Fire Testing Constitutes of Fire Resistance Testing - Assignment Example

Design Assignment Brief Name: Course: Instructor: Institution: Date of submission: 1. Evacuation begins as soon as the fire starts to grow. Some of the key elements that affect the evacuation from a room of fire include authority, employee training; escape routes and exits, and lastly the obstructions in the room. Authority: during an emergency such as a fire, having an authority figure to coordinate the emergency exists is a key element that determines the time available for the occupants to vacate the room. The authority figure when well versed in dealing with such situations will activate emergency evacuation procedures while overseeing other activities, which guarantees the occupants, can vacate the room in a fast, effective manner from the room. Without an authority figure, the occupants may panic leading to congestion on exit routes, which increases the time before the occupants can evacuate, thus increasing their chances of threat in the room (Candy & Chow. W, 2006, 1). Employee training: some employees are trained to assist individuals during such emergencies. Employees with proper course of training are able to help individuals evacuate a room where the fire has started safely without anyone getting hurt. For instance, the employees know the nearest exit routes, which is a key advantage to ensuring the people reach a safe point. Thus, well trained employees are better at ensuring that the time the occupants have to evacuate a room is as shortest as possible. The employees have their individual responsibilities such as activation emergence action procedures, locating emergency equipment and exists among other factors. The employees can effectively direct the occupants to a fire protection evacuation walk more rapidly (Ji, et al., 2014, 358). Routes/ exists: The identification of emergency routes or exists is a key factor that determines the time the occupants have or use to evacuate a room. For instance, if the occupants do not recognize any other exit routes they will use the only one they used to get to the room. As such, it takes them a longer time to leave the room since they are mainly panicking or blocking the exit routes, where it takes more than two minutes for one to come out. Obstruction: When the fire is too hot or there is smoke, the occupants will be obstructed from locating the exits or reaching the exits fast. Therefore, the time the occupants take to evacuate a room is more. Obstructions may also include the number of people in the room, the higher the number, the challenging it is to leave the room at a fast pace (Ji, et al., 2014, 358). Many people in a small room with a small fire increases evacuation time, which is a key threat (Candy & Chow. W, 2006, 1). RSET and ASET: these stipulate the time for evacuation is affected by factors such as the time for recognizing the hazard, the time for responding to the fire, travel time; walking and flow time during the evacuation (Candy & Chow. W, 2006, 8). RSET factors that influence the time occupants reach safety include considering the time that has passed since the fire ignition, the perception time, response and travel time (Candy & Chow. W, 2006, 4). According to ASET, the time to get to safety is calculated through the detection time, notification time and the time the hazardous condition begin (Candy & Chow. W, 2006, 6). 2. Fire testing constitutes of fire resistance testing and reaction to fire testing, which are discussed below. Fire resistance testing: It is the process of measuring the capacity of a material to repel, and thwart the spread of fire from different points. The materials mainly tested for resistance include ceiling, partitions, screens, doors and other materials in a room. The resistance testing mainly involves testing the capacity of the materials to control fire spread throughout a room or other external areas. Fire resisting is conducted according to the codes and relevant legislations that govern the tests. Fire resistance process is attained through proving destructive fire assessment and testing. Testing uses a number of standards that show the resistance of a product or a construction. The testing method include using some specimens that support construction, include simulating the possible time and temperature, as well as pressure at a flashover. The flashover period is perceived as the position where all objects in the room have ignited. During a real fire, the time to flashover can be long or short (Chiltern International Fire, 2016, 1). The diagram below presents the time to flashover when a real fire was assessed. (Chiltern International Fire, 2016, 2) The diagram presents that the materials and the construction were not tested for fire resistance since they all reacted to fire within the first few seconds of a fire igniting. Reaction to fire testing: Unlike fire resistance, reaction to fire is the capacity of a material to influence the development and growth of fire. How fast does this material lead to fire development. Thus, testing reaction is measuring how a material influences the growth of a fire. It constitutes of the combustibility or ignitability of a material including the fire growth contribution. It does not consider its application to resisting the fire passage. Reaction to fire testing are smaller and the tests are carried out on materials with end-use conditions such as wall linings, ceiling linings, the furniture and other contents of a room. It is the process of determining the development or growth of a fire during its early stages, which is evaluated to guarantee the evacuation of occupants from a room. Reaction to fire testing is developed through regulations and codes of transport and buildings. For instance, according to the European codes it requires the reaction to fire tests be done by testing non-combustibility, potential of calorific, single burning item and small flame ignitability (Exova, 2017). 3. Final Exit: It is the termination of the escape route from any building or storey to the safe place. The escape route ensures that the people can disperse safely from the building or room with the fire or other effects of fire such as smoke (CIEH, 2005, 11). Final exits are also identified as fire exits. The final exits are emergency routes from the building or rooms that must be clear at all times, and the routes have a key responsibility of leading the people to safety mainly outside of the premises. More importantly, the travel distances for occupants in the premises to the final exit must always be short as possible. Final exits should open effortlessly, always and immediately during an emergency escape. The final exits should be lit well to effectively guide those escaping the room (FSAC, 2015). 4. Travel distance: it is the distance from an area on the floor to the exit. Mainly, the travel distance is calculated from the point or floor of the fire to the nearest exit path. Thus, travel distance means the distance the occupants have to travel to reach a final exit, which is measure along an actual route within the premises and includes the distances across rooms that they must pass through to get to the final exit (CIEH, 2005, 12). When the travel distance is long, the occupants are at a threat of the effects of the fire such as heat, smoke and fire. Thus, the travel distance should always be shortest from any given floor, meaning multiple final exits are necessary. Before the reaction to fire is high, the occupants should reach the final exit (BD, 2012, 18). Final exit and travel distance (BD, 2012 20-21). 45° rule: it is a rule that exit doors should comply with, which stipulate that in an area where two exits are perceived they are only separate if they have a 45-degree separation from any area. Thus, the rule of 45 degrees should be applied when determining the capacity of the exits (LWF, 2015, 1). 5. Space separation between buildings is important since it helps in managing external fire spread. Radiation from a burning building is high. The radiation that the adjacent building receives and the ignition level of the materials in the adjacent buildings determines how much radiation can spread the fire to the external building (bre, 2015, 5). The separation between buildings is important in ensuring the adjacent buildings resist the spread of fire from wall to wall or roof to roof in relation to height, position and use of the building (bre, 2015, 11). The space separating buildings should be adequate to accommodate inelastic displacement of the two adjacent buildings (csengineering, 2009). The maximum inelastic displacement to determine the appropriate separation is attained through the equation below. Where δmax represents the maximum elastic displacement between a floor or roof from the shear base structure. Cd is given, which determines the seismic loading factor importance while I is also given (csengineering, 2009, 1). 6. Single storey compartment size = 2000m2 (available sprinkler) (Lennon, 2015, 28). Single industrial unit recommended compartment size = 7000m2 (no sprinkler) 14000m2 with sprinklers installed (Lennon, 2015, 5 & 10). 7. 1000mm is the recommended space separation for buildings from any relevant boundary (NBS, 2017, 1). 8. fire resistance phases for a. A 28m high sprinkler secured residential building is 90seconds (Steelconstruction, 2014, 1). b. A ten-storey shop (40m high) with a sprinkler protection is 60 seconds (Steelconstruction, 2014, 1). 9. Stating whether a fire-fighting shaft or firefighting life is recommended. a. An office building with a top floor occupied of 250m2 at 19m above fire service vehicle. A firefighting shaft is recommended and a fire fighting lift is required. The lift can be used for evacuation; can reach the top floor within 60 seconds and travels up to 200m2. b. A four-storey assembly building with a tope storey of 1400m2, located 10 m above the service vehicle access level. A firefighting shaft is recommended, the firefighting lift is not required or highly necessary. 10. Purpose groups for the premises below. a. A hospital = 2(a) b. A hotel = 2(b) c. A student union building (e.g. 54 degrees) = 3 d. A swimming pool building = group 5 (Govt. of Ireland, 2006, 10) 11. The limitations for the travelling distance on single and multiple directions for the following One direction Many directions a. A normal hazard storage facility = 25m 45m b. A place of special fire hazard 9m 18m c. The bedroom of an apartment 9m 18m d. A lecture theatre with fixed seating in rows 15m 32m e. Shop floor 18m 45m f. A residential care home 9m 18m (ODPM, 2000, 39) 12. Table 3 OF ADB. The minimum recommended escape routes from storeys with a. 10 people = 1 b. 100 people = 2 c. 250 people = 2 d. 500 people = 2 (ODPM, 2000, 40) 13. Table 4 of ADB. Minimum exit width to accommodate a. 219 people = 850 b. 61 people = 850 c. 10 people =750 d. 500 people = 5 per person (ODPM, 2000, 42) 14. In a building with four floor above ground has two escape stairs without lobby protection.in regards to table 7 of ADB, what is the minimum width of the escape stair when floor accommodate: a. 75 persons = 800mm b. 130 persons = 1000mm (ODPM, 2000, 46) 15. A building with five floors above ground has three escape stairs and a lobby protection. Using table 7 of ADB, what is the minimum width the escape stairs should accommodate is the floors have: a. 155persons = 1000mm b. 230 persons = 1100 (ODPM, 2000, 48) 16. Assuming 100 occupants from the ground floor accommodation also exit through the ground floor of the stair enclosures for Questions 9 and 10, how wide do the final exits need to be? (I.e. a merging flow – diagram 15 and associated equation). Firefighting shaft width Firefighting lift width a. A hospital = 1000mm 1000m b. hotel = 1100mm 1100mm c. A student union building (e.g. 54 degrees) = 1100mm 1100mm d. A swimming pool building 1100mm 1100mm (ODPM, 2000, 46) 17. According to Table C1, what floor space factors would be appropriate in the following areas? a. An office = 6.0 m2/ person b. A library = 7.0m2/ person c. A shop sales area = 7.0m2/ person d. A restaurant = 1.0m2/ person (ODPM, 2000, 18) 18. For a square room, 40m by 40m, calculate the number of occupants using the floor space factors obtained in Question 17. In each case what is the minimum number of exits required and how wide should each exit be as a minimum. a. floor space factor 6.0m2 Room = 40 by 40 40 * 40 = 1600 1600 / 6.0 = 266.7 Occupancy capacity is 266.7 persons b. A library = 7.0m2/ person 40 * 40 = 1600 1600/ 7.0m2 Occupancy capacity = 228.6 c. A shop sales area = 7.0m2/ person (Same as b above) d. A restaurant = 1.0m2/ person 40*40= 1600 1600/1.0 1600 occupancy capacity (Safety Section, 2013, 5) Occupancy capacity Minimum exits (ODPM, 2000, 40) Min width of exists (ODPM, 2000, 42) Office occupancy 266. 7persons 2 5 per person Library occupancy 228.6 2 5 per person Shop sales area occupancy 228.6 2 5 per person Restaurant occupancy 1600 3 5 per person 19. What is meant by the following terms: a. Life safety: it is the process of ensuring lives are protected during a fire or other emergencies. b. Property protection: it is the process of ensuring the properties such as buildings or contents of a building are protected in case of an emergency. c. Fire resistance: it is the ability of a material to resist the passage of fire from materials to materials, construction-to-construction etc. d. Cavity barrier = Constructions developed to deal cavities against smoke or fire protection. 20. Figure 1 and Figure 1a below represents a two-storey office building, from the dimensions give an estimate for internal room sizes. With reference to Figures 1 and 1a determine: a. Travel distances from each room and each floor, Travel distance for the two floors fall under the residential building with more than one direction of travel. Thus, the recommended travel distance is 18mm in one direction and 35mm in multiple directions (ODPM, 2000, 39). When escaping in one direction the distance should be 7.5m from the rooms, in case the rooms have multiple escape routes the travel distance should be 30m (ODPM, 2000, 35). b. Occupancy load Internal room sizes for the ground floor = 12, 600m2 Minimum amount of space needed per person = 200 gross square feet/person 12, 600 / 200 = 63 occupants only can use a space, or exit at a time on the ground floor For figure 1a. 13,600 / 200 = 68 people per exit c. Purpose group Assuming this is a residential building thus the purpose group = Figure 1 = 2(b) Figure 1a = 2 (b) d. Exit and final exit widths Exit width 850mm (4 exits0 Final exit width = 850mm (2 exits) The maximum number of persons per each final exit = 110 * 2 = 220 persons Each exit = 110 * 4 = 440 e. Stair widths = the width of the stairs should be as wide as the exit that lead to safety, which are a subject of discounting. Thus, the width of the stairs should be 850mm, which transports 110 maximum people to safety (ODPM, 2000, 42). The width of the stairs should not exceed 1400mm when it has a vertical extent of 30mm, without reducing the final exit width (pg 45). P = number of people that can be served per exit = 660 W = width of the stairs N = Number of storeys = 2 P = 660 N = 2 660 = 200w + 50 (w – 0.3) 2 660 = 200w + (50w – 15) 2 660 = 200w + 500w – 30 690 =700w The width of the stairs should be 985mm at least. f. Classification of wall and ceiling linings – The rooms as presented are small with an area less than 4m2. More importantly, the rooms are used for residential accommodation. Thus, the national classification of the linings is 3 while in the European class the classification is D-s3, d2. There is no limit of the wall and ceiling linings below diffusers. However, for the rooms in both figure 1 and 1a the minimum is 3m2 (ODPM, 2000, 63). 21. Room 1 = 2000m2 room 6 = 900m2 22. Room 2 = 1500m2 room 7 = 2000m2 23. Room 3 = 1000m2 Room 8 = 900m2 24. Room 4 = 1100m2 Room 9 = 1000m2 25. Room 5 = 1200m2 Room 10 = 1000m2 26. Room 11 = 1000m2 27. 28. TOTAL = 13, 600m2 E Room 1 = 2000m2 room 6 = 900m2 Room 2 = 1500m2 room 7 = 2000m2 Room 3 = 1000m2 Room 8 = 900m2 Room 4 = 1100m2 Room 9 = 1000m2 Room 5 = 1200m2 Room 10 = 1000m2 TOTAL = 12, 600m2 Ground floor has ten rooms with an assumed internal sizes as follows Room 1 = 2000m2 room 6 = 900m2 Room 2 = 1500m2 room 7 = 2000m2 Room 3 = 1000m2 Room 8 = 900m2 Room 4 = 1100m2 Room 9 = 1000m2 Room 5 = 1200m2 Room 10 = 1000m2 Room 11 = 1000m2 TOTAL = 13, 600m2 References BD, 2012. Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011. Buildings Department, pp. 1 - 224. bre, 2015. BRE Fire Conference 2015. BRE Trust, pp. 1 - 24. Candy, M. Y. & Chow. W, K., 2006. A Brief Review on the Timeline Concept in Evacuation. International Journal on Architectural Science, 7(1), pp. 1-13. Chiltern International Fire, 2016. Fire resistance testing, assessment and certification. Technical Information. TI - 0401, Volume 1, pp. 1-4. CIEH, 2005. Housing - Fire Safety. Guidance on Fire Safety Povisions for Certain Types of Existing Housing. LaCors Promoting Quality Regulation, Volume 1, pp. 1- 76. csengineering, 2009. 2009 1BC Section 1613.6.7 Minimum Distance or Building Separation. [Online] Available at: http://csengineermag.com/article/2009-ibc-section-1613-6-7-minimum-distance-for-building-separation/ [Accessed 7 1 2017]. Exova, 2017. Reaction to Fire Testing. [Online] Available at: https://www.exovabmtrada.com/en-gb/testing/fire-behaviour-testing/reaction-to-fire-testing [Accessed 7 1 2017]. FSAC, 2015. Fire Safety Advice Centre (FSAC): Basic Means of Escape from Fire. [Online] Available at: http://www.firesafe.org.uk/basic-means-of-escape-from-fire/ [Accessed 7 1 2017]. Govt. of Ireland, 2006. Fire Safety. Technical Guidance Document B. Building Regulations 2006, pp. 1 - 168. Ji, J.-w., Meng, Y., Li, Q.-J. & Yang, S.-F., 2014. Study on Factors Affecting Evacuation Capability of a Fire Protection Walkin Underground Building. Procedia Engineering: Science Direct, Volume 71, p. 357 363. Lennon, T., 2015. BRE Fire Conference 2015. BRE TRUST. Fire Safety Team, BRE Global, pp. 1 - 29. LWF, 2015. Lawrence Webster Forrest: Facilities Management - Means of Escape - Escape oute Protection - Part 12. [Online] Available at: http://www.lwf.co.uk/news/facilities-management-means-of-escape-escape-route-protection-part-12/ [Accessed 7 1 2017]. NBS, 2017. FIRE Safety B1: Methods for Calculating Acceptable Unprotected Area. [Online] Available at: https://www.thenbs.com/BuildingRegs/knowledgeCentre/ShowContents.aspx?section=B1&topic=b_1201_APPDOC_B1_00660&tl=no [Accessed 7 1 2017]. ODPM, 2000. The Building Regulations 2000. Fire Safety. Approved Document B (ADB), pp. 7 - 149. Safety Section, 2013. Basic Calculation for Hall/ Room Saf Occupancy Figures. Guidance on the Basic Calculation for Hall/ room Safe Occupancy Figures, pp. 1 - 8. Steelconstruction, 2014. Structural Fire Resistance Requirements. [Online] Available at: http://www.steelconstruction.info/Structural_fire_resistance_requirements [Accessed 7 1 2017]. Read More