Active fire protection
Encyclopedia
Active fire protection is an integral part of fire protection
. AFP is characterised by items and/or system
s, which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to work, contrary to passive fire protection
.
or a Standpipe system. Automatic means can include a fire sprinkler system, a gaseous clean agent, or fire fighting foam system. Automatic suppression systems would usually be found in large commercial kitchens or other high-risk area.
systems are installed in all types of buildings, commercial and residential. They are usually located at ceiling level and are connected to a reliable water source, most commonly city water. A typical sprinkler system operates when heat at the site of a fire causes a glass component in the sprinkler head to fail, thereby releasing the water from the sprinkler head. This means that only the sprinkler head at the fire location operate - not all the sprinklers on a floor or in a building. (This is a common misconception which stems from action movie scenes). Sprinkler systems help to reduce the growth of a fire, thereby increasing life safety and limiting structural damage.
, flame
or heat
, and an alarm is sounded to enable emergency evacuation
as well as to dispatch the local fire department
. An introduction to fire detection and suppression can be found here. Where a detection system is activated, it can be programmed to carry out other actions. These include de-energising magnetic hold open devices on Fire door
s and opening servo-actuated vents in stairways.
and the fire code. An example treatise on code compliance in Miami Dade County can be seen here. Code authorities can encourage compliance through open communications, such as an invitation for code questions or an invitation to participate or an explanation of the code development process
AFP works alongside modern architectural designs and construction materials
and fire safety education to prevent, retard, and suppress structural fires.
Fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of...
. AFP is characterised by items and/or system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
s, which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to work, contrary to passive fire protection
Passive fire protection
Passive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors...
.
Fire suppression
Fire can be controlled or extinguished, either manually (firefighting) or automatically. Manual includes the use of a fire extinguisherFire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher or extinguisher, flame entinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations...
or a Standpipe system. Automatic means can include a fire sprinkler system, a gaseous clean agent, or fire fighting foam system. Automatic suppression systems would usually be found in large commercial kitchens or other high-risk area.
Sprinkler systems
Fire sprinklerFire sprinkler
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected...
systems are installed in all types of buildings, commercial and residential. They are usually located at ceiling level and are connected to a reliable water source, most commonly city water. A typical sprinkler system operates when heat at the site of a fire causes a glass component in the sprinkler head to fail, thereby releasing the water from the sprinkler head. This means that only the sprinkler head at the fire location operate - not all the sprinklers on a floor or in a building. (This is a common misconception which stems from action movie scenes). Sprinkler systems help to reduce the growth of a fire, thereby increasing life safety and limiting structural damage.
Fire detection
The fire is detected either by locating the smokeSmoke detector
A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Commercial, industrial, and mass residential devices issue a signal to a fire alarm system, while household detectors, known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible and/or visual alarm from the detector...
, flame
Flame detector
There are several types of flame detector. The optical flame detector is a detector that uses optical sensors to detect flames. There are also ionisation flame detectors, which use current flow in the flame to detect flame presence, and thermocouple flame detectors.-Ultraviolet:Ultraviolet ...
or heat
Heat detector
A heat detector is a fire alarm device designed to respond when the convected thermal energy of a fire increases the temperature of a heat sensitive element....
, and an alarm is sounded to enable emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
as well as to dispatch the local fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
. An introduction to fire detection and suppression can be found here. Where a detection system is activated, it can be programmed to carry out other actions. These include de-energising magnetic hold open devices on Fire door
Fire door
A fire door is a door with a fire-resistance rating used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire or smoke between compartments and to enable safe egress from a building or structure or ship...
s and opening servo-actuated vents in stairways.
Construction and maintenance
All AFP systems are required to be installed and maintained in accordance with strict guidelines in order to maintain compliance with the local building codeBuilding code
A building code, or building control, is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the...
and the fire code. An example treatise on code compliance in Miami Dade County can be seen here. Code authorities can encourage compliance through open communications, such as an invitation for code questions or an invitation to participate or an explanation of the code development process
AFP works alongside modern architectural designs and construction materials
Passive fire protection
Passive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors...
and fire safety education to prevent, retard, and suppress structural fires.
See also
- Fire alarm
- Fire extinguisherFire extinguisherA fire extinguisher or extinguisher, flame entinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations...
- Fire hydrantFire hydrantA fire hydrant , is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal water service to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water...
- Fire protectionFire protectionFire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of...
- Fire protection engineeringFire protection engineeringFire Protection Engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to protect people and their environments from the destructive effects of fire and smoke....
- Fire sand bucketFire sand bucketA fire sand bucket or fire bucket is a steel bucket filled with sand which is used to put out fires. Typically, fire buckets are painted bright red and have the word 'Fire' stencilled on them in white lettering. They are placed in prominent positions in rooms or corridors. They are a...
- Fire sprinklerFire sprinklerA fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected...
- Passive fire protectionPassive fire protectionPassive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors...
- Standpipe
External links
- Treatise on Active and Passive Fire Protection from UK Government
- When Fire Strikes, Stop, Drop and... Sing? - article about acoustic fire suppression, Scientific American, January 24, 2008
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - Forschungsstelle für Brandschutztechnik