For thousands of years, ventilation has been a vital firefighting aid. Building ventilation promotes interior visibility and directs heat and smoke up and out of the structure. Smoke removal, on the other hand, requires air movement.
Controlling ventilation is a crucial part in putting out warehouse fires. In warehouse fires, a faulty ventilation system can result in substantial damage and huge losses. Excessive ventilation was a major contributor in a significant loss. Excessive ventilation can be caused by the following factors:
Creating big openings in the building,
using building fans (whether or not for smoke removal),
and using fire service ventilation fans
One should also factor in the capacity of these fire service fans. Most ventilation fans has a capacity of roughly 20,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) (around 34,000 cubic meters per hour (m3/hr) Two of these fans have been shown to be capable of clearing smoke from a large distribution warehouse in less than 20 minutes without causing excessive ventilation.
Fire sprinklers, which have a proven track record of protecting warehouses from fires, are also affected by ventilation. Sprinkler reliability is in the upper 90 percent range when correctly planned, installed, and maintained. Sprinkler design, on the other hand, is based on the assumption of relatively still air. Roof vents and powerful fans, for example, will change the fire behavior/sprinkler interaction on which the sprinkler design is built. Property loss prevention engineers are well aware of this, and it is reviewed on a regular basis during plan reviews and loss prevention surveys.
The majority of sprinkler reliability focusses on correct design, installation, and maintenance. There is very little talk of fire department intervention. When there is, it is usually focused on ensuring that fire service hose streams do not deprive sprinklers of water.
After everyone has been safely evacuated from a warehouse, ventilators run the risk of causing the fire to spread after it has been put out by sprinklers. Superventilators can still be utilized, however they must be handled with prudence, specifically:
Sprinklers and fire protection should both be maintained. hose streams should be in place, charged, and staffed for immediate water application;
the fan should be brought up to speed slowly;
conditions should be closely monitored, including for evidence of additional sprinklers opening and increasing fire intensity, which can be done with thermal imaging cameras;
If the fire spreads, ventilation should be turned off until the fire is under control and the situation can be assessed again.
This isn't a new concept. The Edinburgh Fire Brigade recognized the necessity for airflow management in the early 1800s. Underwriters Laboratories and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the United States have comprehensive and well-documented scientific proof of the requirement to control airflow and coordinate ventilation with firefighting efforts.
What are the responsibilities of warehouse managers? It's critical to maintain a technical communication with the local fire department regarding the installed fire protection and how the fire department can help, rather than hinder it. This should be done in cooperation with a property loss prevention specialist or a fire safety expert. Such experts are accessible for an on-site free consultation from SFE Services.
Building ventilation promotes interior visibility and directs heat and smoke up and out of the structure.
Comments