Fire protection and smoke extraction systems

Admission

Fire protection and smoke extraction systems play a vital role in ensuring safety in commercial, industrial and residential buildings. They are a key component of any security plan, and their importance cannot be underestimated.

The main purpose of fire protection systems is to prevent fires from breaking out and fighting them when they do occur. Various technologies such as smoke detectors, smoke dampers, fire extinguishing systems (e.g. fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems) as well as advanced alarm systems are used for this purpose. These systems are designed to detect signs of fire as early as possible, allowing for a quick response and minimizing potential damage.

Smoke exhaust systems are equally important, as smoke is one of the main life-threatening factors in a fire. Smoke can quickly obscure visibility, making evacuation difficult, and is also dangerous to inhale. Smoke exhaust systems are designed to direct smoke from the building to the outside, which helps to maintain clean escape routes and minimizes the risk of smoke poisoning.

Our company offers high-quality fire protection solutions. We encourage you to contact us: Tel/fax.: +48 (32) 236 30 05 or learn more about the details of our smoke vents: https://www.gulajski.pl/klapy-dymowe/

Types of fire protection systems

Fire protection systems can be divided into several types, depending on the extinguishing medium used:

1. Water Extinguishing Systems – They work by spraying water directly onto the fire. They are highly effective in places where there is a risk of rapid fire spread or where cooling of the facility is required.
2. Water mist extinguishing systems – use water mist technology to break water droplets into particles with a diameter of less than 50 μm. At high temperatures, these molecules evaporate quickly, which simultaneously cools the extinguished objects and displaces oxygen near the source of the fire.
3. Foam extinguishing systems – work by cutting off the source of fire from the oxygen supply, coating or filling the burning object with foam.
4. Gas extinguishing systems – these systems work by displacing oxygen from the extinguished space and/or interrupting the chemical combustion reaction.
5. Powder Quenching Systems – These systems work by utilizing the anti-catalyzing effect of the quenching powder.

Smoke exhaust (SO) systems, also known as smoke control systems, are an essential part of building design to protect people and property in the event of a fire. These are technically complex but crucial systems that involve a range of different components and techniques.

The primary purpose of the District Heating is to remove smoke and heat from rooms in the event of a fire. Smoke, one of the most dangerous aspects of a fire, is not only toxic, but also significantly reduces visibility, which can hinder evacuation and fire brigade operations. Removing smoke from a room not only allows you to breathe safely and effectively, but also increases visibility, allowing for faster evacuation and allowing firefighters to fight the fire more effectively.

SOs work by creating a pressure difference between the areas from which the smoke is to be removed and the adjacent areas. This pressure differential causes air to flow from higher pressure areas to lower pressure areas, in effect “pulling” smoke out of the fire area. In order to replace smoke with a stream of fresh air, the SO system includes both exhaust fans that remove smoke and supply fans that provide fresh air.

Many SO systems are equipped with intelligent smoke and temperature detectors that activate the system if a fire is detected. They use advanced algorithms to determine the optimal path for smoke flow, minimizing its impact on the building and its occupants.

Depending on the application, SO systems can be designed for local activities, i.e. smoke extraction from a specific room, or for general applications, i.e. smoke extraction from the entire building. This may include the use of natural ventilation, such as windows or openings in the roof, or mechanical ventilation, such as fans.

Additionally, many SOs are designed to work with other fire protection systems, such as fire detection systems, alarm systems, water spray systems, and more, to ensure coordinated and effective action in the event of a fire.

Smoke exhaust systems are extremely important for the safety of buildings and their occupants, and their design, installation and maintenance should be carried out by professionals in accordance with local and international fire protection standards.

Smoke extraction systems

Smoke exhaust systems are designed to remove fire gases (smoke) from rooms and replace them with a stream of fresh air to compensate for the pressure difference created during a fire and to ensure breathability. Smoke exhaust systems can be divided into:

1. Gravity Systems
2. Mechanical systems
3. Mixed systems
4. Overpressure systems

Where should fire protection systems be used?

Fire protection systems are extremely important in ensuring the safety of people and protecting property in facilities where people are present and products of their work are stored. It is particularly important to pay attention to the objects listed in the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 7 June 2010 on fire protection of buildings and other facilities and areas.

According to this regulation, it is particularly important to use fire protection systems in such facilities as:

• Residential buildings: All buildings where people live permanently or temporarily require appropriate fire protection measures. This is due to the threat to the life and health of residents and the need to protect property.
• Public buildings: Hospitals, schools, kindergartens, libraries, offices, shopping malls and other such places where people stay require effective fire protection systems.
• Workplaces and industrial facilities: All places where production processes, storage of materials or storage of products are carried out should be equipped with appropriate fire protection measures.
• Public facilities in areas with high human traffic: Places such as railway stations, airports, sports centers or amusement parks, due to large concentrations of people, should be properly secured.
• Objects of religious worship: Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious buildings that attract worshippers and visitors should also meet appropriate fire safety standards.

All these facilities require a proper fire risk analysis and appropriate fire protection systems, such as fire alarms, fire extinguishing systems, escape routes, as well as appropriately qualified fire protection personnel.

In addition, the use of fire protection systems in other facilities that are not listed in the regulation is also very important to minimize the risk of fires and ensure appropriate countermeasures in the event of their occurrence. Fire safety should be a priority in all places where there is a fire hazard.

How to design a fire protection system? What should be taken into account?

The design of fire protection systems is a key element in the construction of a safe building and should be carried out in parallel with the design of the structure itself and other internal systems. The integration of these aspects allows for effective planning and implementation of fire protection measures.

Below are some key steps that should be taken into account when designing fire protection systems:

• Fire risk analysis: At the beginning of the design process, a detailed fire risk analysis should be carried out, taking into account the characteristics of the building, the type of activity carried out in it and potential fire hazards. This will allow the most appropriate fire protection solutions to be determined.
• Choosing the right systems: On the basis of the risk analysis, appropriate fire protection systems should be selected, such as fire extinguishing systems (e.g. sprinklers, internal hydrants), fire detection systems (alarms, smoke detectors, temperature sensors) and evacuation systems (road signs, evacuation lighting).
• Integration with other systems: The fire protection system should be integrated with other internal systems of the building, such as alarm, lighting, ventilation or building management systems. The interaction of these systems allows for a quick response to fire hazards and minimization of damage.
• Signalling devices: Signalling devices such as audible and visual alarms should be installed in appropriate places in the building to indicate the risk of fire and to inform people of the need for immediate evacuation.
• Adaptation to the building type: Fire protection systems should be adapted to the specific type of building, its purpose and its characteristics. For example, the security requirements of an apartment building will be different from an industrial or public building.
• Location of fire alarms: There should be at least one fire alarm in every part of the building. Thanks to this, in the event of a fire, information about the threat will be quickly disseminated, allowing people to temporarily leave the building.
• Training and instruction: An important part of ensuring the effectiveness of fire protection systems is the proper training of building staff and occupants in the event of a fire. Everyone should be familiar with evacuation procedures and know how to respond to fire alarms.

The design of fire protection systems should be a holistic approach that takes into account the specificity of the building and its users. Providing appropriate signaling devices, integration with other systems and tailoring to specific needs are key factors in creating an effective and safe fire protection system.

How to choose the right fire protection installer?

The installation of fire protection systems is a process that requires compliance with certain rules, as in the case of other indoor installations. This process starts with the design and then moves on to the installation stage. There are some common design errors that an experienced installer may notice, such as:

1. Improper sound level setting when selecting alarm devices.
2. Lack of synchronization of alarm elements (audio and visual) operating in the same room.
3. Selection of alarm devices category A (indoor) for outdoor use, based solely on the degree of protection against access and external agents IP (International Protection Rating or Ingress Protection Rating).
4. Alarm devices should cover the entire room.
5. No optical signaling in rooms where acoustic signaling is insufficient.

To avoid these mistakes, the installer of fire protection systems must be experienced in the implementation of fire protection installations and protection. In Poland, the regulations do not specify specific requirements that must be met by an installer.

If you are looking for a professional company that can help you with this process, we recommend that you contact Gulajski Company. These are experienced specialists who deal with the implementation of projects for advanced fire protection installations. Their services include comprehensive design of fire protection installations, taking into account the conditions in a specific facility. All their designs comply with applicable legal regulations and are delivered with full documentation and appropriate certificates. You can find more information about their services on their website: Gulayski Company.

Autor: Tomasz Matuszek; Dział Marketingu - Firma Gulajski