FIRE PROTECTION

SYSTEM
Prepared By
Manoj Paudel

Nepals Context
On average, fires are responsible for
property losses worth 350 million
rupees and the deaths of 43 people
annually. The average years sees
more than 1500 outbreaks (MoHA,
2009).

Thamel fire guts

property worth
Rs 200m
Fire started in the
kitchen of Faces
Lounge restaurant
near the
Kathmandu Guest
House in Mandala
Street.
- The Kathmandu
Post (Posted
on:2013-05-18
09:49)
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What is Fire ?

A process in which substances

combinechemicallywithoxygen
from the air and typicallygive outbright light, heat,
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andsmoke

Fire Triangle
Fuel : Thing
that burns
Heat: That
causes fuel to
burn
Oxygen: gas
found in air

Fire Tetrahedron
-fuel
-Ignition
-oxygen
-combustion
Once a fire has started, the resulting exothermic
chain reaction sustains the fire and allows it to
continue until or unless at least one of the
elements of the fire is blocked

Stages of Fire
Ignition:Fuel, oxygen and heat join together in a
sustained chemical reaction. At this stage, a fire
extinguisher can control the fire.
Growth:Convection and radiation ignite more
surfaces. The size of the fire increases and the
plume reaches the ceiling. Hot gases collecting at
the ceiling transfer heat, allowing all fuels in a
room to come closer to their ignition temperature
at the same time.
Fully developed:Fire has spread over much if not
all the available fuel; temperatures reach their
peak, resulting in heat damage. Oxygen is
consumed rapidly.
Decay (Burnout):The fire consumes available 7

Fire Hazard
Fire hazard is a situation in which there is a risk of
harm to people or property due to fire
Fire hazard can take the form of various ways that
fires can start such as :
blocked cooling vent or overloaded electrical
system.
Firing at insufficient protected fuel store or the
areas with high oxygen concentration .
Firing of materials that produce toxic fumes
when blocked from escaping .

CAUSES OF FIRE HAZARD

House Keeping Hazards
Friction Hazards
Storage Hazards
Smoking Hazards
Electrical Hazards
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Fire Classes

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Fire Classes
Class A: Ordinary combustible materials, such as
wood, cloth, paper, rubber and many plastics. They
burn with an ember and leave an ash. Extinguish by
cooling the fuel to a temperature that is below the
ignition temp. Water and other extinguishing agents
are effective.
Class B: Flammable liquids (burn at room
temperature) and combustible liquids (require heat to
ignite). Petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints,
solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
High fire hazard; water may not extinguish. Extinguish
by creating a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen,
such as layer of foam.
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 Class C: Fuels that would be A or B except that they

involve energized electrical equipment. Special
techniques and agents required to extinguish, most
commonly carbon dioxide or dry chemical agents.
Use of water is very dangerous because water
conducts electricity.
Class D: Combustible metals, such as magnesium,
titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium and potassium.
Most cars contain numerous such metals. Because of
extremely high flame temperatures, water can break
down into hydrogen and oxygen, enhancing burning
or exploding. Extinguish with special powders based
on sodium chloride or other salts; also clean dry
sand.
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Putting out a Fire

Four ways to put out a fire
Cool the burning material
Exclude oxygen
Remove the fuel
Break the chemical reaction
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Fire Extinguishers
Portable or Fixed Installations type
Water : A 9 l water extinguisher is installed for
each 210 sq.m floor area, with a minimum of two
extinguishers per floor.
Dry Powder: Dry powder extinguishers contain
from 1 to 11 kg of treated bicarbonate of soda
powder pressurized with CO2, nitrogen or dried
air. Interrupts chemical reaction.
Foam: contain foaming chemicals that react
upon mixing or aCO2 pressure-driven foam. They
cool the combustion, exclude oxygen
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 Vaporizing Liquid : Vaporizing liquid

extinguishers use bromochlorodifluoromethane
(BCF) or bromotrifluoromethane (BTM). More
powerful than CO2 extinguishers
Carbon Dioxide: Pressurized CO2
extinguishers leave no deposit and are used on
small fires involving solids, liquids or electricity.
(Reference- Chapter 15, Building Services
Engineering (5th Edidion) by David V.
Chadderton )
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Using Portable Fire

Extinguisher

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Which to Use ?
Grou
p
1
2

Extinguishin
g Agent
Water
Dry Powder

Fire
Class
A
All

Foam

Carbon
Dioxide
Vaporizing
Liquid

B, C

Small
fires,
motor

Action
Cools
Flame
Interferen
ce
Excludes
Oxygen
Excludes
Oxygen
Flame
Interferen
ce

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Codes for Fire Safety

Nepal National Building Code NBC
107:1994
(Provisional Recommendation on Fire
Safety)
Nepal National Building Code NBC
206:2003
(Architectural Design Requirements)
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 Exit from Building Exit

Doors, Staircase,
Access to Building
enough space for
entrance of fire fighters
(people and device),
space for parking of
Visual Aids and Alarms
Lightning Arresters
Friendly escape route
for people with
disability
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