Term
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Definition
heat / light energy released during a chemical reaction: pyrolysis.
Combustion requires these three elements. Fire elimination usually addresses one
of the three. Understanding the causes is also important. |
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Term
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Definition
| results in energy output, gases, and other residues |
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Term
| What creates fire in buildings? |
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Definition
Electrical
Chemical
Mechanical
Others/arson |
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Term
| most death in building fires |
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Definition
result from smoke and gases because of
Modern building materials:
Other gases include oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, cyanide, phosgene, hydrogen
chloride (PVC) |
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Term
| three major objectives of fire protection and life safety |
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Definition
| protection of property, and the restoration and continued use of the building after the fire. |
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Term
| additional life safety concerns |
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Definition
Life safety also involves the protection of people during
emergencies other than fire, such as earthquakes, floods , terrorist threats , and
similar disasters. |
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Term
| five major ways that fire protection in buildings is accomplished |
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Definition
•by preventing fires
•by early fire detection and alarm
•by providing for quick exiting of building occupants
•by containing the fire
•by suppressing the fire |
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Term
|
Definition
provide sufficient warning for
3
occupants to leave the building and to alert firefighters so that extinguishing efforts
can begin before the fire spreads. |
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Term
|
Definition
building
materials, compartmentation, and smoke control |
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Term
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Definition
| sprinkler systems, standpipes, and other methods. |
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Term
|
Definition
limiting the hazardous situations that could lead to starting
a fire, and then if a fire occurs, limiting the outcome. It also limits the products of
combustion. Building codes address these concerns in a number of ways that
include setting forth minimum flame-spread ratings and establishing flammability
standards and similar constraints |
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Term
|
Definition
| Warnings, egress, materials, size and compartments, property protection…. |
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Term
|
Definition
The basic idea is to separate a building into sections, to contain fire and limit its spread, both to allow
building occupants to escape and to protect other parts of the building that are not initially subject to
the fire. |
|
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Term
| Compart-ment-ation in high rise buildings |
|
Definition
it may not be practical to evacuate the building immediately,
Compartmentation can provide places of refuge where occupants can wait until the fire is
extinguished or until they can exit safely. |
|
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Term
| Codes require fire separation between |
|
Definition
different occupancies
use areas and exits
parts of a building when the maximum allowable area is exceeded.
Separation is required both vertically, with floor-ceiling assemblies, and horizontally, with fire-rated
walls. Any openings through fire assemblies must also be rated or protected.
also applies the entire building and its surroundings |
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Term
|
Definition
the collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted
when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass |
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Term
|
Definition
one of the most important aspects of fire protection. Smoke
moves rapidly through a building, well beyond the location of the fire. |
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Term
|
Definition
convection, differential air pressure between cool and warm air,
the stack effect through vertical penetrations, winds, also by HVAC systems.
Building geometry and the sprinkler systems also play a significant role in smoke
movement, vapor created by sprinklers |
|
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Term
| Compart-ment-ation (smoke) |
|
Definition
sections to contain
smoke and limit its spread. |
|
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Term
| how hot water helps to put out fires |
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Definition
| Water stops the heat and light energy, and the chemical reaction during a fire. |
|
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Term
| reasons why water is used as the primary means of fire elimination |
|
Definition
| cools, smothers, emulsifies, available. cheap |
|
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Term
| issues with water for fire elimination |
|
Definition
| damages building and contents, conducts electricity |
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Term
|
Definition
water pipes that run the height of the building, in protected areas,
and have connections for hoses at different levels |
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Term
|
Definition
full scale fire fighting, buildings more than 3 levels, and malls. (sprinkled or
not) 2 ½”, firefighter use only. |
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Term
|
Definition
first aid fire fighting, before trucks arrive. 1 ½”. It is intended to be used by
occupants, so it has hoses. Used in large un-sprinkled buildings, and special
hazards. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
shares characteristics of I and II: 2 ½”+ 1 ½” with hose. Users and
firemen. |
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Term
|
Definition
building storage tanks and through Siamese
connections |
|
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Term
| sprinkler types - Early and quick suppression |
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Definition
|
|
Term
| sprinkler types - Wet pipe sprinklers |
|
Definition
kept filled with water under pressure, ready to act. These
are the most common. They respond immediately to a rise in temperature at any
sprinkler head. |
|
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Term
| sprinkler types - Dry pipe systems |
|
Definition
used in areas subject to freezing. The pipes are filled with
compressed air or nitrogen (under pressure) that is released first; water then comes
to the heads. |
|
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Term
| sprinkler types - pre-action |
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
heads are always open, water flow is controlled by a smoke, heat, of flame
sensor, that activates all the sprinkler heads in an area at once, regardless of
where the fire is. The pipes are empty; upon activation of an alarm, valves
automatically open, flooding the space. Deluge systems are used in high-hazard
areas where fire is likely to spread rapidly |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| heat extraction, oxygen depletion, blocking of radiant heat. |
|
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Term
| sprinkler types - circulating |
|
Definition
| water is kept in movement. |
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Term
| sprinklers - Flow control |
|
Definition
smart system that allows sprinklers to stop according to temperature
level. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
hazard, ceiling height, type, pressure.
Radius and height are critical factors in the definition of the geometry |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Only those above fire are actuated. (Deluge does not work this way.) |
|
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Term
| 2 critical factors in the definition of the geometry of sprinklers |
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
Pre-action –DRY Pipe- systems are also called “double interlock” because two
separate actions are required to cause a discharge:
1) Signal from a detection system to open the pre-action valve which will allow
water to fill the pipe.
2) Heat from a fire to fuse a sprinkler head, releasing water into the room.Of course, a head can be knocked off or discharge for some other reason, but if the
detection system has not opened the pre-action valve, no water will be in the
pipe. The detection portion of the process can be further enhanced to require
separate detectors, zones, or types of detectors to be in alarm. Before the
advent of detectors that could provide a location, detectors were often grouped
in zones, so that two detectors in different zones were needed to open the preaction
valve. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| sprayer, deflector, and fusible link. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Upright, pendant, or sidewall.
Threaded or saddle. |
|
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Term
| Thermal linkage/ Fusible link |
|
Definition
The thermal linkage is the component which controls water release. Under normal
conditions the linkage prevents water flow, however, as the link is exposed to heat
it weakens and releases the cap. Common linkage styles:
Metal levers
Frangible glass bulbs
Solder pellets.
In most cases, when a sprinkler head opens, a detector senses movement of water
and sends a signal to an annunciator panel or fire control center so that fire fighting
personnel know where the fire is. |
|
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Term
| common v. higher temperature sprinklers |
|
Definition
The common operating temperatures range between 135 -225°F
The higher temperature sprinklers, however, may be utilized where excessive
ambient temperatures exist, i.e. mechanical/boiler rooms. |
|
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Term
| Sprinklers for industrial settings |
|
Definition
There are orange and green fusible links, for higher temperatures, used in industrial
settings. |
|
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Term
| Operating temperature lag time |
|
Definition
Upon reaching the desired operating temperature, an approximate 30 second to 4
minute time lag will follow. This lag is the time required for linkage fatigue and is
largely controlled by the link materials and mass. |
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Term
| What are the criteria for using different types of temperatures for sprinklers? |
|
Definition
Normal ceiling temp
Risk factor
Room contents or stored materials. |
|
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Term
| sprinkler temperature/coding/color |
|
Definition
135-170: Ordinary - no color
175-225: Intermediate - white
250-300: High - blue
325 - 375: Extra High - red |
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Term
| Fire Extinguisher: Type A |
|
Definition
Water and foams, dry chemical
Used in ordinary combustibles: wood, paper, cloth, plastics…. Cooling effects of
water, coating/interruption from dry chemicals.
(Numerals approximate square footage/ extinguishing potential) |
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Term
| Fire Extinguisher: Type B |
|
Definition
Smothering or interrupting chemicals
Used on combustible liquids, gases, greases…. Exclude oxygen, inhibits
release of gases, interrupts chain reaction. (Numerals approximate square footage/ extinguishing potential) |
|
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Term
| Fire Extinguisher: Type C |
|
Definition
CO2 or dry chemical
used on electrical equipment.
(Numerals approximate square footage/ extinguishing potential) |
|
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Term
| Fire Extinguisher: Type ABC |
|
Definition
all of the above
(Numerals approximate square footage/ extinguishing potential) |
|
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Term
| Fire Extinguisher: Type D |
|
Definition
Graphite, sodium chloride, dry chemicals
Used on combustible metals.(Numerals approximate square footage/ extinguishing potential) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Halons were eliminated in the 90’s. They were used to extinguish fires by
interrupting the chemical chain reaction in a fire. Do not harm contents or people.
They harm the environment. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Foams: float on flammable liquids cover flammables smothering fires. Different
types of expansion: from 20:1 to 1000:1
CO2 and inerting gases: absorb combustion energy and replace oxygen. Used in
small spaces without people.
Clean gases: FM-200, similar to Halon, does not harm firefighters. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
float on flammable liquids cover flammables smothering fires. Different
types of expansion: from 20:1 to 1000:1 |
|
|
Term
| Fire suppression - CO2 and inerting gases |
|
Definition
Absorb combustion energy and replace oxygen. Used in
small spaces without people. |
|
|
Term
| Fire suppression - Clean gases |
|
Definition
| FM-200, similar to Halon, does not harm firefighters. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A warning system. An automatic fire alarm system is designed to detect the
unwanted presence of fire by monitoring environmental changes associated with
combustion. In general, a fire alarm system is either classified as automatic,
manually activated, or both. Automatic fire alarm systems can be used to notify
people to evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency, to bring emergency
help, and to prepare the structure and associated systems to control the spread of fire and smoke.
Types: (NFPA 72) |
|
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Term
| Fire Detection - Protected premises |
|
Definition
sounds an alarm only in the protected building. Action to deal
with the occurrence is local. |
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Term
| Fire Detection - Auxillary |
|
Definition
local system equipped with a direct connection to a municipal fire alarm
box. |
|
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Term
| Fire Detection - Remote Station |
|
Definition
local system equipped with a direct connection warning to a remote
location (a police facility or a alarm monitoring service). |
|
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Term
| Fire Detection - Proprietary |
|
Definition
warns to a central station created and monitored for a specific building or
group of buildings, and oversees only those buildings. This station is on-site. |
|
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Term
| Fire Detection - Central Station |
|
Definition
similar to proprietary, but the system supervision and all of its equipment are owned
and operated by a service company. |
|
|
Term
| Fire Detection - Municipal |
|
Definition
| supervision organized/owned by a township or county |
|
|
Term
| alarm system classifications - Conventional system |
|
Definition
uses detectors and manual stations that transmit an alarm
signal only when there is a problem. |
|
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Term
| alarm system classifications - Addressable system |
|
Definition
(automatic and manual) These detectors are identical to
conventional detectors, but have electronic circuit which makes each detector a
separate zone, and have an electronic identification code. When there is an alarm,
the control panel may ask for alarm confirmation from an a nearby detector or a
repeat alarm from the same detector after (remote) reset. These are continuously
checked by the control panel, and each reply by continuously sending a OK status
signal. Each become a discrete zone. |
|
|
Term
| alarm system classifications - Addressable analog (intelligent) systems |
|
Definition
the warning decision is made by a
microprocessor at the central alarm panel. The data received from each detector
are combined with other data including reports from adjacent detectors, data on the
condition of the detectors, and time patterns at each detector. These information is
used to eliminate false alarms, sensor sensitivity can be adjusted, and detector
failure is diagnosed. |
|
|
Term
| alarm system - Components and Types |
|
Definition
Signal initiation (heat, smoke, flame, manual,)
Processing (verification),
Alerts (calls, annunciator)
Types: Manual, auto, multiplexing |
|
|
Term
| Automatic fire detection that work at different levels of the fire development. |
|
Definition
Incipient:
Combustion gases
Gas detector
Ionization
Smoldering:
Photoelectric
Flame stage:
Flame detector
Heat stage:
Heat detector |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
create these separations: if a fire occurs, the rational use of
materials can limit the outcome. It also limits the products of combustion. Building
codes address these concerns in a number of ways that include dictating minimum
flame-spread ratings and establishing flammability standards and similar
constraints |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
respond to fire by expanding rapidly, insulating the surface
they protect or filling gaps to prevent the passage of fire, heat, and smoke. They are
available in the form of strips, caulk, paint, and putty. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Underwriter Laboratories, nationally recognized testing lab |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| American Society for Testing and Materials. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| National Fire protection Association |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| American National Standards Institute |
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