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EVALUATION OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM AT UNIMAS

MECHANICAL LABORATORY

MASTURA MOHAMAD

This project is submitted in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

(Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing System).

Faculty of Engineering

UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SARAWAK

2006

UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SARAWAK

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS

Judul: EVALUATION OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM AT UNIMAS MECHANICAL

LABORATORY

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2005/2006

Saya, MASTURA MOHAMAD

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis * ini disimpan di Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti

Malaysia Sarawak dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

2. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat

salinan untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja.

3. Membuat pendigitan untuk membanguankan Pangkalan Data Kandungan Tempatan.

4. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat

salinan tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.

5. ** Sila tandakan ( √ ) di kotak yang berkenaan.

SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yand berdarjah keselamatan atau

kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA

RAHSIA RASMI 1972).

TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan Oleh

organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan).

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan oleh

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat tetap: Staff Quarters, Ldg. Sg. Tamok, Puan Marini Sawawi

K/B 117, 86609 Paloh, Nama Penyelia

Johor.

Tarikh: Tarikh:

CATATAN * Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah, Sarjana dan Sarjana Muda

** Jika tesis ini SULIT dan TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak

berkuasa/organiasis berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini

perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT dan TERHAD

√

APPROVAL SHEET

This project report attached here to, entitle “Evaluation of Fire Protection

System at Mechanical Laboratory” was prepared and submitted by Mastura

Mohamad as partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of

Engineering with Honours in Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing System is

hereby read and approve by:

_________________________ __________________

Puan Marini Sawawi Date

Supervisor

Faculty of Engineering

University Malaysia Sarawak

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Dedicated to my beloved family and loved ones

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful peace and blessing upon His

messenger and servant, Muhammad. There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His

Apostle. All praise to be Allah SWT who has given me the guidance and strength to be

steadfast in my pursuit of knowledge amidst trials and challenges.

First of all, a lot of thanks to all the people who lend their hand in making this

project success. A heartfelt thank and gratitude to Puan Marini Sawawi for her

supervision, expert advice and assistance in conducting this paper. The author would

like to express lots of sincere appreciation to all Mechanical Laboratory technicians for

providing helpful advice.

The author also would like to express his gratitude to Mr. James the Fire Autority

Person at Balai Bomba Kota Samarahan who generously provided the information and

opinion on the evaluation of fire protection system.

The author is indebted to the beloved parents Encik Mohamad and Puan

Ramidah, dearly siblings Momazila and husband, Momasawilah, Mohd. Aidil and

Mohamad Razif, and not forgotten to sweetie niece Nur Batrisyia Hasanah. Sincere

appreciate to Zuraime Abdul Rahman, who inspired and supports. Not forgotten to the

colleagues for their patience, encouragement and endless support.

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ABSTRACT

Safety is the most important aspect in life nowadays. Fire safety is one of the building

premier considerations for life safety of occupants of the building. Fire safety is a

performance characteristic of a buildings. This paper is about the evaluation of fire

protection system of Mechanical Laboratory (CNC Laboratory). From the evaluation, it

was found that the Mechanical Laboratory does not conform to BOMBA requirement,

whereby all the necessary fire protection equipment and system is not in placed. This

project has proposed the required fire protection system in accordance to BOMBA

requirement (Uniform Building By-Law, 1984 and Sarawak Building Ordinance, 1994).

Where the installation of fire extinguisher (CO2), fire alarm with break glass, panel, fire

hydrant, heat detector, smoke detector, emergency light, signage, fire door and fire

resistant window is required and the location of respective equipment is presented in this

report.

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ABSTRAK

Keselamatan adalah salah satu aspek penting dalam kehidupan. Keselamatan dari

kebakaran bangunan adalah keutamaan bagi pekerja di sesebuah bangunan. Ciri

bangunan yang baik adalah terselamat dari kebakaran. Penyelesaian perlindungan

kebakaran untuk Makmal Mekanikal (Makmal CNC) merupakan matlamat utama

penulisan kertas kajian ini. Berpandukan kehendak menentang kebakaran BOMBA,

Makmal Mekanikal tidak memenuhi syarat kerana perkakasan menentang kebakaran

tidak berada di tempat sepatutnya. Project ini memberi penyelesaian sistem penentang

kebakaran meggunakan peraturan BOMBA (Undang-undang Kecil Bangunan Seragam,

1984 dan Undang-undang Bangunan di Sarawak, 1994). Penggunaan pemadam api

karbon dioksida, loceng kecemasan serta ‘break glass’, panel, pili bomba, pengesan asap,

pengesan haba, lampu kecemasan, papan tanda, pintu rintangan api dan tingkap

rintangan api dan lokasinya disertakan di dalam penulisan ini.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENT PAGE

TITLE PAGE

DEDICATION ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

ABSTRACT iv

ABSTRAK v

TABLE OF CONTENT vi

LIST OF FIGURE x

LIST OF ABBREVIATION xi

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Objective 3

1.2 Scope of Study 3

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Fire 4

2.2 Fire Protection Classification 8

2.3 Passive Fire Protection Systems 10

2.3.1 Building Material 10

2.3.2 Evacuation Route, Exits and Dead-end Situation 14

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2.4 Active Fire Protection System 16

2.4.1 Portable Fire Extinguisher 16

2.4.2 External Fire Hydrants 19

2.4.3 Hose Reel System 20

2.4.4 Automatic Sprinkler System 21

2.4.5 Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm System 24

2.4.6 Signage 28

2.5 Fire Safety Requirement and Design Guide 29

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 32

3.1 Introduction 32

3.2 Risk Evaluation 33

3.2.1 Understanding of the activities 33

3.2.2 Probability of fire starting 34

3.2.3 Equipment in the laboratory 34

3.3 Passive Building Construction 35

3.3.1 Location building 35

3.3.2 Evacuation route – number of exits, width of exits 36

3.4 Active fire protection system 37

3.4.1 Portable Fire Extinguishers 37

3.4.2 External Fire Hydrant 37

3.4.3 Hose Reel System 37

3.4.4 Automatic Sprinkler System 37

3.4.5 Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm System 37

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3.4.6 Signage 38

3.5 Evaluation and Design 40

3.6 Documentation and Presentation 40

CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION 41

4.1 Introduction 41

4.2 Result 42

4.3 Design and Discussion 43

4.3.1 Passive Building and Building Materials 43

4.3.2 Evacuation Route, Exit and Dead-end Situation 44

4.3.3 Fire Extinguisher 45

4.3.4 External Fire Hydrant 46

4.3.5 Fire Detection, Alarm System and Emergency Light 58

4.3.6 Signage and exits 50

CHAPTER 5 RECOMMENTION AND RECOMMENDATION 55

5.1 Introduction 55

5.2 Conclusion 55

5.3 Recommendation 57

REFERENCES 59

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APPENDIX

Appendix A - FIFTH SCHEDULE OR SCHEDULE E 61

Appendix B - SEVENTH SCHEDULE OR SCHEDULE G 63

Appendix C - NINTH SCHEDULE OR SCHEDULE I 65

Appendix D - TENTH SCHEDULED OR SCHEDULED J 66

Appendix E - Subpart 45 of the NFPA Fire Code Construction 68

and Fire Protection Requirements for Laboratory Units

Appendix F – SCHEDULED K 72

Appendix G - HYDRANT SYSTEM TYPICAL ARRANGEMENT 73

DRAWING

Appendix H – PRESSURIZE HYDRANT SYSTEM TYPICAL 74

ARRANGEMENT DRAWING

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LIST OF FIGURE

Figure Pages

2.1 Stages of Fire Development 5

3.1 The existing Mechanical Laboratory (CNC Laboratory) 38

3.2 The existing external fire hydrant 39

4.1 Fire Door 44

4.2 Fire Extinguishers (CO2) 45

4.3 Fire Hydrants with Pillar 47

4.4 Panel, break glass and alarm bell 49

4.5 Smoke detector 49

4.6 Heat Detector 49

4.7 Evacuation Route of Mechanical Laboratory 51

4.8 New Design of Fire Protection System 52

4.9 New Location Installations and Existing Fire Hydrant 53

4.10 Location of Signage 54

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LIST OF ABBREVIATION

UBBL Uniform Building by- Law

NFPA National Fire Protection Association

mm millimeter

sq. square

m meters

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

CNC Computer Numerical Control

m 2 square meter

l liters

sq. meters square meters

l/min liter per minute

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Safety is the most important aspect in life nowadays. Fire safety is one of the

building premier considerations for life safety of occupants of the building. The

buildings must be designed so that in the event of fire, the occupants will be remained in

place safely, evacuate to another part of the building where it is relatively safe or totally

evacuate the building without exposed to unhealthy, hazardous or untenable conditions.

Fire safety philosophy – UBBL 84 [1] is one of the design requirements. Life

safety in buildings must be the prime consideration and this can be achieved by

minimum fire protection in respect of the various basic aspects of:

i. Means of escape for the occupants

ii. Spread of fire within the building and from one building to another

iii. Mean of detection and extinguishment of fires

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According to Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia statistical report for the

year 2001, 62 deaths were reported due to incidents of fire. Incidents of fire reported

were in housing, industrial, garages, offices and shops. It was also reported that fire

causes damage and lost in assets worth more than RM 500 millions for the year 2001 in

Malaysia.

Despite the high number of fatalities, the collapse of World Trade Centre in New

York is an invaluable lesson to structural engineers. The catastrophic incident on the 11th

of September 2001 was the result of high temperature hydrocarbon fuel feed fire on

thermal insulated steel. Even though the likelihood of such carnage in building is not an

everyday event but to certain extend it has evoked the fire safety engineering and

policies on the building.

The Mechanical Laboratory is the one of the location which includes a lot of

equipment for student learning. Almost all the equipments are the electrical machine and

heavy load machines. The most important objective of using laboratory is work in a safe

environment. Many regulations administered by the government should be considered

such as building design, building material, activities done, hazardous material, fire

protection system and etc.

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In this project, the author only reviews current legislation and guidelines on fire

safety in Mechanical Lab (CNC Lab). And to present the finding of a case study to

assess the provision of these requirements in the main activities in the mechanical lab,

passive building construction, active fire protection system and fire safety management,

and evaluate the fire protection system according to Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat

Malaysia requirement (Uniform Building By Law,1984 and Sarawak Building

Ordinance, 1994).

1.1 Objective

i. To determine the available fire protection system for Mechanical Laboratory

(CNC Laboratory).

ii. To evaluate the fire protection system at mechanical lab according to BOMBA

requirement.

1.2 Scope of Study

Design of fire protection system for Mechanical Laboratory (CNC Laboratory) based

on BOMBA and NFPA.

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Fire

Fire [2] might be defined as rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and flame (or

heat and light). Fire is essentially a chemical reaction known as combustion. Fire will be

started by three factors; there are fuel, oxygen and heat. These three factors known as

fire triangle and the fire can stop by breaking the triangle. Fire will ignite the explosion,

grow rapidly (flashover), developed fire and the temperature increased slowly and the

final decay stage, the fire will burn due to the fuel or oxygen.

Fires have stages to complete the fire development. The Fire stages [1] at figure

2.1 show developments starting from ignite until fire load which fire ignites from the fire

triangle.

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Figure 2.1: Stages of Fire Development [1]

Stage 1

Ignition – Combustion can be very fast, as in a gas explosion or it can be slow

smouldering process.

Stage 2

Growth – A fire once started can grow rapidly as it creates the conditions for its own

growth. In an enclosed compartment, a critical stage may be reached where all the

combustion materials are heated to flammable concentration of gases and the fire

suddenly flashes throughout the whole compartment (flashover).

Stage 3

Development – The fire passes through a development stage after the initial rapid

growth. During this stage the fire temperature increases more slowly. However the fire

continues to spread into other areas, which then in turn continues the process of rapid

initial growth and development.

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Decay – In the final decay stage, the fire will burn itself out due to lack of fuel or

oxygen. In an enclosed rush of oxygen, e.g. breaking a window can reignite the fire with

explosive violence.

Stage 4

Fire load – The total amount of combustible materials available to fire. Certain

combustible materials release more heat than others when they burn and so contribute

more to heat than others when they burn and so contribute more to the fire load, e.g. 1 kg

of kerosene will release 46050 kilojoules of heat whereas the same weight of paper

releases about 16900 kilojoules.

Oxidation generate from the fire. Oxidation [2] is a chemical process where an

atom from the material combines with an atom of oxygen from another material to form

a new product. In other words oxidation is a carbon atom that attaches to oxygen atoms.

Heat present or given off is referred to as temperature, which measure in degrees. If heat

absorbed during reaction, it is called endothermic reaction. If heat is given off during a

reaction, it is called exothermic reaction. It is necessary for a carbon atom to unite with

two atom of oxygen in order to have complete combustion. The resultant product is

carbon dioxide (CO2). If it combines with a single atom of oxygen, carbon monoxide

(CO) will be produced.

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Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas and toxicity. The hemoglobin in the red

blood cells will carry the oxygen in the CO 250 to 300 times more readily than they will

combine with oxygen. In a short time, they are no longer able to function adequately.

In fire safety, heat movement [1] or fire spread is one of the other factors that

have to consider. There are three sources others than direct burning that can raise the

heat level of material and increase the ignition temperature. The three are convection,

radiation and conduction.

i. Convection – Transferring heat from one location to another. It raised the hot

gasses at temperature around 800-1000ºC and convection current is blocked.

This called as ‘mushroom effect’.

ii. Radiation – Transferring heat energy as electromagnet waves. The heat transmits

to building or material not shielded from the fire.

iii. Conduction – Transferring heat between two materials. Which, the higher heat

will transmit to the lower heat.

Almost all the equipment in the mechanical lab is powered by electrical devices.

There have four possible failure modes due to different classes of defects in electrical

installation [3],

a. Overloading of electrical developed in the cables is proportional to the square of

the current, they got overheated. The insulation on cables is generally made of

materials which are damaged easily by excessive temperature. They may

therefore lose their insulating properties and lead to short circuits. Since many

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insulating materials are combustible, they may even catch fire if the temperature

rises to their ignition temperature.

b. Defects in or deterioration of electrical insulation may result in short circuits and

continuous arcing, followed by ignition of the combustible insulating materials.

Electrical arc temperature is extremely high and combustible materials in the

vicinity catch fire unless the arc is extinguished within a fraction of a second.

c. Deterioration and failure of pressure contacts between various components in the

electrical installation may result in sparking, localized overheating and burning

of combustible insulating material. In such cases, there may be no arcing initially,

but the overheating is sufficient to start a fire. Short circuits and arcing may

occur later, but they would not be the original cause of the fire.

Fracture of current conducting components due to mechanical stresses or strains

may result in local arcing at the point of fracture. Electrical arc temperatures are

extremely high and combustible materials in the vicinity catch fire.

2.2 Fire Protection Classification

Based on past history and review of fire protection effectiveness, the different

fire protection methods and strategies are necessary for the various types of buildings.

According to BOMBA, it stated that two major two purpose groups for fire protection

system. There are passive fire protection and active fire protection.

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Passive fire protection is the basic thing at the building that to propose the fire

protection system. According to UBBL 134,136 and 138, and Sarawak Building

Ordinance 112, 114 and 117 for the purpose of this part , every building or compartment

shall be regarded according to its use or intended use as falling within one of the

purpose groups set out in Fifth Schedule or Schedule E (refer to appendix A). The most

modern building codes around the world have specific prescriptive requirements to

address various aspects of their design. These prescriptive requirements address passive

fire protection systems (fire resistance ratings of the structural elements). Passive fire

protections focus more on fire requirements in the building. Which comply UBBL 133

till 224 and Sarawak Building Ordinance 111 till 214.

According to BOMBA, active fire protection system focuses more on the

equipment in fire protection system. Examples of active fire protection systems (fire

sprinkler and smoke control systems), communication systems (fire detection and alarm),

and egress systems (stairs and refuge areas). UBBL 225 till 253 and Sarawak Building

Ordinance 215 till 247 comply with active fire protection system.

There are several codes that are enforced on campus relating to fires and life

safety. The major codes are Uniform Building By-law 1984 (UBBL) 134, 138 (II) Fifth

Schedules or Schedule E (refer to appendix A), Sarawak Building Ordinance, 1994

consist of 112, 114 and 117 with schedule E and the NFPA's Life Safety Code and the

NFPA codes on the various buildings and occupancies on campus. For example, UBBL

225 (1), 237 (1) tenth schedule, Sarawak Building Ordinance 215(1), state that every

building shall be provided with means of detecting and extinguishing fire and with fire

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alarms together with illuminated exit sign in accordance with the requirements as

specified in Tenth Scheduled or Scheduled J (refer to appendix D). 229(1) satisfied that

fire alarms shall be provided in accordance with Scheduled Tenth or Scheduled J (refer

to appendix D). Using and NFPA 45 is the code that the laboratories must meet on

campus (refer to appendix E).

2.3 Passive Fire Protection System

The purpose group designed checking compliance with Sixth Schedule or

Scheduled F (Permitted Limit of Unprotected Areas), Seventh Schedule or Scheduled G

(Maximum Travel Distance) (refer to appendix B), Eight Scheduled or Scheduled H

(Restriction of Spread of Flame Over Surfaces of Walls and Ceilings), Ninth Scheduled

or Scheduled I (Limits of Compartments and Minimum Periods of Fire resistance for

Elements of Structure) (refer to appendix C) and Schedule K (Schedule Showing

Minimum Number Of Exit Door Way From a Room and Required Minimum Width

Thereof) (refer to appendix F).

2.3.1 Building Material

Building materials is one of the important thing should be considered when

designed the fire protection system. According to UBBL 53(1) and Sarawak Building

Ordinance 48(1), any materials used in the erection of a building, in the structural

alteration or extension of a building, in the execution of works or the installation of

fittings, being works or fittings to which any provision of these By-laws applies or for

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the backfilling of any excavation on a site in connection with any building or works or

fittings to which any provision of these By-laws applies, shall be

i. Of a suitable nature and quality in relation to the purposes for and

conditions in which they are used

ii. Adequately mixed or prepared

iii. Applied, used or fixed so as to adequately perform the functions for which

they are designed.

Mechanical lab is fully covered with concrete wall and glass window. There have

four double leave wood doors, eight glass windows, concrete wall, concrete floor. Fire

resistance of a material is its ability to resist for a certain time without serious loss of

strength, distortion or collapse [4].

Structural concrete may be plain, reinforced, pressed or partially pressed

concrete; in addition, concrete is used in composite design [5]. In the case of concrete,

fire resistance depends on the thickness, type of construction, type and size of aggregates

and cement content. Reinforced concrete is a much better fire resistant material than

steel. Steelwork heats rapidly, and its strength drops operability in a short time. Concrete

itself has low thermal conductivity. The effect of temperatures below 250ºC is small on

concrete, but definite loss is expected at higher temperature.