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Fire in Buildings > Fire Advice Module Level 5 > Flashcards

Fire Advice Module Level 5 Flashcards

1
Q

Active Fire Measured

A

Systems that require an action or motion in order to work (Smoke alarms, Fire Extinguisher, Sprinklers)

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2
Q

Passive Fire Measures

A

A fire resistant/protective barrier system

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3
Q

Fire triangle

A

Oxygen, Fuel, Heat (+ chemical reaction)

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4
Q

Building Regulations relating to fire?

A

TGD Part B Fire
1 Dwelling Houses: 2017
2 Buildings other than dwellings 2020

Fire engineering principles (BS 9999)
Fire engineering principles (BS 7974)

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5
Q

What passively protects the building from fire growth (reaction to fire)

A

Compartmentation / Fire resistance

Structural fire protection

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6
Q

What affects fire growth?

A

The choice of materials for walls and ceilings can significantly affect the spread of flame and it’s rate of growth.

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7
Q

What are two properties of lining materials that influence fire spread

A

The rate of flame spread over the surface when it’s subject to intense radiant heating

The rate at which the lining material gives off heat when burning

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8
Q

What test methods do BG classify products based on BS476 reaction to fire performance test methods

A

BS476 Part 4 (Non-Combustibility)
BS476 Part 6 (Fire-propagation)
BS476 Part 7 (Spread of flame)

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9
Q

What is contained in BS 7974

A

Fire Engineering Principles

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10
Q

What is contained in BS9999?

A

Fire design managment - like a building design risk assessment

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11
Q

What is BCAR?

A

The building control amendment regulations: 2015 which brought in the need for an assigned certifier

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12
Q

Active Fire Measures?

A

Detection and Suppression measures triggered by action, fire or smoke

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13
Q

Passive Fire Measures?

A

Containment, Preventing or slowing the spread of fire, maintaining the building structure, providing a safe passage of escape / a refuge.

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14
Q

What are passive measures reliant on?

A

The appropriate selection of materials, construction and design (& workmanship)

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15
Q

What are the 5 stages of fire?

A 
Ignition
Growth
Flashover
Fully Developed
Decay
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16
Q

Why do walls need control measures?

A

To prevent the spread of flame into adjoining space

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17
Q

Why do ceilings need control measures?

A

To prevent the spread of flame into above space.
To prevent the potential collapse of a floor.
To prevent the ceiling collapsing and blocking an escape route

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18
Q

What are fire dampers?

A

Fire dampers are fitted where ductwork passes through fire compartment walls and fire curtains as part of a fire control strategy. In normal circumstances, these dampers are held open by means of fusible links. When subjected to heat, these links fracture and allow the damper to close under the influence of the integral closing spring. The links are attached to the damper such that the dampers can be released manually for testing purposes. The damper is provided with an access door in the adjacent ductworks for the purpose of inspection and resetting in the event of closure.

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19
Q

Are the building regulations formed around health and safety?

A

Yes, they are usually there for health and safety. Fire measures are there to let people escape and preserve their life (Or hold out long enough in a space for fire crews to put out a fire in an adjoining space)

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20
Q

Where are the minimum standards for fire located?

A

The current building regulations are the minimum standards. It is possible to go beyond minimum standards.

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21
Q

Are there different standards based on building types?

A

There are different requirements based on building size, type and occupancy.

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22
Q

Where are the requirements for fire resistance found?

A

In the appendix at the back of the TGD

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23
Q

What does it mean when a product is CE marked?

A

CE means that a product was manufactured in accordance with a harmonised EN standard (HEN)

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24
Q

In relation to CE marking, are there any requirements for fire testing?

A

CE marked products must have a “Reaction to Fire” declared in accordance with EN testing standards

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25
Q

Where is the lab where we do most testing and why?

A

The testing lab we use now is in Hannover because of brexit. (We need a european signature at the bottom of our test evidence)

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26
Q

How is a product classified in the EN / Euroclass system for fire performance?

A

A,B,C,D etc. with A1 being the best (non combustible)

Non combustible - A1
Limited combustible - A2
Class 0 - B
Class 1 - C
Class 3 - D
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27
Q

What tests are used to test fire performance in EN standards?

A

Non combustibility test

Determination of the gross heat of combustion (Bomb test)

Single burning Item Test

Single flame source test

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28
Q

What does CWFT stand for?

A

Classified without further test

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29
Q

What does A2 S1 D0 stand for in relation to plasterboard?

A

A material of limited combustibility, Smoke 1, Droplets 0

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30
Q

What does CPR stand for?

A

Construction product regulation

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31
Q

Behind every CE mark is a DOP - What does DOP stand for?

A

Declaration of perfomance

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32
Q

What is compartmentation?

A

In the context of the building and fire - compartmentation is a passive measure to stop fire moving from one part of the building to another

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33
Q

What are the fire resisting elements?

A

Main seperating element, all service routings and penetrations.

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34
Q

Which BS and EN documents are Resistance to fire and Structural protection to steel found in?

A

BS476 Part 20

EN1363

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35
Q

What do the letters R, E and I stand for in relation to fire in EN standards?

A 
R = Loadbearing
E = Fire Integrity
I = Insulation
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36
Q

What height and width are partitions generally tested at?

A

3m x 3m

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37
Q

What size ceilings are generally tested?

A

3m x 4m

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38
Q

Why does shaftwall require two tests?

A

Because it’s not a symmetrical system

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39
Q

Why test the roof in horizontal?

A

Because it’s more onerous and shoud cover pitched roof aswell.

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40
Q

What criteria are tested in a fire test?

A

Loadbearing, Integrity and insulation

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41
Q

How is weight applied to a load bearing system being tested?

A

Rams applying load in test

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42
Q

Define Integrity

A

Integrity is the spread of flames and hot gases - stopping physical fire getting through

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43
Q

Define Insulation

A

Preventing the spread of heat - limiting temperature increase on the opposite side of the partiiton

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44
Q

What would a 59 minute system and a 31 minute system be classed as?

A

A 30 minute system

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45
Q

What would a 61 minute system and an 89 minute system be classed as?

A

A 60 minute partition

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46
Q

What is a bomb test? En standards

A

Determination of the gross heat of combustion

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47
Q

What does R stand for in relation to EN fire regulations?

A

Loadbearing

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48
Q

What does E stand for in relation to EN fire regulations?

A

Fire Integrity

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49
Q

What does I stand for in relation to EN fire regulations?

A

Insulation

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50
Q

When answering anything fire related, what email address do you cc?

A

level5@saint-gobain.com

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51
Q

Which document applies to fire regulations in the North?

A

Technical booklet E

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52
Q

What does IS stand for?

A

Irish standards

53
Q

What does BS stand for?

A

British Standards

54
Q

What does ISO stand for?

A

International Standards Organisation

55
Q

What does everything with a CE mark have to be graded to?

A

Euroclass standards

56
Q

What does CE stand for?

A

Conformité Européenne (European Conformity)

57
Q

What performance measures do we look at assessing with materials?

A

Reaction to fire / Fire growth

58
Q

Wha performance measures t do we look at assessing with systems?

A

Fire resistance / Compartmentation

59
Q

What performance measures do we look at assessing with systems and design?

A

Structural fire protection

60
Q

What is BS476 and what does it contain?

A

BS476: Reaction to fire performance test methods

61
Q

Describe BS476: Part 4

A

Non Combustibility test for materials

Only required for materials claiming to be non combustible

62
Q

Describe BS476: Part 6

A

Method of test for Fire propagation of products

Measures rate of heat evolved by a specimen in a small furnace and performance indexed

63
Q

Describe BS476: Part 7

A 
Surface spread of flame test for materials
(Classes 1 to 4 with class 1 providing the greatest resistance to spread of flame NOT the same as building regulation classifications)
64
Q

In BS Stnadards for fire what is the building regulation classification system?

A 
Non Combustible
Material of limited combustibility
Class 0 (Best)
Class 1 
Class 2
Class 3
65
Q

What are the requirements for a construction product to be classified as a material of limited combustibility?

A

Any non combustible material /
Any material with CWTF - a non combustible core at least 8mm thick, combustible facings of not more than .5mm thick and if required - flame spread rating (BS476 Part 7 /
Any material or product classified as A2s3d2 or better in accordance with BS EN 13501-1

66
Q

What is EN 13501-1?

A

The European classification standard EN 13501-1 ranks construction materials in 7 classes with regard to their reaction-to-fire fire behavior: A1, A2, B, C, D, E and F. will cover products that have a contribution to fire and are only able to resist ignition by a small flame for a short period.

67
Q

What is EN ISO 1182?

A

Non combustibility test (EN standards)

68
Q

Describe EN ISO 1182 Non - Combustibility Test

A

A specimen is lowered into a small furnace and heated for close to an hour.

A compulsory test for A1
Optional for A2 / 1710

The rise of core temp is measured, The mass/weight loss is measured and sustained flaming is measured

69
Q

What is EN ISO 1716

A

Determination of the gross heat of combustion / Bomb test

70
Q

Describe EN ISO 1710 Determination of the gross heat of combustion

A

Small specimen has chemicals added, is lowered into water and ignited (Boom)

Compulsory test for A1\
Optional for A2 / 1182

71
Q

What is EN 13823?

A

Building products exposed to thermal attack by a single burning item / Single burning item test

72
Q

Describe EN 13823 single burning item test

A 
A test sample is exposed to fire to assess:
Fire growth rate
Total Heat Release
Lateral Flame Spread
Sustained Flaming
Smoke Growth Rate
Total smoke production
73
Q

What are the additional classifications for smoke production?

A

S1 S2 S3

S1 Best
S2 Limits total smoke production and ratio of increase in smoke production
s3 No limitation of smoke production required

74
Q

What are the additional classifications for flaming droplets or particles?

A

d0 d1 d2

d0 - no limitation (best)
d1 - No flaming droplets / particles persisting longer than a given time acord
d2 - No limitation / Worst

75
Q

What is EN 11925-2 ignitablity o fproducts… single flame source test?

A

Single flame source test records distance of fire spread a specimen is exposed to flame for 30 seconds, flame is removed and it’s observed for another 30 seconds

76
Q

What tests to achieve an A1 to En standards?

A

EN ISO 1182 Non Combustibility Test

EN ISO 1716 Bomb Test

77
Q

What tests to achieve and A2 to EN standards?

A

EN ISO 1182 - Non Combustibilty test

or

EN ISO 1716 - Bomb Test
+
En 13823 single burning item test

78
Q

What is compartmentation?

A

Subdividing building into compartments or zones seperated by walls and/floors of designated fire resisting constructions

79
Q

What are the key objectives of compartmentation?

A

Prevent rapid fire spread
Allow people to escape
Prevent structural collapse for as long as posible

80
Q

Define Fire Resistance

A

(System)

The time a construction element is able to withstand exposure to a standard temperature / time and pressure regime without loss of its fire seperating function / load bearing function

81
Q

What is the major difference in EN vs BS fire resistance testing?

A

The Thermocouples are shielded in EN testing and so it takes a little longer for them to pick up the temperature of the furnace which means that in the early stages of testing.. the furnace is able to heat up more because the heat takes longer to travel to the sensor in the thermocouple. So earlier on in the EN fire resistance test… the partition is subjected to more onerous conditions

82
Q

In Fire Resistance Testing both BS and EN test standards require minimum levels of performance in….. what?

A 
Loadbearing (R) to maintain levels of structural performance
Fire Integrity (E) to prevent spread of flames and hot gases
Fire insulation (I) to prevent spread of excessive heat
83
Q

When testing fire resistance of a partition, what is the failure criteria for loadbearing?

A

(Deflection and speed of deflection)
Extent of Deformation
Rate of Deformation
Extent and Rate of Deformation

Collapse of a floor

84
Q

When testing fire resistance of a partition what is the failure critera for Fire Integrity?

A
  1. Sustained Flaming
  2. Cotton Pad failure
  3. Gap Guage Failure
85
Q

Fire resistance testing - Integrity - Define sustained flaming

A

Flaming that is visible with the naked eye and remains visible for at least ten seconds

86
Q

Fire resistance testing - integrity - define Cotton Pad Test

A

Cotton pad is like a cotton wool smor that is used to measure localised hot spots, cotton pad is held against unexposed side for 10-15 seconds (30 for EN testing) and fails if the pad is removed flaming / glowing for more than ten seconds

87
Q

Fire resistance testing - integrity - define Gap Guage tests

A

Failure =
Can a 6mm gap gauge penetrate fully through the specimen and be moved 150mm in any direction
Can a 25mm gap guage penetrate fully through the specimen

88
Q

When testing fire resistance of a partition what is the failure criteria for insulation?

A

Failure
The average temp across face of thermocouples rises above 140 degrees C
One individual thermocouple hits a temperature of 180 degrees C

89
Q

Define field of application re: Fire resistance testing

A

The possibility of changing certain parameters of a system when used in practice without affecting the minimum claims made against a specific fire test

90
Q

Re partitions, what does the field of direct application generally permit?

A 
Decreases in partition height
Increase in partition thickness
Increase in thickness of components
Reduction of stud centres
Reduction of fixing centres
Increase in the number of horizontal joints

Greater widths (provided one side of the partition was un-fixed for the test

91
Q

In regards to BS Fire resistance testing and heights, what’s the craic?

A

In BS476: part 22 the fire state height is not considered (Fire tests at 3m are deemed suitable in fire resistance terms for any possible heights)

92
Q

In regards to EN fire resistance testing and heights, whats the craic?

A

EN rules consider hot state’s
To claim 3m -tested at 3m
To claim up to 4m - pass test height at 3m with less than 100 m deflection
Greater than 4m - specimen height must be increased

93
Q

What is pure gypsum made from?

A 
Water (H2O) 21%
Calcium Sulphate (CaSO4) 79%
94
Q

What is the process of dehydrating gypsum by heat known as and what happens with it?

A

The process of dehydrating gypsum by heat is known as calcination and it commences at the surface exposed to the fire and proceeds gradually through the gypsum layer.

It’s inert below a temperature of 1200 degrees C

Chemically combined water absorbs the heat
Calcined gypsum on the exposed face retard the calcination process of deeper gypsum and calcination slows as thickness of calcined material increases

95
Q

What parts of the plasterboard contributes to fire resistance?

A

Board density
Board thickness
Inclusion of glass fibres
Inclusion of shrinkage inhibitors / swelling agents

96
Q

What does UDL stand for?

A

Uniformly distributed load

97
Q

What kind of load is used to test crowd pressure?

A

A linear load

98
Q

In the absence of an approved method of testing extended heights, how can extended heights be achieved?

A

Through the use of fire engineering principles.

Thermocouples added to studs in the test to perform a deeper assessment of how they act.

99
Q

If I say the fire test is a line in the sand what does that mean?

A

It does not necessarily mean that a fire test will provide a real world equivalent - fire testing provides a bench mark performance to test one system with another system

100
Q

Do BS and EN test standards for fire resistance follow the same temperature curve?

A

Yes, BS and EN follow the same temperature curve, they are measured with different types of equipment. The temperature doesn’t go much above 900 degrees

101
Q

What happens in the fire test from early stages to failure?

A
  1. free moisture is driven off (looks like smoke)
  2. Chemical moisture is driven off
  3. Calcined material acts as an insulating layer as long as it stays intact
  4. first board fails then second board fails faster
102
Q

Does deflection in Metal Frame partitions differ from deflection in timber frame partitions?

A

Yes,
Metal expands on the hot side so it bows towards the fire

Timber loses moisture on the warm side causing shrinkage so it bows away from the fire

103
Q

Why is shaftwall tested from both sides for fire resistance?

A

Shaftwall is not a symmetrical system so it’s fire resisting properties are potentially different depending on which side of the partition has a fire

104
Q

Re Shaftwall, what can be observed that is different in BS and EN tests?

A

BS testing generally performs from the shaft side

EN testing performs better from the room side

105
Q

Why does shaftwall perform better in BS testing from the shaft side?

A

Because the thermocouples record heat almost instantaneously in BS standards, the temperature curve is more constant (temperature doesn’t rise as quickly as EN standard testing) this means that heat will transfer through the exposed metal on the shaft side more slowly, preventing the slab on the room side from heating up as quickly.

106
Q

What do deflection heads do?

A

They allow for deflection in the floors above when subject to live and dead loads, allowing the partition to remain non load bearing

107
Q

Where can deflection heads introduce weakness?

A

Deflection heads introduce weakness in that the boarding is not flush against the soffit and a gap is introduced, and to allow for movement the boards cannot be fixed into the head channel

108
Q

How do we detail deflection heads to mitigate potential system weaknesses?

A

A drop soffit to maintain continuity between board layers and ceiling and additional fire stopping (mineral wool) for extend fire resistances

109
Q

What does structural fire protection do?

A

It provides suitable protection to the buildings structural elements to prevent premature failure and structural collapse

110
Q

Name structural elements used in buildings?

A

Concrete, Steel and Timber

111
Q

What is an accidental limit state?

A

It is something that “might” happen. Fire is considered to be an accidental limit state

112
Q

What should be considered in structural design regarding fire risk?

A

Imposed loads (Live and dead)
Factor of design safety
Probability of occurance

113
Q

What percentage of load are structural members typically subject to?

A

Typically, structural members are subjec to load ratio of 0.5 or 0.6

60% load ratio - dead loads and live loads existing in building

100% load ratio - 60% plus other accidental factors (wind / snow)

Systems are often tested with conservative load ratio of 1.0 (100%)

114
Q

What are the properties of concrete in relation to fire?

A
  1. Inherently fire resistant - usually doesn’t require extra protection
  2. Prone to spalling - trapped air bubbles heating up and exploding - possibly exposing steel reinforcement
  3. Depth of cover over steel reinforcement may need to be upgraded where fire resistances are extended
115
Q

What are the properties of timber in relation to fire?

A

Timber has a “low thermal expansion coefficient” which minimises the possibility of charred material becoming displaced and a low thermal conductivity which means that undamaged timber below charring retains its strength.

It chars at a fairly constant rate subject to standard heating conditions (varies with species/grade of timber)
15 to 25mm per hour for each face exposed and load-bearing calcs are done on what remains

116
Q

What are the properties of Structural steel in relation to fire?

A

Structural steel begins to lose strength above 300 degrees and eventually melts at 1500 degrees

It needs to maintain it’s loadbearing function while building is being evacuated. Typically designers use 550 degrees at which steel retains 60% of it’s initial strength (.6) loadbearing

117
Q

What is a structural steel section factor?

A

It is the calculation of the surface area of the steel exposed to the fire divided by the amount of steel contained within the section

118
Q

In relation to structural what is (A)

A

(A) = the surface area of steel exposed to fire as used in calculating the section factor

119
Q

In relation to structural steel what is (V)

A

(V) = the amount of steel contained within the section

120
Q

Where can I find the section factors for standard sizes of structural steels?

A

Section factors for standard sizes can be found in a publication called “The yellow book” prepared by the ASFP (Association of specialist ifre protection)

121
Q

What does ASFP stand for?

A

The Association of Specialist Fire Protection

122
Q

What is the difference re fire for steels with

  1. a large surface area
  2. a smaller surface area
A
  1. A larger surface area will receive more heat than a smaller surface area.
  2. A smaller surface area will receive less heat than a larger surface area
123
Q

Does steel section with a greater volume of steel take longer to heat up or is it faster to heat?

A

Steel section with a greater volume will heat up slower

124
Q

What does having a higher section factor number mean for fire protection?

A

The higher the value of the section factor (A/V) the trater the protection thickness will be required

125
Q

What is the required level of fire protection to structural determined by?

A
  1. The section factor of the steelwork
  2. The number of exposed sides (Columns, 4 sides, Beams 3 sides)
  3. Type of protection being used (Boards / Coatings)
  4. Length of time fire protection is required
126
Q

What systems do we offer for fire protection to structural steel?

A

GypLyner Encase

Gyproc FireCase

127
Q

Is there a difference between BS vs EN fire testing standards?

A

Under EN standards, structural steel may require greater levels of lining/coating

128
Q

What fire protection temperature is our literature based on?

A

550 degrees

129
Q

What is the document relating to the fire classification specified in each of the product standards that enable products to be CE Marked, as required by The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011

A

BS EN 1350-1

Fire in Buildings (2 decks)

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