Code Compliant Fire Protection Services with an Integrated Approach to Save Lives, Property & Assets7/20/2021 Fires often cause disruption to business activities, loss of employee work hours, loss of crucial business information, and liability claims resulting from damage caused due to fire. Fire prevention codes in Australia require proper maintenance and repair of building exit systems, fire alarm systems, and fire suppression systems. In Australia, the codes for fire protection services and protective fire services require building owners to submit plans with complete fire protection arrangements, as well as means of access and escape.
In a small building, fire detection systems may be as simple as a set of smoke detectors. However, in larger buildings, the range and complexity of detection devices is broader. The goal of protective fire services is to prevent the loss of life, damage to property, and downtime in the use of a building. Fire protection services may provide you with either active or passive fire protection. Active protective fire protection systems require some kind of action, be it an alarm, or the release of a clean suppression agent. Though fire detection systems appear to be passive, they are considered active because they can be combined with a fire suppression or sprinkler system to provide additional protection to the building and its occupants. Active fire protection systems Active fire protection systems receive signals, both manual and automatic, to perform their intended functions. These systems usually identify the presence of fire by detecting smoke or heat. The systems are used for the activation of extinguishing systems or for notifying the building occupants and emergency personnel through alarms at the onset of a fire. Some premises or shared facilities may have active fire protection systems as part of a wider managing agent’s controlled system. This aspect needs to be considered at the design stage itself, so at a later stage, the client can participate in the shared facility’s safety management and evacuation procedures with other building owners and occupants. Passive fire protection systems Fire protection services may put passive fire protection systems in place within the structure of the building which requires no human intervention. Passive fire protection services use building components to control or limit the fire. Walls, floors, and ceilings can be designed using fire protection services and constructed to resist the passage of fire and smoke. These barriers include compartmentalization or subdividing a building to reduce the size and spread of fire. For example, a wall with a one-hour fire resistance rating is built to resist the passage of fire for one hour. Fireproofing walls and compartmentalization of a building can prevent the spread of fire without any human intervention. These passive fire protection systems work even without requiring any electricity. However, a passive fire protection system may not work if the wall, floor, or ceiling of the compartment has an unprotected opening through which a fire or smoke can spread. Similarly, a passive fire protection system with a fire door being blocked or that is inoperable will no longer serve as an effective fire barrier. Fire protection consulting services There may be exceptional circumstances where a compartmentalization strategy may not work, such as an explosion, before, during or after a fire. There may be more complex and unlikely scenarios that the consultants at a fire protection services provider can advise you of. Omnii is the leading protective fire services and fire protection services provider in Australia whose fire consultants can provide you with professional advice to handle unexpected circumstances and ensure the building is prepared. Moreover, even a small fire can create considerable smoke and fire damage, so you should always ask your protective fire service consultants about how far the design will prevent smoke, heat and water leaving the area of compartmentalization. An integrated approach to a building design for fire protection Omnii’s fire protection services and protective fire services audits may recommend you keep both active and passive fire protection systems in place to ensure people and property are safe in the event of a fire. Active and passive fire protection systems are linked to each other, and as a building owner, you should ensure that the lead designer has ensured an integrated approach to the design. Omnii’s protective fire service and fire protection services are aimed at reducing or eliminating the occurrence of fires during the day-to-day operations of a property. Fire protection services provided by Omnii include:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |