Active Fire Protection

1. Active Fire Protection
and
Suppression
Chapter 21.3
Prepared by: Glyza Maye B.
Magdua

2. What is Active Fire Protection?
Active fire protection (AFP) is characterized by items or system,
which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to
passive fire protection.
 Active fire protection involves systems and measures that actively
detect and mitigate fires. It includes fire alarms, standpipe, sprinkler
and spray systems, and more.

3. Standpipe Systems
A standpipe system is an internal piping network connected to fire-hose stations that are
used to rapidly suppress a fire.
 Piping in a standpipe system runs vertically (up and down) and horizontally (side to
side) throughout the building.
 A standpipe system may be combined with an automatic fire protection system. For
example, a standpipe system and a sprinkler system may be installed in the same
building. The standpipe and the sprinkler systems may even share the same water
supply and riser piping.

5. Types of Standpipe Systems
 Wet Standpipe - This system always has water in the piping. The wet pipe
system is the most commonly used standpipe system. It is used in heated
buildings where there is no danger of the water in the piping freezing.
 Dry Standpipe with an Automatic Dry Pipe Valve - Under normal
conditions there is no water in the piping. Instead, there is air under
pressure in the piping. This system is usually installed in a building that is
not heated.
 Dry Standpipe with a Manual Control Valve - this system has no water in
the piping. The water is not allowed into the standpipe until a control valve
is manually operated. This system is usually used in a building that is not
heated
 Dry Standpipe with No Permanent Water Supply - This system cannot be
used unless water is supplied by the fire department. A sign must be
attached to each of the hose outlets. It should read “Dry Standpipe for Fire
Department Use Only.” This system is usually used in a building that is not
heated.

6. Automatic Fire Protection Systems
An automatic fire protection system provides a warning to occupants of
the building, notifies emergency personnel responding to the alarm, and
activates fire suppression systems to reduce the growth rate of a fire or
the movement of smoke.
 Typically, smoke detectors sense the presence of fire in the building.
 The fire control panel then sounds an alarm, shuts down air-handling
equipment, disconnects power from the protected equipment, and
then releases agent into the protected area.

7. Conventional Automatic Sprinkler
Systems
An automatic sprinkler system consists of the sprinkler heads and a
network of pipes placed in a horizontal pattern near the ceiling and is
designed to automatically dispense water on a fire.
 Is fitted with automatic devices designed to release water on a fire.
These devices are called sprinkler heads.
An approved automatic sprinkler system is installed in accordance with
fire or building codes.
 It uses the proper automatic sprinkler heads for the structure’s
occupancy and construction, has an adequate and reliable supply of
water, has been tested and has been found acceptable to the
appropriate governmental authority.

8. Types of Conventional Automatic
Sprinkler Systems
 Wet-Pipe Automatic Sprinkler Systems - have pressurized water in the
pipe and mains. Water is released when the sprinkler head is activated.
 Dry-Pipe Automatic Sprinkler Systems - have pipes filled with
compressed air or nitrogen. When a sprinkler head is activated, the air
will begin to be released and the air pressure will drop.
 Pre-action Automatic Sprinkler Systems - are similar to dry-pipe except
that the water first fills the pipe as an alarm is set off, providing an
opportunity to extinguish the fire manually before the sprinklers open.
This valve is electronically activated by a heat-detecting device within
the area, and a signal is sent to the valve and the valve opens.
 Deluge Automatic Sprinkler Systems - allow all sprinkler heads to go off
at the same time. This system is very similar to the pre-action system,
except all sprinkler heads are open.

10. Automatic Sprinklers
 Automatic sprinklers are devices that open automatically to
discharge water when an excessive temperature is detected.
When the heat of a fire raises the
sprinkler temperature to its operating
point (e.g., 165°F/75°C), a solder link
will melt or a liquid filled glass bulb will
shatter to open that single sprinkler.
Once the sprinkler is open, water from
the sprinkler pipes flows directly over
the source of the heat, as shown in
Figure 21.3.

11. Types of pipes
 A network of pipe delivers water to the sprinkler heads.
Types of pipe approved for use include the following:
 Steel pipe - are approved for use in all fire suppression sprinkler applications.
It is available in the following nominal diameters: 3⁄8, 1⁄2,
3⁄4,1,11⁄4,11⁄2,2,21⁄2,3,31⁄2,4,5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 in.
 Copper tubing - is the most popular water supply pipe material, but it is used
less frequently in fire sprinkler systems. It is available in the following
nominal diameters: 3⁄8, 1⁄2, 3⁄4,1,11⁄4,11⁄2,2,21⁄2,3,31⁄2,4,5, 6, and 8
in.
 Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) - is a rigid plastic pipe generally
approved for use in fire suppression sprinkler systems in residential and many
light commercial applications. It is available in straight lengths in the
following nominal diameters: 1, 11⁄4,11⁄2,2,21⁄2,3, 31⁄2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10
in.

12. Primary Sources of Water Supply
 Water for automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems must be
available in sufficient quantity and at sufficient volume and pressure
at all times to ensure reliable operation in the event of fire.
 Potential sources of water supply for sprinkler and standpipe systems
include a direct connection to the public water system, gravity tank,
pressure tank, or automatic fire pump.
 A gravity storage tank may be located on the top of a building or on a
tall tower.
 Pressure tanks are often used where there is enough water from a
supply source.
 A fire pump is a part of a fire sprinkler system’s water supply in high-
rise installations where the local public water system cannot provide
sufficient pressure.

13. Alternative Fire Suppression Systems
 Conventional sprinklers demand high water supply rates and are
associated with fixed large diameter pipe networks around the area to
be protected.
 The necessity for large amounts of water has some inherent
disadvantages:
 it damages most of the building’s contents and interior finishes;
 flammable oils tend to float on the water’s surface and continue to
burn;
 it conducts electricity;
 and if it vaporizes into steam, it may be harmful to the firefighters.

14. Alternative Method
 Water Mist Automatic Sprinkler Systems - rely
upon a fine spray of water to sup press a fire. A
typical system consists of cylinders of water under
pressure, heat/smoke detectors, and discharge
nozzles connected to a network of pipes. The mist,
with its small droplets of water, is very efficient in
absorbing a large amount of heat as the droplets
contact the fire and is converted to steam.
 Clean Agent Gas Fire Suppression Systems -
discharge as a gas on the surface of combusting
materials. A typical system consists of cylinders
of a liquid agent under high pressure,
heat/smoke detectors, and discharge nozzles
connected to a network of pipes.

15. Alternative Method
 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire
Suppression Systems - discharge a
CO2 gas that extinguishes fire by
displacing oxygen or taking oxygen
away from the fire. CO2 is also very
cold as it comes out of the
extinguisher, so it also cools the fuel.
 Foam Fire Suppression Systems -
discharge a high volume of gas-filled
bubbles that rapidly fill a space. Foam
masses are lighter than water and
flammable liquids, and they may be either
air or chemical gas bubbles. They float on
the surface of burning liquids to deplete
oxygen and smother the fire.

16. Automatic Sprinkler Testing and
Maintenance
 Active fire protection systems must be well maintained to ensure
reliability. In particular, systems using water and water based foam are
prone to rust deposits that can obstruct sprinkler heads and spray
nozzles.
 Periodic testing and maintenance is essential to ensuring that a fire
protection system will work as intended in a fire situation.
 Procedures should be in place to ensure regular maintenance and testing
of systems.
 Maintenance contracts are often placed with a fire protection system
contractor.
 The building operator or manager should keep records of these activities.

17. Portable Fire Extinguishers
 Portable fire extinguishers can be used to
put out most fires in their early stages.
They are classified according to their ability
to handle specific classes and sizes of fires.
 Not all fuels are the same, and if a fire
extinguisher is used on the wrong type of
fuel, it can make matters worse.
 Labels on extinguishers indi cate the class
and relative size of fire that they can be
expected to handle.

18. Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers
 Class A Extinguishers - are suitable for use on fires in ordinary
combustibles such as wood, paper, rubber, trash, and many plastics,
where a quenching-cooling effect is required.
 Class B Extinguishers - are suitable for use on fires in flammable
liquids, gases, and greases, where an oxygen-exclusion or flame-
interruption effect is essential
 Class C Extinguishers - are suitable for use on fires involving
energized electrical equipment and wiring where the dielectric
conductivity of the extinguishing agent is of importance.
 Class D Extinguishers - are suitable for use on fires in combustible
metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, and
potassium.

19. Common types of Fire Extinguishers
 Fire extinguishers may contain mixtures of water, but they are also available
with gases or dry chemicals.
Some of the common types of fire extinguishers are as follows:
 Air-pressurized water (APW) extinguishers are large, silver tanks filled about
two-thirds water, and then pressurized with air. They are designed for Class A
fires only (solid combustible materials that are not met also such as wood,
paper, cloth, trash, and plastics).
 Carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers are filled with non flammable
carbon dioxide gas under extreme pressure. They are designed for Class B and
C fires only (flammable liquid and electrical).
 Dry chemical fire extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin
layer of dust, separating the fuel from oxygen in the air. Dry chemical
extinguishers come in a variety of types. “ABC” indicates that they are
designed to extinguish Class A, B, and C fires; “BC” indicates that they are
designed to extinguish Class B and C fires.

20. Fire Extinguisher Location
 Portable fire extinguishers must be strategically situated. They must be
located so the travel distance is not more than 75 ft for Class A and Class D
hazard areas, and not more than 50 ft for Class B hazard areas.
 Extinguishers must be located close to the likely hazards, but not so close
that they would be damaged/isolated by the fire. If possible, they should be
located along normal paths of egress from the building. Where highly
combustible material is stored in small rooms or enclosed space, extinguishers
should be located outside the door and never inside where they might
become inaccessible.
 Extinguishers must not be blocked or hidden by stock, material, or machines.
They should be located or hung where they will not be damaged by trucks,
cranes, and harmful operations, or corroded by chemical processes, and
where they will not obstruct aisles or injure passers-by.

21. Smoke Control System
 A smoke control system is an engineered system
that uses mechanical fans to produce airflows and
pressure differences across smoke barriers to limit
and direct smoke movement.
 It is the part of a fire protection system that
manages and directs smoke to protect building
occupants and property (both the building and its
contents). This system can also be used to assist
firefighting activities.
 Smoke can cause significant damage to interior spaces and equipment. For
example, smoke can corrode electronic equipment, such as printed circuit
boards found in computers. By the time heat accumulates at the ceiling and
activates heat detectors or sprinkler heads, smoke could have already done
damage. As a result, smoke detectors are recommended in spaces containing
electronic equipment such as computer rooms and sound booths

22. THANKY
OU!!!