Fire has illuminated the darkness and allowed for the preparation of meals for centuries. However, it has also been an eternal terror, and accidentally igniting it could end in a terrible tragedy. Today, we feel much safer, not only thanks to firefighters, but also to modern fire protection systems. How does a fire protection system work and why is it so important?
Check out products for fire protection installations at the Onninen wholesaler
Fire protection installation - diagram
When designing any building, you should consider the safety of the people inside it. However, one of the most dangerous situations is fire. That is why many single-family homes are equipped with additional alarm or fire extinguishing devices: smoke detectors, sprinklers or fire doors to the boiler room. In the case of service and production buildings, such solutions are obligatory. That is why each investment, in addition to the electrical or sewage diagram, has a separate fire protection installation diagram.
What is the purpose of creating such systems? The arrival of the fire brigade at the place of the outbreak of a fire requires even several dozen minutes. During this time, all people in the building are at risk not only of serious burns, but also suffocation due to the large amount of smoke or being cut off from exits. While in single-family homes there may be several or a dozen residents, in the case of companies the threat may concern hundreds, and in extreme cases, even thousands of people.
Fire protection installations in buildings
How can you protect the health and lives of people inside?
- Evacuation routes. Building exits (including additional, emergency ones) should be clearly marked, and corridors should have direction indicators to the nearest exit. Even employees who theoretically know the layout of the production hall may panic and turn into the wrong corridor, and efficient exit from a burning building is crucial in the event of a fire.
-
Fire protection materials. Fire doors and non-flammable combustible materials cannot completely prevent the spread of fire, but they effectively delay it, giving firefighters additional, valuable minutes to act. - Fire extinguishing systems. Easy access to a fire extinguisher allows you to suppress a fire at the very beginning, when it covers a small area. Sprinkler systems equipped with a smoke or fire sensor also effectively extinguish small fires, and additionally operate fully automatically.
- Fire protection water system. A mandatory element in every company, although it is not mentioned as often as other components of fire protection systems. Its task is to provide the fire brigade with the right amount of water during an operation.
Only the cooperation of all the mentioned systems brings the optimal result and allows for the safe evacuation of all people in the building, as well as the maximum delay of the negative effects of the raging fire. However, often it is only the arrival of the fire brigade that allows the fire to be finally extinguished.
How does the fire protection system work?
The exact operation of most of the components mentioned is almost intuitive. Evacuation routes and additional exits determine the shortest paths to leave the fire site, and fireproof materials do not ignite, delaying the spread of fire to subsequent components.
Popular powder extinguishers effectively suppress fire in the case of ABC group fires, which are the most common. However, they should not be used to extinguish flammable metals, fats or cooking oils. It should also be checked whether they can be used for electrical installations. Some foam and mist extinguishers can be used for burning fats. However, special types of extinguishers for this purpose are most often used to extinguish electrical devices.
Finally, fire protection water installations. Although little known, it is a key element of the fire protection system. The water connection is divided into two branches - utility (sanitary) water and fire protection installation. In the latter, the minimum pressure, appropriate for the fire protection system (in the case of hydrants from 0.2 to 1.2 MPa, depending on the diameter), must be constantly maintained. For this purpose, a priority valve is most often used, also called a priority valve. ds It has a pressure sensor and in the event of a pressure drop in the installation for fire purposes, it cuts off the sanitary system. It works completely automatically. It is a key element in providing water to fire brigades, especially in the event of a leak in the sanitary installation (burning of pipes or connections, or even leaving the water turned on by a person escaping from a fire).
Automatic shut-off valves fds are also used, which constitute a permanent fire-resistant obstacle to the spreading fire. These two, inconspicuous at first glance, elements ensure that each fire protection system can operate efficiently during a fire, and fire brigades can use hydrants to extinguish a raging fire more quickly.
Check out products for fire protection installations at the Onninen wholesaler