Objective:

At the end of the lesson, the

students have:
 Understood the principle of fire
extinction
 Learned the classifications of fire
and fire hazards
 Known the basic of fire protection
system
 Understood the components of
Automatic Fire Sprinkler System
 Learned the sequence operation of
Automatic Fire Sprinkler System
What does fire protection mean?
Fire protection refers to measures taken to prevent fire
from becoming destructive, reduce the impact of an
uncontrolled fire, and save lives and property.

Principle of Fire Extinction:

• Starvation – Removing or blanketing the fuel
• Smothering – Cutting off or diluting the oxygen supply
• Cooling – Removing heat from the fire.

Fire Triangle:
Fuel = flammable gas or vapors, combustible dusts,
ignitable fibers
Heat = ignition source (arc, spark,static electricity)
Air = oxygen & other oxidizing atmosphere
CLASS A Fire: involving solid materials such as  Flammable gases include:
• Wood: furniture, and wood-building structures. • Hydrogen: Commonly used in party balloons (to
• Paper: such as the paper in the trash and books help them float above air) and as a fuel for
some bus transport systems.
• Plastic: such as Tupperware containers, toys, and bags.
• Butane, Methane, Ethylene
• Cloth: such as clothing and curtains.
The best materials for extinguishing a Class B fire
• Rubber: such as the rubber found in shoes. are:
Extinguish fire by: • Halon was in fire extinguishers until the 1990s
• Water: Such as water from a garden hose or tap. when scientists found it was terrible for the
• Dry Chemicals: ABC fire extinguishers usually contain dry Ozone layer.
chemicals. • Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher:

• Other Methods: Fire blankets • Foam: This can be effective for extinguishing
liquid gas fires.
CLASS B Fire: Gases and liquids
Note: Water is not usually recommended for Class
• Gasoline: The gas (petrol) you put in your car. Diesel is part of B fires as water can scatter the liquid fuel. Further,
this category. some liquids float on water, meaning the water is
• Most oils: including the oil you put in your car and your not the best substance for separating the energy
chainsaw car-bike chains. from an oxygen source.
• Most paints, Alcohol:
Class C Fire: Energized Electrical equipment:  The best materials for extinguishing combustible metal fires
include:
• Clothes Dryers: Clothes dryers can cause
fires when not adequately maintained. Lint • Dry powder: Dry powder is not confused with dry chemical
build-up acts like kindling for sparks, and extinguishers. Dry powder extinguishers can extinguish
Class D fires.
poorly installed or maintained lint traps
can cause problems.  Class K Fire: Cooking Fires involving Oils and Fats
• Wiring and Cords: Poorly installed
• Vegetable Oil: such as vegetable oil, canola oil, butter, etc.,
for cooking
• Space Heaters: It is common for people to
• Cooking Grease: Grease can accumulate behind and
leave space heaters near loose cloth like undercooking appliances. Safety inspections of the
bedding, curtains, and clothing left to dry. industrial kitchen will often check to ensure no grease build-
The best materials for extinguishing up as it poses a severe fire risk.
electrical fires include:  To suppress Class K fires:
• Dry Chemical Extinguisher: • Water Mist: Water is not the best for Class K fires, but misty
water can be a good suppressant.
Class D Fire: Combustible Metals • Foam: Most Class K fire extinguishers use a particular
• Sodium is a highly reactive metal that
substance that turns oils into foams.
can cause combustion when exposed to • Fire Suppression Blanket: Fire blankets are regularly used in
air or water. kitchens if the fire is small enough to be covered entirely by
the mantle. The blanket will suffocate the fire by denying its
• Lithium: Such as in laptops and access to oxygen.
intelligent phone batteries.
Classification of Hazards:
1. Light Hazard = defined as occupancies or portions of other occupancies where the quantity
and/or combustibility of contents is low and fires with relatively low rates of heat release are
expected.

2. Ordinary Hazard = for group 1, it shall be defined as where combustibility is low, quantity of
combustibles is moderate, stockpiles of combustibles do not exceed 8 ft (2.4m) and fires
with moderate rates of heat release are expected. For group 2, defined as where the quantity
and combustibility of contents are moderate to high, stockpiles of contents with moderate rates
of heat release do not exceed 12 ft (3.7 m), and stockpiles of contents with high rates of heat
release do not exceed 8 ft.

3. Extra Hazard = for group 1, where the quantity and combustibility of contents are very high and
dust, lint, or other materials are present, introducing the probability of rapidly developing fires
with high rates of heat release but with little or no combustible or flammable liquids. For group 2,
it shall be defined as occupancies or portions of other occupancies with moderate to substantial
amounts of flammable or combustible liquids or occupancies where shielding of combustibles is
extensive.
Types of Fire Protection
System
1. Automatic fire sprinklers
2. Portable extinguishers
3. Fire hoses
4. Fire hose racks and monitors
 Automatic sprinklers

Branch lines

What is Automatic Fire Water tank

Sprinkler System?
A system that consists of an integrated network of
piping designed in accordance with fire protection
engineering standards that includes a water supply
source, fire pump, water control valve, water flow
alarm, and a drain, a piping system and sprinkler
heads and is commonly activated by heat from a fire,
discharging water over the fire area.

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Cross mains

Provides: Jockey pump Feed mains

1. Fire suppression
Pipe riser
2. Fire detection Fire pump
Piping system
3. Maintains the tenability of the building
AFSS Components:
1. Water tank = storage of water. The
size is calculated according to the
requirement. It should always be filled
with water.

Type of tank according to location:

a. Suction tank = can be
underground or just above the
ground
b. Gravity tank = the tank is at a
certain elevation
c. Pressure tank = closed vessel
AFSS Components:
2. Fire pump = it provides water flow
and pressure.
The pump’s discharge pressure should not be less than the required
system demand pressure and should not exceed the pressure rating Horizontal pump
of the system components at the churn pressure (shut off head).

The Fire Pump automatically switches on once the demand for water
has increased hence requires more pressure and flow. A maintaining
pressure of 100 psi for the fire pump should be inplaced. This is also
common in the industry practice.

Fire Pump Sizing:

Based on standpipe or sprinkler requirement.
AFSS Components:
2. Fire pump
Pump’s Requirement:
1. The shutoff head (churn) is limited to 140 percent of the rated head.

2. The rated head at the rated flow, commonly referred to as the pump pressure and capacity
ratings, is marked on the pump nameplate.
3. A minimum of 65 percent of the rated head is provided at 150 percent of the rated capacity.

Installation Requirement:
1. Positive head at pump suction.

2. Means of testing the pump (test header, flowmeter, closed loop metering).

3. Dual source of power for electric driven motor units. In case of power outage, diesel standby
generator can supply the needed power.

Note: Access to the fire pump room shall be pre-planned with the fire department.
AFSS Components:
3. Jockey pump
 Use as pressure maintenance pump at preset limits.
 Operates at non-fire condition.
 Prevents activation of Fire Pump at non-fire condition.
 Handles the leak in the piping system.
 High pressure/low flow that typically cannot sustain system pressure
after activation of a single sprinkler.
 Sized so that their flow is lower than that expected from smallest
orifice in the sprinkler system.
Sample pressure settings:
• Jockey pump cut –off pressure-110 psi
• Jockey pump cut –in pressure -100 psi
• Fire pump cut –in pressure – 90 psi.
• For the Fire Pump… automatic shutdown is not permitted. Only
Manual shutdown.
AFSS Components:
4. Piping System – It transport water from
source to the sprinklers.
Parts:
a. System Riser. The aboveground horizontal or vertical
pipe between the water supply and the mains (cross or
feed) that contains a control valve (either directly or
within its supply pipe), pressure gauge, drain, and a
waterflow alarm device.
b. Risers. The vertical supply pipes in a sprinkler system.
c. Cross Mains- The pipes supplying the branch lines,
either directly or through risers.
d. Feed Mains. The pipes supplying cross mains, either
directly or through risers. Why is fire protection colored RED?
ANSI (American National Standard Institue) defines that red
e. Branch Lines. The pipes in which the sprinklers are should be the color used for all signs or labels that signify
placed, either directly or through risers. danger.
AFSS Components:
4. Piping System
Valves Used:
1. Check valve = is a device that permits the flow of fire water in only one
direction, no back flow. Check valves for fire protection prevent the unwanted
reverse flow of water, known as backflow, from occurring. It protects the
equipments from backflow damage. And stopping drainage in a fire sprinkler
system with elevation changes
It can be placed on riser system and after discharge flange of the fire pump.
2. Gate valve = used for isolation of a certain part and positive shut-off in an
AFSS. It is bi-directional. It can back flow.
3. Butterfly valve = acts as a control valve that starts and shuts the flow
of water to the pipes in fire fighting systems.
4. Relief valves are installed to prevent damage to fire pumps due to
overpressure.
General. All new systems, including yard piping and fire department connections,
shall be tested hydrostatically at not less than 200 psi (13.8 bar) of pressure for 2
hours, or at 50 psi (3.5 bar) in excess of the maximum pressure where the
maximum pressure is in excess of 150 psi (10.3 bar).
AFSS Components:
4. Fire Department Connection (FDC)
 Serves as back-up water supply
for automatic sprinkler system.
 Number of inlet connection
depends on the size of fire pump.
One outlet for each 250 GPM fire
pump capacity.
 Should be located in accessible
area. It should be not more than
1.2m above access level.
 Should be provided with cap and
chain.
 Should not be connected on the
suction side of the fire pump.
 AFSS Installation Type
AFSS
Components:
4. Sprinkler System –
common type in use is
the “WET” sprinkler
system. It is applicable
to areas that are not
subjected to freezing.

Wet sprinkler means

there is water inside the
piping system up to the
sprinkler head.
AFSS Installation Type
AFSS Installation Type
Automatic Sprinklers = Device that
senses heat and distributes water upon
activation.
There are many types of A.S. but we
will focus only in Quick-Response (QR)
Sprinkler.

Sprinkler Head:
There are six main characteristics that
define a sprinkler’s ability to control or
extinguish a fire:
• Thermal sensitivity
• Temperature rating
• Orifice size
• Installation orientation
• Water distribution characteristics
• Special service conditions
Maximum spacing between
sprinkler is 15ft (4.6 meters)
for light and ordinary
hazards.

Minimum distance
between sprinklers shall be
maintained to prevent
operating sprinkler from
wetting adjacent sprinkler
and to prevent skipping of
sprinklers.
Sequence of Operation:
[Link] entire sprinkler system piping is pressurized. Top most piping system is normally pressurized up to 40 psi
of pressure.
2. Upon detection of fire and opening of sprinkler head, pressure in the piping system drops.
[Link] fire and jockey pumps are automatically activated by pressure drop in the piping.
However, jockey pump start first as it has the higher cut-in pressure than the Fire Pump.
[Link] pump has limited capacity and when it cannot sustain the required flow in the
piping system, pressure in the system drops further.
5. When the pressure drops further, it can reach the fire pump cut in pressure and the fire
pump automatically activates.
6. The fire alarm system has nothing to do with the activation of fire pump. The fire and
jockey pumps have their own pressure sensing lines and independent from the fire alarm
system.
7. The automatic sprinkler system is connected to the fire alarms system thru the flow
and supervisory switches for each zone, etc. So when these devices are activated,
respective zones in the building fire alarm system are indicated in the panel or FACP.
===END===