Building Fire Systems - Essay Example

Building Firе Systеms Student's Name Instructor's Name Course Date Question one Type of smoke hazard management system Explanation of the system Basic principle behind the system. How the principle is commonly achieved within the buildings. An example of a building where the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions require this system to be provided Zone pressurization The settingup of high pressure compartments in the rooms (zones) adjacent to the compartments of fire or smoke origin. The principal is commonly achieved by using signs to differentiate the smoke zone (s) and pressurized zone (s).Smoke zones are identified by a minus sign while pressurized zones are identified by positive signs. Depending on the level of fire protection and control mechanism that the building stakeholders agree, the number pressurized zones can vary from one compartment to the maximum number of adjacent compartments. Buildings which are clustered in same place providing minimal distance from one to another. Stair pressurization Setting up stair pressurization must take into consideration the pressure difference along the stair case. This is meant to ensure that an easy means of egress for occupants is achieved. It also serves to ensure that the rescue team can get a better visibility state of the smoke area (zone) For buildings which are less than 11 Meters, the air source must be set up for each stairwell. For building more than 1 meters, the air source must be evenly distributed within the stairwell but the distance between the air sources should not be more than three storeys. The first source of air must be backed up by other systems such as powered fans. An air source should not be placed three meters to the exit door. Storey buildings with many floors. Mostly above 11 meters. Hot layer smoke control The height of the building should always be greater than the height of the tallest man. This is to ensure that the hot layer of smoke will always be higher that the people getting evacuated. This provides a room for easy egression of the occupants. The height of the smoke layer should be controlled to ensure that the radiant heat from the source is less than 2.5KW/M3.The most common height is approximately one meter. This is if you take into consideration the height of the room which is three meters. Question Two. Advantages of Exhaust smoke system. 1. It is easy to set up. The smoke exhaust system is one of the easiest smoke control systems to be installed. There are set procedures to be followed in installing and does not need an experienced person or a professional to do it. The only requirement is to go through the manual before installing it. 2. Maintenance cost is low. To maintain this system is something that must not cause worries to companies or homesteads. This is because of the technology used in developing it and the simplicity of use.Once it is installed, there will be minimal disturbances on it thus cautioning it from regular damage. 3. Faster way of channeling smoke out of the building. One exhaust system can be linked to many pressurized zones. The smoke particles from these zones can then be taken outside the building to be carried outside. If compared with other mechanisms of controlling smoke hazards, it remains one of the fastest system. Speed in this system can also be increased by linking it with a fun from outside to push the smoke particles faster up the exhaust pipe. Disadvantages of Smoke Exhaust System 1. Installation cost. The cost of installing this system is relatively too high if you compare with other systems available. In Australia, it is projected that to install a simple one can cost up to a thousand dollars. This is too big amount to be pumped into such a project yet there are many other systems which can be used instead.This is a factor which must be taken into full consideration. The cost benefit analysis must be done at this stage to look at the economic significance of such a system. 2. Adverse effect on the environment. The exhaust fumes or smoke getting out of this system can adversely affect the air. Countries which are mostly industrialized have felt the pinch of such a system. Among other effects, Smoke exhaust system contributes to damage of ozone layer in the atmosphere, acidic rain and consequently increase in cases of skin cancer and cataracts. This happens especially if filters are ignored; which is a common practice in the developing countries. There is lack of proper way to dispose wastes including smoke particles. 3. If not combined with other systems, it may not fully serve to control smoke and fire hazards. The most common system that can be combined with the other oneis the zone pressurization and staircase pressurization systems. In this combined system, the other serve to collect the smoke particles and channel them to desired destination. Recommendations. 1. The client should not install the smoke exhaust system.If proper analyses is made on the basis of advantages and disadvantages,one will realize that a lot of weight is e by disadvantages.For instance, the issue about environmental degradation cannot be compared with the cost of looking for other approaches. Some of the long term effects of acid rain for instance will be an agent of economic lapse in a country in future. It is better to look for other systems and savethe future generation. Another tradeoff is the issue of combining other systems to work together with this system. If the cost was the factor then solution to problem is still at a far distance. We are coming back again to the issue of cost because the three systems will increase the cost by a factor of three. 2. The client should consider using mechanical vent shaft system instead. As opposed to the natural means which provides a window smoke space of around 1.5 meters for every 7.5 meters walking distance, the vent shaft system will provide a fast and more efficient way to clear smoke buy using 0.5 to 0.6 meters of smoke vent shaft systems. This will safe on space used in quelling the smoke hazards within the building. Thought the cost of installation and maintenance of the shaft system is high, it equalizes the benefits for its efficiency. High cost can be contributed by having a different power line and purchasing dumpers for firewall protection. Question three Head of consideration/Factor of consideration Explanation Example requirement How the factor can influence the performance of the system Location requirements The sprinkler can be located in any place which is occupied as a residential area.The system can be set up especially at corners and outside the building. However the number of these systems depends on a number of factors which include the extend of projected fire hazard, type of the building, size of the fire compartment(Clouse AS 2118.1) The factor has great impact on performance in that the further the location of the sprinkler to the most affected arears can delay egression. Also, if the number of sprinklers in various canners and locations is less, then rescue missions are delayed. This calls for strategic locations for systems to be able to respond to any emergency within the least time possible Water supply The Australian sprinkler systems standard requirements calls for large volumes of water to be available and reliable at all times.The amount of water to be supplied depends on a number of factors such as the expected level of damage that c An be caused by the fire or smoke particles(Clouse AS 2118.5) Sprinkler can function without water. Hence the name sprinkler. Successful egression and evacuation missions calls for good amount of water. Less volume of water can increase the risk of evacuation missions. Water reticulation The water distribution must be evenly and not skewed at any circumstance.To is to ensure that no part of the system or entire residential area is at risk. (Clouse AS 2118.6) The effect on this part is the response time. If water distribution channels are not properly designed, then time of executing evacuation systems is increased. Indication and control The sprinkler system must be able to detect the rise in temperature or increase in the smoke particles and open it valves. This should happen without much control by human being.(Clouse 2118.4) The cost of operation automatically increases with automation requirement. The other impact is over dependence on the system can delay response in case of malfunctions or down time Commissioning The requirement for sprinkler system to be commissioned is core in Australian government. The system must be thoroughly checked to unravel errors which might have been made in designing and development. The commissioning also is done to check whether the system is in line with the expectations of the stakeholders.(Clouse 2118.9) One of the impacts is that it might delay the time of setting up the system. Secondly, testing the system can bring in some new discoveries about the functioning of the system. This can increase the costin case of addition of other functionalities during the test stage. 1. McGhie, C. and Spearpoint, M., 2007. Apparent Level of Safety of Buildings Meeting the New Zealand Building Code Approved Document C/AS1, Fire Safety. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury. 2. Poh, W., 2011. Tenability criteria for design of smoke hazard management systems. Ecolibrium, AIRAH, August. 3. Shui, B., Evans, M. and Somasundaram, S., 2009. Country report on building energy codes in Australia (No. PNNL-17850). Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US). 4. Read More