Fire Prevention?

Austin55 · #1 Posted **Sep 22, 2007, 4:48 PM**

what sort of muesures are in place for this? what happens if a fire goes out oof control in a large Skyscraperor building?what are the laws regading stuff like this?

finnaly,how would a full scale tower like burj Dubia be evacuated in case of a disaister?

Thanks in advance.

240glt · #2 Posted **Sep 22, 2007, 6:58 PM**

Most large buildings have heat activated sprinkler systems with diesel powered jockey pumps which enable the sprinkler system to operate even if the power is cut to the building. A pressure drop in the sprinkler stand piping will start the pumps. These systems are usually quite effective at containing a fire in a building. High rise buildings use a spray-on type insulation of all structural steel members, and most building materials (in newer buildings anyways) have fire retardant properties. Large buildings have fire alarm systems with smoke and/or heat detectors integrated with the HVAC control systems. The HVAC systems are configured in such a way that smoke filled air in a zone is evacuated, usually by dedicated smoke exhaust fans, and surrounding zones are pressurized to prevent smoke infiltration. Motorized smoke dampers close & open based on where the smoke needs to be contained & exhausted, and curtain fire dampers with fusible links prevent fire from travelling through rated fire separations.

To evacuate an office building, the only option is typically the stairs... that is why buildings have 2 or more stairwells that by code must be fire and smoke rated.

Coldrsx · #3 Posted **Sep 24, 2007, 4:04 PM**

but lest us not forget the "execu-chute"

MayDay · #4 Posted **Sep 26, 2007, 4:12 PM**

Check out the Fire Protection Engineering magazine site - they have a lot of info on that kind of thing:

http://www.fpemag.com/

SFUVancouver · #5 Posted **Sep 28, 2007, 5:15 AM**

We had a fire in Vancouver at a wood-frame condo/townhouse complex that is under construction. The fire gutted a portion of one of the wings but a concrete party wall saved the remainder of the wing from destruction. I took this photo the following day when the building was still smoldering. The fire department doesn't seem to think foul play is involved and the developer's insurance will cover the damage. Buyers who have pre-purchased the condos have been told the construction completion date will have to be pushed back but their contracts will be honoured at their pre-construction rate. Nobody was injured in the fire or fighting it.

(my photo SFUVancouver in SSP / Vancouverite in SSC)