FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS IN BUILDINGS

protection SYSTEMS IN BUILDINGS- TO PREVENT FIRE AND SAVE OUR LIFE AND BUILDING PRESENTED BY K.P.BALAJI BE CIVIL II YEAR

1

INTRODUCTION

What is fire?Fire is the visible effect of the process ofcombustion.It occurs betweenoxygenin the air and some sort offuelThe reaction will keep going as long as there is enoughheat, fuel and oxygen.This is known as the fire triangle.

CAUSES OF FIRE SMOKING ELECTRICAL WIRING HEATING AND COOKING EQUIPMENT CHILDREN PLAYING WITH MATHCHES OPEN FLAMES AND SPARKS FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Fire RESISTING materials USED in building

THE VARIOUS FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS USED IN A COMMON BUILDING ARE :

STONE BRICKS TIMBER GLASS CONCRETE CAST-IRON ASBESTOS CEMENT

DOOR WALL FLOOR PAINTS ETC.,

FIRE RESISTING PROPERTIES OF A COMMON BUILDING MATERIAL

STONE

Stone is a bad conductor of heat and it is also a non combustible building material. It suffers appreciably under the effect of heat. The stone also disintegrate into small pieces when heated and suddenly cooled.

2. bricksAfire brickis a block ofrefractory ceramicmaterial used in liningfurnaces, klins, fireboxes andfireplaces.It is a poor conductor of heat.It can withstand a temperature of about 1200C to 1300C.

3. TIMBER As a general rule, the structural elements like TIMBER, ignite & get rapidly destroyed in case of fire. To make timber more fire- resistant , the surfaces of timber are coated with chemicals like ammonium phosphate & sulphate, borax & boric acid etc.

4. glass Glass expansion due to heat is small.When heated cracks are formed and then suddenly cooled. Reinforced glass with steel wire is more efficient than ordinary glass.

5. concreteThe actual behaviour of concrete in case of fire depends on the quality of cement. In case of reinforced concrete structure it also depends on the position of steel. Reinforced concrete structure can resist fire for hours with temperature 1000C

These materials in buildings

FIRE RESISTANT DOORS & WALLSAfire door & Wallsis adoor & wallwith afire-resistance rating. These are used to reduce the spread offireorsmokebetweencompartment.

Fire protection system in buildings

The various types of fire protection system are :AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMCARBON DIOXIDE SYSTEMHYDRANTS SYSTEMDRY CHEMICAL SYSTEMHALON SYSTEMWATER SPRAY SYSTEM

1. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMThe automatic sprinkler system involves automatic sprinklers attached to a piping system containing water under pressure.These are connected a water supply so that water discharges immediately from the sprinklers opened by a fire.The flow switch will allow the water to the affected area.

2. CARBON DIOXIDE SUPPRESION SYSTEM Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a clean, non combustible & non corrosive gas. It extinguishes fire primarily by lowering the level of oxygen. Carbon dioxide may be stored in either high pressure spun steel cylinder or low pressure light wall.They are adopted in areas like computer rooms, areas containing flammable liquids etc.

3. Hydrant systemIn this system the hydrants are located at suitable points and they can be operated automatically or manually.In manual operation, the pump has to be started manually after opening the hydrant valve, in automatic operation the pump is opened automatically when the hydrant valve is opened manually.It is the backbone of all fire protection system.It can be installed in airports, textile mills, paper mills, hospitals etc.

EMERGENCY EXIT ARRANGEMENT IN BUILDINGS

Anemergency exitin a building is a special exit for emergencies such as a fire.The combined use of regular and special exits allows for faster evacuation, while it also provides an alternative if the route to the regular exit is blocked by fire, etc.These are mainly provided in theatres, hospitals etc.

TYPES OF EXIT:

HORIZONTAL It may be a door way corridor or a passage to a stairway or to a verandah or a terrace.

VERTICAL It may be a staircase or ramp but not a lift.

EXIT REQUIREMENTS AS PER NBC OF INDIA : Every building should be provided with sufficient exit to permit safe escape in the case of fire.All exits should be free of obstruction. Adequate illumination ( lighting).Alarm devices should be installed.Sprinklers to be provided.

MAJOR FIRE ACCIDENT

KUMBAKONAM FIRE ACCIDENT

conclusionNow a days the technologies are developing towards many field and lots of preventing measures from fire has been established.These are to be utilised by everyone and to be established in all the buildings to protect the life from fire.

26