Fire Safety Audit

By Dato Haji Badaruding Haji Mat Isa.

Objectives To ensure building is safe from fire. For the safety of life and properties. Work continuity for staff and workers.

Strategies

Negotiate / meeting with owner, CEO of building or company who require fire safety audit on fees, time schedules, report and presentation. Study building plans- floor plans, M& E plans, site plans, elevation plans and specific plans such as kitchen, assembly hall, theatres, etc. quickly. What benchmark, building regulation standard and codes to be used. Representative of building (technician) to accompany the inspection and testing.

Methodology

Prepare scheduling for inspection. Duration of instpection. Understand building regulation and familiarity with fire safety engineering, fire science and human factors including standards, codes to be used. Read through the plan and ask owners representatives on unclear matters. Understand symbols such as fire door, compartment, fire lift, rated materials etc. (depending on purpose group of building) Determine where to begin. (Division of work amongst the team mate). Methodology of inspection observation, questionnaires, recording, physical testing, video taping, camera, jotting points into record book. Measuring of length and width may be required. May need to inspect roof. Meeting and discussion with team mates after the inspection possibly at night to prepare preliminary report. Methodology in report writing ( identifying problems and suggest how to solve the problems). Preparation for final representation presentation should not be more than 1.5 hours..

Tools

Note book to record observation. Video camera. Torch light. Rubber glove. Wear appropriate garment. Measuring tape. Walkie-talkie. Equipment for testing of heat /smoke detectors Identity Pressure gauge Scaling ladder (Be polite and diplomatic during inspection)

What items, variable and subvariables to look for during the inspection.

Means of escape. Means of alarm. Means of fire extinguishment (manual or automatic . Emergency communication facilities. Condition of compartments. Ventilation systems. Possible causes of fire fire load, and arrangement. Standard of management of fire safety in the building. Entry into the building if staircases are obstructed. Condition of road, bridges, canopy & surrounding building Application of building regulation, standard and codes.

Fire science
By Dato Haji Badarudin Haji Mat Isa.

Fire Science is important to study the reaction or behavior of building materials, fire spread etc.

Matter elements (about 104 known), atoms, molecules, molecules of identical atoms, molecules of different atoms (compound and mixtures). Matter can be solid, liquid and gas (vapor). Matter comprises of combustible and not-combustible. Fire triangle fuel, ignition temperature, oxygen and the ability of fire to sustain until full growth. Limit of flammability (upper and lower). Smoldering, fire and explosion. Terminologies flash point, fire point, explosive range, vapor density, specific gravity, conduction, radiation, convection, miscibility, poisonous vapor, expension. Fire load v. heavy, heavy, medium, and low. Atom - electron, proton, neutron , nucleus (electrical charge). Radioactivity unstable elements.

Causes of fire

Electricity short circuit, arching and overloading. Mechanical fault overheating, friction, breakdown of moving parts, boil over etc. Chemical reaction chemical and physical characteristic of materials and substances. Human factors carelessness, ignorance, enemy attack, or deliberate (arson) (special study on arson). Natural causes lightening , earthquake, sagging or cracks due to movement of earth,

How to extinguish fire

Remove one of the ingredients in the fire triangle : cooling, block oxygen from entering, break /remove combustibles into smaller parts. Fire graph for normal fire and fast developing fire, Remove oxygen by covering entry of oxygen, Use foam (light, medium and heavy foam) Use water for ordinary combustible substances. Fine spray (fog) may be use on liquid fire. Dry powder (the A,B, C type) Special extinguisher for mettle fires. Inert gas, Carbon dioxide, FM200, etc. Design of fire fighting systems must be according to the risk.

Items variables and sub-variables to be inspect or observe.

6. ITEMS TO BE EVALUATED IN FIRE SAFETY

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr East West North

Benchmark in building construction, which involves the knowledge on UBBL. This may also include the knowledge on the perfomance based fire engineering concept solution Evaluate possible causes of fire Evaluate condition of means of escape Evaluate condition of means of alarm Evaluate fire safety management standard and its implementation Evaluate fire load at work place Adequacy in fire protection (equipment and its maintenace) Evaluate condition of compartments or prevention of fire spread Evaluate condition of ventilation system including the study of possible fire spread in bulding Evaluate condition of emergency of emergency communications Evaluate condition of means of entry during emergency

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr East West North

7. EVALUATION OF POSSIBLE CAUSES OF FIRE

Electricity short circuiting, arching and overloading Mechanicals origination friction, lack of maintenance Chemicals reactivity, explosiveness of substances, corrosiveness, toxicity, radioactivity Human factors carelessness, ignorant and deliberate Spreading from other buildings, floors or compartment or from outside sources Self ignition or spontaneous comnustion

8. EVALUATION ON THE STATUS OF FIRE LOAD Light: 1 to 100,000 BTU/lb. per sq. floor or 231,375 kJ/kg per sq. meter floor (one hour fire protection) Moderate: 100,001 to 200,000 BTU/lb per sq. feet of floor area or 471,658 kJ/m sq. of floor (2 hours fire protection) Heavy: 200,001 to 300,000 Moderate: 100,001 BTU/lb. per sq. feet of floor area of above 471,658kJ/m sq. floor area (4 hours fire protection)

The effect of heat on building materials

Raise the temperature. Expension of materials. Change in physical shape / constituents. Change in chemical constituents. Conduction, radiation and convection (fire spread).

APPLICATION

Building design (fire protection) means of escape, mean of fire detection, means of alarm, emergency communication, compartments, ventilation system, signage, entry into the building for rescue & fire fighting. Fire suppression fire extinguishers, fixed installations, Fire prevention management of fire safety, fire safety policy, maintenance, inspection and supervision, evaluation of risk, training of staffs, fire instruction, reports, budget for maintenance, preparedness.

Formulation of building by-laws

Fire

safety to various types of premises (purpose groups of building). Derivatives of building regulations engineering (structural, civil, mechanical, electrical , soil) , administration, fire safety engineering, fire science and human factors.

Uniform Building by-laws

Contain 9 parts including 10 schedules (258 provisions). Part 2 submission of plans for approval. Part 3 Space, light and ventilation. Part 4 - Temporary works in connection with building operations. Part 5 Structural requirements Part 6 Constructional requirements. Part 7 - Fire requirements. Part 8 - Fire alarm, fire detection, fire extinguishment and fire fighting access, Part 9 - Miscellaneous including the 10 schedules.

The ten schedules of the UBBL

1st Schedule Fees. 2nd Schedule Forms A, B, C, D, and E 3rd Schedule - Ventilation for health requirement 4th Schedule Weight of materials & use of loads. 5th Schedule - Designation of purpose group. 6th Schedule Calculated of permitted limit of unprotected areas. 7th Schedule - Travel distances and dead ends. 8th Schedule - Restriction of flame spread. 9th Schedule - Limit of compartment and minimum periods of fire resistance of building materials. 10th Schedule Fire equipment and fire alarm requirements.

9. EVALUATION ON THE CONDITION OF MEANS OF ESCAPE

Horizontal escape (direct and indirect travel distance and dead ends) variables and sub-variables. Escape for large factory, flated factory, single staircase building. Vertical escape variables and sub variables (staircasae design, enclosure, lighting and ventilation of vertical escape) Final exit variables and sub-variables, atrium, escalators, key to final exit, ventilation (obstruction, grills etc.), Escape from basement to the groud floor. Standard time for escape to a safe area inside or outside the building (sleeping risk, non sleeping risk and escape for the disable people. Staircase designs: Fire fighting staircase, internal and external staircases, staircase enclosures, fire fighting lobby, ventilation, treads, risers, hand rails, anti slip, free from obstruction, indicators, emergency lighting, grills, fire fighting lobby, fire equipment control. Staircase distribution.

Evaluation on emergency control centre (in large & high-rise bldg).

Location of the centre. Who is in charge of the control centre?. Panels for sprinkler, lifts, detectors, manual fire alarm, bulk Co2, Energen, FM 200 etc. Plans of various floors and M &E for systems including elevation plan. Central Monitoring System to fire brigade. Other emergency telephones to police, fire department, security, LLN., waterworks, CEO, Chief Administrator etc. Intercom system, public address system, loud hailer. Occurrence book, clock, computer recorder, etc. Operational tools lift door key, breaking in tools, cutter, axes, breathing apparatus, torch light, rescue tools, helmets with visors, Important lists - location of disabled persons, fire extinguishers, important valves, storage of dangerous goods, important inventory. Special instruction board / notices/ inspection report important info.

11. EVALUATION ON OCCUPANCY LOAD

This is assoiated with means of escape to determine size of fire door, corridors and staircase including waiting area for halls, theatres etc. Scale of areas for various usage as mentioned inthe UBBL 1984 To justify overcrowding Discharge rate and evacuation time Corridors (crossand non crossed ventilation corridors) Smoke barriers Fire doors, smoke stop doors, magnetic fire doors Exit signs, signage and other indicators Ventilation: pressurization, motorize dampers, windows opening for ventilation, smoke exhaust Fire fighting excess level ( entry building by fire fighters and final escape for occupants) Emergency communication fire telephone, public adress system, panels etc. Single staircase building Refuge area or smoke lobbies Means of escape fo the disabled Staircases for basements Fire lifts and passenger lifts

12. EVALUATION ON THE ADEQUACY AND CONDITION OF FIRE EQUIPMENT

Refer Schedule 10 of the UBBL 1984 as regard to fire requirement on fire equipment There are numerous types of fire fighting equipment, and the evluator is expected to understand each type , its construction, standard specification, usage and placement Equipment are:

Fire extinguishers Trolly type of fire extinguishers First aid hose reels Dry risers Wet risers Automatic sprinker Drencher system Foam base injection system Foam pourers CO2 system Water fog system Water canon FM200 Energen Fire Hydrants (public main or pressurized) etc.

Understand concept of the system Testing and reports

13. EVALUATION ON COMPARTMENTS

Refer UBBL 1984 Schedule 7 in connection to compartment size Party walls Compartment walls Compartment floors Fire walls, enclosure walls Separating walls Fire doors (function) Comparmetal sizes (refer UBBL)

14. EVALUATION ON SMOKE VENTILATION (ie. possible smoke and heat movement)

Open concept Cross ventilation Pressurization Jack roof type Special fan systems for intake of fresh air and exhaust of smoke Special exhaust fan on roof and fresh air intake Smoke curtain , possition of fire / smoke dampers

15. EVALUATION ON MEANS OF ENTRY INTO THE BUILDING AND COMPOUND FOR RESCUE AND FIRE FIGHTING OPERATION

Bridges Road elevation Fire engine entry Road stability Canopy and projection on walls Road sizes and system and traffic flow (including island approach and access road of the building etc. Turning circles Provision for building with glass walling Car park arrangement Fire hydrants position and condition output and flow of water supply. Exposure hazard - distance between building (refer Schedule Six) Position of control center and entry into building / designated floor. Position of inlet connections for dry riser

Evaluation on management of fire safety in the building.

Is there creation of fire safety policy. Is there any planning on the implementation of the policy - training, checking, formation of fire warden, maintenance, maintenance schedule? Are there documents indicating responsibilities. Distribution of responsibilities. Who is to do what? Coordination in the implementation of policy. Record or special circulation file. Evaluation on the 5 subjects above.

16. EVALUATION ON POSSIBLE ARSON

Staff, visitors, enemy agents etc Reduce arson risk proper building designs (doors, windows, grills etc.) Building location crime area etc. Security check night rounds, cctv etc. Possible easy entry force Lighting and alarm system Human factor jealousy, quarrel, removal of evident, fraud, unhappy with employer, sabotage, mentally disordered person etc. Lack of good housekeeping throwing cigarette end etc. Set-up arson control strategies awareness of vulnerability of arson, security measures (prevent intruders, detection of intruders, control of ignition sources, division of areas by fire brickwall, detection of fire at early stage, installation of appropriate fire extinguishing systems, division of segregration of high value stock, general competent of staffs, sincerity of staffs etc.) Building security system bomb threat, terrorism etc.

17. EVALUATION

ON THE SAFETY OF THE DISABLED PERSONS

Catergories deaf, blind, unable to walk, infant, injured person, pregnancy, very old person etc. Placement or office room / working area should possibly not far from the main staircase Special training for staff assigned to assist the disabled persons during emergency Establiishment of the buddy system for the disabled persons Hospital buildings - the wards must be specially designed (for easy evacuation during emergency) Formulate an emergency procedure for the disabled persons

Entry into the building if the staircases are not passable.

Special entry using high-rise fire brigade ladder. In glass curtain high-rise building, to have breakable glass window at specific points for firefighter to enter for rescue, ventilation & fire fighting. Alternative means of entry into the building during emergency possible fixing of special cat ladder, special external lift, etc. Air drop or hovering of helicopter.

All the above elements can be transformed into checklist for the purpose of checking

of fire safety elements at work place. It is important to understand all these elements to ensure fire safety in the building is intact. This evaluation process must be carried out at intervals, and should be an on going process throughout the life span of the building.

THANK YOU

Risk evaluation

Colorific value is the amount of heat given out by a given weight of combustible materials when it is completely burnt. Each combustible material has it own colorific value (or heat energy) examples:
Oak wood- 7,180 Btu per lb (16,70l kJ / kg) Pine wood- 8,080 Btu / lb ( 18,794 kJ/kg) Asphalt - 17,160 Btu /lb (39914 kJ/kg) Coke 12,810 Btu/ lb ( 29,796 kJ / kg ) Wrapping paper 7,103 Btu /lb (16,522 kJ/kg) Polyurethane 16,500 Btu/ lb Polyvinyl chloride 9,250 Btu / lb Nylon - 10,000 Btu /lb Rubber - 17,000 Btu / lb. Coal - 14,000 Btu /lb

(Accessing fire load, risk and hazard)

Fire load

Fire load = total amount of heat (in Btu or kJ) given out by the burning combustible compare to the area it occupies i.e. use formula amount of combustible (mass) in lb X its colorific value in Btu / lb divide by total floor area occupied in sq feet. = average Btu /sq feet, or Amount of combustible (mass) in kg. X colorific value in kg divide by floor area it occupies in sq meters = kJ/sq meters

Categories of fire load.

Low fire load = below 100,000 Btu / sq feet (1,129,686 kJ/ sq meter) Need one hour fire protection. Moderate fire load = 100,001 to 200,000 Btu/sq feet (less than 2,258,927 kJ/sq meter) needs two hours fire protection. High fire load exceeding 200,001 Btu/sq feet or above 2,258,972 kJ/ Sq meter - need 4 hours fire rating.

Simple quantification of fire load

Question : Part of a single storey shop house is used as a paper store. The area assigned for the storage is 20 feet by 15 feet. The partition for the store is made up of plywood. The paper with the colorific value of 7,200 Btu per lb is stacked on a raised wooden floor and at some point the stacking is up to 6 feet in height, with a small passage way at the center of the storage area. The total volume of paper in the store at the time of inspection is 900 cubic feet. If the weight of one cubic feet of paper is 10 lbs, what would you consider be the status of the store, i.e. low, medium or heavy fire load ? What would be your fire protection recommendation?

CULCULATION (ANSWER)

Total area of the store = 20 x 15 feet = 300sq feet Amount of paper stacked = 900 cu feet One cu feet of paper weight 10 lbs. Therefore the total weight of paper = 900 x 10 lbs = 9000 lbs Formula = amount of combustible in lbs x colorific value (Btu in lbs) divide by floor area = 9,000 x 7,200 Btu /sq feet divide by 300 sq feet = 216, 000 Btu / sq feet (excluding raised wooden floor, partition and ceiling).

Answer / recommendation.

216,000 Btu /sq feet is heavy fire load. Additional fire load will come from raised wooden floor and plywood. May not be economical to sprinkler the building. Alternatively to add more fire extinguishers, installation of hose reel, fire hydrant close to store and in good condition and in readiness for use, including installation of smoke alarm system. Trained workers, how to handle fire extinguishers, hose reel and fire hydrant. Good house-keeping and ensure safety before leaving store. Worker or guard to stay in.

The 6 steps method of fire rating

1. Identify the fire hazard 2. Identify the people at risk 3. Remove or reduce the fire hazard 4. Assign the risk category. 5. Decide if the existing fire safety arrangement are satisfactory or need improvement. 6. Record the finding

The risk factor matrix method (6 X 6 matrix) in term of harm to people.

Severity Negligible Slight Moderate Severe Very severe lower than 5 death Catastrophes

Harm caused Minor bruises/ discomfort Some minor injuries Many minor injuries Some major injuries Many major injuries and Five or more deaths

Fire hazard - damage or loss of properties.

Severity Damage/ loss Negligible Slight smoke damage Slight Loss/damage to some equipment Moderate Loss of one floor of building. Severe Whole building damage. Very severe Total loss of the whole building Catastrophic Loss of whole site.

Severity of fire hazard in term of business interruption

Severity Negligible Slight Moderate Severe Very severe Catastrophic

Duration of interruption A few hours. One day. One week. One month Up to six month. Six month to one year.

Severity of the fire hazard in term of financial loss.

Severity Negligible Slight Moderate Severe V. severe Catastrophic

Financial loss RM 1000 or less RM 1,001 to RM 5,000 RM 5,001 to RM20,000 RM 20,001to RM100,000 RM100,001 to RM 500,000 RM 500,001 to RM 1,000,000

Severity of fire hazard industrial method classification table

Frequency Value Harm Value Uncommon 1 Trivial injury 1 Infrequent 2 Minor injury 2 Occasional 3 One major injury 3 Frequent 4 Several major injuries 4 Regular 5 One death 5 Common 6 Multiple death 6

Risk categories corresponding to calculated risk rating

RISK RATING RISK CATEGORY Less than 15% Low 15% to 50% Normal Greater than 50% High

The sum of risk factor, the average risk factor, and rating for each of the two buildings

Building A Building B (X x Y) (X x Y) 6 X 5 = 30 2X2=4 5 X 6 = 30 3X3=9 5 X 5 = 25 2X3=6 6 X 5 = 30 1X2=2 4 X 5 = 20 Total (XY) = 135. Total (XY) = 21 Average (XY)= 135/5 =27 Average XY = 21/4=5.25 Risk rating = 27x2.8=75.6% Risk rating 5.25 x 2.8=14.7 %

Other methods of risk rating

Using the 5 or 7 columns rating evaluation i.e. bad to best : 1 7 columns or 1 to 5 columns (based on skills and experience) . Using algorithm (based on skills and experience) . Using the calculation of method of colorific value of combustible. Calculation on possible smoke emission and speed. Other mathematical method.