Fire safety requirements in

buildings
a. Overview of Building Fire Safety
Building fire safety comprises a "package" which incorporates construction
methods, mechanical and electrical devices, management practice and organised
human response tailored to reduce the impact of fire upon the occupants, the building,
its contents, the attending firefighters and any neighbouring property. In the context of
building fire safety, fire impact is considered to be any threat to life and property caused
by heat or smoke and may include adverse environmental impact from toxic products
stored on the premises.
Building fire safety cannot be defined as a "single system", it relies upon a group of "sub
systems" to form a complete "package". More often than not, if one of the "sub systems"
is removed, the whole "package" will collapse and the occupants within the building will
face an unacceptable risk in the event of outbreak of fire. For simplicity, the "package"
can be broken down into nine principle "sub systems", comprising:

means of escape from the building

ignition potential

fire load

compartmentation and structural fire resistance

firefighting systems

fire detection, alarm and communication systems

smoke management systems

fire brigade response.

Means of Escape from the Building

This is an essential part of the fire safety system. A safe, illuminated, well
identified way out of the building is required in order that the building occupants
can escape a fire (or other) emergency. Often more than one escape route is
required so that occupants have an alternative exit if one cannot be reached
because of smoke or fire. These exits must be kept clear at all times. Storage of

materials in exits is a common hazard and security problems are often overcome
by illegally locking fire escape doors which places the lives of the building
occupants at risk if a fire occurs.
Refer to the South Australian Occupational Health Safety and Welfare
Regulations of 1995, Division 2.6.1 Access and Egress and Australian Standard
1657, for Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairwells and Ladders.

Fire Load
Fire load is a term used to describe how much combustible material is contained in a
building and usually applies to the building contents. If the fire load is minimised then
fire impact will be reduced. It is the fire load and how it is arranged (eg. furniture layout)
or, in the case of a storage area, how the combustible goods are stored which
determines the rate of fire growth and, hence, the rate of heat release from the burning
materials. A large log chopped up into kindling wood presents the same fire load as the
whole log, however, the kindling will quickly burn, releasing all its heat in a short time
whereas the whole log (if it can be ignited in the first instance) will take a long time to
burn and release its heat. Storing combustible materials in separate piles with a space
between each pile is one way to reduce the impact of a fire in its early stages (assuming
that only one pile initially catches fire).

Ignition Potential
Ignition potential describes the likelihood of a fire starting. There is no ignition potential
in a bare room with no building services or people in it. Introduce people and you have
an ignition potential, especially if the people smoke. People also make mistakes (human
error). People, gas / electrical services, combustible materials, flammable liquids and
tools of trade generate an ignition potential. If a room were full of all these things and
the occupant was a compulsive arsonist, we would consider the ignition potential to be
extreme. If we reduce the ignition potential, we reduce the risk of a fire outbreak.

Compartmentation and Structural Fire Resistance

If the fire is contained within a room or space (known as a compartment) by the nature
of its construction, its impact on other parts of the building will be minimized. Naturally
the people in the compartment will need to get out before the fire effects them. A room
of solid brick with no windows and a sturdy door would be a good fire compartment,
because it would be difficult for the heat and smoke to escape. A room constructed of

glass would be a poor fire and smoke compartment because, as the fire grows, heat
would shatter the glass thus letting heat and smoke out and the fire to spread.
Compartmentation is a called a "PASSIVE" system (ie. just by being there it inhibits the
spread of fire). It relies upon structural stability under fire conditions; the ability to
withstand the effects of fire without collapse.

Fire Fighting Systems

Fire fighting systems are those which intervene in the fire growth process. Such
systems can be used by trained occupants or attending firefighters and include a fire
extinguisher, fire hose reel, or fire hydrant. Other systems may be automatic such as a
fire sprinkler system. Automatic systems are considered to be superior, because they do
not rely on people to manually operate them. Fire fighting systems are known as
"DYNAMIC" systems because they do something; they actively intervene in the rate of
fire growth.
The greater the extinguishing capability of the system and the earlier in the fire growth
period it can be applied, the lower the fire impact, hence, the preference for sprinkler
systems by most fire engineers and firefighting professionals.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are provided for a 'first attack' fire fighting measure generally undertaken by the occupants of
the building before the fire service arrive. It is important that occupants are familiar with which extinguisher type
to use on which fire.

Fire Hose Reels

Fire hose reels are provided for use by occupants as a 'first attack' firefighting measure but may, in some
instances, also be used by firefighters.

Fire Hydrant systems

Fire hydrant systems are installed in buildings to help firefighters quickly attack the fire. Essentially, a hydrant
system is a water reticulation system used to transport water in order to limit the amount of hose that
firefighters have to lay; thus speeding up the fire fighting process.

Automatic Sprinkler Systems

Time is essential in the control of fire. Automatic sprinkler systems are one of the most reliable methods
available for controlling fires. Today's automatic fire sprinkler systems offer state of the art protection of life and
property from the effects of fire. Sprinkler heads are now available which are twenty times more sensitive to fire
than they were ten years ago.

Fire Detection Alarm and Evacuation Warning Systems

The simplest fire detection and alarm system is the residential smoke alarm now
installed in most Australian homes. The smoke alarm alerts the building occupants that
a fire has been detected. A fire detection system may, in addition to alerting occupants,
automatically notify the fire brigade of the fire. If fire detection and alarm systems
operate very early in the fire growth stage, building occupants may be able to extinguish
a small fire.

Smoke Management Systems

In many buildings occupied by the public, especially large buildings such as shopping
centres, smoke from a fire can spread and descend so as to block exits and make
occupant escape difficult or, in the extreme, impossible. In such instances, the
installation of a smoke management system, which will slow down the rate of smoke
spread, is recommended. Such systems often involve exhausting the smoke at ceiling
level where hot smoke will naturally collect due to its buoyancy (because it is hot it is
lighter than the surrounding air).

Fire code of the Philippines

b.importance of fire safety requirements

Fires can be devastating. They can tear apart families and destroy homes. The worst thing
about fires at home and other buildings that most of them are entirely preventable.

Homes, Hotels and Care Homes

Fire sprinklers are an essential item in care homes and hotels. Care homes often house
vulnerable people who may not be physically or mentally prepared for a speedy evacuation.
When fire sprinklers engage, they give you an extra bit of time to get out safely. This also
benefits hotels, as it can be hard to safely and speedily evacuate numerous guests, especially if
it is a large multi story hotel.

Schools
Children should also be wary of the dangers present within the classroom. Science lessons
should highlight the importance of lab safety. Playing around with bunsen burners and
chemicals is extremely dangerous, as are the gas taps that are used to power the burners.
These taps should be turned off at the mains whenever they are not going to be used and the
mains cupboard should be locked at all times.

Within Business
Fire safety within business doesnt just protect your staff, it protects your investment too and
under current Health and Safety laws is a mandatory requirement. You wont just be out of
pocket if a fire strikes and work needs to be done to the building, youll lose time too, valuable
time.
Make sure that you check that any electrical equipment in your business is functioning properly.
Just because you dont have open fires doesnt mean that fires cant start just as easily.
Electrical fires are just as common, so if you notice a frayed wire or a loose connection, dont
ignore it, have it removed or fixed.
Restaurants obviously have dangers associated with their cooking equipment just as the home
does, but remember that this is on a larger scale. If grease traps and vents arent properly
cleaned they can leak onto your burners and cause grease fires. These are some of the most
notoriously difficult fires to control and expand within seconds.
Fire sprinklers provide the best protection against fires, as they activate at the beginning of the
problem limiting the damage that can be caused to property and life. Of course there will always
be instances where they are not 100% effective, but with the installation of fire sprinklers in your

home or business, alongside a healthy knowledge of fire safety and any applicable laws and
legislation, you will be protecting yourself from unnecessary danger.

c. Action point

At least one smoke alarm should be installed on every floor of the

building. There should be at least one smoke alarm installed in
every section of your office building/workplace.
Smoke alarms should be routinely tested to ensure that they are
still functioning. This is a simple exercise which simply involves
pressing the test button on the console. This should be done
every two months without fail.
Emergency numbers should be clearly marked in a place
everyone sees in your home. Emergency contact details should
be visible in a number of places that are visible to all staff within
your business.
Fire extinguishers should also be available on each floor of the
building.
Any equipment or belongings that are not flame retardant should
be stored away from open fires. It is best practice to not have any
obstructions around an open fire.
Fire evacuation safety is extremely important within any building.
All of your staff should know where the evacuation point is and a
diagram detailing the procedure should be visible. You should
also consider devising a fire evacuation procedure in the building.

Fire safety requirements issue:

Cinema owner 'neglected fire safety rules'

The cinema owner failed to install an automatic fire alarm device in all
necessary parts of the building, an automatic fire sprinkler system in all
parts of the building, an automatic emergency lighting system, and fire exit
signs and plans as required by the Engineering Institute of Thailand, he
said. The cinema operator also did not use fireproof walls along fire exit
paths and failed to ensure that smoke could not escape into fire exits in the
event of a fire, he said.

The operator also failed to regularly inspect the fire pumps and hoses and
did not comply with building control laws that require an annual inspection
of the building, he said.

Reflection:

Ideally buildings should have to follow the fire safety requirements in

building in order to avoid accidents and to ensure the lives of the people
within the buildings. To do that, guidelines and checklist regarding fire safety
should be reviewed and checked upon planning.

Unfortunately many buildings failed to consider those requirements,

and as a result, many people are into serious injuries, many also died for
these matter. By considering those requirements many lives will be saved
when fire started to destroy the buildings.

The significance of this statement is for the designer/architect to

contemplate their design solutions with the considerations of fire safety
requirements.

d.

References:

Fire code of the Philippines

The importance of fire safety at home and in business

(http://www.fire-sprinklers.co.uk/guides/fire_safety.php)

Building Fire Safety

(http://www.mfs.sa.gov.au/site/community_safety/commercial/bui
lding_fire_safety.jsp)