Fire Safety Design in Buildings - Case Study Example

Name: Title: Course: Date Fire Safety Design in Buildings A fire safety design ensures that the building has been constructed in a way that it cannot be destroyed by any form of destruction. Fire safety design in buildings in the U.K is done in reference to the approved building document B that explains the building codes. The building codes in the approved document B are as follows; B1 represents the strategies that are required to ensure that the building has contained means of escape incase there is a fire outbreak in it. Having means of escape within a building is a very important thing to consider when coming up with a building since this ensures that people do not die within the building when there is a fire outbreak. The second code in the building document B is B2 which mainly ensures that the building has been constructed in a way that it has inner linings to prevent fire spread within the building and this means that people are able to see the fire signs and escape before gets worse or try to put off the fire within the building before properties are destroyed or before people have lost their lives within the building. The third building code according to building document B is mainly concerned with structures that prevent fire from spreading within the building and this is done by ensuring that the materials that have been used with the building have a structural position in order to prevent fire spread within the building in all possible ways. The fourth code is known as B4 which is mainly concerned with all possible causes of external fire spread to a given building and this also done by ensuring that the materials that have been utilized do not easily attract fire to the building. The fifth code according to the approved document B is B5 which is mainly associated with all facilities that ensure fire is not easily spread both internally and externally. It ensures that there are installations within the building that prevent fire access into the building and that the building has contained necessary facilities fore the fire services which can be used incase of a fire outbreak into the building. A building that has been constructed in accordance with the requirements found in the approved document B cannot be easily be affected by fire because the building codes provided in the document ensures that the house has been protected from all the directions both the internal and the external structures of the house has been well protected from fire. A House Built in accordance to requirements in Document B Fire Strategy for Charm House Charm House has been built in way that it cannot easily be destroyed but since it wants to be rebuilt with modernized building and construction methods, it is very important for it to be built in a way that it has incorporated the building codes found in the approved document B. this means that the front view of the building has to be constructed in reference to the requirements in document B. The code that should be used for the front view of the house is code B4 since it is mainly concerned with external fire spread into the building. By implementing code B4 in rebuilding Charm House, this will ensure that the house does not have any form of fire destruction in any possible ways because the house will have been protected externally from fire. Front View of Charm House Since Charm House is a building that had been built back in the year 1920, it is possible that there were many components that had not been incorporated in building it thus it was building in an old fashioned design thus the building designs in the modern world needs to be put in it to ensure that the risks of it being affected by fire has been minimized in all possible ways. The front view of Charm House seems to have been built using some materials that could easily conduct fire and this means that for it to be built in an appropriate way then some of the important codes in the approved document B such as code B4 needs to be implemented again on the front view in order to avoid any external fire attacks on the house. When a building has been built with techniques that will help it prevent fire disaster, it becomes very easy for it to last longer as compared to one that does not have fire strategy in it. In the U.K fire strategy is highly considered when coming up with a building since there are many dangers that come along building projects and some of these dangers are such as floods among other forms of catastrophic events such as fire and others. Most of the constructions built in the U.K implement the requirements of the approved document B and this means that almost all the houses are constructed in references to the building codes that has approved together with document B. One of the best examples of houses or building in the U. K that tends to follow the building codes in the approved document B is Charm House. Even the back view of Charm House needs to be rebuilt in accordance with the building requirements and codes of the approved document B since they are very important in building and construction in the modern world. The Back View of Charm House Building Constructions against Fire Disaster Introduction In architecture and fields of civil engineering, building is viewed as a process of collecting or assembling infrastructure. Even though in most cases building is considered to be a single activity, large scale constructions contributes a lot to human beings achievements of multitasking. The job of building constructions is done and supervised by a design engineer, project architect or a construction manager and for their work to be effective they ensure that they have had proper planning in their projects. Those concerned with the execution and design of infrastructure have to consider the impacts that they make in the environment of the job, scheduling that are successful and budgeting for the materials that they require. Building constructions only become more effective when all the required materials are available since this makes building more convenient to the public and avoids possible chances of construction delays or bidding (Nelson, 2002). Types of Constructions against Fire There are many types of building construction projects but the most common ones are; Building constructions and Industrial constructions and the building requirements in any of these two can be used in building Charm House. Constructions are also categorized into three different groups and these are such as; building constructions, civil/ heavy constructions and industrial constructions. For any construction project to be successful, it must have a unique to do the planning for it so as to have a construction that is well designed in order to maintain the building and construction project. Construction Methods and Materials The materials used to construct a building are also important because it is through knowing the type of material used that the engineers are bound to know what methods to put across in their building process. One of the most important factors to consider when building any construction in the modern is to ensure that they architects have built the constructions in accordance with requirements in approved building documents and one of the best documents to consult when coming with any building in the modern world is the approved document B. the materials being used in building a construction should be used with requirements of the approved document B which ensures that the building codes have been utilized appropriately. The codes that are very necessary in building a house that has materials such as steel, concrete and others are code B3 and B2 since these two building codes are mainly associated with the structures used in building a construction and its linings. A house that has implemented the building codes in approved Document B Steel Steel is considered to be one of the best materials to be used in buildings and construction in many different parts of the world and they are mainly used in buildings that have hundred storeys and more since they have proved to be durable and they are not easily destroyed. Steel is considered to be a very significant material when it comes to building constructions that have more than 40 storeys since it has suitable physical properties that are required in building and construction. Besides being durable, steel is also very flexible and sustainable as compared to other building materials like timber. Steel is believed to have the highest weight to strength ratio thus it is easy to join and form it. It is also light, stable dimensionally and strong. This is what makes it suitable for construction of storey buildings because through this it is able to stand earthquakes and hurricanes. It is easier to use steel because it requires simple and small foundation which makes work to be done at a faster rate. This is what makes it suitable for construction of storey buildings because through this it is able to stand earthquakes and hurricanes. It is easier to use steel because it requires simple and small foundation which makes work to be done at a faster rate. This reduces the number of days in which it is going to be used during the construction thus reducing the expenses on the construction (McCormac, 1994). Concrete This is a man-made material that is used in building and construction in different parts of the world. This material is made out of the mixture of gravel, aggregate sand, water and cement. The components of this mixture are usually mixed in a certain proportion to ensure that it is strong enough and flexible and in most cases the water and cement are the ones considered to be active in the mixture. Concrete that has been reinforced is poured around a grid of steel rods and this makes the steel stronger so that it does not bend even when there is a strong wind and it also becomes very strong when exposed to forces of compression. Concrete is highly compressive even though it has a lower tensile strength. Cladding of concrete will be done with glass, aluminum, stainless steel. Where necessary other parts can be covered with masonry materials like granite, marble and limestone. Need For Smoke Control It is very important to consider the method of controlling smoke in a house during a fire outbreak and this can easily be done by implementing the requirements and the building codes found in the approved document B of 1992. One of the most important factors to consider during a fire outbreak is the need for smoke control because this ensures people have not been killed by smoke inside a burning building. Smokes kill people very faster than even the fire itself because when people inhale it then they are bound to die because it the gases are toxic thus it is very important to always consider ways of controlling smoke during a fire outbreak in a building. Besides being harmful to human beings, smoke also causes lack of good sight during a fire outbreak because it prevents one from seeing what is happening inside a burning building and this makes it hard for people to read the escape signs and also seeing the routes becomes difficult. The control of smoke through a suitable smoke management system is necessary since it will provide a safe way of escape and this can be accomplished by using building code B1 from the approved document B. As smoke control reduces the ability of the smoke to spread and heat up the building it provides an avenue for fire fighters to access the affected parts of the building. Sustainable Energy Technologies It is obligatory for sustainable energy technologies to be used as a way of protecting the environment and avoiding unnecessary wastage of energy and other resources. Therefore all the gadgets and equipment to be fitted in the building will be as eco friendly as possible. Equipment that does not consume a lot of energy such as energy saving bulbs is highly recommended. Technology such as solar heating will be necessary in order to cut down on the use of electric energy. Passive solar heating technology will help in cooling, day lighting and heating. Carbon control technologies will also be incorporated in the design of the building since carbon forms dangerous oxides. Its production should be minimized. In the event of fire carbon can combine with oxygen in low quantities to form a toxic gas called carbon monoxide. Recommended Fire Extinguishing Agents To ensure that a building has been kept safe from fire it is necessary to look for fire extinguishing agents that are genuine and competent in their work. There are so many agents that can be used in the extinguishing process of fire. All these are applicable in fire incidences but people must be trained to use them. The most effective fire extinguishing agents to recommend for any building are the water fire extinguishers, foam fire extinguishers, powder and wet chemical fire extinguishers. Water Fire Extinguishers Water based fire extinguishers should be kept in the building to quench fires with a lot of burning paper, soft furnishings and wood. It tackles ‘class A fires’ because the water is easily soaked up by the material and cools it in the process of putting off the fire. This agent is advantageous because it does not have dangerous chemicals which can harm the people using it. Foam Fire Extinguishers This is also known as ‘Aqueous Film Foaming Foam’. It forms a smothering foam film that prevents the fire from getting oxygen. This foam has a number of advantages which make it suitable for its job. This foam penetrates some pervious materials and as the water in the foam evaporates the material is cooled. The foam makes a carpet of foam on liquids such as petrol when they are on fire. These extinguishers are good for flammable liquids and also in places where carpets and soft furnishings have manmade fibers which easily liquidize when there is a lot of heat. Foam extinguishers can be used where there is electrical equipment. Powder Fire Extinguishers They are also known as ‘ABC powder extinguishers or dry powder extinguishers’ and are important in quenching class A,B,C fires. Their advantage is that they have a high capacity of fighting fire. However this powder is disadvantageous since it has no ability of soaking up the burning materials and therefore does not leave behind any cooling effect to reduce the temperature of the fire. Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers These will be very useful in the residential area since they are effective on kitchen fires or Class F fires where burning oil as well as ‘deep fat fryers’ are involved. These extinguishers have along lance that makes it possible to lay a lay a cooling foam layer over the hot burning oil. They are also applicable on Class A fires. Blankets Blankets should be purchased and kept in strategic places within the building especially in the residential premises and specifically near the kitchens. They can also serve in the hotel kitchen. Blankets are effective when used for covering the victims of fire. When a person is covered wholly with the blanket it cuts short the supply of oxygen to the fire. Fire Strategy in the United Kingdom Most of the houses that are being built in the U.K in the modern world tend to adhere to the requirements and building codes found in the approved document B of 1992. All the codes are used to ensure that the houses are safe from fire disaster thus B1, B2,B3,B4 and B5 building codes are all incorporated in the building process of houses in the modern world in the U.K thus even when rebuilding Charm House, these building codes should be used. Fire and explosions have been some of the unpredictable issues that affect life and business losses in most of the hydrocarbon and chemical industries in the modern world. These issues have existed in the developed countries like the United Kingdom since the middle of the past century and this has continued to increase with more reports that are being given after financial impacts have increased drastically and are highly visible. Most people tend to believe that there are accidents that cannot be prevented but this is not the case because when there is effective management of these vital incidents, they can be avoided. Some of the most common causes of fire incidents in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world are such as ignorance, economic considerations, unusual occurrences, oversight and negligence. One of the best ways of reducing fire disaster in most parts of the world is through ensuring that reliable risk analysis has been done and this is what should be done in the United Kingdom (Brian, 2004). Risk analysis is one of terms that are used in to explain the types of analytical techniques that can be used to evaluate occurrences that are hazardous in the society and taking all possible steps to reduce the incidents. Risk analysis is used to evaluate the consequences of incidents and other hazardous implications and these techniques can be categorized as either qualitative or quantitative and this depends on the level of the required examination. Strategies of designing Fire Safety in U.K Even though there are many strategies for designing fire safety within a building, the most important strategies to consider in the modern world especially in the U.K is ensuring that a house has been built in accordance to the approved document B which consists of the building requirements namely B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5. These building codes and requirements are very important in building constructions that are intended to last longer. There are many strategies that can be taken towards coming up with an effective design for fire safety in storages within a given building. When an architect is coming up with a strategy for a building, He should ensure that there is well planned and enough space for storing other properties. The design team can also play a big role in ensuring that fuel hazards within the building are well place so as to avoid and prevent any chances of explosion or reducing possibilities of a fire disaster to take place in the building (Britain, 2006). The maintenance manual of that building should also entail having limited misuse of space so as not to ensure that there is separation of life risks and fuel. A good designer should ensure that the building has been built strategically to avoid and prevent chances of any fire disaster incidents and this means that the house should be in a way that fire containment is provided and other fire resistance that is necessary for structural elements and sizes of compartments that are large. Fire Safety Project Management Fire safety project management should entail using the requirements of building codes in the approved document B of 1992. By implementing all the codes mentioned in the approved document B, it is possible for the architects to ensure that fire safety has been assured within any given building. Implementation of these building and construction codes ensures that the buildings have proper means of escape during a fire outbreak, prevention of external fire outbreak into the building, prevention of internal and external fire spread during a fire outbreak and accessibility of required facilities during a fire outbreak. Larger buildings do not just require a simple maintenance plan in order to manage fire safety. Architects who want to be effective in their work in the society should ensure that the strategy that they have taken is good enough to control and manage fire safety in their country by preparing a strategy for the building as soon as it is occupied. The design team should also be in a position to come up with a very effective documentation that will help them make decisions that will help them to maintain ignition prevention and fuel limitation (Gustin, 2008). One of the steps towards ensuring there is fire safety in a building is through installing fire extinguishers in the building and also positioning the rooms in that room in a way that fire disasters can be detected before they actually happen. Such strategy also extends the considerations of fire prevention to include fire safety management while including communication, containment, escape and extinguishment. Buildings such as hospitals, large offices and shopping centers need to have fire strategies that will ensure that there is safety since there are usually a big number of people in those buildings. Security is a very important thing thus people living in whichever building they always want to be ensured that all their activities will take place safely thus it is always good to implement strategies that truly provide safety. An effective fire safety strategy sets out both normal safety procedures for a given building and the action that is required to be taken in the event of fire (Philip, 2007). The normal safety procedures make the maintenance schedules much broader into a program for full and regular fire safety audits of a given building as the safety systems and some other components are reviewed regularly. All large buildings should be well modified and altered in a way that any changes found can be adapted. An effective fire safety management should ensure that all the risks that are detected are solved on immediate effects so as to avoid any problems both in the present and in the near future. The management should also ensure that the audits are updated with the most recent risks that have been seen since correcting them earlier enough is better than focusing on it when it is much later. The fire safety management should also maximize on the training of its staff so as to have better performance in fire safety management and this should be done in relation to the responsibilities that each member of the staff has been given to carry out. The training of the staff should include methods of preventing fire disasters, firefighting and fire evacuation since implementation of all these is what helps in fire safety (Gustin, 2008). The staff should be well trained so as to face any challenges that they come across just in case fire occurs thus they should be trained in all possible areas of fire safety management. The management should also be in a position to take possible actions just in the case of an ignition occurrence and this also means that the designing team should also be in a position to partake in the pre-planning action. The management should operate in a way that each member has been given duties and responsibilities to carry out and this is what should be included in the training package for fire emergency. After maximizing on the measures and chances that can be taken by an architect to prevent fire it is good that the management understands that there is no tactic that can be hundred percent effective since ignition will be bound to occur eventually. Communication is a very important thing so that when fire breaks out anywhere it is possible for firefighters to be communicated the soonest so as to prevent more damages from taking place and that providing a solution to such an event becomes easier and more effective (Britain, 2006). When an action has been taken as soon as an ignition has been detected, to mitigate the consequences becomes quite easier and the possibilities of success become greater. Once fire outbreak is communicated, the location where it has taken place should be surrounded soon enough so as to provide fire services to them. The communication ensures that evacuation of people in the area has taken place immediately and the houses have been cleared so as to ensure that lives are not lost and this can be done through automated response such as an active system for controlling smoke and closing fire doors among other responses (Paul, 1999). Designers of a building should also include a very effective communication system in the house that will help prevent fire at any possible cost. The designers of an effective fire safety system should ensure that their work has surrounded both life safety and safety of properties within the building which they are operating. The communication systems should not be thought as an isolated piece of engineering but as a whole package in the mitigation of plan of fire safety. Some systems may be regarded as both property protection and life safety rather thinking of the as separate systems. Systems of fire detection always identify fire products and this can be done in very many different ways. For human beings this can be done through smelling or through sound and for a detector that is automatic it is done through light, smoke and heat and other turbulence movements. Human beings happen to be the most effective fire detectors owing to the fact that they can smell it and also see smokes of fire. A designer can make positive contributions to fire and safety especially when the circulation routes and types of accommodation involved are viable (Gustin, 2008). After an architect has detected fire through both smell and sight, it becomes easy for an action to be taken the soonest possible since this will make safety plans more effective. Though such surveillance it is easy to detect fire in advance and to prevent it before enough damage has been caused. Some of the most important places for surveillance to be put are such as the nursing houses of elderly people in the society, warehouses of supervisors and in hospital wards (Council, 1972). It is also very important for designers to ensure that the place in which they have put surveillance does not have any circulation that is only used for victims to escape and that the place should not be deserted at all. One of the things that fire safety training maximizes on raising an alarm call as soon as fire has been detected anywhere even though one of the most difficult things to do is to convince people to fight fire or just leave a building under fire. The call points for fire take the form of a red box and a clear plastic sheet. A good and effective fire safety strategy should ensure that it has contributed to issues associated with fire the soonest possible and eliminate any other potential source of fire. Manual detection can only be considered of value when the building is occupied and installing fire detection in such buildings is a nice idea since it provides a good ground for covering at night (Philip, 2007). Some places that also need an effective fire safety strategy are such as restaurants, public houses and restaurants and in such places it is advisable to install call points where all the members can have access. The decision behind such a design should ensure that they have done that under the fire safety policy so that the procedures for establishment are done legally. Detecting fire is one thing and interpreting the signals is another since various devices can be used to give fire condition signals whereas a manual call point is just a simple switch that can be used to give signals after they have been released. Detection devices can also be used in order to measure the level of smoke and temperature (Charles, 2005). Signal detectors that work in this manner are termed as conventional in most cases thus installing them can also be effective as far as fire safety management is concerned. While taking into consideration the environmental constrains on a building it is good advisable to establish a fire and safety strategy that will suit the environment. If the building is in the middle of an industrial town then it should be built where the roads to the location is viable in all possible ways so as to reduce chances of people dying due to fire disaster before firefighters have arrived. It is also a nice idea to ensure that the fire safety systems that are put in place correspond with the environment in which they have been put. Fire safety management should also be able to utilize cost effective fire safety systems and this means that they should consider the cost of implementing the systems. When fire safety management plans are to be implemented in a certain area, it is always good to know the economic stability of people in that area since this can help them also make effective plans and budget well (Britain, 2006). Systems that are to be installed in an environment where the living standards of people is not very high should also be considerate since the cost can also affect people from acquiring the services that they need in the society. The type of the building should also be considered by the architects since when the building is big then there is more involvement in the installation process as compared to when it is small in size. Firefighting is easier done on a small sized building as compared to a bigger one and this means that they systems used should more powerful than the ordinary one. There are very many advantages of using modern sustainable in fire safety strategy because this is done faster as compared to traditional methods. Using carbon management strategies is also very important in an industrial building. Conclusion Finally, it is very important for the building requirements and codes provided in the approved document of 1992 to be implemented in building houses in the modern world because these codes provide most of the solutions to issues associated with fire disaster and how to encounter it. It is also very important to consider using the building codes B1 to B5 in building the Charm House because these codes have been approved. Through proper fire safety design and management, it is easier to reduce the number of properties and lives being lost through fire disaster. References Brian, W (2004). Browsing science research at the federal level in Canada: history, research activities and publications. Canada, University of Toronto Press Botti, C (2006). Intelligent data engineering and automated learning--IDEAL 2006: 7th international conference, Burgos, Spain, September 20-23, 2006: proceedings. Publisher Springer Charles, W (2005). Fire retardancy of polymers: new applications of mineral fillers. Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry Dickie, J (2002). Disastro!: disasters in Italy since 1860: culture, politics, society. New York, Publisher Palgrave Macmillan Gustin, J (2008). Safety Management: A Guide for Facility Managers. New York, Fairmont Press. Britain, G (2006). Fire safety risk assessment: factories and warehouses. Toronto, The Stationery Office Paul, S (1999). Fire from first principles: a design guide to building fire safety. Publisher Taylor & Francis Philip, S (2007). Security and Loss Prevention: An Introduction. Butterworth-Heinemann Council, R (1972). An Appraisal of halogenated fire extinguishing agents: proceedings of a symposium, April 11-12, 1972, Part 3. National Academy of Sciences Pyne, S (2007). Awful splendor: a fire history of Canada. Winnipeg Manitoba, UBC Press, 2007 Armpriest, D (2009). Building Construction: Principles, Materials, and Systems 2009. New York, Prentice Hall Charles, J (2008). Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery. New York, John Wiley and Sons Fred, H (2009). Building Services Handbook: Incorporating Current Building & Construction Regulations. Frankfurt, Butterworth-Heinemann Ken, W (2009). Fundamental Building Materials: Fourth Edition. University of Indiana, Universal-Publishers Stefano, T (2008). Industrial Project Management: Planning, Design, and Construction. New York, Springer Hughes, W (2008). Construction Contracts: Law and Management. New York, Routledge Nelson, P (2002). Discourse analysis: investigating processes of social construction. SAGE Publication Read More