ECME-214 Instrumentation & Monitoring Systems - Lecture Notes PDF

ECME– 214 Instrumentation 2 & Monitoring Systems School of Engineering Technology & Applied Science (SETAS) Week 1 Course Overview and Fire Alarm Introduction Fire Alarm Introduction Objectives: – E...

ECME– 214 Instrumentation 2 & Monitoring Systems School of Engineering Technology & Applied Science (SETAS) Week 1 Course Overview and Fire Alarm Introduction Fire Alarm Introduction Objectives: – Examine basic fire alarm concepts, components, fire anatomy, and fire group classifications – Fire Protection – Identify the codes, standards and regulations pertaining to fire alarm systems – Identify one and two stage fire alarm systems SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  For Fires to Exist… … the following four elements must be present at the same time. Enough oxygen to sustain combustion Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature Some sort of fuel or The chemical, exothermic combustible material reaction that is fire. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 The Four Stages of Combustion Explosions excepted, most fires have quite slow beginnings and grow through 4 stages: 1. Incipient Stage - At this stage, decomposition is occurring at the surface of the fuel due to the influence of some form of heat. Products of combustion given off at this stage are invisible to the eye. 2. Smoldering Stage - At this stage, up to 10% of the decomposing products released at the surface of the fuel are visible. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  The Four Stages of Combustion 3. Flaming Stage - Vapors from the decomposing fuel have ignited and are at the stage where flames are self propagating. 4. Heat Stage - At this stage the burning has progressed to the point where the fire is still small but generating sufficient heat to warm the air immediately around the fire, sending warm products of combustion upwards by convection. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 The Four Stages of Combustion SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Historical of Fire Protection: Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er3GKw8Z3R4 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZhvbmqYniA&t=2s SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Purpose of Fire Alarm Systems The primary purpose of fire alarm systems is to protect lives The secondary purpose is to protect property and to initiate fire fighting in the event of a fire It should be noted that the best way to fight a fire is to prevent it from starting by avoiding circumstances that could initiate a fire SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Fire Protection Every step to prevent fire from breaking out or to confine it, is part of a process called Fire Protection consisting of three stages: 1. Fire Prevention 2. Fire Detection and Alarm 3. Fire Containment and Extinguishment SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  The Chemistry of Fire Extinction The principles of fire extinction consist of the elimination or removal of one or more of the four elements. These principles are: COOLING The most commonly used fire fighting medium is water. Water absorbs heat from the fire and cools the fuel to a temperature where it no longer produces flammable vapors. SMOTHERING By excluding the oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere, the fire will be extinguished. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  The Chemistry of Fire Extinction STARVATION Starvation is achieved by removal of the fuel burning in the fire. Sometimes combustible material can be removed such as by shutting off gas valves or fuel flows. STOP CHAIN REACTION Stop or interrupt the chain reaction between the fuel, heat and oxygen the fire will be extinguished. Specific methods of extinguishing fires often involve a combination of more than one of the four principles SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Government Agencies and Other SCC Standards Organizations in Fire AlarmIndustry Council Of Canada ACT of Parliament NSC Standards Council Canada ULC CSA NRC Underwriters FSR Canadian Standards National Research Laboratories of Fire Safety Research Association Council Canada ULC CEC NBC NFC Canadian Electric National Building ALL Codes National Fire Code Code Code OBC The Fire OESC Ontario Electrical Ontario Building Code Safety Code Code Fire Marshals Act (Ontario) References References Insurance Made to Various Companies and Codes Underwriters Active Input NFPA Towards National Fire FM Prevention Factory Mutual Fire Safety Association CFAA CFSA SFPE ECAO CFAE-IBEW Electrical International Canadian Fire Canadian Fire Society of Fire Contractors Brotherhood of Alarm Safety Protection Association of Electrical Association Association Engineers Ontario Workers  Codes & Standards in Canada: Central and Eastern Canada © Canadian Fire Alarm Association SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Fire Extinguishers and Fire Classes Fire extinguishers are designed to put out or control small fires. A small fire, if not checked immediately, will soon spread out of control. It is important, therefore, that we equip our facilities with the proper fire extinguishers as part of our fire protection plan. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 Four Classes of Fires SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  How Fire Extinguishers Work? Portable fire extinguishers apply an extinguishing agent that will either cool burning fuel, displace or remove oxygen, or stop the chemical reaction so a fire cannot continue to burn. When the handle of an extinguisher is compressed, it opens an inner canister of high- pressure gas that forces the extinguishing agent from the main cylinder through a siphon tube and out the nozzle. A fire extinguisher works much like a can of hair spray. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Fire Extinguisher Summary EXTINGUISHER TYPE WORKS BY EFFECTIVE AGAINST PRESSURIZED COOLING WATER CARBON SMOTHERING DIOXIDE MULTIPURPOSE SMOTHERING DRY CHEMICAL SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  One Stage Fire Alarm Systems Single stage: upon the operation of any manual station, waterflow detecting device, or fire detector, cause an alarm signal to sound on all audible signal devices in the system SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Two Stage Fire Alarm Systems a) alert signal upon the operation of any manual station, waterflow detecting device, or fire detector, b) Automatic alarm if not acknowledged within 5 min of its initiation, and c) have manual stations equipped with a key-switch, so that the use of a key will cause an alarm signal to sound SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Two Stage Fire Alarm Systems A two-stage system is intended for use in a building that employs trained and qualified supervisory staff (for example, building security personnel) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Types of Fire Alarm Systems A single-stage system in a Group F, Division 1 occupancy, A 2-stage system in a Group B occupancy, A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B, Division 3 occupancy where the building is 3 story's or less, and A single- or 2-stage system in all other cases Technically you can have a single stage fire alarm system in a high-rise office tower or hotel. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 Types of Fire Alarm Sytems SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Fire Alarm Systems One Stage vs. Two Stage Two-stage alarm systems are normally used if programmed evacuation is required or if a general alarm would cause undue distress to the occupants, for example in health care facilities. – Reduces the potential for false alarms – In high buildings this can facilitate the staged evacuation and thus reduce the impact of the evacuation on the means of egress SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 Voice Communications Systems NBC 3.2.6.8. High Buildings A voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.22. shall be provided in a building if – a) the floor of the top storey is more than 36 m above grade, or – b) a floor area or part of a floor area located above the third storey is designed or intended for use as a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1  Problem with Supervisory Staff Training, and Availability The problem is that supervisory staff may not be adequately trained on how to use the system and may not be confident in its use. Property Owners let these go to alarm Impacts the credibility of the alarm system What happens when supervisory staff are not available or after hours? System goes to alarm SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 Human Behavior During Fire Confidence in Emergency Procedures - clear concise messaging by supervisory staff ensures that the building occupants have confidence in the overall alarm system Voice Communications – are proven reinforcing queues* -- reduces alarm recognition time SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 Types of Evacuations Total Evacuation (Single stage evacuation of a Building) SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1 Staged Evacuation Found with 2 stage alarms – alarm sent to the fire floor and remaining floors in alert notification. SETAS - AMAT: Course Code ECME- 214 Week #1