Engineering Design Practice - Essay Example

 Engineering Design Practice Executive Summary Injuries, deaths and loss of property result from fires each year. The National Building Specification (NBS) has published performance standards in the Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000, Volume 1 (2006 edition) for protection of individuals and property from the dangers of fire. Assessment for compliance of applicable regulations from Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000, Volume 1 (2006 edition) was conducted for the proposed home of Mr and Mrs Jones. It was observed that sufficient means of early warning, such as fire detection and fire alarm systems was not available, performance data was lacking for inner lining materials used to limit fire spread, and there was no clear provision for access and facilities for fire and rescue services. The facility has adequate number of routes suitably located to enable escape to a place of safety, and the structural requirements were specified to be adequate by the designer. Also, provisions to limit external fire spread were adequate. Recommendations include conduction of fire risk assessment, installation of fire detection and alarm system, installation of fire fighting system, ensuring compliance of material used for construction, enabling access and ensuring provision of facilities for the fire and rescue services, and installation (optional) of a sprinkler system. Introduction Fires have been among the foremost threats to human life and property. Injuries, deaths and loss of property result from fires each year. Such losses can be avoided by applying fire prevention controls and being prepared for emergencies. Fire detection and alarm systems are key features in any dwelling’s fire prevention and protection strategy. NBS has published standards for protection of individuals and property from the dangers of fire. The Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000, Volume 1 (2006 edition) addresses construction and protection necessary to minimize the danger from fire. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate fire preparedness of Mr and Mrs Jones proposed new home. It includes an assessment of the following requirements: 1. Means of Warning and Escape a. Sufficient means of early warning. b. Adequate number of routes suitably located to enable escape to a place of safety. c. Adequate protection of routes from the effects of fire. 2. Internal Fire Spread (Linings) a. Linings will adequately resist the spread of flame over their surfaces. b. If ignited, linings will have a rate of reasonable heat release. 3. Internal Fire Spread (Structure) a. In the event of fire, the stability of the structure will be maintained for a reasonable period. b. Appropriate measures to inhibit the spread of fire within the building. c. Inhibit spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces. 4. External Fire Spread a. External walls of the building will adequately resist the spread of fire. b. The roof of the building will adequately resist the spread of fire. 5. Access and Facilities for the Fire and Rescue Service a. Provision of reasonable facilities to assist fire-fighters in the protection of life. b. Provision to enable fire appliances to gain access to the building. 6. Other applicable regulations a. Fire safety risk assessment. Methodology The methodology used for the study was to observe the performance of variables towards meeting functional requirements based on Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000, Volume 1 (2006 edition) guidelines. Data from plans and elevations of the proposed house were the sources of information used for the evaluation. Design Assessment Applicable regulations from Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000, Volume 1 (2006 edition) and their compliance has been illustrated in Table 1. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 has given guidelines to conduct fire risk assessment to identify fire hazards and people at risk to evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk. The fire precautions required for this property depend on risks factors such as the number of people, and the vulnerability of the occupants. Table 1. Compliance of Applicable Regulations (Building Regulations 2000 - Approved Document B Volume 1 2006) Sl No Applicable Regulation Reference Compliant Required 1 Means of Warning and Escape B1 a) Sufficient means of early warning Yes b) Adequate number of routes suitably located to enable escape to a place of safety Yes c) Adequate protection of routes from the effects of fire Yes 1.1 Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems a) Installation of fire detection and alarm systems 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5,1.6 Yes b) Positioning of fire detection and alarm systems 1.10,1.11,1.12,1.14,1.15,1.16,1.17,1.18 Yes c) Power supply 1.19,1.20,1.21,1.22 Yes d) Design and installation of fire detection and alarm systems 1.23 Yes 1.2 Means of Escape a) Provisions of escape from ground storey 2.1,2.2,2.3 Yes b) Provisions of escape from upper storey 2.1,2.2, 2.4 Yes c) General provisions 2.8 (a), 2.8 (b), 2.9 Yes 2 Internal Fire Spread (Linings) B2 a) Adequately resist the spread of flame over their surfaces Yes b) If ignited, a rate of reasonable heat release Yes 2.1 Wall and Ceiling Linings a) Definition and classification of walls, linings and ceilings 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 Yes b) Variations and special provisions 3.4,3.5,3.6 Yes c) Thermoplastic materials 3.8,3.9,3.10,3.11,3.12,3.13,3.14 Yes 3 Internal Fire Spread (Structure) B3 a) In the event of fire, the stability of the structure will be maintained for a reasonable period Yes b) Appropriate measures to inhibit the spread of fire within the building Yes c) Inhibit spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces Yes 3.1 Load bearing Elements of the Structure Fire resistance standard 4.1,4.2, 4.3,4,4 Yes 3.2 Compartmentation Compartment walls and floors 5.1, 5.6, 5.9, 5.10,5.11,5.12 Yes 3.3 Concealed Spaces a) Cavity barriers 6.1,6.2,6.3, 6.4 Yes b) Construction and fixing of cavity barriers 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 Yes c) Opening for cavity barriers 6.8 Yes 3.4 Protection of Openings and Fire Stopping a) Protection of openings 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.11 Yes b) Fire Stopping 7.12, 7.13, 7.14 Yes 4 External Fire Spread B4 a) External walls of the building will adequately resist the spread of fire Yes b) The roof of the building will adequately resist the spread of fire Yes 4.1 Construction of External Walls a) Construction of external walls 8.1, 8.2 Yes b) Fire resistance standard 8.3 Yes c) External Surfaces 8.4 Yes 4.2 Space Separation a) Boundaries 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6 Yes b) Unprotected areas 9.7, 9.8, 9,9 Yes c) Canopies 9.10 Yes d) Calculation of unprotected area 9.13, 9.14 Yes e) Sprinkler system 9.15, 9.16, 9.17 Optional 4.4 Roof Coverings a) Properties 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 Yes b) Classification of performance 10.4 Yes c) Separation distances 10.5 Yes d) Roof lights 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 Yes e) Thatch and wood shingles 10.9 Yes 5 Access and Facilities for the Fire and Rescue Service B5 a) Provision of reasonable facilities to assist fire-fighters in the protection of life Yes b) Provision to enable fire appliances to gain access to the building Yes 5.1 Vehicle Access a) Vehicle Access 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5 Yes It was observed that the facility did not have adequate provision for the following requirements: 1) Sufficient means of early warning such as fire detection and fire alarm systems. 2) Performance data for materials used to limit internal fire spread. 3) Access and facilities for the fire and rescue services. It was observed that the facility has compliance with the following requirements: 1) Adequate number of routes suitably located to enable escape to a place of safety. 2) The structural requirements are adequate (specified by the designer). 3) Provisions to limit external fire spread are adequate. Recommendations Recommendations include conduction of fire risk assessment, installation of fire detection and alarm system, installation of fire fighting system, ensuring compliance of material used for construction, enabling access and ensuring provision of facilities for the fire and rescue services, and installation (optional) of a sprinkler system. The details have been illustrated in Table 2. Following these recommendations will contribute to the fire safety preparedness of the facility. Table 2. Recommendations Sl No Recommendation Standard 1 Conduct fire risk assessment to identify fire hazards, people at risk to evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)Order 2005 2 Install fire detection and alarm system a) Interlinked optical smoke detectors (Grade D LD3), with integral battery back-up, in lounge, master bedroom, and each storey (area around the staircase) BS 5839-6:2004, BS 5446-2:2003, BS 5446-1 b) Heat detector (Grade D LD3), with integral battery back-up, in kitchen and interlinked to smoke detectors BS 5839-6:2004, BS 5446-2:2003 c) Certification of installed system B1 1.23 3 Install fire fighting system a) Multipurpose fire extinguisher in each storey (area around the staircase) Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)Order 2005 b) Fire blanket in kitchen Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)Order 2005 4 Ensure compliance of material used for construction a) The material used in the construction of wall and ceiling linings must satisfy performance requirements BS EN ISO 306:2004, BS 476-3:2004, BS 476-4:1970, BS 476-6:1989, BS 476-7:1997, BS 476-8:1972, BS 476-11:1982, BS 476-20:1987, BS 476-21:1987, BS 476-22:1987, BS 476-23:1987, BS 476-23:1987, BS 5867-2:1980 5 Enable access and ensure provision of facilities for the fire and rescue services a) Vehicle access for a pump appliance to within 45m of all points within the house B5 Section 11, Approved Document B 2006, Building Regulations 2000 b) Provision of turning facilities greater than 20m B5 Section 11, Approved Document B 2006, Building Regulations 2000 6 Install sprinkler system (Optional) a) Sprinkler system covering lounge, staircase, master bedroom, study and kitchen conforming to standards for sprinkler systems for residential and domestic occupancies (DD 252:2002) BS 9251:2005 Attachment A: Plans and Elevation References Bradford, Tracy. "FV 1202-Engineering Design Practice 2008 2009."2009. Jones, Phil. "Plans and Elevation Cheshire Hamlet." H 630.18 Rev: A. 2000. National Building Specification. "Approved Document B Volume 1-Dwellinghouses." The Building Regulations 2000. 2007. Read More