people. Being the fire safety advisor I intend to bring up the existing building up to the standards demanded by modern Building Regulations detailing the type of fire safety facilities that are proposed to be incorporated within the building along with their respective specification. The report consists of two parts, the first part deals with the building regulation as applicable to fire safety. Fire risk assessment and fire safety management are considered while planning the construction of this community centre. This fire risk assessment deals with fire safety procedures, fire prevention mechanisms and other precautionary measures like alarming devices, escape plans and other fire controlling equipments. This fire risk assessment and management depends on many aspects of the building construction like structural design, characteristics of materials used in construction, construction width of walls and venting outlets , etc. For this report the building regulations in terms of fire safety are considered with respect to the Building Regulations 2006 , Approved Document B – volume two – buildings other than dwelling houses. This regulation deals with the regulations for means of escape – horizontal and vertical escapes , internal and external fire spread, access and facilities for fire service , load bearing elements for the structure , fire mains , roof coverings, wall construction materials , etc. The regulation also describes the calculation methods of escape routes , travel distance specifications and exit capacity in the event of fire. The second part deals with the fire safety management strategy with respect to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - RR(FS)O which is a risk based assessment. The RR(FS) O places greater emphasis on building owners, managers and occupiers to carry out fire risk assessments, to provide and maintain suitable fire precautions to protect persons resorting to the building or premises. Hence I intend to develop a Fire Safety Management strategy which will assist the administration of the Anywhere community centre to comply with the requirements of RR (FS)O 2005. Part 1: Fire Safety Strategy Fire safety strategy for this construction is proposed to use both active and passive fire protection. Active fire protection involving manual or automatic detection and protection of fire has been proposed for the centre. Passive fire protection involves compartmentalising the entire building using fire resistive walls and thus preventing or slowing down the spread of fire. This section discusses these strategies for the Anywhere community centre. 1.1 Means of Detection and Warning System : The community centre is advised to have smoke detectors and fire alarms in places like kitchen and oil store. Smoke detectors are more helpful in detecting the fire but care must be taken to avoid false alarms . The detection systems are planned to be used to assist in the automatic opening of the fire doors in the centre, in the event of fire. Staged alarms are placed at hall, lounge , infant room and youth room to alert the people based to the intensity of fire. Automatic fire detection systems have to be installed in store and kitchen specifically. These automatic fire detection and fire alarm systems are proposed to be installed in accordance with the British Standards BS – 5839 -1 ( 2002). The warning systems such as category L systems for Life saving , category M for Manual warning , category P for Property protection warning are planned to be installed in office , lounge , youth room as these people can assist others in escaping. The warning system combined with sound and visual effects are to be used as this enables the recognition of the alarm even by hearing impaired and visually handicapped people. Special care and verbal warning has to be used for people under special category like children and physically handicapped persons . The location of these devices are crucial and for the Anywhere community centre they can be positioned mainly at the kitchen , infant room , hall and youth room. 1.2 Provision of Means of Escape : The primary and alternate means of escape in case of fire have been planned and all employees in the community centre have to be made aware of this plan. Such an emergency plan has to be displayed in places where there would be many occupants. There has to be verbal or pictorial explanation of the escape routes and other emergency systems. This community centre has to be designed with proper escape routes for safe passage of people during fire accidents. The escape routes must be suitable, easily accessible. It must be capable of accommodating sufficient number of people, free from any obstacles and hazards. The doors on escape routes must open in the direction of escape. The number of escape routes depends on the number of occupants of the building. The building is in ground floor, so there has to be one or more horizontal escape routes in case of fire. The population density or the occupant capacity is the maximum number of persons that the building can hold. This can be calculated by dividing the area( m 2) of the room by a floor space factor (m 2 per person) as described by the building regulation ( 2000). For the Anywhere centre, the population density based on the map scale ( 1 : 100) is as follows, Infant room –2094, youth room –7422, lobby and lounge - 5978. For the office 2717. For the Chapel -5661. The combined population density of the kitchen, store, future room, oil store can be 10350. The minimum number of exits for a population density of more than 600 persons for a room, has to be more than three escape routes as per the guidelines of building regulations. So for this community centre, these horizontal escape routes are planned as follows – one along the lounge, second along the hall and chapel running from hall to the left side of the building and the third one along the youth room to the right side of the building and a fourth exit is from the future room to the right side of the building. The installation of exterior ladders , elevators and rails to rescue people are also proposed to be installed in the youth room, future room, chapel and office. These emergency systems can be helpful to rescue people with special needs. 1.3.Provision of Means of Fire fighting : Fire fighting devices have to be present in all locations that are more exposed to fire risk. Fire can be of different types and are classified as follows Class A Fire which involves solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles. Class B Fire involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils. Class C Fire involving gases. Class D Fire which involves metals. Class F Fire involving cooking oils such as deep-fat fryers. Different type of fires need different methods of fire extinguishing method. For this community centre ,different extinguisher like water , carbon – di – oxide , hydrants can be used for class A fire . Foams or cream extinguishers have to be used for class B type of fire. Fire blankets of heavy duty range and powder extinguishers are advised to be used for almost all types . Automatic fire dampers located at infant room and hall are activated by proper fire detection system and can be used to reduce the effect of fire . Also automatic water sprinklers are proposed to be installed specially in the kitchen , hall , infant room and youth room . As these sprinklers get activated automatically , they will be helpful in reducing the fire spread and saving life . These Fire fighting equipment have to satisfy the standards of BS 5306-8. Training for the staff of the community centre for Operating the fire fighting equipments manually are to follow the Handling Operations Regulations ( 1992 ) . Also fire compartments with proper roller shutters and fire resisting doors and walls have been proposed along the escape rote in future room , hall , youth room . These compartments would act as safe places during escape. These fire compartments also help in preventing fire spread. Fire spread can be in vertical or horizontal direction. To avoid fire spread , ancillary accommodation like laundry room , disposal rooms , chemical rooms , store rooms etc. must be of fire resisting construction. 1.4 Stability of the Structure : The stability of the structure is very important as it decides the time available for search and rescue operations for the fire fighters. This stability of the building also depends on the construction materials used. For this community centre , non combustible materials are used so that fire can be resisted for a longer duration and the occupants will have more time to escape. The HM government’s ( 2002 ) specification says that a 30 minute fire resisting timber floor consists of ‘tongue and groove softwood not less than 15mm finished thickness on 37mm timber joists, with a ceiling below of one layer of plasterboard to a thickness of 12.5mm with joints taped and filled and backed by supporting timber’. Fire resistant glazing with proper identification marks can be installed for windows with appropriate standards as specified by British Standards Institution (BS 5867-2). The centre has been planned to use rated materials with fire resistive products and structures including Class 0( National), Class 3( National), Class A1 ( European), etc. these materials include ‘ Aluminium faced fibre insulating boards, flame retardant decorative laminates on a calcium silicate board, UPVC, phenolic sheet and thick polycarbonate sheets’ as quoted by the building regulation ( 2000 ). For the Anywhere community centre the roofing is supported by softwood purlins supported by rafters rakers and load bearing walls. Insulation between rafters is provide by 25 mm glass fibre. The walls are supported by galvanized metal wall tier with ventilated cavities. The flooring is of softwood boarding, vinyl asbestos finishing and quarry tiled. These ensure good structural stability of the community centre. 1.5 Access for fire fighting and fire fighting facilities for fire service : Apart from the fixed fire fighting systems like hose reels and sprinkler systems and powder systems , the community centre has provision for easy access by fire fighting personnel. The facilities include access roads for the fire service surrounding the centre , easy access into the building with proper lighting facilities along the lounge , future room and youth room. During the construction of the centre care has to be taken to account for the details of fire service department’s requirements like minimum width of access roads 3 ft at the back side, 3.65 ft on right side is planned for this centre. Minimum width of gateways , minimum turning circle between kerbs , minimum turning circle between walls , minimum clearance height for fire service vehicles ,minimum carrying capacity of the fire are also accounted for . 1.6 Internal and External Fire Spread : The fire can spread internally and externally. Internal fire spread can be reduced by proper internal lining. The choice of material for the furnishing and fittings of this centre are proposed to be made according the National standards of materials. D – s3, d2 lining materials are to be used for the rooms , C - s3 , d2 European class for kitchen and hall and B – s3 , d2 for other places. External fire spread must be avoided by maintaining proper inter distance between buildings. The natural ventilation of this community centre has to use special insulations to avoid fire spread. 1.7. Flame Model : There are some models depicting the flame spread. The flame spread can be wind aided or opposed spread. The SOPHIE - Simulation Of enclosed fires – CFD model integrates many flame spreading models. A flame spread model has been calculated for this centre and it gives details of the amount of fire exposed , heat release rate from the flame , resistance of the structure to heat . For this centre the upward flame model on lining material is used as proposed by Karlson.B. ( 1994 ). Study has been done for heat release rate and ignition time. Based on this the lining materials of Class 0 standard are advised. Part 2: Fire Safety Management Strategy 2.1 Identification of Fire Hazards : Identification of specific hazards can eliminate the risk of fire. The hazards for the Anywhere community centre involve cooking materials , fuels , oil in oil store , electrical faults , smoking materials used by smokers , arson , etc. these are sources of ignition. There are some sources of fuel like chemicals , alcohol, packaged foodstuff , LPG , costumes , seating covers and cushions. The other hazardous source is oxygen as the ventilation of this centre is natural , there will be more air flow. 2.2 Identification of People at Risk : The people who are risk have to be identified for immediate rescue. For this community centre these people include the infants , workers in isolated areas , worshippers , visiting contractors and people with physical illness. The location of these people have to be made familiar to all people using the centre. 2.3 Evaluation, Remove, Reduce and Protect from Risk : The chances of fire accidents have to be evaluated for immediate action during fire . The chances can be accidental , or by act or it may be due to deliberate arson. For the Anywhere community centre , the chances of fire can be accidental from kitchen . it can also be by act of smoking by the visitors. By any chance if the fire had occurred then the risk to people has to be determined . This can be done by identifying the possible method of fire spread , which includes conduction or radiation or convection. After evaluating the risk the methods of reducing the fire have to be considered. To reduce fire , all hazards of this community centre like packaged foodstuff , LPG , costumes have to be removed . The hazards due to fuel in kitchen , oil in oil store , cushions in hall have to be removed. 2.4 Record, Plan and Instruct : Continuous recording of identified fire hazards , the action to remove them , the corresponding people at risk , methods to reduce fire spread is essential. This record is a list supported by a layout plan showing the fire safety precautions . This information has to be reviewed and the plan has to be instructed to all workers in the community centre. Fire safety training has been proposed to the people in the centre. This includes evacuation means , protection of people at risk , improving the methods of fire safety. For people with special needs the ‘ personal emergency evacuation plans’ - PEEP , have to be developed. Ramps may be used for people in wheelchairs. The evacuation procedure are pre planned and notified to workers and office people. 3.0 Conclusion : The fire safety aspects of the Anywhere community building have been discussed in this report. Being the safety advisor I have outlined the major issues related to building regulations and fire safety strategies relating to this community centre. Initially in part 1 the issues relating to fire escape routes based on population density has been derived. These escape route are accounted for with respect to travel distances and exit widths. The structural properties that affect the stability of the building structure during fire has also been discussed in detail and choice of suitable materials have been proposed. In the second part details of fire safety strategies have been discussed . These strategies include proper detection and warning system , their position of installation. The different fire fighting systems have been detailed and the strategies to use them have been discussed. Finally the general safety measures to prevent fire and regular inspection mechanism has been advised as a fire safety strategy. 4.0 Bibliography : BS 5839-1 , 2002 , Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for system design ,installation, commissioning and maintenance. British Standards Institution. ISBN 0 580 40376 9 BS 5867-2: Specification for fabrics for curtains and drapes. Flammability requirements. British Standards Institution. BS 5306-8: Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Selection and installation of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice British Standards Institution ISBN 0 580 33203 9 Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance, L138. HSE Books, 2003. ISBN 0 7176 2203 7. HM government , 2002 , fire safety and risk assessment , small and medium places of assembly. Karlsson B. Models for calculating flame spread on wall lining materials and the resulting heat release rate in a room. Fire Safety Journal, pages 365–386, 1994. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, SI 1992/2793. The Stationery Office, 1992. ISBN 0 11 025920 3. The building Regulation 2000, Fire Safety, volume – 2 Buildings other than dwelling houses. Read More