Fire Protection Systems in Buildings: A Comprehensive Overview
Fire Protection Systems in Buildings
Fire Extinguishing Installations
BIE (Fire Hose Stations)
A pressurized water fire extinguishing system comprising:
- Connection to a public water supply or fire pumping equipment.
- Network of pipes for water distribution.
- Hose reel (BIE).
Sprinklers
Individual, automatic sprinkler heads connected to a separate cold water pipe, capable of withstanding a pressure of at least 150 meters of water column (mca), and composed of:
- Water intake from the general network, independent of the plumbing.
- Connection to the general network.
- Tank and pressure system.
- Valve.
- Column.
- Bypass.
- Sprayer.
Everything is connected to a central signaling system.
Dry Column
A fire extinguishing installation for the exclusive use of fire fighting services (SEI, firefighters). It consists of an independent steel pipe, empty except in cases of fire, and composed of:
- Supply Connection: Located on the facade for hose coupling to supply the pipeline from a fire truck.
- Valve: From the power outlet to each column. Diameter of 80 mm for any number of stories.
- Column: From the distributor to the outlets on floors. Diameter of 80 mm for any number of stories. Multiple columns are installed if stairwells exceed 7 floors.
Outlets:
- Dry-Column Outlet: No key, allows fire hose coupling.
- Dry-Column Locked Section Outlet: Allows hose coupling and cutting off the water flow to the upper floors.
Extinguishers
Portable extinguishing agent contained within a device of suitable weight and dimensions for hand carrying and use. The extinguishing agent can be directed over a fire by the action of internal pressure.
Signage Installations
Evacuation Signage
- Directional signals indicating evacuation routes from all sources to a point from which the exit is directly visible, or a signal indicating the exit, particularly for the removal of occupants from an enclosure with an occupancy greater than 100 people accessing a passageway laterally.
- The signs shall be consistent with the allocation of occupants on each trip made.
Emergency Lighting
The installation shall be fixed and equipped with its own energy source. It must switch on automatically after a failure of the normal lighting supply to the areas listed, meaning the voltage decrease in failure below 70% of its nominal value.
The installation will comply with the conditions of service as indicated for at least one hour from the moment the fault occurs.
Fire Detection and Alarm Installations
This installation enables the transmission of a signal from the location of the fire to a central surveillance point, and the subsequent transmission of the alarm from the central point to the occupants. The alarm can be activated automatically or manually.
Detectors
Detectors can be of different types, depending on the different stages of fire:
- Ionic
- Smoke
- Thermal
- Flame
Alarm Buttons
Manually operated and emit a signal to the control center.
Central Signaling
Indicates the location from which the signal was captured. It can transmit acoustic or optical signals to the outside, the fire station, or to screening facilities.
Alarm System
This installation makes it possible to transmit an alarm to building occupants, activated from restricted access locations, so that only authorized personnel can operate it.