Posts in category: Fire Engineering

Ahmed Allam, Managing Director of CHPK Fire Engineering Limited, highlights the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to fire engineering

What is one of the biggest challenges currently faced by the fire engineering industry?

One major challenge is the scarcity of fire engineers, stemming from the limited availability of university degrees in fire engineering – a problem not just in the UK but worldwide.

Additionally, the required level of competency to enter this profession is high.

Fire engineering is unique in that it interacts with many other engineering disciplines throughout the design process.

Whether it’s determining the resistivity a structure needs, or adapting to changes made by structural engineers, fire engineers play a vital role.

Moreover, this field often requires innovative solutions that don’t adhere to traditional standards or guidance, especially as architectural designs become more creative and unconventional.

Why is it critical for people to understand the big picture when it comes to fire engineering?

When developing a fire engineering solution, it’s not enough to simply adhere to current codes and standards, though they are vital.

These standards generally cover the vast majority of buildings, but when a building has unique characteristics, additional considerations must be taken into account.

The “big picture” involves not only the fire engineering itself but also how it interfaces with different engineering disciplines, and at the core of all of this is building safety.

Previously, before the Building Safety Act, fire engineers might have come into a project later, inheriting design solutions with restrictions that hindered the implementation of proper fire engineering standards.

Understanding the big picture is an essential, and sometimes neglected, aspect of the project.

If a fire engineer, client, and design team can appreciate the broader context, they can build more integrated solutions.

The big picture is about focusing on the total journey of an asset, recognising how decisions made early in the design phase can impact not only construction but also operation and maintenance costs.

It’s about minimising inherited risks in the design, considering potential higher risks that could affect constructability, and understanding the long-term implications for those who live in or use the asset.

The real importance lies in recognising the holistic impact that fire engineers, and engineers in general, have on the entire lifecycle of a structure, ensuring that considerations are made beyond just complying with standards.

It’s a perspective that demands attention to how all elements interrelate, capturing as many details as possible to create safer and more effective designs.

How does the changing role of the fire engineer impact the design of the building?

The role of fire engineering, especially in light of the Building Safety Acts following Grenfell, has become a central force in maintaining an asset throughout its lifecycle.

Imagine a scenario where the necessary groundwork isn’t done during design and construction, and the asset is handed over to the Responsible Person to operate.

Any deficiencies in the design could become evident during operation, leading to undesirable outcomes and potentially massive costs.

A flawed design that persists into the operational phase can be detrimental, leading to significant expenses over the building’s life.

The importance of competent fire engineering in creating sustainable solutions is paramount.

It’s not just about compliance with codes and regulations but also about building designs that support adaptability and efficiency throughout the structure’s lifecycle.

This changing role of fire engineers emphasises the need for an integrated approach to design that takes into account the entire journey of a building, from initial design to daily operation.

It’s about looking beyond immediate needs and planning for the future, recognising that the design decisions made today have long-term consequences.

Where do you see the discipline of fire engineering heading?

The future of fire engineering must be shaped by deep reflection and a collective sense of responsibility.

As I progress in my career, I find myself more conscious of the need for my solutions to be carefully checked and discussed.

The tragedy of Grenfell is a haunting reminder of how industry practices can lead to catastrophe, and we are all responsible in some way.

I believe that what we need to see is a more inclusive approach to leadership in the industry.

It’s not just about big firms pursuing their objectives through corporate social responsibility; we must engage small firms as well.

The focus must be broadened to serve the entire field, avoiding the narrow spectrum that may have contributed to issues like Grenfell.

The challenge lies in inclusivity.

We need to create mechanisms that allow all competent individuals to contribute, regardless of where they work or their organisational size.

This will make the roundtable bigger, ensuring that no important voices are missed, even if they are not part of a larger institution or firm.

The future of fire engineering must be a collective endeavour, embracing all parts of the industry, and recognising that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

It’s about fostering a culture where all insights are welcomed, not just those from the most prominent players.

This inclusive approach will not only make the industry stronger but also create a safer and more responsive environment for all.

This article was originally published in the September 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

Amirtharaj Arun, Senior Testing Engineer at DCD’s Emirates Safety Laboratory, offers a comprehensive overview of the protocols and standards for fire pump testing

Fire pumps play a crucial role in firefighting systems, ensuring the safety of lives and preventing property damage.

It is essential to evaluate fire pump performance according to the manufacturer’s design specifications to ensure their effectiveness.

Various standards provide guidelines for testing and validating fire pumps, ensuring compliance with performance requirements.

The NFPA 20 standard guides fire pumps’ installation, commissioning, and acceptance, ensuring they meet the necessary life safety and building protection criteria.

These standards are essential references for meeting the demands and requirements of fire pump systems.

NFPA 20 Standard for the installation of pumps for fire protection

The fire pump consists of three key components: the pump itself, the drive system, and the controller, along with additional accessories.

The driver/driving system options include electric motors and diesel or internal combustion engines.

To ensure the proper installation of fire pumps in buildings and industries, NFPA 20 standards serve as a guiding framework.

Hydrostatic tests and flushing procedures are vital for maintaining the pump’s longevity and minimising the need for unscheduled maintenance.

During the field acceptance phase, it is essential to have system manufacturers or their representatives present to conduct the necessary tests and ensure the proper functioning of the fire pump system.

Flushing test

Before conducting fire pump tests and operation activities, it is crucial to complete flushing and hydrostatic testing.

The flushing test should be performed before the hydrostatic test, specifically focusing on the suction pipe.

As per the NFPA 20 standard, the flushing process must achieve a flow rate that is at least equal to or greater than the required value.

This required flow rate should equal or exceed 150% of the rated flow of the field pump.

In cases where the pump cannot provide a flow rate of 150% of its rated flow, the flushing flow rate should be set at a minimum of 100% of the pump’s rated flow.

These steps are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the fire pump system.

Hydrostatic test

Hydrostatic testing plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the fire pump system by removing any foreign particles that may have entered the suction inlet.

This process is essential to prevent damage to the impeller and ensure optimal pump performance.

The hydrostatic test guarantees the system’s pipes and fittings’ durability, quality, and safety.

This test minimises the risk of underground and aboveground pipeline system leakage, aligning with the guidelines specified in the NFPA 25 standard.

The field suction and discharge piping system should undergo a pressure test of not less than 200 psi or 50 psi above the maximum pressure to be maintained in the system.

The responsible installation contractor is responsible for providing a hydrostatic report before the fire pump acceptance test.

Furthermore, the pump manufacturer must perform a hydrostatic test on each pump before dispatch, adhering to the product’s standard requirements.

Electrical wiring of the pump system

Before the initial startup and acceptance test, a comprehensive inspection and verification of the wiring in all pump systems, including the jockey pump motor, electric motor, electrical drive pump, and diesel engine drive pump controller, were conducted.

This thorough process ensured that all system wiring, configurations, and connections were checked and verified.

It ensures that all connection terminals are correctly and securely tightened.

These measures were taken to mitigate electrical risks, such as shocks or arc flashing.

Electric fire pump controllers must also undergo an arc flash assessment following the NFPA 70E Standard for electrical safety in the workplace or the corresponding local approved standards.

Digital readout screens were utilised to measure current, voltage, and RPM to minimise the risk of electric shock or arc flash, eliminating the need to open the door for such measurements.

Flow test

During the flow test, the fire pump’s performance is measured and verified to ensure it meets the minimum requirements for rated head, flow, and peak power, as specified by the pump manufacturer’s certified plot and datasheet.

During this test, the critical consideration is ensuring that the system’s flow operates within the guidelines outlined in NFPA 20.

Suppose the water supply does not allow the pump to be operated at 150% of the rated flow: in that case, the pump must be operated at a minimum of its rated flow or at the highest demand of all the systems it serves, whichever is greater.

If the pump fails to achieve the desired performance during the initial acceptance test of a new installation, it could indicate that it is oversized relative to the available water supply.

The certified fire pump performance curve serves as the “birth certificate” of the fire pump, providing crucial information on how the pump will function in the field based on the manufacturer’s certified test curve.

This curve is a reference point to compare the pump’s performance in the field and ensure no damage occurred during transportation and setup.

The ultimate goal is to ensure the fire pump meets the required fire protection demand.

The pump manufacturer representative will set the start and stop pressures for the jockey and fire pump.

The stop pressure of the jockey pump is typically set close to the shut-off pressure setting range, although specific requirements are not defined.

Those overseeing the fire pump installation collaborate with the manufacturer’s representative to determine the appropriate start and stop pressures.

Field acceptance test

When conducting performance tests, it is essential to use measuring instruments calibrated per ISO 17025.

The fire pump should undergo testing at minimum, rated, and peak power loads, ensuring that the system components do not experience objectionable overheating.

Additionally, the vibration of the pump assembly should not reach a level that could potentially cause damage to any component of the fire pump system.

Determining the fire pump’s minimum, rated, and peak power loads involves controlling water discharge through calibrated test devices.

The flow rate of water discharged from the fire pump assembly will be precisely regulated and stabilised.

Furthermore, the fire pump’s suction is connected to a break tank, and the refill rates of the tank will be tested and documented.

These measures contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the fire pump’s performance.

Additional testing

Following the flow test performance, several additional checks must be conducted to ensure the proper functioning of the fire pump system.

For diesel drivers, parameters such as engine speed, engine back pressure, oil pressure, cooling loop water pressure, and engine temperature must be monitored.

In the case of electric-driven motors, parameters such as motor speed, voltage, and amperes should be observed.

The representatives from the pump and driver manufacturers are responsible for verifying that these measurements align with the factory specifications.

All recorded data should be documented in the contractor’s material test certificate, providing a comprehensive record of the fire pump system’s performance and adherence to the required specifications.

Controller test

The controller test is a crucial step in the testing process, involving the repeated starting of the fire pump driver.

A total of six manual starts and six automatic starts are required during this test.

To initiate the pump, the control valve on the sensing line is automatically opened, causing the system pressure to decrease to the fire pump’s start point.

This simulation replicates the scenario where a sprinkler or other orifice device was open within the system.

By conducting this test, the functionality and response of the controller can be evaluated effectively.

Alternative power

When the fire pump is connected to an alternate power source, it is necessary to conduct a test that simulates a loss of the primary or regular power source.

This test is performed while the pump is operating at peak load.

The objective is to demonstrate that both the driver and pump can continue to function seamlessly using the alternative power source.

Furthermore, half of the automatic and manual starts should be carried out during the testing process while the pump is connected to the alternate power source.

This comprehensive evaluation ensures the reliability and effectiveness of the fire pump system under different power supply scenarios.

Evaluating test results

Evaluating the test results is paramount to ensuring the fire pump system meets the required qualifications.

The fire pump acceptance test involves comparing the test results against the certified pump curve, including documenting the project name, installation location within the project site and the pump’s serial number in the acceptance test report.

During this evaluation, various parameters need to be reviewed, such as suction and discharge flow, pressure, rated speed capacity, total head for vertical and horizontal pumps, electrical input, and any RPM correction to the rated speed.

Once the flow test is completed, the results are plotted on a graph to compare them with the manufacturer’s certified pump curve visually.

The graphical representation assesses how the recorded test results align with the expected performance.

This evaluation ensures the fire pump system meets the requirements and operates within the desired parameters.

Document completion

As part of the final acceptance process, NFPA 20 mandates the submission of specific documentation for the fire pump system.

This includes one set of record drawings of the fire pump system, one copy of the completed acceptance test report, and a critical equipment electrical drawing.

One set of detailed instruction manuals for all major fire pump system components must also be provided.

For more efficient scrutiny, testing, and upkeep, it is suggested to have a copy of NFPA 25.

These documents are essential for the building owner to have a comprehensive understanding of the fire pump system and to ensure proper ongoing operation, maintenance, and compliance with applicable standards.

This article was originally published in the September 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Namrata Moharana talks finding her feet in the fire industry and how other young women can do the same

With an academic grounding in chemical engineering, it was only when she came across a job advert for a fire safety engineer position that Namrata Moharana identified the career opportunities the industry presented.

The rest as they say is history and these days Namrata is a senior fire safety consultant.

Now, Moharana wants to share her story to encourage other young women to consider a career in fire and talks about how to break down the barriers that currently hinder the incoming female talent.

Can you tell us about your current role?

I am currently based in Perth, Western Australia, working as a fire safety engineer at Warringtonfire Australia.

My day-to-day responsibilities frequently change depending on the type and stage of projects I am involved in.

For example, on new projects, it’s all about engaging with and providing advice to the design team and project stakeholders.

Whereas, during the construction phase, continuous inspection activities need to be undertaken.

Once construction is complete, a fire safety engineer is responsible for the final compliance inspections and the witness testing of active fire safety systems.

In general, my duties centre around developing appropriate and cost-effective fire safety strategies for various buildings. This comprises of liaising with local fire brigades to discuss proposed performance solutions and the overall fire safety strategy.

I also complete fire safety assessments and prepare fire engineering reports for both existing and new buildings, which often includes fire and smoke modelling or occupant evacuation simulation.

What is your career highlight to date?

One of the most interesting projects I have worked on was a waste-to-energy plant – the first of its kind in Australia.

The Warringtonfire Perth team was engaged to provide a range of fire safety solutions, which included rationalising the building fire ratings and the provision of targeted suppression systems and performance based natural ventilation.

Given that the building was not considered a ‘typical’ building (under the building code), it was important to think outside the box and consider the property from a first-principles basis.

There were also multiple stakeholders with different requirements and expectations, so it was important to balance these, to ensure the proposed fire safety strategy was appropriate, considered, and practical.

How did you get to where you are today?

Like many fire safety engineers, I didn’t initially set out to work in fire safety – I didn’t really know it was an option until I spotted the Warringtonfire recruitment advert for the position I now hold.

My education background is chemical engineering. I completed a combined bachelor’s and master’s course in this subject.

Alongside my studies, I gained experience in the oil and gas industry but, after completing my qualifications, I wanted to explore different career paths as an engineer.

This is when I spotted the opportunity to be a fire safety engineer with Warringtonfire and was intrigued.

When I started out, I had very limited understanding of fire safety engineering, but my graduate role gave me hands-on experience across a variety of projects within the first few months.

For that, I am extremely glad I took the risk and tried something out of my comfort zone.

It continues to pay off and I am now approaching my five-year work anniversary this October.

Working at Warringtonfire has allowed me to be a part of various real-life projects on all scales, which has resulted in an exciting and fulfilling career so far.

This has also allowed me to improve my technical expertise and fast-track my career.

How has your experience been as a woman in the fire industry?

Since university, the consistent challenge is frequently being the only female in stakeholder meetings.

This can create an intimidating environment that is challenging to navigate.

Fortunately, while growing up and through my school and university, I have had female role models excelling in their career, despite working in male-dominated industries, and these women have always motivated me.

I’ve been extremely lucky with the support from various mentors and have received equal opportunities.

Sadly, I know that not everyone has this experience. A friend told me that her mother worked as an engineer in an office where there were no female toilets.

Given that just around 13% of the Australian engineering workforce is female, women are still significantly underrepresented in the industry.

There is certainly a long way to go in terms equal representation, however I believe we are heading in the right direction.

What do you think are the challenges in attracting new talent into the industry? And how can we raise awareness of engineering as a vocation for women?

Given that fire safety engineering cannot be studied at undergraduate level in Australia, this could be one barrier preventing people from entering the fire industry.

Drawing from my own experience, it wasn’t until after graduating that I discovered it as an option.

So, I certainly feel that more could be done to increase awareness of the opportunities.

There is also a lack of understanding about what engineering encompasses – the different professions and skillsets that come under that umbrella.

When I say I’m a fire safety engineer, for example, most people have no idea what the profession involves.

Unfortunately, for young women starting out in their working lives, not having this knowledge often means they won’t consider engineering as a career choice.

It’s important to increase awareness of engineering as an option for girls, at a younger age – to dismantle gender stereotypes.

One way to attract more women to the industry would be to increase the visibility of female role models within the industry.

Having female role models is something that’s truly inspired me, and I believe it helps foster an environment where women feel welcome.

I also feel it would be invaluable to have a support system within the industry where women can interact and share experiences with one another.

This ongoing support is crucial, and Warringtonfire does it extremely well.

We get the opportunity to connect with colleagues at other offices across Australia, with internal training opportunities, which provide knowledge about the local regulations and recent projects.

For more information about fire engineering and Warringtonfire, visit https://www.warringtonfire.com/fire-engineering

This exclusive article was originally published in the September 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.