Fire Protection in Malaysia

GUIDE TO FIRE PROTECTION IN MALAYSIA

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS (FPS) REASON FOR INSTALLING FPS 1. MEETING CODES BY THE GOVERNMENT 2. MAKING TRADE-OFF – allows more flexibility in architectural design i.e ATRIUM etc 3. SATISFYING THE LAWS 4. PROTECTING ASSETS & LIFE 5. MAINTAINING COMMUNITY RELATIONS – ENVIROMENTAL

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT OR SAFETY INSTALLATION 1. EXTINGUISHING, FIGHTING, PREVENTING, OR LIMITING A FIRE 2. FIRE DECTECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS 3. PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PREMISSES FOR No.1.

4. PROVIDE EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY 5. PROVIDE EMERGENCY LIGHT 6. GIVING ESCAPE DIRECTION 7. GIVING ADEQUATE SAFE EGRESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVACUATION THE PREMISSES 8. SMOKE MANAGEMENT

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS USED IN MALAYSIA 1. PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS 2. EXTERNAL FIRE HYDRANT 3. HOSE REEL SYSTEM 4. DRY RISER SYSTEM 5. WET RISER SYSTEM 6. DOWNCOMER SYSTEM

7. AUTOMATIC SPRINGKLER SYSTEM

1. PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS DESCRIPTION FOUR TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: • WATER • DRY POWDER • CARBON DIOXIDE CO2 • FOAM

CLASSIFICATIONS CLASS A

B C D

E

BURNING MATERIAL COMBUSTIBLE SOLID MATERIAL SUCH AS WOOD, PAPER, RUBBER etc LIQUID SUCH AS PETROL, OIL, DIESEL, KEROSENE etc GAS SUCH AS LPG, ACETYLEENE & NATURAL GAS REACTIVE METAL SUCH AS ALUMNINIUM, ZINC, SODIUM, POTASIUM & CALCIUM IGNITION BY ELECTRICITY

TYPE OF F/FIGHTING WATER OR DRY POWDER

FOAM OR DRY POWDER (DO NOT USE WATER) DRY POWDER OR WATER DRY POWDER (DO NOT USE WATER) CARBON DIOXIDE, CO2

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS MUST COMPLY WITH FOLLOWING MALAYSIAN STANDARD; • M.S. 1179: Specification for portable fire extinguishers • M.S. 1180: Fire Extinguisher’s Media • M.S. 1181: Recharging fire extinguishers • M.S. 1182: Classification of fire LOCATION AND SPACING • Located along exit routes • Beside exit doors • Beside staircase doors • About 15 m distance from the nearest people • CO2 portable fire extinguishers should be installed in electrical rooms, fire pump rooms and lift motor rooms. • Dry powder portable fire extinguishers should be installed in storerooms.

2. EXTERNAL FIRE HYDRANT DESCRIPTION Installation consist of a system of pipework connected directly to the water supply mains to provide water to each hydrant outlet. Intended to provide water to fireman to fight a fire. The water is discharged into the fire engine from which it is then pumped and spray over the fire. If pressure is too low, use hydrant pumps.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS RELEVEN STANDARDS AS FOLLOWS; • B.S. 5306: Part 1 or the equivalent Malaysian Standard; • M.S. 1395: specification for pillar hydrant

HYDRANT OUTLETS • Not less than 6 m from building & not more than 30 m from entrance to the building • Space not more than 90 m apart along the minimum 6 m in width road • Capable of withstanding a load of 26 tons of Fire brigade vehicles. • 2 or 3 outlets pillar type with underground sluice valve • In owner’s boundary: should be provided with 30m of 65mm rubber-lined hose (complete with nozzles) in steel cabinet beside each hydrant. • Underground hydrants are not encouraged due to difficulty of access • Capable to handle 1000 l/min & running pressure of 4 bars but max to 7 bars only • The hydrant mains are usually laid underground with cement lined steel pipe. • ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) material used for an area where corossion is a major concern HYDRANT PUMPS • Two sets of pumps (one duty & one standby) • Capable to supply 3000 l/min & running pressure of 4-7 bars to 3 hydrants at the same time

• Should be supplied with backup diesel/power generator incase of black out for at least 2 hours • Batteries for diesel engine must be maintanance free type • Normally Jockey pumps driven by electrical motor at 120 l/min required to maintain system presure • The pumps should be protected from the weather and away from flood area. • Pumps’ room should be ventilated plus signage HYDRANT TANKS • Minimum capacity 180,000 litres ( 1 hr water supply for 3 hydrants) • Should be refilled automatically by supply pipe at 20l/s • Hydrant tanks are usually separate from other water storage tanks but may be combined with other fire fighting system water tanks. So, tank’s capacity is the sum total of all tanks. • Tank material: pressed steel, fibreglass reinforced polyester (FRP) or concrete. • The tank should be compartmented and water level indicator must be provided • External tank should be painted red OR at least red band of minimum 200 mm should be painted.

3. HOSE REEL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION Hose reel system is intended for the occupant to use during early stages of a fire and comprises hose reel pumps, water storage tanks, hose reels, pipe work and valves.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS MUST COMPLY WITH FOLLOWING STANDARD; • B.S. 5306: Part 1 or the equivalent Malaysian Standard; • M.S. 1447: Hose reels with semi-rigid hose • Pr EN 694 : Semi-rigid hose for first aid fixed installations

HOSE REELS • • • • • • • • • •

Coverage range of 30 m for each reel One hose reel for every 800 sq. m space area. Usually located along escape routes or beside exit doors or staircases Minimum discharge by each hose reel 30 l/m & 6 m jet length The rubber hoses should be comply with pr EN 694 standard & 30 m in length and 25 mm diameter Nozzles should be of the jet & spray adjustable type of different diameters but 8 mm is a recommended size. Pipework is generally 50 mm diameter and the pipe feed to individual hose not less than 25mm diameter Above ground pipework : minimum galvanised steel medium grade (Class B) Underground pipework : minimum heavy grade (Class C) Pipe painted with primer & finished with red paint (OR at least elbow & tee must be painted with red bands)

HOSE REEL PUMPS • Two sets of pumps. One on duty & the other on standby • 120 l/m and at least 2 bars in pressure for any four hose reels opearting at the same time • Emergency generator/diesel engine adequate for minimum of 1 hr operation • Electrical cabling should be run in galvanised steel conduit • Batteries for diesel engine must be maintanance free type • If total number of hose reel is not more than 4, electrically driven is enough no need to have an emergency generator/diesel engine. • Should provide with CO2 portable extinguisher • The pumps should be protected from the weather and away from flood area. HOSE REEL TANKS • Tank size based on 2275 litres for the first hose reel & others 1137.5 litres to maximum of 9100 litres for eqach system • Tank material: pressed steel, fibreglass reinforced polyester (FRP) or concrete. • The tank should be compartmented and water level indicator must be provided • External tank should be painted red OR at least red band of minimum 200 mm should be painted.

• The tank will automatically refill from water supply pipe of 50mm diameter and minimum flow is 150/m • Usually hose reel tanks are separated from domestic water storage tank. However, the two can be combined to give sum total capacity. • Tap off point of the domestic use must be above the tap off point of for the hose reels so that minimum fire reserve is always maintained

GRAVITY FEED HOSE REEL SYSTEM • Tank located on the roof or upper floors and the static pressure is adequate to achive the required pressure & flowrate. • If pumps required, a bypass pipe is usually provided

4. DRY RISER SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION • Internal hydrant to use by fireman which normally dry & depend on fire engine to pump water into the system • Required for building of top most floor is higher than 18.3 m & less than 30.5 m above the fire appliance access level • Breeching Inlets to the system are located at ground level (See Fig 8.1) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS MUST COMPLY WITH FOLLOWING STANDARD; • B.S. 5306: Part 1 or the equivalent Malaysian Standard;

• • • •

M.S. 1210: Part 2 - Landing Valves for Dry Risers M.S. 1210: Part 3 - Inlet Breeching Riser inlets M.S. 1210: Part 4 – Boxes for Landing Valves for Dry Risers M.S. 1210: Part 5 – Boxes for Inlet Breeching

LANDING VALVE • • • • •

Landing valves (comply with M.S. 1210: Part 2) are provided on each floor Located at lobbies & staircases Installed 0.75 m above floor level Protected by Boxes comply with M.S. 1210: Part 4 Fire hose rubber-lined type complete with 65 mm diameter coupling & nozzle should be provided in a hose cradle beside each landing valve

BREECHING INLET • The fire brigade breeching inlet (comply with M.S. 1210: Part 3) installed at the bottom of the riser • Protected by Boxes comply with M.S. 1210: Part 5 & labelled “Dry Riser Inlet” • A drain should be provided at the bottom of the riser to drain the system after use

• A two-way breeching inlet for 100 mm diameter dry riser • A 4-way breeching inlet for 150 mm diameter dry riser • Located not more than 18 m from fire appliance access road & not more than 30 m from the nearest external hydrant outlet

RISER PIPE • If the highest outlet is more than 23 m above the breeching inlet, use 150 mm dry riser else 100 mm. • Pipe material: galvanised iron to B.S. 1387 (Heavy gauge) or class C tested at 21 bars • Horizontal pipework feeding the risers should be sloped for proper draining after use • An air release valve installed at the top to release air trapped in the system • Electrically earthed to achieve equipotential with the buliding

STATIC PRESSURE TEST

• First, flush the system to clear all debris insider riser • Hydraulically tested to a pressure of 14 bars (measured an inlet) for 2 hours for leakage at joints and connections • Inspection & testing regularly all parts to ensure that they are in good operation condition

5. WET RISER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION • Internal hydrant to use by fireman and are always charged with water • Required for building of top most floor is higher than 30.5 m above the fire appliance access level • Need pumps • Wet riser pipe is 150 mm.

• Rubber-lined hose with nozzles • For high rise buildings, each stage of wet riser should not exceed 71 m • See Fig 9.1 for the typical wet riser installation DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS MUST COMPLY WITH FOLLOWING STANDARD; • B.S. 5306: Part 1 or the equivalent Malaysian Standard; • M.S. 1210: Part 1 - Landing Valves for Wet Risers • M.S. 1210: Part 3 - Inlet Breeching Riser inlets • M.S. 1210: Part 4 – Boxes for Landing Valves for Dry Risers • M.S. 1210: Part 5 – Boxes for Inlet Breeching WET RISER LANDING VALVE • Landing valves (comply with M.S. 1210: Part 2) are provided on each floor

• • • • •

Located at lobbies & staircases Installed 0.75 m above floor level Protected by Boxes comply with M.S. 1210: Part 4 Pressure at landing valve should be between 4-7 bars Fire hose rubber-lined type (not less than 35mm dia. & 30 m in length) complete with 65 mm diameter coupling & nozzle should be provided in a hose cradle beside each landing valve

BREECHING INLET • Should be a 4-way type complying with M.S. 1210: Part 3) • Protected by Boxes comply with M.S. 1210: Part 5 & labelled “Wet Riser Inlet” • A drain should be provided at the bottom of the riser • Located not more than 18 m from fire appliance access road & not more than 30 m from the nearest external hydrant outlet

WET RISER PIPE

• Each wet riser should cover not more than 900 m sq floor area. • If more than one wet riser per floor, the distance apart between then not more than 60 m • The top most and the lowest wet riser should be less than 71 m • Pipe material: galvanised iron to B.S. 1387 (Heavy gauge) or class C • Pipe should be coated with primer and finished with red gloss paint alternatively the pipe can be colour coded by red band of 100 mm width with elbows and tees painted red • Electrically earthed to achieve equipotential with the buliding WET RISER PUMPS • 2 sets op pumps. One on duty & the other on standby • The pump capacity 1500 l/m & pressure between 4-7 bars when any three landing valves are in use at the same time. • Should be supplied with backup diesel/power generator incase of black out for at least 2 hours • Electrical cabling should be fire rated type • Batteries for diesel engine must be maintanance free type • Should provide with CO2 portable extinguisher • The pumps should be protected from the weather and away from flood area.

WET RISER TANKS • Minimum capacity of 45,500 litres with automatic refill rate 455 l/m • The intermediate break tank for for upper stages of the wet riser should be not less than 11,375 litres with automatic refill rate 1365 l/m • Tank material: pressed steel, fibreglass reinforced polyester (FRP) or concrete. • The tank should be compartmented and water level indicator must be provided • External tank should be painted red OR at least red band of minimum 200 mm should be painted. • Tanks located on the ground floor or basement • Wet riser tanks separated from other water storage tank • However, it may be combined with hose reel tanks and the capacity is the sum total from both tanks. Hose reel tap off level should be above the wet riser tap off such that wet riser reserve is maintained

STATIC PRESSURE TEST • First, flush the system to clear all debris insider riser

• Hydraulically tested to a pressure of 14 bars or 150% of the working pressure (measured an inlet), whichever is the higher for 2 hours for leakage at joints and connections • Inspection & testing regularly all parts to ensure that they are in good operation condition • A three way landing valve should be provided on the roof or topmost floor for testing purposes. Flowmeter should be provided to measure flowrate

6. DOWNCOMER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION • Internal hydrant for fireman to use and always charge with water from water tank located on the top of the building WITHOUT any pump. • Only permitted to residential buildings with open balcony & the topmost floor is not more than 60 maboe the fire appliance access level • 150mm riser pipe with landing valve on each floor and to which rubber-lined hose with nozzles

• Should be adopted for low cost flats only • A typical downcomer Installation shown in Fig 10.1 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS MUST COMPLY WITH FOLLOWING STANDARD; • M.S. 1210: Part 1 - Landing Valves for Wet Risers • M.S. 1210: Part 3 - Inlet Breeching Riser Inlets • M.S. 1210: Part 4 – Boxes for Landing Valves for Dry Risers • M.S. 1210: Part 5 – Boxes for Inlet Breeching DOWNCOMER LANDING VALVE • • • •

Provided on each floor & complying with M.S. 1210: Part 1 Located at lobbies & staircases Installed less than 0.75 m from the floor Protected by Boxes comply with M.S. 1210: Part 4

• Pressure at landing valve depends on the static pressure on the valve from the roof tank • 2 sets of fire hose rubber-lined type (not less than 35mm dia. & 30 m in length) complete with 65 mm diameter coupling & nozzle should be provided at the caretaker’s unit or management office

BREECHING INLET • The fire brigate breeching inlets into which fireman will pump water into the downcomer system located at ground floor • Should be a 4-way type complying with M.S. 1210: Part 3) • Protected by Boxes comply with M.S. 1210: Part 5 & labelled “Downcomer Inlet” • A drain should be provided at the bottom of the riser • Located not more than 18 m from fire appliance access road & not more than 30 m from the nearest external hydrant • Check valve is installed between the topmost landing valve and the tank to prevent back flow of the water from the downcomer into the tank

DOWNCOMER PIPE

• • • • • •

Each downcomer should cover not more than 900 m sq floor area. If more than one riser per floor, the distance apart between then not more than 60 m The downcomer pipe diameter is 150 mm Pipe material: galvanised iron to B.S. 1387 (Heavy gauge) or class C An air release valve installed at the top to release air trapped in the system Pipe should be coated with primer and finished with red gloss paint alternatively the pipe can be colour coded by red band of 100 mm width with elbows and tees painted red • Electrically earthed to achieve equipotential with the buliding

DOWNCOMER WATER TANKS • • • •

Minimum capacity of 45,500 litres with automatic refill rate 455 l/m Tank material: pressed steel, fibreglass reinforced polyester (FRP) or concrete. The tank should be compartmented and water level indicator must be provided External tank should be painted red OR at least red band of minimum 200 mm should be painted. • Tanks located on the roof

• Wet riser tanks separated from other water storage tank • However, it may be combined with hose reel tanks and the capacity is the sum total from both tanks. Hose reel tap off level should be above the downcomer tap off such that water is reserve for the downcomer STATIC PRESSURE TEST • First, flush the system to clear all debris insider riser • Hydraulically tested to a pressure of 14 bars or 150% of the working pressure (measured an inlet), whichever is the higher for 2 hours for leakage at joints and connections • Inspection & testing regularly all parts to ensure that they are in good operation condition.

7. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION • Intent to detect,control, extinguish a fire, and warn the occupants of the occurance of fire automatically

• System consist of pumps, water tanks, control valve sets, sprinkler heads, flow switches, pressure switches, pipework & valves • Sprinkler head has a liquid filled in glass bulb that breaks due to heat of the fire & release water that spray over the fire • Common type sprinkler system installation shown in Fig 11.1

TYPE OF SPRINKLERS Four types of sprinkler system as follows; (i.)

Wet pipe installation Pipeworks always filled with water & ready to discharge once the sprinkler bulb breaks

(ii.)

Dry pipe installation Pipeworks always filled with air under pressure. Air released once the sprinkler bulb breaks and water filled the pipeworks and discharge at the sprinkler head

(iii.)

Pre-action installation Pipeworks always filled with air under pressure. A valves release air and pipeworks filled with water when fire is detected by smoke or heat detectors. Water is discharged through the sprinkler head only when the sprinkler bulb breaks

(iv.)

Deluge Installation Sprinkler head has no bulb.and water is discharge simultaneously from all heads when fire is detected and the deluge valve is opened

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DESIGN STANDARDS MUST COMPLY WITH FOLLOWING STANDARDS; • LPC rules for Automatic Sprinklers,UK

• B.S. 5306: Part 2 – Specification for Sprinkler systems • NFPA 13 (National Fire Protection Association) • Australian Std. A.S. 2118

HAZARD CLASSIFICATION As describe in B.S. 5306 Part 2, hazard is devided into three main categories as follows: a)

Light Hazard • non-industrial occupancies • low quantity of combustibility contents • example: apartments, flat, schools, hostel UTM & hospital

b)

Ordinary Hazard • Group I : Offices, restaurants & hotels • Group II : Laundries, bakeries & tobacco factories • Group III : Car parks, department stores, hypermarket, cinema, clothing & paint factories.

• c)

Group IV : Match factories, film & television studios

High Hazard • •

Group I : Process risk .e.g. clothing, rubber,woodwool & paint factories Group II : High piled storage risk which divided into 4 categories i) Category I : Carpets and textile storage exceeding 4 m in height ii) Category II : Furniture factory storage exceeding 3 m in height iii) Category III: Rubber, wax coated paper storage exceeding 2 m in height iv) Category IV: foam & plastics storage exceeding 1.2 m in height

SPRINKLER PUMPS • • • •

Require to feed sprinkler network Two sets of pumps: one on duty & the other on standby A jockey pump provided to maintain system pressure Pump’s capacity as describe in B.S. 5306 Part 2 as follows;

i)

Light Hazard
Head =15 m; Q = 300 dm3 /min at P = 1.5 bars
Head =30 m; Q = 340 dm3 /min at P = 1.8 bars
Head =45 m; Q = 375 dm3 /min at P = 2.3 bars

ii)

Ordinary Hazard • Group I : Offices, restaurants & hotels
Head =15 m; Q = 900 dm3 /min at P = 1.2 bars
Head =30 m; Q = 1150 dm3 /min at P = 1.9 bars
Head =45 m; Q = 1360 dm3 /min at P = 2.7 bars •

Group II : Laundries, bakeries & tobacco factories
Head =15 m; Q = 1750 dm3 /min at P = 1.4 bars
Head =30 m; Q = 2050 dm3 /min at P = 2.0 bars
Head =45 m; Q = 2350 dm3 /min at P = 2.6 bars

•

Group III : Car parks, department stores, hypermarket, cinema, clothing & paint factories.
Head =15 m; Q = 2250 dm3 /min at P = 1.4 bars
Head =30 m; Q = 2700 dm3 /min at P = 2.0 bars


Head =45 m; Q = 3100 dm3 /min at P = 2.5 bars •

Group IV : Match factories, film & television studios
Head =15 m; Q = 2650 dm3 /min at P = 1.9 bars
Head =30 m; Q = 3050 dm3 /min at P = 2.4 bars

iii) High Hazard Refer to B.S. 5306: Part 2

WATER TANKS

iv) Light Hazard
Head =15 m; Tank capacity 9 m3
Head =30 m; Tank capacity 10 m3
Head =45 m; Tank capacity 11 m3

v)

Ordinary Hazard • Group I : Offices, restaurants & hotels
Head =15 m; Tank capacity 55 m3
Head =30 m; Tank capacity 70 m3
Head =45 m; Tank capacity 80 m3 •

Group II : Laundries, bakeries & tobacco factories
Head =15 m; Tank capacity 105 m3
Head =30 m; Tank capacity 125 m3
Head =45 m; Tank capacity 140 m3

•

Group III : Car parks, department stores, hypermarket, cinema, clothing & paint factories.
Head =15 m; Tank capacity 135 m3
Head =30 m; Tank capacity 160 m3
Head =45 m; Tank capacity 185 m3

•

Group IV : Match factories, film & television studios
Head =15 m; Tank capacity 160 m3
Head =30 m; Tank capacity 185 m3

vi) High Hazard Refer to B.S. 5306: Part 2

SPRINKLER HEAD • • • •

Generally of the conventional pendant or upright type Temperature rating: minimum = (T+30)0 C where T=maximum ambient temperature of the protected space in degree C. Nominal temperature rating = 680 C In kitchen nominal temperature rating = 790 C

INSTALLATION CONTROL VALVE •

Each sprinkler installation should have installation control valves which consist of main stop valves, alarm valves, drain line with stop valve, flow rate & pressure gauges

•

Maximum number of sprinklers to be fed from one set of installation control valve shall be;

i) Light Hazard ii) Ordinary Hazard iii) High Hazard

: 500 sprinklers : 1000 sprinklers : 1000 sprinklers

SPRINKLER PIPEWORK • • • • • •

Black steel or galvanised iron BS.1387 (medium grade ) Class B minimum Underground pipe: heavy gauge Class C For Pipes of size 80 mm and below use screw joints For Pipes of size above 100 mm may be welded OR grooved coupling up to 250 mm Sprinkler pipes should not be concealed in the floor or ceiling concrete slabs. Pipe should be coated with primer and finished with red gloss paint alternatively the pipe can be colour coded by red band of 100 mm width with elbows and tees painted red

INSPECTION & TESTING • First, flush the system to clear all debris insider riser • Hydraulically tested to a pressure of 14 bars or 150% of the working pressure (measured an inlet), whichever is the higher for 24 hours for leakage at joints and connections • Each zone should be tested by opening the valve on the test line. The flow switch for that zone should indicate an alarm on the fire alarm panel. • Flow test to ensure the pumps are in proper working condition. • Inspection & testing regularly all parts & joints to ensure no leakage and they are in good operation condition as recommended by checklist attached.