B5 Facilities and Access for Fire Service - Essay Example

B5 FACILITIES AND ACCESS FOR FIRE SERVICE By (insert your name here) The Name of the Class (Course) Professor (Tutor) The Name of the School (University) The City and State where it is located The Date B5 FACILITIES AND ACCESS FOR FIRE SERVICE A. Introduction All the necessary functional demands of the completion of B5 consists of equipment that provide the facilities and access of a system that will be of fire services. These items that are needed for the same purpose are as mentioned below (ADB, 2013): 1. Adequacy in terms of accessing the external components of the fire appliances. 2. Adequacy in terms of all the requirements and facilities that can make it feasible for firefighters to control internal fires. 3. Ensuring the building, itself, can be easily accessed when firefighters arrive at the scene. 4. Adequacy in terms of complete access of the building so that in fire incidences, firefighters can be able to fight effectively, search effectively and rescue the victims. 5. Adequacy in terms of maneuvering methods in which heat and smoke can be vented from the building’s basement. 1. Fire Mains and Hydrants For the purposes of fighting fire in the shafts of a building, ADB recommends that a provision of fire mains should be of essence (ADB, par 15.2). For academic buildings, the case may differ slightly since the firefighting shafts are the least of requirements (section 10.4). Consequently, fire mains should not be necessarily provided as discussed below. This is affirmed in accordance with Part B of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 2010 which provides an understanding regarding functional needs for what the regulation terms as ‘LIFE SAFETY.’ Relating this legislation with the building identified, there is need to protect the health and safety of people in an around a building. a) Private Hydrant As per the discussions of ADB, any compartment with an area of 280m2 and below should have an additional hydrant as a provision within a distance not less than 100m from the fire-hydrant in use. In the case of an academic building, the specification may vary in that the area is always has more than 280m2 and have no fire mains established, the extra hydrant should therefore meet the following (ADB, 2013, par 15.7): 1. Its location should be at most 90 m from the building’s entry point and should, at no cost, be more than 90 m. It must be ensured that there must be a distinct plate distinguishing as per the demands of the BS 3251:1976. It should also be noted that any case whereby the supply of water is insufficient or absent, the solution should be sought in ADB paragraph 15.8. b) Vehicle Access Vehicle access is a necessity. Fire services and appliances are normally ferried using vehicles of varying sizes. For these to reach the building in question, an access must be made possible for the vehicle as well as hydraulic platforms. These aid more in the actual activity of firefighting (ADB, 2013). ADB also requires complete access of vehicles to those buildings that lack fire mains. In this scenario, the requirements listed in Table 19 must be met (Based on ADB par 16.4) Table 1 The description given in the table above necessitates the determination of the academic buildings to strictly use it. It should be taken into consideration, however, that the building’s total area is 3,000 m2. Based on the Table 19 above, perimeter to be accessed by the vehicles in charge of rescue and fire is to be 50%. This is due to the fact that the whole area falls in the category that is between 2,000 m2 and 8,000 m2 and the height of the floor of top storey above the ground is more than 11m. Note that an explanation of the parameter is given in ADB, Diagram 48 The door(s) should be of accommodative sizes, that is 750mm wide on each of the sides that are for vehicle access; this should be in accordance with present between these doors on a given side – minimum of 60 m (ADB 2013, par 16.5) Access routes and hard standings design Just as in the above occasions, academic buildings have special treatment. Its vehicle access routes should concord to Table 20 as shown below. Table 2 The academic building also has a height above 11m. For that reason, its vehicle access routes should meet all the conditions shown in Diagram 49, ADB below Diagram 3 Provision of firefighting shafts ADB outlines that assembly buildings that should be provided with firefighting shafts are those that have an area minimum of 900 m2 and also a floor height of at least 7.5 m. in the academic building in this case, firefighting shaft will not be needed since the building area is only 772 m2 (ADB, 2013, par 17.3). REGULATORY REFORM This form allocate the responsible person in an organization the mandate to identify risk associated with some activity and minimize it. A. Fire Safety Duties 1. General fire precaution: to guarantee that the employees are always safe 2. Regular review of risk assessment: must conform to the most recent standards and also to the changes that are made in the building 3. Maintenance: of much vitality as it gives focus on safety and health. For the attainment of this, the devices used for fire safety must be maintained accordingly B. Fire Safety Management This is a fire safety strategy that determines the appropriate system to manage fire emergencies in a building. Those who design the fire safety precautions must make a proper design for this academic building (BS 9999, 2008 par 8.1) MANAGEMENT LEVEL 1. Level 1: this is the highest management level 2. Level 2: this is the normal management level 3. Level 3: this is the basic management level In the determination of the level to be adopted in this academic building, Table six of BS 9999 is to be used. This should be done with lots of focus given to the following factors: 1. Character of occupancy in the academic building: the surest occupants of this building are the academic staff and students. This means that they are aware of their environment all the time. 2. The conventional fire growth rate of the academic building: it is common knowledge that fires grow very fast in such buildings. The rooms in the building has many combustible materials. For instance, a kitchen is always a hazardous place. Laboratories have flammable materials such as alcohol and methylated spirit. Lecture halls and classrooms have many combustible materials such as students’ books, furniture, computers and boards. Some of the stores can also have combustible materials as well as flammable gases and fuels. In these buildings, there are inexplicable plastic materials and wood products. It would, therefore, be reasonable and understandable that the rate of fire growth here is very high. 3. Risk profile: the explanations given above will most likely position the risk profile of the building in A3. With consideration of the factors above, the level of management that will suit this building is Level 1 which is based on Table 6 of ABD. In the event whereby assessment is carried out in Level 1 to ensure management of fire safety, there are chief factors which should never go unchecked for as per the document BS 9999 which entails the following: 1. Planning for chances in risk profile: there are many changes that are likely to occur with time in the building or occupancy. Such changes should be expected, identifies and catered for by this level system. Furthermore, the level system must conduct an appropriate identification and management measures that are a requirement in the event of an emergency and ensure their implementation according to the standards – ensuring they are up to date. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.2) 2. Resources and Authority: this is a component of the level system whereby authority to conduct fire safety related activities is given to the relevant authorities by the manager of the building. Achievement of this is bestowing or betrothing power and responsibility to these individuals or organizations according to requirements of laws and regulations. This is always covered in the document that enables these groups to be members of the professionals who are involved in repair and maintenance. Costs should also be catered for herein. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.3) 3. Fire training and staffing level: this is a level system whereby training is a necessity. This is to aid the staff and students contribute towards ensuring safety for themselves, others and the building. They achieve this through participation in fire prevention before the incidence and fire protection and evacuation in the event of the accident. These are done procedurally to enhance best outcome possible. Each and every form of fire can be extinguished by different substances; this is why fire extinguishers contain a variety of components. The training purposefully creates awareness among the staff and student, let them know the appropriate fire extinguishers to be used for specific fires and educate them on how they can use them without complications during emergencies. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.4-8.3.5) 4. Work Control: this level system has the proper outlined activities and a chronology of events that guide the parties in extinguishing fire. This consists of a document permitting them to conduct such activities, logging and auditing and the mandate to conduct any supervision whatsoever. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.6) 5. Communications procedures: this level system gives a guarantee to all individuals involved in the incident communications of what is going on. They have a right to be informed through any method that will alarm them. In the event of system failure, there must be alternatives that chip in to cater for the deficiency (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.8) 6. Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems: in this level system, maintenance should involve radical monitoring that enhances fire safety. This happens when the academic building is already in use and ensures that equipment within remain fully functional and alternative requirements in case of failure also remain functional. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.8) 7. Liaison with fire and rescue services: this is a level that ensures the administration liaise with bodies that offer fire rescue services. Whenever changes are made in the building or system, they are supposed to be made aware. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.9) 8. Contingency planning: for any accidents, there must be plans to counter them appropriately. In the event of countering these problems, there are some factors that have to be provided. These include transport, communication, shelter, time of week, weather, time of year, time of the day and traffic related issues. Scenarios that may accompany these are those calamities such as floods and incidences such as power failure. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.10). Read More

In the determination of the level to be adopted in this academic building, Table six of BS 9999 is to be used. This should be done with lots of focus given to the following factors:1. Character of occupancy in the academic building: the surest occupants of this building are the academic staff and students. This means that they are aware of their environment all the time.2. The conventional fire growth rate of the academic building: it is common knowledge that fires grow very fast in such buildings.

The rooms in the building have any combustible materials. For instance, a kitchen is always a hazardous place. Laboratories have flammable materials such as alcohol and methylated spirit. Lecture halls and classrooms have any combustible materials such as students’ books, furniture, computers, and boards. Some of the stores can also have combustible materials as well as flammable gases and fuels. In these buildings, there are inexplicable plastic materials and wood products. It would, therefore, be reasonable and understandable that the rate of fire growth here is very high.3. Risk profile: the explanations given above will most likely position the risk profile of the building in A3.

With consideration of the factors above, the level of management that will suit this building is Level 1 which is based on Table 6 of ABD. In the event whereby assessment is carried out in Level 1 to ensure management of fire safety, there are chief factors that should never go unchecked for as per the document BS 9999 which entails the following:1. Planning for changes in risk profile: many changes are likely to occur with time in the building or occupancy. Such changes should be expected, identifies, and catered for by this level system.

Furthermore, the level system must conduct appropriate identification and management measures that are a requirement in the event of an emergency and ensure their implementation according to the standards – ensuring they are up to date. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.2)2. Resources and Authority: this is a component of the level system whereby authority to conduct fire safety-related activities is given to the relevant authorities by the manager of the building. Achievement of this is bestowing or betrothing power and responsibility to these individuals or organizations according to requirements of laws and regulations.

This is always covered in the document that enables these groups to be members of the professionals who are involved in repair and maintenance. Costs should also be catered for herein. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.3)3. Fire training and staffing level: this is a level system whereby training is a necessity. This is to aid the staff and students contribute towards ensuring safety for themselves, others, and the building. They achieve this through participation in fire prevention before the incidence and fire protection and evacuation in the event of the accident.

These are done procedurally to enhance the best outcome possible. Every form of fire can be extinguished by different substances; this is why fire extinguishers contain a variety of components. The training purposefully creates awareness among the staff and student, let them know the appropriate fire extinguishers to be used for specific fires and educate them on how they can use them without complications during emergencies. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.4-8.3.5)4. Work Control: this level system has the properly-outlined activities and a chronology of events that guide the parties in extinguishing the fire.

This consists of a document permitting them to conduct such activities, logging and auditing, and the mandate to conduct any supervision whatsoever. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.6)5. Communications procedures: this level system gives a guarantee to all individuals involved in the incident communications of what is going on. They have a right to be informed through any method that will alarm them. In the event of system failure, there must be alternatives that chip in to cater for the deficiency. (BS 9999, 2008, par 8.3.8)

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