

by:
MARIANO V. JOSEPH JR.
Professional Electrical Engineer
Chief, Fire Safety Enforcement Division, BFP-DILG
Member, Fire Code Technical Staff
Process of Fire Development
Stage 1. Pre-flashover or growth phase
Stage 2. Flashover
Stage 3. Fully developed fire (Stable Phase)
Stage 4. Decay (Cooling Period)

Fire Growth
Air Temperature
Human Response

Irreversible injury to dry skin

within 30 second

Intolerable within 5 minutes

Intolerable within 15 minutes

Intolerable within 25 minutes

Tolerable for less than 1 hour

(depends on humidity, clothing worn,
and level of physical exertion)

Human comfort zone conditions

(depends on humidity, air motion,
and other factors)

Human Behaviour
Fire Curves
 Fire Load
The amount of material which is able to burn
and release heat and smoke. In a compartment,
limitation of fuel will help to reduce the dangers
of heat and smoke.

Fire Spread
Fire could spread from one compartment into
neighboring compartments by conduction,
convection, radiation, ultimately to involve the
entire building and to the other buildings in the
vicinity.
 Fire Spread (Heat Tranfer)

Conduction
-is heat transfer through solid materials.
Convection
-is heat transfer by air motion.
Radiation
-is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves.
Internal Fire Spread
External Fire Spread to Adjoining Building
Reaction to Fire and Resistance to Fire
Reaction to Fire
> Combustibility
> heat release
> surface spread of flame
> ignitability
> smoke toxicity

Resistance to Fire
It applies to an element of construction (a structural
member, a ceiling, a partition, a door, a window, a
roof, a wall, a floor, etc…), or to an assembly of
elements.
 Reaction to Fire
Testing standard for Material Characteristic
(Reaction to Fire) with accordance to BS 476

Part 4 to 11  Materials only

Part 4  Non-Combustibility
Part 5  Ignitability
Part 6  Fire propagation
Part 7  Surface spread of flame
Part 11  Heat emission
 Resistance to Fire
Testing standard for Fire Performance (Resistance to Fire)
with accordance to BS 476

Part 20  Methods for determination of the fire

resistance of elements of construction
(general principles)
Part 21  Load bearing elements of construction
Part 22  Non-Load bearing elements of construction
Part 23  Suspended ceilings and door seals
Part 24  Ventilation and smoke extraction duct
systems
Fire Safety in Buildings
Fire safety in buildings covers both the
safety of occupants, fire fighters,
building and contents, together with
buildings in the vicinity.

To achieve the life safety objective, it is

necessary to provide the building with
adequate protected escape route which
lead to places of ultimate safety.
 Pro-active (Passive) Systems

Pro-active (Passive) protection includes elements

of the building construction such as structural
protection and compartmentation to contain fire
and smoke. Pro-active (Passive) measures are
there primarily to contain and limit fire spread,
smoke, and heat, so as to provide a safe
environment for escape and rescue. Pro-active
measures can support smoke management
systems by providing fire resistance to smoke
extract ducts.
 Active System
Active systems are those which operate only on
the detection of fire, heat or smoke. Those systems
such as water-based systems (sprinklers) are
aimed at giving an early alarm signal and
suppressing the growth of the fire by means of
water spray. They are expected to react at the
early stage of the development of fire.

Note: Buildings shall be designed to incorporate both

passive and active protection systems which are
complementary measures to achieve an optimum result.
 Means of Egress
• Objectives
All buildings should be designed such that occupants could
escape when fire occurs.
To meet the requirement, it is essential to ensure that the routes are:
-of adequate capacity and number,
-travel distance is limited and acceptable,
-protected from fire and smoke,
-illuminated and signed in relevant wording to suit
the country.
In some cases, further enhancements such as smoke control system
are required.
Protected Escape Routes

(Escape Passageway)
Loadbearing Capacity, Integrity and Insulation
Lighting and Signage Provisions
 Fire Resistance Rating
 The efficiency of Passive Fire Protection systems is measured by its Stability,
Integrity, and Insulation where combining all these properties will extend the
building element’s capability to prevent the fire from spreading and failure of
structural elements;
 Fire Ratings consist of three numbers, for example 60/60/60. This numbers are in
minutes and refer to:

Stability  The protected load bearing element fulfills its function

during the entire fire resistance period
Integrity  The system does not allow spread of fire or hot gasses
during the entire fire resistance period
Insulation  The temperature increase of the unexposed side of the
system remains under set limits during the entire fire
resistance period
Compartmentation

Objectives:
Fire compartments are generally included in building
design to limit fire and smoke spread so that people have
longer time to escape.

Factors affecting the level of compartmentation:

• occupancy load
• building type or purpose
• fire load
• Height
• active fire systems
The Concept of Fire Compartmentation
Protected Shafts
Load bearing Capacity, Integrity & Insulation
Continuity of fire Resistance in Construction Joints
Fire Stopping the Opening Between a Compartment floor &
a Curtain Wall
 Penetration Through Compartment Floor

Wet Riser Protected with a Solid Fire Resistant Lining

External Fire Spread
Cavity Barriers
 Fire Resisting Cable Ducts

Power cables for fire lifts, sprinkler pumps,

smoke detectors, fire alarms, etc….
 Computer cables
 Telecommunication cables
 Wet risers
 Gas pipes
 Structural Fire Protection

Objectives:
The first priority of the fire resistance is to enable
firefighters to bring a fire under control, or to carry out
search and rescue operations without the building
collapsing.
* controlling spread of fire by compartmentation
* preventing structural collapse for a period of time
* maintaining the integrity of key access routes to a
level greater than that required
for escape
 Structural Fire Protection
Objectives:
 The second priority in fire safety design is to provide
adequate means of escape for the building occupants.
* stability of structure exposed to a fire during the
escape period
* compartments to be provided to keep smoke and
heat away from escaping occupants

 The third priority of fire resistance is to prevent

disproportionate damage to property.
Failure of Structure in Fire
Performance of Materials in Fire
(Depending on following factors)
* the way they are heated
* the temperature reached
* the type of building materials used
* the way they are stressed
Performance of the Following
Materials in Fire
* Concrete
* Steel
* Timber
* Masonry
* Calcium Silicate Materials
* Gypsum Plaster
* Glass
Requirements of Building Components
* Walls * Floor * Roofs

Fire Resisting Ceiling Contributing to the

Fire Resistance of the Floor
Requirements of Building Components

Fire Resisting Ceiling Contributing to the

Fire Resistance of the Floor
 External Cladding for Structural Column
with Board Lining such as Calcium Silicate
Timber Beam Oversized to Resist Fire and Fire
Resisting Floor
 Smoke Control

 Objectives:

The primary objective of smoke control is to

reduce the hazard due to smoke by control of
its movement, and by the reduction of its
concentration to increase visibility.
Stack Effect and Smoke Movement
Pressurization of Staircase
Effect of Pressure Difference Across Barriers
 Single & Multiple Injection System

Single Injection System Multiple Injection System

Smoke Logged Mall System
Passive & Active Smoke Extraction in Mall
Cabin Concept
Examples of Fire Resisting Ductwork Systems
 Active Fire Protection System

• Active fire system are designed to detect and

suppress a fire through a process of detection,
activation and suppression. And at the same time,
alarms are raised to the building management and
the occupants for evaluation as well as the fire
brigades for further assistance.

• Such systems are fairly costly as they generally

require sophisticated electronic equipment to
operate properly.
Fire Detection
Manual System
Fire Detection
Automatic System
> Smoke Detectors
> Heat Detectors
> Flame Detectors
 Fire Suppression

• First Aid Appliances

> Hose Reels & Stand Pipe System
> Portable Fire Extinguishers
• Automatic Suppression Systems
> Sprinkler Systems
> Gaseous Systems
> Foam Systems
> Dry Powder Systems
 Fire Suppression
• First Aid Appliances
> Hose Reels & Stand Pipe System
 Fire Suppression
• First Aid Appliances
> Portable Fire Extinguishers

Dry
CO2 Chemical
AFFF HCFC
 Fire Suppression

• Automatic Suppression Systems

> Sprinkler Systems
> Gaseous Systems
> Foam Systems
> Dry Powder Systems
Key Aspects of Fire Safety
Fire Safety Management
 Fire Safety Manual

Practical Aspects of Fire Safety

 Alteration or amendment
 Distance from site
 Traffic and Access
 Availability of Water
 Security
Component of Building Fire Safety System
MEANS OF EGRESS
FIRE BARRIERS
DETECTION SYSTEM
ALARM SYSTEM
FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM
Component of Building Fire Safety System
MEANS OF EGRESS
1. THE EXIT ACCESS
2. THE EXIT
3. THE EXIT DISCHARGE
Component of Building Fire Safety System
FIRE BARRIERS
• Prevent Flame and Smoke Spread
• Prevent Structural Collapse
 Component of Building Fire Safety System
DETECTION SYSTEM AND ALARM SYSTEM
•Detect Fire at Early Stage
•Alert Occupant
•Others
Component of Building Fire Safety System
FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
•By Manual Fire Fighting
•By Automatic Sprinkler System
- Suppression at Room of Fire Origin
Component of Building Fire Safety System
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM
•Limit Smoke Movement
• Make Non-Fire Area Smoke Free
 Fire Protection Systems

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

PRO-ACTIVE (PASSIVE) FIRE PROTECTION
SYSTEM
 Active Fire Protection Features
To control fire growth:
- By providing hose reels, extinguishers, risers and
hydrants.
- By installing sprinklers or other extinguishing agents for
special hazards.

To alarm or notify people:

- By providing manual call points, alarm sounders or
other sort of emergency communication systems.
- By installing detection systems such as heat detectors
and smoke detectors.
 Active Fire Protection Features
To control smoke spread:
- By providing ventilation and extract system.
- By providing smoke detectors in ducts in order
to activate the smoke barriers.
- By providing automatic controls for the HVAC
system.
- By installing pressurization to the stairwells.
- Limiting the quantities of smoke by using
sprinklers.
- By providing automatic door releases to smoke
control and fire doors.
 Active Fire Protection Features
To limit fire spread within the fire building:
- By providing compartmentation by installing fire
dampers in ducts.
- Controlling the fire spread by installing sprinklers.

To prevent fire spread to other buildings:

- Maintaining the integrity of glazing by using drenchers.

To allow rapid egress:

- By providing detection and alarm systems.
- By providing illuminance sign and emergency lighting.
 Active Fire Protection Features
To facilitate Fire Service operations:
- By providing alarms with direct connection to the
Fire Service.
- By providing riser mains within the building

To prevent structural collapse:

- Controlling the fire with sprinklers.

To minimize damage to the building and its contents:

- Controlling or extinguishing the fire with sprinklers.
Pro-active (Passive) Fire Protection Features
To control fire growth:
- By specifying suitable covering materials, including
consideration on the type of paint, colour of paint ,
thickness of wallpapers, thickness of veneer, etc., for walls
and ceilings that do not support rapid flame spread.

To control smoke spread:

- By installing smoke stop doors lobbies.
- Ensuring that doors are closed.
- By sealing the penetrations.
Pro-active (Passive) Fire Protection Features
To limit spread within the fire building:
- A building can be divided into “fire compartments” or
“fire cells” with barriers, which prevent fire spread for the
fire exposure design time. The reasons for providing
compartmentation include limiting the area of possible
loss, separating different occupancies, isolating hazards, or
protecting escape routes. Barriers are usually horizontal
floors or vertical walls. Besides that, compartmentation can
also be achieved by ensuring that doors are closed,
controlling vertical shafts and seal penetrations.
- Partition ceiling spaces and other concealed spaces.
Pro-active (Passive) Fire Protection Features
To prevent fire spread to other buildings:
- By limiting the size of windows and type of glazing.
- Boundary walls must have sufficient fire resistance,
in order to remain standing and contain a fire for the
fire exposure design time.
To allow rapid egress:
- By providing safe egress routes.
To minimize damage to the building and its contents:
- By controlling the extent of the fire and smoke
through compartmentation.
Pro-active (Passive) Fire Protection Features

To facilitate Fire Service operations:

- By providing fire resistant access within the
building, preferably a separate access from the main
egress system, including fireman’s lift to prevent
overload of the egress system (firemen going up,
evacuees going down). The fire access shall be
classified as an essential service and shall prove that
it will stay in place for the appropriate time to allow
the fire fighters to have access to the fire.
Pro-active (Passive) Fire Protection Features
To prevent structural collapse:
-By controlling the extent of the fire through
compartmentation.
-Structural elements must be provided with sufficient fire
resistance to maintain stability for the fire exposure design
time. Prevention of collapse is essential for load-bearing
structural members and for load-bearing barriers, which
perform a fire-containing function. Structural fire resistance
must be provided to main structural elements, and to
secondary elements, which support or provide stability to
barriers or main members. This is especially important for
buildings, such as hospitals, where total evacuation during a
fire is not possible and “defend in place” are practiced.
 Regulatory Requirement
Local Code:
Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9514 Fire
Code of the Philippines 2008, as follows but not limited to::
 Division 6 Section 10.2.6.1 “Construction and Compartmentation”
 Division 6 Section 10.2.6.2 “Protection of Vertical Opening and
Combustible Concealed Spaces”
 National Building Code of the Philippines, PD 1096

International Code:
 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Fire and Life Safety Code
 International Building Code (IBC) 2006.
 MC 2010 – 17

Guidelines in the Approval of Alternative

and/or Remedial Fire Safety Measures
VII. ALTERNATIVE AND/OR REMEDIAL FIRE
SAFETY MEASURES
A. Fire Safety Construction
1. All interior partitions must be made of fire
resistive materials including parts or components,
extending from slab to slab.
2. Rooms, vertical and horizontal openings or
parts thereof must be totally enclosed.
3. All pipes chase must be constructed with
fire collar or fitted with sealant.
 MC 2010 – 17
Guidelines in the Approval of Alternative
and/or Remedial Fire Safety Measures
VII. ALTERNATIVE AND/OR REMEDIAL FIRE
SAFETY MEASURES
A. Fire Safety Construction
4. All exposed steel structure components must be
covered/coated with fire resistive materials to
protect its structural stability during conflagration.
5. All firewalls must be extended 20% more
from the established standard requirement.
6. All other fire safety construction components
must be constructed in accordance with
established standard requirement for any type of
occupancy.
Question and Answer
 ALWAYS REMEMBER
“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”
THANK YOU

MARIANO V. JOSEPH
Professional Electrical Engineer 2397
Chief, Fire Safety Enforcement Division
Bureau of Fire Protection, NHQ