Building Regulation and Fire Safety Management - Report Example

Internal fire spread lining It is very essential for buildings to have maximum compliance with set standards in as far as fire safety is concerned. The set regulations help in ensuring that buildings give maximum protection in case of fire outbreak. This is in relation to protecting property within the buildings and also the lives of the people therein. It is essential to put in mind that building regulations vary from nation to nation. (BS 9999, 2008) In relation to the academic building, it is essential to put in place internal fire spread linings within the building. It is important to note hat internal lining materials in a building play a key role in the overall spreading of fire. Some of the internal fire linings can easily allow fire to grow through walls without anyone noticing. Internal fire spread linings also tend to release some heat during fire incident. The amount of heat released depends on the type of materials that are used to make the linings. Internal building materials in various premises normally react differently to fire. Some materials easily ignite to fire, some produce a lot of smoke, others release a lot of heat upon ignition while some materials allow flames to spread very fast. These aspects are normally influenced by various factors. (BS 9999, 2008) They include component parts, conditions of materials used and even the thickness of the materials. Research has shown that building contents greatly affect fire growth rate than the fabric used. This calls for proper choice of materials used for ceilings and walls in the academic building. These materials contribute a lot to the academic building fabric’s ability to make fire outbreak severe or not. In this case, compartments should be put around the kitchen on ground floor and lifts 210 and 211 on first floor, the two lifts on ground floor. (Approved document B) In relation to the academic building, it is quite essential that internal lining materials used therein be of high class level. This is in relation to the circulation spaces between the linings. This will help the fire safety levels of the building. This will work by minimising the rate of heat released from the materials and also inhibit the fast spreading of flames on the surfaces of the materials used. This is considering the fact that a fast propagation of fire can adversely affect the means of escape within the building. This highly needs to be implemented in the kitchen walls on ground floor. (Approved document B) An analysis of the academic building shows that it also has some small rooms therein. The small rooms need to be fixed up with linings in order to enhance fire safety therein. This should be carried out in small rooms such as the secure examination store on second floor. The linings however should not have a high rate of releasing heat and those that can easily allow flames to spread very fast. The use of linings with such characteristics will reduce the overall fire safety of the academic building putting the occupants and property in danger. (BS 9999, 2008) It is essential that the surface linings on the academic building’s ceilings and walls conform to the set European standards. In case some of the linings within internal rooms are of low class, this should not go below class three of the European set standards. There is also need to use thermoplastic materials in conjunction with other non thermoplastic substrates in lining of ceilings and walls in the academic building. Thermoplastic materials should however not be used as the only material for lining ceilings and walls in the building. In this case both products’ surface rating need to meet the set standards in as far as fire safety is concerned. In this case, the walls on the academic building includes any glazed surfaces but not the glazed doors. This also includes ceiling part that slope to the horizontal. This is at an angle that exceeds seventy degrees. The walls in the academic building however do not include any fitted furniture, picture rails, glazed frames, window frames, door frames and doors. The ceilings in the academic building also need to be made of fire resistant materials. (BS 9999, 2008) This also calls for putting in place cavity barriers in roof spaces within the academic building. The external windows found on the academic building also need to be glazed. The glazing should be carried out with thermoplastic materials of particular classification. This should be of TP (a) classification of European standards of products that are rigid. Roof lights can also be incorporated in the academic building based on various factors. In this case, they can be made of materials that are thermoplastic when the lower surface is proved to be of TP (b) or that which is classified as rigid TP (a). It is also recommended that lighting diffusers be incorporated in the academic building. These are just elements that are structured that allow light passage. It is however not advisable for thermoplastic lighting diffusers to be used on the ceilings of the academic building. They can only be used if they have been adequately tested and proved to work well for fire protection in the building. Thermoplastic lighting diffusers are of TP (a) can also be used at the circulation spaces and on ceilings in the building. (BS 9999, 2008) Research shows that majority of modern buildings tend to use panels that are sandwiched. This is where an insulating material is in- filled between two metals. Usually, styrene foam or polyurethane is used as the insulating material. This normally results in collapse of buildings in case of fire outbreak. In most cases, it is known to occur quite suddenly without any possible signs. It is also known that when the internal foam catches fire, it allows flames to spread between the two panels. Using the right type of materials however helps prevent the occurrence of such problems. Internal fire spread (structure) This is also part and parcel of the regulations that have been put in place by the European standards. These do play a great role in ensuring that fire is contained in the room which it started. It therefore helps in the inhibition of spread of fire and smoke throughout the building. (BS 9999, 2008) A firm structure of a building is quite essential as it helps in giving occupants ample time for evacuation before it can collapse. In case a building collapses when occupants are still trapped inside, it becomes very hard for the fire rescue crew to rescue the people inside. This therefore results in many people losing their lives. This aspect is very important because it helps to reduce risks that can be to fire fighter during rescue mission on the building. Structural soundness also helps in overall minimisation of risks to occupants during fire outbreak before they can get to safety. It also helps in minimising risk of debris falling on people around the building in case of fire outbreak. (BS 9999, 2008) This also means that adequate protection measure are taken such that a fire occurrence would still the affected building’s structure stable for a period that is reasonable. His also means that a wall that is shared by more that one building has to be constructed in such a way that it does not easily allow fire to spread from affected room to adjacent rooms or buildings. Sometimes it calls for installing systems that can suppress the fire and inhibit it from spreading. This also means that the construction and overall design of a building does not allow concealed fire and smoke such that they cannot be noticed. Thus is mostly implemented through having compartments that are fire resistant in nature. (Approved document B) This therefore allows reasonable period of structural integrity of the building. This also requires that a certain level of fire resistant walls separate the compartments. The internal fire spread structure also relates to the glazing of the walls that are used to separate the compartments. It is very important that the academic building’s structure be fire resistant. This is whereby the academic building’s structure should be in a position to bear up with fire effects. In this case, it should be in a position to provide insulation against high temperatures emanating from fire. (Approved document B) The structure should not easily collapse even when fire just affects a single room of the building. In relation to the academic building it is essential that the load bearing features of the building’s structure have to withstand harsh fire effects. Load bearing elements include floors, load bearing walls and frames. The load bearing elements of the academic building need to enable it to remain stable without collapsing for a reasonable period of time. (Approved document B) A thorough analysis of the academic building site plan shows that there is need for incorporating compartments therein. These can either be separated by floors or even walls. For instance, the compartments can be put on the floors between the basement and first floor between the first and second floors and between the second and third floors. It is also important that compartment walls be incorporated in all areas of the building where there are water pipes and drainage systems. This includes the slot drain number 49.25 on ground floor of the academic building. (BS 9999, 2008) This should also be incorporated in places where there are fire hazards. This includes the kitchen on the ground floor of the academic building. It is highly advisable that all the doors in compartment walls of the building have high fire resistance performance. This should be to the same level as the resistance performance of the compartment walls. It is very important that each compartment wall incorporated in the academic building meets the set minimum duration of fire resistance. This is in accordance to the approved document B. (BS 9999, 2008) This can help to avoid fire spreading throughout the entire building. The junctions between compartments need to be mad of fire resistant materials. It is also very essential that all the stairways in the academic building be protected. This is more so in areas where stairways connect a number of compartments in the building. This relates to stair number one on ground floor, stair number one on first floor, stair number two on first floor, stair number three on first floor (Approved document B) This should be done with the use of shafts that are fire protected. This also helps to avoid fire spreading in between compartments and to make it easy for occupants to evacuate the premises. It is also highly recommended that the protected shafts have screens that are glazed. This should especially be done in areas that are between corridors, a lobby and stairs. This should therefore be implemented on corridor 1.90 and lobby 1.01 on ground floor, lobby number 2.94 on first floor corridor 1.93 on first floor. Research shows that sometimes concealed spaces in buildings allow fire and smoke to pass through unnoticed. This can easily be in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors. This calls for the use of cavity barriers in the above named places. In accordance with the academic building, it is important that cavity barriers be incorporated on the roof and ceiling spaces of the building. (BS 9999, 2008) In this case, they should be implemented in void space on the second floor next to the balustrade and that at the centre top and the void on first floor next to the principal’s office and waiting area. This also includes the void on first floor near lobby 2.90. This will help avoid fire and smoke spreading therein unnoticed. The cavity barriers should allow a minimum of thirty minutes of resistance in case of a fire outbreak. (Approved document B) External fire spread According to building regulations, the roof and external walls of any building need to resist overall spread of fire. This helps to avoid fire spreading from the affected building to the next. This also calls for a thorough analysis of all the materials that are used o build external walls of buildings. (BS 9999, 2008) In accordance with the academic building, it is very important that combustible materials should be avoided when building external walls. This will definitely help to minimise the risk of the academic building’s external walls igniting due to fire from adjacent buildings. This in the long run helps in reducing the risks of fire spreading from the affected building to the adjacent building. When dealing with aspects of external fire spread, it is also important to look at the aspects of distance between two adjacent buildings. There are also factors that can affect the overall spreading of fire between buildings. They include spaces between the buildings and the intensity of the fire. According to European set regulations, there are various factors that need to be considered even during construction of any building. This is in as far as fire safety measures are concerned. This also includes the spacing between buildings so as to avoid fire spreading easily from one building to the next. (BS 9999, 2008) According to set standards, there is reasonable spacing that can be allowed between two adjacent buildings. This tends to limit the regions that are unprotected that are found on the sides of the building. In relation to the academic building, the construction of the external walls should not entail the use of highly combustible insulation materials. There is also need of incorporating cavity barriers on all the external walls of the academic building. (BS 9999, 2008) An unprotected area refers to the external wall parts that have less fire resistance levels than the recommended ones. The assessment of unprotected areas of external walls does not include stairways that have protected shafts. These areas are considered to be protected. In cases where there are external walls that have some combustible material on its outer surface but of appropriate fire resistance rates, then the wall is considered to be protected. This is especially when the combustible material exceeds one mm thickness. During the assessment of unprotected areas, walls of buildings that do not have compartments that are thirty metres beyond the average ground level should not be classified as unprotected. According to thorough research, windows that have ordinary annealed glass can also be categorised as unprotected areas. In the regulations permit unprotected areas up to a maximum, depend on the building type and its overall distance from the boundary. If the openings region is more these areas, then the openings have to attain the same fire resistance performance as the wall where there are joined. This level of fire resistance performance can only be achieved through Pilkington products. (Approved document B) Roofs are also need to be analysed when it comes to external fire safety. This is considering that they connect the building to the external environment. The approved document asserts that minimum distances of roof coverings from boundaries need to be attained. This depends on their performance to in roof tests concerning external fire exposure. (BS 9999, 2008) The construction standards set relate to degree of spread of flame and penetration. Usually, majority of glass products achieve AA rates. This is the best rating so far. It is therefore highly recommended that glass products of AA rates be incorporated in the use in roof coverings of the academic building. This will enhance the fire resistance levels of the building. This will definitely help prevent fire spreading from the academic building via the roof to the adjacent buildings. (BS 9999, 2008) References Approved document B; Fire safety buildings and regulations document BS 9999, (2008): BSI British Standards; Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings Read More