Mohammed Hassan, Mechanical Engineer and Certification Specialist at Emirates Safety Laboratory, explores the evolution of building safety strategies from reactive to proactive measures
The narrative of building fire protection is one of relentless innovation and increasing complexity.
Let us explore how the battle against building fires has morphed over the decades from reactive measures to proactive strategies.
In her research “Fire loss in the United States”, Shelby Hall reported that in 2022, US fire departments responded to a building fire every 60 seconds, with a building fire death occurring every 3 hours and 1 minute and a building fire injury every 45 minutes.
In the same year, there were an estimated 522,500 building fires in the US, constituting 35% of the reported fires.
Shelby finds that these incidents resulted in 2,910 civilian fire deaths (77% of total civilian casualties caused by fire), 11,720 civilian injuries (88% of total civilian injuries caused by fire), and $15 billion in direct property damage (83% of total direct property loss caused by fire).
This saw a 7% increase in building fires and a 17% rise in property damage compared to 2021.
However, it’s worth noting that the estimate of the total number of building fires was 51% lower in 2022 than the record in 1980, a testament to the progress made in fire prevention and protection efforts, instilling a sense of hope and optimism for the future.
A read of the US Fire Administration, Fire in the United States 2008-2017, 20th Edition, reveals that building fires usually incur the highest dollar loss per fire compared to other property fire types (e.g., $57.6 thousand per fire in 2017 fire statistics).
This may be understandable because the building property represents and contains the most precious property to our capital.
Moreover, the destruction of trees, grass, etc., is often given zero value in fire incident reports if it is not commercial cropland or timber.
The US Fire Administration also discusses that building fires are broadly categorised into two sections
residential and non-residential.
The residential category includes one- and two-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, and other residential buildings.
In contrast, the nonresidential category encompasses industrial and commercial properties, institutions, educational establishments, mobile properties, and storage properties.
These financial loss statistics and human casualties statistics highlight the urgent need for stakeholders to prioritise prevention programs and fire safety techniques.
By investing in robust fire prevention measures and ensuring compliance with safety regulations, businesses and property owners can protect their assets and, more importantly, save lives from the devastating impacts of building fires.
Protecting buildings from fire loss
Delving into the fundamentals of fire protection in buildings and elucidating the essential concepts aids us in better understanding the building fire protection basics.
The most critical losses resulting from fires are the loss of life and property, which are invaluable to safeguard.
Fires can result in various damages, including fire spread, explosions, suffocation, and destruction.
To mitigate these risks, buildings require effective fire protection measures.
Consider a hypothetical scenario of a single cubic block building with one door and window facing an external fire threat.
Passive fire protection measures such as fire-resistant walls, doors, windows, roofs, floors (if elevated), and fire-resistant sealing for penetration openings are employed to safeguard this structure.
These measures aim to prevent fire from breaching the building’s interior, constituting passive fire protection by enhancing the fire properties of the building’s structural components and elements.
In another scenario where a fire originates inside the building, active fire protection measures come into play.
These may include sprinkler systems, portable fire extinguishers, fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, and smoke extraction systems to aid occupants in evacuation.
These systems constitute active fire protection, as they actively combat and contain fires within the building and save lives.
Now, envision a building consisting of two contiguous cubic blocks.
A combination of passive and active fire protection systems becomes imperative if a fire erupts in one block.
Both the passive and active systems measures contain the fire’s spread, mitigate its effects, and aid in extinguishment.
The above examples provide a fundamental understanding of building fire protection.
As buildings grow in complexity, so do the solutions to protect them.
Fire protection strategies rely on integrated solutions, where various elements and systems work together synergistically to enhance building safety against fire hazards.
Key fire protection terms
Becoming acquainted with the terms commonly used in the field is essential to better understanding the science of building fire protection.
Fire resistance/fire resistive
Materials or structures designed to endure exposure to fire without compromising their structural integrity.
Fireproof/fire-proven
This term refers to materials or products that have undergone testing and demonstrated their ability to withstand fire damage for a specific period or level.
Reaction to fire (non-combustible/combustible)
Describes how materials respond when exposed to fire.
Non-combustible materials do not ignite or contribute to fire spread to a certain level, while combustible materials can ignite and burn.
Building systems fire assessment
Evaluation of the fire safety aspects of various building systems, such as electrical, HVAC, and plumbing, to ensure compliance with fire protection standards.
Firefighting systems
Equipment and systems designed to detect, suppress, or extinguish fires, including sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and hydrant systems.
Firefighting systems protect building compartmentations or specific building systems.
Fire alarm systems
Devices that detect and notify occupants of fire, such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, and audible/visual alarms.
Smoke control systems
Mechanisms employed to manage smoke movement within buildings during fire incidents, typically through ventilation systems or smoke barriers, to facilitate safe evacuation and improve firefighting conditions.
Familiarising ourselves with these terms may help us better understand the essential fire protection measures and their importance in building fire safety discussions.
Choosing the right fire protection
Protecting a building from fire is essential, and choosing suitable systems and products is equally vital.
A poor selection can drastically exacerbate the consequences of a fire incident.
Several reliable sources are available for guidance to guarantee that fire protection products and components conform to the necessary specifications for adequate building safety.
Authorities’ regulations
Government regulations outline mandatory requirements for fire safety measures in buildings.
Standards
Industry standards set forth specifications and guidelines for designing, installing, and maintaining fire protection systems and products.
Code of Practice and guidelines
Established documents offer recommendations and best practices for implementing fire protection measures.
Technical document
Technical documents provide detailed guidance on fire protection requirements and implementation strategies.
Critical compliance
To ensure alignment with these regulatory and industry standards, third-party quality assurance plays a vital role in supporting all stakeholders, including manufacturers and building owners, in adhering to best practices in fire protection.
Third-party quality assurance typically involves the following practices:
Testing
Products undergo rigorous testing to assess their performance under fire conditions and ensure compliance with safety standards.
Certification
Certification bodies verify that products meet specified standards and performance criteria through independent assessment and testing.
Technical assessment
Experts evaluate fire protection systems and components based on actual test data and published science and engineering to determine their suitability for specific applications and environments.
Engineering judgment
Engineering expertise based on actual test data and published science is applied to assess complex fire protection challenges and propose practical solutions.
Certificate of regulation compliance
Official certificates confirm that products and systems comply with relevant regulations and standards.
Securing the future
Adherence to these practices and the integration of third-party quality assurance ensure that fire protection measures are effective, reliable, and meet industry standards.
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in awareness and understanding within local markets regarding fire protection.
This heightened awareness influences legislators, installers, and end users to apply fire protection systems more effectively, acknowledging their crucial role in safeguarding lives and properties.
In pursuing a safer and sustainable future, establishing the Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL) by the Dubai Civil Defense was a pivotal initiative.
As the region’s premier government fire testing laboratory, ESL is uniquely positioned to certify passive fire products and systems, as well as fire protection systems and their components.
Our facility, which is rapidly advancing, now boasts testing to over 100 test methods, positioning us to certify upwards of 600 test methods.
We are the first in the GCC, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia to specialise in specific categories of fire protection systems.
Staffed by a robust team of local and international technical experts, ESL is equipped to address the needs of regional and global markets.
Our comprehensive testing and certification solutions are at the forefront of fire safety innovation, reflecting our core values of integrity, diversity, trust, helpfulness, and happiness.
We are committed to fostering a safer and more sustainable environment, working collaboratively to raise fire safety standards regionally and worldwide.
This article was originally published in the August 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.