Description of the best fire detection equipment to be installed in the Electrical Switchgear Room, Flammable Liquids Room and the Office.
The best fire detection system to be installed in the Electrical Switchgear Room is the photoelectric smoke detector (FM Global, 2). This is because cables which are necessary in the Electrical Switchgear Room are mostly insulated with combustible materials which would invariably generate smoke as they burn in the event of a fire (FM Global 1). This type of smoke from such smoldering fires (characteristic of burning plastic/insulating) according to the NFPA can most effectively be detected by a properly functioning photoelectric smoke detector which are also less prone to false alarms. Photoelectric smoke detectors have a light source which is aimed at a sensing chamber. On the occasion of a fire, smoke gets into the chamber and reflects the light onto the sensor, this triggers the alarm attached to the system.
The best fire detection equipment to be installed in the Flammable Liquids Room is the ionization smoke detector. These detectors according to NFPA (NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code, 196) respond to “invisible particles (smaller than 1 micron in size)” and are the most sensitive to hot, rapidly burning fires characteristic of flaming liquid fire. Ionization smoke detectors are usually built with a minute quantity of radioactive material located between two charged plates (electrically charged). This ionizes the air and causes the flow of current between the charged plates. When smoke gets into the chamber, it disrupts this flow of ions, this in turn reduces current flow thereby activating the alarm.
For the Office, several fire detection systems can be used including ionisation smoke detector, photoelectric smoke detector, carbon monoxide (CO) detector and fixed temperature terminal detector however, a “combination (multicriteria) detector” is most suitable (fire.org.nz). This is because such detectors make use of various sensing elements such as Infra-Red sensing, Optical, DO, Heat and Optical detection (fire.org.nz, 2), thereby ensuring proper monitoring of the major attributes of fire and allowing early response in the event of a fire outbreak. According to Susan et al (1), “multi-criteria-based detection technology” presents the most likely means of achieving “improved sensitivity to real fires” as well as “reduced susceptibility to nuisance alarm sources” thereby reducing the “occurrence of false alarms”.
The best fire protection system (aside sprinklers) to be installed in the Computer Room according to Geoff Flower (12) is a gaseous suppression system. These systems are considered highly effective in extinguishing fires, thereby preventing its spread to “adjourning equipment on the same rack” (Geoff Flower 12). This will help prevent extensive damage to the often expensive equipment found in computer rooms. Furthermore, the use of inert gasses in the Computer Room is highly advantageous because it doesn’t damage the equipment in the room like water does and as such other equipment not affected by the fire would still be readily available for use with minimal cleanup required. Also according to Chubb, this system is easily automated thereby enhancing the protection of valuable electrical equipment by effectively handling fires (without any human intervention especially as such rooms are usually untended) in its early stages, in the process preventing as much damage as possible. The principle of operation behind gaseous suppression system is the displacement of oxygen (which is necessary for a fire to keep burning) by inert gases such as purified nitrogen, argon. This therefore serves as an “effective fire suppressant” (Chubb).
For flammable liquids room, the best fire protection system is the engineered fire suppression system. This is a type of automatic fire suppression system built for specific purposes including flammable liquid storage rooms and can operate independent of human intervention; providing immediate response in the event of a fire at the “initial critical minutes” (Fire Equipment Manufacturers Association). Upon detection of a fire (which can either be by electrical or mechanical means), the system gets activated resulting in the release of the extinguishing agent which can be delivered either through a nozzle or a pipe specifically designed for this purpose. In this case, the suitable extinguishing agent is dry chemical which according to Chattaway, Gall and Spring (1) must comply with NFPA 17, UL1254 and UL300 standards. Some suitable dry agents include; Purple K dry chemical (ansul.com), BC and ABC powder (Chattaway, Gall and Spring, 1).
For the Paint Dip tank, the best fire protection system to be installed to protect against fire is the pre-engineered dry chemical fire suppression system (allstatefireinc.com) just like that required in the Flammable Liquid Storage Room. Fire detection in this system is by mechanical or electrical means and some of these systems feature local application to affected areas or total flooding (allstatefireinc.com). They make use of dry chemicals which must comply with NFPA 17 standards and some of them come with multiple tank capacities for different classes of fire hazards (Alllstatefireinc.com).
Works Cited
Geoff Flower. “Practical Fire Protection in Computer Rooms and Data Centres”. Agcoombs.com.au. (2010): 5-12. Web. April 12. 2016.
Susan L. Rose-Pehrsson, Ronald E. Shaffer, Sean J. Hart, Frederick W. Williams, Daniel T. Gottuk, Brooke D. Strehlen, Scott A. Hill. Multi-criteria fire detection systems using a probabilistic neural network. Elsevier. 69(2000): 325. Web. April 04. 2016.
Chubb United Technologies. 3 of the most common types of fire suppression systems on the market. www.chubb.co.za. Web. 12 April 2016.
NFPA. NFPA 17: Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems. www.nfpa.org. Web. 12 April 2016.
FMGlobal. “Fire in Electrical Equipment Rooms”. Understanding the Hazard. 2007. Web. 11 April 2016.
Ansul.com. Purple-K Dry Chemical Suppressing Agent. 2015. Web. 11 April 2016.
Allstatefireinc.com. Dry Chemical Systems for Spray Booths and Industrial Hazards. 2016. Web. 11 April 2016.
Fire.org.nz. Selection and Location of Fire Detectors. Web. 11 April 2016.
femalifesafety.org. Pre-Engineered Fire Suppression Systems. An Educational Overview. 2016. Web. 11 April 2016.
Chattawayw A, Gail R. and Spring D.J. Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems. Halon OptionsTeChniCal Working Conference 6-8 May 1997. Web. 11 April 2016.
NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code. Section A-1-4, Appendix A Explanatory Material. (1996):196. Web. April 11. 2016.
