STANDARDS FOR ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Stewart Kidd Loss Prevention Consultancy Ltd
This presentation will consider: The risks to both new and existing buildings which can be countered by active fire protection Buildings and contents Compensation for inadequate means of escape Compensation for impaired fire separation and compartmenation What systems are available and their respective constraints Gaseous Water-based Others, including oxygen reduction The standards which are presently available
When would an fire suppression system be appropriate? Where building standards or a fire engineering study demand this When the FRA indicates that the risks of and from fire cannot be mitigated by any other means When buildings are being refurbished or converted to new uses (Adaptive Reconstruction). Note that S3 of the Building Regulations 2010 may make the installation of AFSS retrospective if changes constitute building works In order to comply with current building codes especially where the means of escape are inadequate and it s not possible to modify these (CP3 Flats) When the building and contents are of particular importance Where there is an inadequate supply of fire fighting water Where the municipal or local fire service response is inadequate for whatever reason or the premises are difficult to access because of terrain or weather To comply with a legal requirement perhaps as a planning condition
Example: Corgarff Castle, Aberdeenshire Remote location Poor access - impassible often between December and March Restricted fire and rescue service response (retained/volunteer) Poor water supply Single wooden staircase extends height of building Crown Fire Inspector s Report proposed prohibitions on use of building and exclusion of upper floors as an education resource Scheduled Ancient Monument status restricted opportunities for changes/improvements and excavation
What fire suppression systems are available? For a wholly independent view, refer to BS 5306 Part 0: 2011 Gas systems Inert gases Halocarbon gases New generation gases Powder systems Air inerting systems/oxygen reduction systems Water-based systems Sprinklers Water mist Foam
Gases for Fire Suppression Inert Gas Name Trade Names Chemical Composition IG-01 Argotec, Argonfire Argon 100% IG-55 Argonite Argon 50%, Nitrogen 50% IG-100 Pro-Inert Nitrogen 100% IG-541 Inergen * Argon 40%, Nitrogen 52% CO 2 8% *NB: Patent on Inergen (Tyco) has now expired Chemical Gas Name Trade Names Chemical Composition HFC-227ea *Inergen is a Tyco product but is now out of patent FM-200, FE-227, C 3 HF 7 Solkflam 227, MH-227 HFC-236a FE-36 C 3 H 2 F 6 FK-5-1-12 NOVEC 1230 C 6 F 12 O
Gas Systems Unlikely to be suitable for whole building volume protection as gas concentrations have to be maintained and this means airtight structures and non-habitable spaces Good for data rooms, IT spaces, servers etc. Also for vaults, archives and records protection All systems require gas storage in cylinders or bulk tanks, pipework and visible nozzles Most systems are not suitable for areas which are habitually occupied and should be fitted with an abort or hold button IG-54I inert gas system protecting mobile shelving in major library Cylinder storage in floor void Hold Button
Standards for Gas Systems BS 5306 : Fire extinguishing installations on premises. Part 4: 2012: Specification for carbon dioxide systems BS EN 15004:2008 Fixed firefighting systems. Gas extinguishing systems. Part 1. Design installation and maintenance 2: FK-5-1-12 3. HCFC Blend A 4. HFC 125 5. HFC 227ea 6. HFC 23 7. IG-01 8. IG-100 9: IG-55 10.IG-541 Imperatives Lock-offs and discharge hold Discharge and concentration tests Over-pressure venting (in most cases) Warning signs at all entrances Careful calculation of ambient temperature/pressure and altitude for chemical gases where gas concentration approaches LOAEL* High pressure cylinders require 10- yearly test and certification Selection of correct agent to avoid corrosive by-products if this is a factor *LOAEL = Lowest Observerable Adverse Effect Limit
New Technology for Object or Local Protection LPS 1666 (!) now provides basis for testing and application of direct low pressure application systems for discrete area protection Ideal for electronic cabinets, mobile plant, wind turbine nacelles etc. Some success for kitchen protection in student accommodation May be suitable for bin stores/plant rooms/mobility scooter charging areas in social housing Burst tube actuation is simple and reliable Can discharge watermist, powder, foam, gases Bursting tube systems are particularly suited to cabinet protection Twin agent system on mobile plant
Personal Protection Systems Systems now approved to LPS 1665 with a BS on their use in preparation Uses watermist with fast-acting detection Designed for single room protection for vulnerable occupants who cannot self-evacuate Ideal for bed ridden/bariatric cases Also has been succesful in locations where occupant has difficult behaviour Many F&RS/housing associations can loan the units Should only be installed in conjunction with F&RS personel Several successful operations with lives saved However, care should be exercised for uses other than in the scope of the LPS
Other Systems: Foam & Powder (1) BS EN 13565-1:2003+A1:2007 Fixed firefighting systems. Foam systems. Requirements and test methods for components BS EN 13565-2:2009 Fixed firefighting systems. Foam systems. Design, construction and maintenance Foam systems rely on water around 95% of discharge BS EN 12416: 2001 Fixed firefighting systems. Powder systems. : Part 1: Requirements and test methods for components. Part 2: Design, construction and maintenance Powder and foam systems require tanks and pipework as for gas systems. Should not be used inside most buildings
Other Systems: Oxygen Reduction (2) Air inerting (oxygen reduction) systems appear superficially attractive for some applications and may be suitable for the protection of valuable collections especially paintings, archives, books and natural history exhibits in purposebuilt stores. (Also for storage of fabrics and carpets). However, they may not be suitable for locations which are normally occupied and require gastight buildings to maintain lowered concentrations of oxygen. Some concerns over impact of 15% O 2 on some individuals Concept still remains unapproved by OSHA in US Courtesy Oxy/Reduct Systems/Wagner
Installing water-based systems the choices Water mist Relatively new technology with a number of competing systems and equipment Systems must be either location specific or compliant with test protocols Choice of low pressure (very like sprinklers) or high pressure Utilise > 70% less water than sprinklers Less likely to qualify for insurance premium discounts High pressure usually more expensive than sprinklers Higher maintenance costs than sprinklers May need separate fire detection system - which will also need maintenance with possibility of spurious actuation Sprinklers High reliability with proven technology based on well-understood design rules Only operates in the presence of a fire Require up to 2-hour supply of water, pumps (usually) and power supply Approved plastic pipe can be used for lower hazard classification systems Usually attract insurance discount in commerical properties Peripheral water damage is a possibility but this will be 80-90% less than that likely from the fire service Very long system life 40 years is possible Maintenance costs c.< 750/year
Standards for Active Wet Systems (1) Sprinklers Domestic and Residential: BS 9251: 2015 Industrial and Commercial BS EN 12845: 2016 Insurance-driven systems LPC Sprinkler Rules FM Data Sheets NFPA 13 and 13R and 13D Watermist Domestic & Residential Systems BS 8458: 2015 - includes flats and residential care Industrial and Commercial BS 8489: 2016: Parts 1,4,5,6,7 - includes hotels
Standards for Active Wet Systems (2) BS 8489-1 Fixed fire protection systems. Industrial and commercial watermist systems. Code of practice for design and installation. - 4: Fire performance tests and requirements for watermist systems for local applications involving flammable liquid fires - 5: Tests and requirements for watermist systems for the protection of combustion turbines and machinery spaces with volumes up to and including 80 m 3-6: Fire performance tests and requirements for watermist systems for the protection of industrial oil cookers -7: Tests and requirements for watermist systems for the protection of low hazard occupancies Low Hazard Occupancies include: non-storage, non-manufacturing occupancy where the quantity and/or combustibility of the content is low and fires with relatively low rates of heat release are expected, with maximum fuel loads and obstructions + Ceiling heights to a maximum of 5m Examples: Residential care premises and apartments where BS 8468 cannot be used Churches Concealed spaces Gymnasiums Hotel bedrooms and their access Local lending libraries Offices Restaurant seating areas Schools and university class rooms Unused attics in low hazard premises with no combustible contents and no services other than lighting
Insurance Driven Standards (1) LPC Rules Part 1 of the LPC Rules includes the full text of BS EN 12845 + 36 Technical Bulletins + Guidance (eg Legionella) Enforced by insurers Installed by LPS 1048-listed installers Must be complied with as part of LPS 1048 for Certificate of Conformity Must use LPCB-listed components where these are available
Insurance Driven Standards (2) FM Global Data Sheets Usually enforced for all property insured by FM-G Not interchangeable with NFPA 13 or EN 12845 no picking and mixing! Normally used in UK in warehouses and factories Other FM-G Data Sheets including watermist and turbines Free download from: http://www.fmglobal.com/research-andresources/fm-global-data-sheets Not just sprinkler standards
Life Safety Systems and Enhanced Availability All sprinkler systems are life safety systems. In the Foreword to BS EN 12845, it is made clear that the term life safety systems is no longer used. Instead, Annex F: Additional measures to improve system reliability provides for additional measures where a system is required to be continuously available. For example, where a large retail mall s building standards approval is dependent on a fire suppression system, such systems must be operational at all times, even when maintenance is being carried out. Annex F provides guidance on what additional equipment needs to be provided under these circumstance. This can include: Subdivision into zones with a maximum area of 2400m 2 Wet pipe installations Quick response sprinkler heads (Usually) duplicate valve sets Duplicate water supplies These provisions can substantially add to the costs of a system and should therefore only be specified when necessary
STANDARDS FOR ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION Questions? www.risk-consultant.com