Fire Detection, Protection, and Suppression Systems Flashcards
What NFPA and building codes do we use?
IFC chapter 903
IBC chapter 903
NFPA 13
NFPA 72
Fire sprinkler systems are effective in controlling fires ___% of the time
96%
Fire protection systems have fairly standardized design requirements across ____ ___
North America
Local fire prevention and building codes may require…
Different types of systems for different buildings
What is a fire detection system?
A system that recognizes when a fire is occurring and activates the fire alarm system
A fire detection system does what 3 things? What is it’s secondary purpose?
Alerts occupants (primary purpose) May alert the fire dept May automatically activate fire suppression systems
Secondary purpose is to conserve property
Fire alarm/detection systems can be very simple or complex. These systems generally have the same…
Basic components
What is the most common type of residential fire alarm system?
Single station smoke alarm
A single station smoke alarm includes both a…
Smoke detection device and and audible alarm
____ (#) of single station smoke detectors are installed in private dwellings and apartments
Millions
What are the 2 ways a smoke alarm can be powered?
Battery
Hard wired to 110 volt electrical system
Up to date codes require new homes to have a smoke alarm…
In every bedroom and on every floor level
Many home fire alarm systems are part of ____ ____
Security systems
What are the 2 types of smoke detectors?
Ionization
Photoelectric
Ionization detectors are triggered by the ____ products of combustion
Invisible
Photoelectric detectors are triggered by the ____ products of combustion
Visible
What are the 3 basic components in a fire alarm system?
Alarm initiation device
Alarm notification device
Control Panel
What is the “brain” of a fire alarm system?
The control panel
What does the control panel do?
Manages and monitors the proper operation of the system
A control panel may/can indicate…
The source of the alarm
A control panel also manages the primary ___ ___ and provides…
Power supply
Backup power supply for the system
Control panels vary greatly depending on ___ and ____
Age of system
Manufacturer
The FACP is also used to ____ the alarm and ___ the system
Silence
Reset
Many buildings have an additional display panel. What is it called?
A remote annunciator
Where is a good place to look for a remote annunciator?
Near the main entry way or lobby
A battery in the FACP will automatically activate when…
The external power is interrupted
What are alarm initiating devices?
Components that activate a fire alarm system
What are the 2 types of alarm initiating devices?
Manual
Automatic
What is the primary manual initiation device?
Manual fire alarm box/manual pull station
Manual initiation devices will stay in the activated position until…
It’s reset
What are double action pull stations?
Designed to prevent malicious false alarms. They are covered with a piece of clear plastic
Automatic initiating devices can use several types of detectors. What are some examples?
Smoke Invisible products of combustion Heat Light from an open flame Specific gases
What is the most common type of smoke detector?
Ionization?
Heat detectors can provide ____ protection, but cannot provide reliable ____ ____ protection
Property
Life safety
When are heat detectors generally used?
In situations where smoke detectors cannot be used
Heat detectors are generally installed in ______ areas
Unheated
True or false…
Heat detectors are not as reliable as smoke detectors
FALSE
They are very reliable and less prone to false alarms
How do fixed temperature heat detectors work?
Usually a metal alloy that will melt at a preset temperature
When will rate of rise detectors activate?
When the temperature of the surrounding air rises more than a set amount in a given period of time
Most rate of rise detectors are self _____
Restoring
Choose one…
Generally rate of rise detectors will respond FASTER or SLOWER than fixed temp heat detectors.
Faster
How to line heat detectors work?
They use wires or a sealed tube to sense heat
What are the 2 types of wire type line heat detectors?
One has 2 wires separated by an insulating material
Another type measures changes in electrical resistance in a single wire as it heats up
What is the tube type line heat detector?
It has a sealed metal tube filled with air or a nonflammable gas
How do flame detectors work?
They detect the electromagnetic light waves produced by a flame
Where are flame detectors typically found?
Where early detection and rapid reaction to a fire is critical
What is the power point example of something that can accidentally trigger a flame detector?
Arc welding
Flame detectors are complicated and ____
Expensive
Gas detectors are calibrated to….
Detect the presence of a specific gas
Gas detectors need regular _____
Calibration
Gas detectors are usually found only in…
Specific commercial or industrial applications
What are the 6 gases listed that a gas detector may detect?
CO CO2 Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen sulfide
What do air sampling detectors do?
Continuously capture air samples and measure concentrations of specific gases or products of combustion
What is a water flow alarm?
Ensures that someone is aware water is flowing from a sprinkler head or when standpipe valve is opened
What are the 2 things that a fire alarm system does?
Alerts building occupants
Alerts fire dept
What are the 3 types of false alarms?
Malicious
Unwanted
Nuisance
What is a malicious alarm?
Caused by someone who deliberately activates the alarm when there is no fire
What is an unwanted alarm?
When an alarm is activated by a condition that is not really an emergency
What is a nuisance alarm?
Alarm caused by improper functioning of an alarm sysem or one of it’s components
What is an alarm notification appliance?
Produces an audible signal when fire alarm is activated
Many new alarm notification appliances incorporate…
Visual notification devices
Fire alarms may also control what 3 other things?
Air handling systems
Fire doors
Elevators
Almost all fire alarm systems are now ____ to some extent
Zoned
In a coded system, zone is IDd not only at the FACP, but also through an ____ ____ ____
Audio notification device
Fire alarm systems can be broken down into what 4 categories?
Non coded alarm
Zoned non coded alarm
Zoned coded alarm
Master coded alarm
What is a non coded alarm system?
Where the control panel has no info indicating where the fire alarm was activated
It typically sounds a bell or a horn
Fire dept must search entire building to find which initiation device was activated
What is a zoned non coded alarm system?
Where the alarm control panel indicates in which zone the activated device is located
What is the most common type of alarm system?
Zoned non coded alarm system
With a zoned non coded alarm system, the building it divided into….
Multiple zones, often by floor or wing
What is a zoned coded alarm system?
All the same things of a non coded alarm system but it also indicates which zone has been activated over the announcement system
What type of alarm system do hospitals have?
Zoned coded alarm system
What is a master coded alarm sytem?
When the same audible notification device is used for other purposes throughout the building
What 4 classifications can fire alarms be broken down into based on how the fire dept is notified?
Local alarm system
Remote station system
Proprietary or Auxiliary system
Central station
What is a local alarm system?
A system that does not alert the fire dept. It only alerts the occupants to the building
What is a remote station system?
A system that sends a signal directly to the fire dept or to another monitoring location via a telephone line or a radio signal
What is an auxiliary system?
When a building’s fire alarm system is tied into a master alarm box located outside
What is a proprietary system?
When a building’s alarm is connected directly to monitoring site owned and operated by the building owner
What is central station system?
When a system notifies a third party off site from the building and the personnel at the central station are the ones who notify the appropriate fire dept
What 3 things might a fire suppression system include?
Automatic sprinkler system
Standpipe system
Specialized extinguishing systems
Why is it important to understand how fire suppression systems work?
Because they can affect fire behavior
What is a major advantage of a sprinkler system?
It can function as both a fire detection system and a fire suppression system
What are 6 reasons why a sprinkler system might fail?
Closed valves Inadequate water supply Blocked heads Fire load changes Partial protection Poor Maintenance
What is the definition of a sprinkler system?
A system of pipes, valves, water, and heads, which operate automatically to control or extinguish fire, initiate an alarm, and save lives/property
What are the 4 major components of an automatic sprinkler system?
Automatic sprinkler heads
Piping
Control valves
Water supply
Sprinkler heads are composed of what 4 things?
Body
Release mechanism
Orifice
Deflector
What is a fusible link sprinkler head?
Uses a metal alloy such as solder that melts at a specific temperature
What is a frangible bulb sprinkler head?
A head that uses a glass bulb that is filled with glycerin or alcohol to hold the cap in place
As the bulb is heated, liquid absorbs the air bubble and expands until it breaks the glass which releases the cap
What is a chemical pellet sprinkler head?
Uses a plunger mechanism and a small chemical pellet that will liquefy at a specific temperature
With sprinklers, what does ESFR mean?
Early Suppression Fast Response
Why are deluge heads easily identifiable?
They have no cap or release mechanism
Deluge systems are designed to protect…
Extra hazardous occupancies
What is the typical rating for a sprinkler head in a light hazard occupancy?
165 degrees
Where is the rating found on a sprinkler head?
Stamped on the body
The sprinkler head temp rating must match…
The anticipated ambient air temperatures
Uncolored or black sprinkler heads have an operating temp of ___ to ___ degrees F
135 to 170
Sprinkler piping is usually made of _____
Steel
Sometimes plastic is used in residential systems
Sprinkler piping includes what 4 things?
Main water supply lines
Risers
Feeder lines
Branch lines
What are the 3 types of valves used on a sprinkler system?
Main water supply control valve
Alarm valve
Other smaller valves used for testing and service
Where are the 3 places that a water supply for a sprinkler system can come from?
Municipal water system
On site storage tanks
Static water sources
What is the preferred water source of a sprinkler system?
A municipal water system
What can be added to fire sprinkler systems to prevent false alarms due to water surges?
Retard Chambers
When are fire pumps used in a sprinkler system?
When the water comes from a static source or to boost pressure for tall buildings
What does FDC stand for?
Fire Department Connection
What is the FDC for?
Allows the fire dept’s engine to pump water into the sprinkler system
What is a water flow alarm?
A water powered gong to signal that the sprinkler system has been activated
What are the 5 categories of automatic sprinkler systems?
Wet Dry Pre action Deluge Residential
What is the most common type of sprinkler system?
Wet sprinkler system
It is also the least expensive
Wet sprinkler system means that the piping is always…
Filled with water
What is the major drawback of a wet sprinkler system?
it cannot be used in areas where the temperature drops below freezing
What is a dry sprinkler system?
Same as a wet sprinkler system except that the pipes are filled with pressurized air instead of water
What keeps the water from entering the pipes in a dry sprinkler system?
A dry pipe valve
What is a preaction sprinkler system?
Same as a dry sprinkler system except the key difference is that a secondary device must be activated before water is released into the sprinkler piping
What is a deluge sprinkler system?
Water flows from all of the sprinkler heads as soon as the system is activated
All of the heads are always open
Who can order the shut down of a sprinkler system?
The IC only
In most cases, the system can be shutdown by…
Closing the main control valve
What can stop the flow from a sprinkler head quickly?
A wooden wedge or commercial sprinkler stop
What are 3 characteristics of residential sprinkler systems vs other sprinkler systems?
Smaller piping
Smaller heads with smaller orifices
Less water discharge
What is a standpipe system?
A network of pipes and outlets for fire hoses built into a structure to provide water for firefighting purposes
What is a class I standpipe?
Designed for fire dept personnel only
Has a 2 1/2 male coupling and a valve to open the water supply
What is a class II standpipe?
Outlet with a length of 1 1/2” hose preconnected to the system
Intended for the occupants to attack the fire before the fire dept arrives
Safety and effectiveness is questionable
What is a class III standpipe?
Has the features of both the class I and class II standpipe
Water flow in the standpipe systems depends on what 2 things?
Water supply and the condition of the piping
What 2 things are often installed on standpipes to limit pressure and flow?
Flow restriction devices
Pressure reducing valves
We standpipe systems in modern buildings are connected to a public water supply with an ___ or ____ fire pump to provide additional pressure
Electric or diesel
When are specialized extinguishing systems used?
When water would not be an acceptable extinguishing agent
How are dry chemical extinguishing systems kept?
In self pressurized tanks or in tanks with an external cartridge of CO2 or N2 that provides pressure when the system is activated
What kind of extinguishing system is now used in most new commercial kitchens?
Wet chemical systems
What are the 2 initiation devices for wet chemical extinguishing systems?
Fusible links above the target hazard
Manual discharge pull station
Where are clean agent extinguishing systems often installed?
Areas where computers or sensitive equipment are used
Clean agents are non ____ and leave no _____
Non conductive
Residue
What are the 2 clean agents that are generally used?
Halogenated
CO2
Clean agent extinguishing systems are tied into building’s fire alarm system and should alert firefighters that…
They are responding to a situation where a clean agent has been discharged
