For this assignment, you will submit a scenario-based case study course project. Look at fire protection technology in a holistic way that is significantly different from what was previously designed by thinking in isolation. You will evaluate and develop recommendations to resolve potential fires in the future.
Section I
As we saw in the Unit III lesson, written plans, procedures, and work practices are needed in any organization, no matter how large or small they may be. Written plans and procedures point out unforeseen hazards or emergencies to the organization, employees, or even the public. Based on the scenario in the unit lesson and the information above, discuss what is an emergency action plan. What are procedures and work practices? Describe the designated actions employers and employees should take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergencies after the warehouse is rebuilt.
Section II
Prepare a well-organized narrative addressing the existing fire protection, detection, and suppression systems for the warehouse in the Points to Ponder Scenario. Your discussion will consist of your evaluation of the previous fire protection, detection, and suppression systems. In addition, your recommendations for the rebuild of the warehouse should include the advantages that these systems have on life safety and loss prevention. Make sure to include emerging technologies related to fire protection systems that you recommend, and differentiate between the types of fire protection systems you believe would protect employees and visitors.
As you make suggestions to improve life, safety, and fire protection, refer to the background information, if needed, to provide you with the necessary material to identify the basic components common to fire protection for the City of Washington Distribution Warehouse.
Building upon the background information, as firefighters entered the structure, they had to wade through large amounts of product debris falling from the high-rack storage, and smaller debris was floating out of the loading dock doors. The products piled in the high racks hindered the operation of the in-rack sprinkler heads, allowing the products on the lower shelves to continue burning.
Note: On the fire scene, in order for the firefighters to understand where the fire is located, sides and quadrant designations have been identified as A, B, C, D. The structure faces the street (i.e., the address side), which is normally the front door; this is referred to as Side A. Facing the front door going clockwise, each side then has a letter designation of B, C, D. This means that Side B is on the left, Side C is the rear, and Side D is the right.
Section III
It is critical for fire protection design engineers to understand the dynamics of fire and fire behavior. In this section, you should address the areas listed below.
Briefly describe the stages of fire from the ignition phase through decay.
Discuss heat, fuel, oxygen, and a chemical chain reaction (fire tetrahedron) and how it produces flaming (visible fire).
Summarize the benefits of fire protection systems in different types of structures based on fire behavior.
Section IV
As you make suggestions to improve fire detection and alarm systems, refer to the background information of the scenario, if needed, to provide you with the necessary material to identify the basic components common to fire protection for the City of Washington Distribution Warehouse.
This assignment is not looking for compliance with building codes nor expecting you to be a fire protection system designer. However, the purpose of this assignment is for you to apply the concepts and knowledge you learned in this unit, which will cover protection systems that will detect, contain, control, and extinguish a fire. This assignment provides you with the opportunity to use your skills, expertise, and experience to enrich your response.
Prepare a well-organized narrative addressing the fire detection and alarm system, and provide your recommendations after reviewing the background information and information above. Your discussion will consist of your evaluation of the previous fire detection and alarm system. In addition, from reading the textbook chapters and any additional research you conduct about detection and alarm systems, discuss your recommendations for the rebuild of the warehouse. Be sure to include the information below.
Briefly explain the function of a fire alarm control unit.
Categorize the types of audible notification appliances.
Discuss the three types of specialty signals.
UNIT III STUDY GUIDE
Fire Alarm Notification Systems
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit III
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. Recommend appropriate fire protection systems for protecting life and property.
1.1 Describe written plans, procedures, and work practices for fire detection and alarm systems.
5. Examine emerging technologies related to fire protection.
5.1 Explain the function of a fire alarm control unit.
6. Evaluate design specifications for fire alarm systems.
6.1 Categorize the types of audible notification appliances.
6.2 Discuss the three types of specialty signals.
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 2: Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
In order to access the following resource, click the link below.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2001). How to plan for workplace emergencies and
evacuations (OSHA Publication No. 3088). https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3088.pdf
Unit Lesson
In the previous lesson, we learned that the components of fire protection, detection, and suppression are
critical to ensure life safety and the protection of property. In addition, we learned the myth of pulling a manual
fire alarm and activating the entire sprinkler system was found to be false. The fire alarm notification system is
tied to the manual pull station, and pulling the alarm will initiate a signal notifying the monitoring company as
to the type and location of the alarm. There are a variety of simple and complex fire alarm systems, and the
optimal performance detection is the first defense against the spread of fire.
According to Brakhage et al. (2016), fire alarm detection systems range from simple in nature to advanced
detection systems with microprocessor-based software. Fire detection and fire alarm systems utilize fire alarm
control units (FACU) that receive the signal from the initiating device, whether it is a smoke, heat, light, or gas
detection or even water flow. FACUs monitor and control the devices and transmit a signal to a fire alarm
monitoring company where the fire department is notified of the location and type of alarm. In addition, upon
activation, the FACU initiates an audible alarm to evacuate the structure. The National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) 72 outlines the notification requirements for fire alarm appliances.
What notification signaling appliance alerts occupants in a timely manner? Is it bells, buzzers, horns,
speakers, strobe, or lights? What is the reliability of notification signaling appliances? Notification signaling
appliances provide audible, visual, and textual signals. According to Gagnon (2008), of the different types of
notification signaling appliances, a three-pulse temporal pattern allows individuals to recognize the alarm
signal in a timely manner. Whether bells, buzzers, or horns, if it is a constant alarm sounding, it becomes
ambient sound or white noise. The constant alarm is similar to a car alarm where many have become numb to
the sound and, in many cases, not even respond to the sounding alarm even when there is an emergency. It
happens so often that it has become a nuisance alarm to many believing it to be a false activation. Gagnon
(2008) suggested that alarms are ignored because of the failure to recognize the sound, because it is a
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nuisance alarm, or because one cannot hear the alarm. As a result of numerous
false
alarms in
some
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facilities, many have been conditioned to the sound.
Title
Examples of fire alarm notification system
In addition, fire alarm system activation should not impact other zones being evacuated within the same
structure and must be separated by a 2-hour rated wall, and the cabling that carries the notification signal
must be rated for 2 hours (Gagnon, 2008).
Points to Ponder Scenario
At 1:17 p.m., the fire alarm monitoring company received a report of a water flow alarm at 44614 Mays Street
West. The FACU-initiating devices did not sense the presence of the products of combustion and smoke
conditions through the multi-criteria devices throughout the warehouse. The only notification received was the
signal for a water flow-initiating device in the warehouse. A few minutes later, the monitoring company
received notification of a pull station activation in the warehouse near the loading docks. The monitoring
company notified the City of Washington Fire Department, and a first-alarm assignment was dispatched. The
first company arrived shortly thereafter and reported seeing the dense black smoke issuing from the roof area
of the City of Washington Distribution Warehouse. Workers stated that after pulling the manual pull stations,
there was no audible alarm notification. Those in the office area and other parts of the warehouse were
unaware of the fire and were not evacuated until the fire department arrived. After investigating, it was found
that the alarm notification system on the older part of the warehouse and office was a pre-signal service with
an integral delay, and someone in the office concerned about another false alarm cleared the notification.
However, the sprinkler system and manual pull station were tied to a newer FACU and sent a signal to the
monitoring company. The audible notification of the fire alarm pull station and the water flow detectioninitiating device were wired into the pre-signal system, and when the system was silenced, the audible
notification did not sound. The pre-signal was allowed by the previous business because they had written
plans, procedures, and work practices concerning fire and evacuation as well as a trained fire brigade for a
quick response until the fire department could arrive.
Why was there only a water flow alarm and not a smoke or heat detection alarm in the scenario? Why was
there a pre-signal system in the warehouse? What is a pre-signal system? Gagnon (2008) described a presignal system as a fire alarm system that sends a signal to a control room, front desk, or security workstation.
The signal has a delay, and someone must manually activate a public alarm. Pre-signal systems are
undesirable in many locations and must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction before installation.
Most pre-signal systems have 24-hour supervision.
Written Plans, Procedures, and Work Practices
Is it important to have written plans, procedures, work practices, or even an emergency action plan with the
advanced fire detection and fire alarms that we have today? Are these a thing of the past when systems were
simple? Should workplace emergency be identified in advance? How do you protect employees and visitors in
the workplace? Written plans, procedures, and work practices are needed in any organization, no matter how
large or small they may be. Written plans and procedures point out unforeseen hazards or emergencies to the
organization, employees, or even the public. These written plans and procedures identify multiple hazards or
emergencies ranging from natural events to manmade. Even the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA, 2001) suggests that these events were unforeseen threats and listed them as “floods,
hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, toxic gas releases, chemical spills, radiological accidents, explosions, and
workplace violence resulting in bodily harm and trauma” (p. 1). The best time to prepare for an event is before
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it happens, and the emergency action plan must be comprehensive and deal with
hazards
found in
UNITspecific
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the workplace. Not all workplaces are the same, and each workplace has its unique
Title hazards. Every
emergency action plan consists of the following components:
a way to report fires and other emergencies;
strategies and processes for evacuation;
emergency procedures for escape and assigned routes, such as maps of floor plans and designated
safe areas;
contact information of individuals inside and outside the company who know the details of the duties
and responsibilities of individuals during the emergency plan;
measures for employees who stay to perform or shut down crucial company operations or maintain
services that cannot be shut down for every emergency alarm; and
rescue and medical responsibilities for workers (OSHA, 2001).
Without clear and concise written plans, procedures, and work practices during an emergency, confusion and
chaos can result in injury, damage to property, and possibly death. These written documents need to identify
someone who will be the incident commander or person in charge who can follow procedures using some
type of command structure. Someone needs to be familiar with the procedure who can determine if the written
plan needs to be activated; evacuate personnel; know the exact location and any known hazards present to
communicate to emergency medical services, fire services, or both; and terminate plant operations when
needed.
Written plans, procedures, and work practices are aimed at minimizing the causes of fire and prevent injury
and the loss of life to employees and visitors through written guidelines. These guidelines should identify
potential fire hazards as well as address the proper storage and handling of combustible or hazardous
materials. In addition, they should identify persons or positions responsible for the housekeeping procedures
and the segregation and separation of combustible materials. The written plans should address training of
employees for any hazards that they may be exposed to during their daily activities.
Conclusion
Fire detection and fire alarm systems are the first defense against the spread of fire through detection,
whether by simple or complex systems. Fire detection and fire alarm systems utilize FACUs to receive the
activation signal from the initiating device and transmit a signal to the monitoring company in order to reduce
fire damage or the loss of life. Systems have transitioned from bells, buzzers, or horns to a more complex
electronic alerting system that does not blend into the background. In addition to an audible notification to
save lives and reduce damage, written plans, procedures, and work practices are needed to ensure the risk of
fire has been reduced or eliminated as much as possible.
References
Brakhage, C., Abrams, A., & Fortney, J. (Eds.). (2016). Fire protection, detection, and suppression systems
(5th ed.). Fire Protection Publications.
Gagnon, R. M. (2008). Design of special hazard and fire alarm systems (2nd ed.). Delmar Learning.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2001). How to plan for workplace emergencies and
evacuations (OSHA Publication No. 3088). https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3088.pdf
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
You are encouraged to read about how you can create a written program for your facility to reduce hazards,
establish safety rules, and enforce procedures to ensure employee and visitor safety. The article below
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discusses the importance of having a written program that addresses work-related
andGUIDE
workplace
UNITinjuries
x STUDY
safety.
Title
Caccavale, S. (2002, July). How to create your facilitys written program. Safety Management, 472, 1, 3, 67.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direc
t=true&db=buh&AN=6964598&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Although the document below was written about a concrete plant emergency plan, it covers the three parts
needed for written safety plans: emergency action plan; fire prevention plan; and spill prevention plan for
environmental spills of oils, fuels, and chemicals.
Eckhardt, B. (1998, February). Written emergency plans-part I. Concrete Products, 101(2), 1217.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direc
t=true&db=bth&AN=317432&site=ehost-live&scope=site
The video below discusses the importance of pre-signal alarms.
S.E.R. Safety. (2016, November 12). System test 19: LED & pre-signal! [Video]. YouTube
Click here for a copy of the video transcript.
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
Reflect on the concepts you have learned during your readings. What do you understand completely? What
did not quite make sense? The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with the opportunity to reflect on
the material you have read and to expand on it. If you are unclear about a concept, either review it in the
textbook or ask your professor. Can you apply what you have learned to your career? How?
This is not a summary. A reflection paper is an opportunity for you to express your thoughts about the
material you are studying by writing about it. Reflection writing is a great way to study because it gives you a
chance to process what you have learned and increases your ability to remember it.
Use the following guidelines as you reflect on the course material.
List and compare the different types of manually operated fire alarm devices.
What are the types of audible notification appliances for fire alarm systems?
Explain the effectiveness of audible notification appliances given ambient sound or white noise.
Write at least two pages, using APA style writing. This is a nongraded activity, so you do not have to submit it.
If you have any difficulties with the unit content, contact your instructor for additional explanation and
discussion.
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