Fire Protection Systems
Engineering and designing any fire protection system requires an understanding of fire behavior as it relates to the type and size of the fire hazard the system will protect. Most properties and structures have some level of associated fire hazard that could be negligible, moderate, or significant. When evaluating a fire hazard, several factors come into play, including occupancy and use conditions; the materials, products, and finishes involved in constructing a building; the quantity, arrangement, and type of items within the building; and the method of handling or storing the items that are present. Consideration of all these factors is critical in the hazard evaluation and design process when deciding on the type of fire protection system that will best protect the structure or hazard. From the moment a building is built and occupied, but especially when buildings change owners or tenants, it is important to ensure that all fire protection systems in the building are adequate for the conditions of occupancy and use.
Fire fighters performing familiarization drills in buildings must remain cognizant of the occupancy conditions, the types of hazards, the types of processes, and the quantities and types of materials in a property. If any of these conditions change, not only will the building’s preplan and response protocol need updating, but the adequacy of the fire protection systems will need to be reevaluated. Warehouses are a good example to illustrate this point because it is not unusual for the contents and the storage method to change over time. When the contents and method of storing are changed, the fire hazard could greatly increase owing to a change in the fuel load that could render the fire protection system inadequate. Although complacency about fire protection systems is typically not intentional, the condition and adequacy of these systems are commonly overlooked. Unfortunately, any failure to reevaluate a fire protection system based on the fire hazards and fuel loads present could result in property damage, property loss, injury, and possible loss of life.
To assess any fire hazard, a basic understanding of fire chemistry and fire dynamics is necessary. This information provides the firefighting community with the insight and understanding of fire behavior that form the basis for every manual fire attack undertaken by firefighting crews. It is not necessary to be a researcher or scientist to be a competent fire fighter, fire officer, or investigator, but understanding how and why fire occurs is essential.
To extinguish a fire, it is critical to understand what sustains a fire. There have been numerous research projects conducted and textbooks written that provide in-depth analysis and study documenting fire behavior, the combustion process, and the chemistry and physics of fire.
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