Fire Safety Engineering a 20-Story Building in the Middle of Preston City - Case Study Example

Fire Safety Engineering (K) Course Name and Code Institution Name Department Name Insert Your Name Insert Your Number Instructor’s Name 9 March 2009 In many countries, there is the construction boom in the building industry. Many techniques and methods are used to complete these buildings. The economy, environmental impact and function of the building define the building method that can fulfil all requirements of safety, durability and operation. Thus, the aim of this paper is to define the appropriate method to build a 20-storey building in the middle of Preston city, with dual use e.g. office and hotel. Moreover, the paper analyzes crucial materials to be used, methods to champion fire safety, control of movement of smoke and specific extinguishing agents, and specific impacts that are associated with each extinguishing agent. The world is changing and demands for efficiency and robust solutions to the construction industry is required. In the case of the Preston city construction, the appropriate solution is the utilization of brick and block because it offers flexible approach, and allows for versatility of design when compared to other framed products. Utilization of blocks, especially accurate sized blocks with thin joint block work ensures that the building is completed faster and improves on thermal properties and insulates against sound. Moreover, utilization of brick and block offer resistance to any environmental changes and have better resale value. Thus, championing environmental conservancy, economic worth of the building, and ensures proper utilization of the minimal space in the city centre (Stollard & Abrahams, 1999). Therefore, in this construction approach, various materials can be used in the construction of brick and block buildings. Thus, since it is stored building the main material is utilization of bricks, steel to support the tall building and concrete to support the floors (Moore and Lakha, 2008). A combination of these materials and other building accessories will ensure that the commercial activities and the hotel people are safe. Moreover, the design of the building plays an important role in ensuring that the building withstand heavy load of both the inhabitants and other technological equipments such as the furniture and electronics equipments in the building. The design and construction of the building should put into consideration the stability of the building and assurance of the stability, if any disaster may occur. In the case of this building, the structural design will determine the extent in which the fire will be disastrous or out of control. An important strategy is the use of central core design in its construction. The building should have transition floors/structures that could double up as mechanical floors to ensure that the stability of the building is put forefront. The transition forms should be formed by the use of deep beams/metal decks and RC slabs. The floor slab should bring together reinforced bi-directional ribbed slabs that are supported by steel columns. All the floor assemblies and other structural steel should be protected by spray-on fireproofing material. The building columns should be able to withstand fires within a period of at least three hours while the horizontal beams, ceiling/floor system, rooms/office separation should withstand fire for at least an hour. Moreover, shafts and other amenities such as stairways should be a 2-hour fire rated construction. Structural design strategies to prevent the spread of fires are important since it will give opportunities for rescue services to rescue people within the building. In most accidents, the success of rescue and safety missions is controlled and gauged by the success of stability of the building. Apart from structural design, there are additional approaches that can be utilized to check occurrence of fires and methods in place to control the fires. Early fire detection is important and there are various ways that this can be achieved. Some methods include people within the building smell or observe the occurrence of fire and then they can raise alarm. Another approach is the utilization of electrical system fire warning e.g. smoke detectors and fire alarms. After the alarm is raised, there should be convenient means of escape, which should be easily accessible by all occupants within the building. Moreover, installation and provision of fire fighting system is important in putting out of the fire at the earliest time possible. In most of the rooms that will be in the building, there should be either automatic or manual fire sprinklers and at the major entrances, there should be the provision of portable fire extinguishers. Additionally, there should be specialized fire extinguishers that will be used in cases of electrical, oil and other fires that cannot be easily extinguished by the use of water base extinguishers. Nevertheless, hose reels and dry standpipes should be in place to help the fire fighting agencies, if needed. Thus, it is important for the building to provide means of access for fire and rescue services. For example, there should be hydrant near the main entrance, specific parking region should be preserved for emergency services, and proper documentation should be in place that shows and determines the exact location of fire fighting equipments. Consequently, there is the presence of smoke in these buildings, if a fire breaks out. Smoke usually creates more problems to both fire fighters and people who are trying to escape. Some of the problems that are associated with smoke in buildings includes eye irritation, reduced visibility and may result to deaths resulting from asphyxia. Prediction on the movement of smoke in buildings can be achieved by understanding stack and wind effects, HVAC systems and temperature effects of fire. Some of the measures that should incorporated in the building design includes introduction of fire dampers, ductwork, smoke vents and smoke curtains. Proper provision and appropriate capability of these components will ensure that a smoke free layer is created, protection of the contents of the building are guaranteed, reduction of impacts of thermal effects/decomposition and delay/prevent flashover and contribution to full fire development. Nevertheless, the extent of fire development may be controlled by utilization of fire extinguishing agents. There is variety of fire extinguishing agents that makes it daunting for choosing an appropriate one for the building. However, many analysts conquer that one fire extinguisher agent should be in the kitchen, garage, workshop and office rooms. The type of extinguisher that can be used is guided by its capability to extinguish a given fire type and is usually indicated on the colour code that is usually on the container (Institution of Structural Engineers (Great Britain), 2006). Some common varieties are the multi-purpose dry chemical e.g. mono ammonium phosphate, regular dry chemical e.g. sodium bicarbonate, carbon dioxide, halotron, foam, purple K dry chemical e.g. potassium bicarbonate and water. Usually, there are four classes of fires: Class A – paper, trash, Class B – flammable liquids, Class C- electrical and Class D – burning metal and requires different fire extinguishing agents (Fire Service Inspectorate, 2002). In the case of this building, the important agent is water since it is effective in wood fibres, papers and paper trash. Moreover, water can be mixed with dry chemicals to increase its efficiency. Some advantages of using water as extinguisher are that it is easily available and cheap, and can be sprayed at a relatively long distance. Its disadvantage is that it only extinguishers fire of class A (Cote & Bugbee, 1988). It worsens Class B fires because of differences in density, creates chemical reactions when used in Class D fires and chances of electrical shocks when used in Class C. Carbon dioxide is another extinguisher, which is useful for optical fires and fires that involve delicate instruments. It can be used to extinguish fires of Class B and C. Its main advantages are it is readily available and cheap, no residue left after it is used, it is non-conductive, smothering hydrocarbons and does not require propellant. However, its disadvantages include its low efficiency, contributes to suffocation, can cause thermal shocks and frostbite. For Class D fires, the fire fighting and fire rescue services can deal with it using specific chemicals and equipments. In conclusion, buildings such as the hotel/office that is proposed for Preston City should be analyzed from both economic consideration, impact to the environment and its ability to fulfil requirements that are in place. Utilization of bricks and blocks ensures flexibility and durability of the building, and in most cases, these buildings are usually strong. Bringing together concrete, steel, blocks and other building accessories will ensure that the building is completed according to design and standards that are in place. Fire safety and building stability is paramount in any construction. Structural stability with central core and having transition forms will reduce the chances of the building collapsing. Nevertheless, prevention and reduction of movement of smoke in the building is crucial in that it will prevent eye irritation, suffocation and visibility. To achieve these, utilization of fire extinguishers agents such as water and carbon dioxide will ensure that the fire is put off at the earliest time possible. Bibliography Allen, E. & Lano, J., 2007, Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods, 2nd Ed., New York: Wiley Publishers. Crandell, J., 2006, Residential Building Loads: Review and Roadmap for Future Progress, New York: ASCE Publications. Cote, A., & Bugbee, P., 1988, Principles of Fire Protection, London: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Fire Service Inspectorate, 2002, Fire Service Operations: Incident Command (Fire Service Manual 2.), London: Stationery Office Books. Institution of Structural Engineers (Great Britain), 2006, The Structural Engineer, London: University of Michigan Press. Moore, T. and Lakha, R., 2008, Tolly’s Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management: Principles and Practice, 3rd ed. London: Heinemann Butterworth. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2003, Our Fire and rescue service, Cm 5808, London: stationery Office Books. Stollard, P. & Abrahams, J., 1999, Fire from First Principles: A Design Guide to Building Fire Safety, 3rd Ed, London: Taylor & Francis Publishers. Read More