STANDARDS FOR ACTIVE

FIRE PROTECTION
Stewart Kidd
Loss Prevention Consultancy Ltd
This presentation will consider:
■ The risks to both new and existing buildings which can be countered
by active fire protection
– Buildings and contents
– Compensation for inadequate means of escape
– Compensation for impaired fire separation and compartmenation
■ What systems are available and their respective constraints
– Gaseous
– Water-based
– Others, including oxygen reduction
■ The standards which are presently available
When would an fire suppression system be appropriate?
■ Where building standards or a fire engineering study demand this
■ When the FRA indicates that the risks of and from fire cannot be mitigated by
any other means
■ When buildings are being refurbished or converted to new uses (Adaptive
Reconstruction). Note that S3 of the Building Regulations 2010 may make the
installation of AFSS retrospective if changes constitute ‘building works’
■ In order to comply with current building codes – especially where the means of
escape are inadequate and it’s not possible to modify these (CP3 Flats)
■ When the building and contents are of particular importance
■ Where there is an inadequate supply of fire fighting water
■ Where the municipal or local fire service response is inadequate for whatever
reason or the premises are difficult to access because of terrain or weather
■ To comply with a legal requirement – perhaps as a planning condition
 Example: Corgarff Castle, Aberdeenshire
■ Remote location
■ Poor access - impassible often between
December and March
■ Restricted fire and rescue service response
(retained/volunteer)
■ Poor water supply
■ Single wooden staircase extends height of
building
■ Crown Fire Inspector’s Report proposed
prohibitions on use of building and exclusion of
upper floors as an education resource
■ Scheduled Ancient Monument status restricted
opportunities for changes/improvements and
excavation
What fire suppression systems are available?
■ For a wholly independent view,
refer to BS 5306 Part 0: 2011
■ Gas systems
– Inert gases
– Halocarbon gases
– New generation gases
■ Powder systems
■ Air inerting systems/oxygen
reduction systems
■ Water-based systems
– Sprinklers
– Water mist
– Foam
Gases for Fire Suppression
Inert Gas Name Trade Names Chemical Composition

IG-01 Argotec®, Argonfire® Argon 100%

IG-55 Argonite® Argon 50%, Nitrogen 50%

IG-100 Pro-Inert® Nitrogen 100%

IG-541 Inergen®* Argon 40%, Nitrogen 52%

CO2 8%
*NB: Patent on Inergen (Tyco) has now expired

Chemical Gas Name Trade Names Chemical Composition

*Inergen is a Tyco product but is now out of patent
HFC-227ea FM-200®, FE-227, C3HF7
Solkflam 227, MH-227
HFC-236a FE-36® C3H2F6

FK-5-1-12 NOVEC 1230® C6F12O

 Gas Systems ■ Unlikely to be suitable for whole building volume
protection as gas concentrations have to be
maintained and this means airtight structures and
non-habitable spaces
■ Good for data rooms, IT spaces, servers etc. Also
for vaults, archives and records protection All
systems require gas storage in cylinders or bulk
tanks, pipework and visible nozzles
■ Most systems are not suitable for areas which are
habitually occupied and should be fitted with an
‘abort’ or ‘hold’ button

IG-54I inert gas system protecting mobile

shelving in major library Cylinder storage in floor void Hold Button
Standards for Gas Systems
Imperatives
BS 5306 : Fire extinguishing installations on
premises. Part 4: 2012: Specification for carbon
■ Lock-offs and discharge hold
dioxide systems ■ Discharge and concentration tests
BS EN 15004:2008 Fixed firefighting systems. Gas ■ Over-pressure venting (in most cases)
extinguishing systems. Part 1. Design installation
and maintenance ■ Warning signs at all entrances
2: FK-5-1-12
■ Careful calculation of ambient
3. HCFC Blend A temperature/pressure and altitude for
4. HFC 125 chemical gases where gas concentration
5. HFC 227ea approaches LOAEL*
6. HFC 23
■ High pressure cylinders require 10- yearly
7. IG-01
test and certification
8. IG-100
9: IG-55
■ Selection of correct agent to avoid
corrosive by-products if this is a factor
10.IG-541

*LOAEL = Lowest Observerable Adverse Effect Limit

‘New’ Technology for Object or Local Protection
■ LPS 1666 (!) now provides basis for
testing and application of ‘direct low
pressure application systems’ for
discrete area protection
■ Ideal for electronic cabinets, mobile
plant, wind turbine nacelles etc.
■ Some success for kitchen protection
in student accommodation
■ May be suitable for bin stores/plant
rooms/mobility scooter charging
areas in social housing
■ Burst tube actuation is simple and
reliable
Bursting tube systems are
■ Can discharge watermist, powder, particularly suited to cabinet
foam, gases protection

Twin agent system on mobile plant

 Personal Protection Systems
■ Systems now approved to LPS 1665 with a BS on
their use in preparation
■ Uses watermist with fast-acting detection
■ Designed for single room protection for
vulnerable occupants who cannot self-evacuate
■ Ideal for bed ridden/bariatric cases
■ Also has been succesful in locations where
occupant has ‘difficult behaviour’
■ Many F&RS/housing associations can loan the
units
■ Should only be installed in conjunction with F&RS
personel
■ Several successful operations with lives saved
■ However, care should be exercised for uses other
than in the scope of the LPS
Other Systems: Foam & Powder (1)
■ BS EN 13565-1:2003+A1:2007 Fixed firefighting systems.
Foam systems. Requirements and test methods for
components
■ BS EN 13565-2:2009 Fixed firefighting systems. Foam
systems. Design, construction and maintenance
– Foam systems rely on water – around 95% of discharge
■ BS EN 12416: 2001 Fixed firefighting systems. Powder
systems. : Part 1: Requirements and test methods for
components. Part 2: Design, construction and maintenance
– Powder and foam systems require tanks and pipework as
for gas systems.
– Should not be used inside most buildings
Other Systems: Oxygen Reduction (2)
■ Air inerting (oxygen reduction) systems
appear superficially attractive for some
applications and may be suitable for
the protection of valuable collections –
especially paintings, archives, books
and natural history exhibits in purpose-
built stores. (Also for storage of fabrics
and carpets). However, they may not
be suitable for locations which are
‘normally occupied’ and require gas-
tight buildings to maintain lowered
concentrations of oxygen.
■ Some concerns over impact of 15% O2
on some individuals
■ Concept still remains unapproved by
OSHA in US
Courtesy Oxy/Reduct Systems/Wagner
 Installing water-based systems – the choices
Water mist Sprinklers
■ Relatively new technology with a number of ■ High reliability with proven technology based
competing systems and equipment on well-understood design rules
■ Systems must be either location specific or compliant ■ Only operates in the presence of a fire
with test protocols ■ Require up to 2-hour supply of water, pumps
(usually) and power supply
■ Choice of low pressure (very like sprinklers) or high
pressure ■ Approved plastic pipe can be used for lower
hazard classification systems
■ Utilise > 70% less water than sprinklers ■ Usually attract insurance discount in
■ Less likely to qualify for insurance premium discounts commerical properties
■ Peripheral water damage is a possibility – but
■ High pressure usually more expensive than sprinklers this will be 80-90% less than that likely from
the fire service
■ Higher maintenance costs than sprinklers
■ Very long system life – 40 years is possible
■ May need separate fire detection system - which will
also need maintenance – with possibility of spurious ■ Maintenance costs c.< £750/year
actuation
Standards for Active Wet Systems (1)

Sprinklers Watermist
■ Domestic and Residential: ■ Domestic & Residential Systems
BS 9251: 2015 BS 8458: 2015
■ Industrial and Commercial - includes flats and residential care
BS EN 12845: 2016 ■ Industrial and Commercial
■ Insurance-driven systems BS 8489: 2016: Parts 1,4,5,6,7
– LPC Sprinkler Rules - includes hotels
– FM Data Sheets
– NFPA 13 and 13R and 13D
Standards for Active Wet Systems (2)
Low Hazard Occupancies include:
BS 8489-1 Fixed fire protection systems.
Industrial and commercial watermist ‘non-storage, non-manufacturing occupancy
systems. Code of practice for design and where the quantity and/or combustibility of
installation. the content is low and fires with relatively low
rates of heat release are expected, with
- 4: Fire performance tests and requirements for maximum fuel loads and obstructions’
watermist systems for local applications involving
flammable liquid fires + Ceiling heights to a maximum of 5m
- 5: Tests and requirements for watermist systems Examples:
for the protection of combustion turbines and Residential care premises and apartments where BS
machinery spaces with volumes up to and 8468 cannot be used
including 80 m3 Churches
-6: Fire performance tests and requirements for Concealed spaces
watermist systems for the protection of industrial Gymnasiums
oil cookers Hotel bedrooms and their access
-7: Tests and requirements for watermist systems Local lending libraries
for the protection of low hazard occupancies Offices
Restaurant seating areas
Schools and university class rooms
Unused attics in low hazard premises with no
combustible contents and no services other than lighting
Insurance Driven Standards (1)
LPC Rules
■ Part 1 of the LPC Rules includes the full text
of BS EN 12845
■ + 36 Technical Bulletins
■ + Guidance (eg Legionella)
■ Enforced by insurers
■ Installed by LPS 1048-listed installers
■ Must be complied with as part of LPS 1048
for Certificate of Conformity
■ Must use LPCB-listed components where
these are available
Insurance Driven Standards (2)
FM Global Data Sheets
■ Usually enforced for all property insured by
FM-G
■ Not interchangeable with NFPA 13 or EN
12845 – no picking and mixing!
■ Normally used in UK in warehouses and
factories
■ Other FM-G Data Sheets including watermist
and turbines
■ Free download from:
http://www.fmglobal.com/research-and-
resources/fm-global-data-sheets

Not just sprinkler standards

Life Safety Systems and Enhanced
Availability
■ All sprinkler systems are life safety systems. In the Foreword to BS EN 12845, it is made
clear that the term ‘life safety systems’ is no longer used.
■ Instead, Annex F: Additional measures to improve system reliability provides for
additional measures where a system is required to be continuously available. For
example, where a large retail mall’s building standards approval is dependent on a fire
suppression system, such systems must be operational at all times, even when
maintenance is being carried out. Annex F provides guidance on what additional
equipment needs to be provided under these circumstance.
■ This can include:
– Subdivision into zones with a maximum area of 2400m2
– Wet pipe installations
– Quick response sprinkler heads
– (Usually) duplicate valve sets
– Duplicate water supplies

These provisions can substantially add to the costs of a system and should therefore
only be specified when necessary
STANDARDS FOR ACTIVE
FIRE PROTECTION

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