Building Fire Standards

Another group of tests are standardized in order to determine fire resistance characteristics of structural members, such as but not limited to the following  

In these fire-related tests, the experimental procedures are specified and standardized clearly for measuring certain fire reaction and resistance characteristics, so that the measured characteristics and the resulting material ratings according to such standard tests can be referenced later by a building code. For example, a typical performance-based building code may require that all doors that form part of a fire compartment should achieve an E-90, that is, 90 min endurance rating under ASTM E-119-12a [7]. 

In the European Union, the current code that relates to fire safety in the design and construction of buildings is Eurocode 1 - actions on stractures part 1.2 actions on structures exposed to fire [23]. This code was first released in 1990. Two forms of design fires are considered within the code normative and parametric. The normative design fire is used in the prescriptive portion of the code and refers to the time-temperature curves provided by the ISO 834 standard. The parametric portion of the code provides a performance-based design approach. Rather than using standard time-temperature curves, reahstic fire scenarios can be considered using a choice of simple or advanced fire models [7j. 

In Eurocode, the required performance of building components is denoted by the function that the component serves and the duration of fire exposure it must withstand. Three functions are considered for building components, with R for retention of structural resistance (i.e., the abihty of a load-bearing stractural element to support a load), E for retention of the component integrity (i.e., the abihty of a structural element to resist the passage of flames and hot gases from one space to another), and I for retention of thermal insulation (i.e., the ability of a structural element to maintain a temperature on the surface that is not exposed 

FRP composites appear to be relatively new materials with the potential to lead to substantial innovations and environmental benefits in the building domain. 

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Quintiere, J.G., The growth of fire in building compartments, in Fire Standards and Safety (ed. A. F. Robertson), ASTM STP614, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1977, pp. 131-67. 

WPC—there has been an increasing market demand for fire retardant grades of WPC that can meet ASTM E-84 economically. The California State Fire Marshall promulgated the Urban Wildland Interface Building Test Standard (12-7A-5) that requires wood decking to meet HRR and flying ember standards. Borates should have a good potential in fire retardant WPC (see, e.g., Section 9.2.1.1). 

The plant s fire-safety system fully meets the requirements of the Fire Standards and Regulations for the Design of Industry Extraction Facilities which the deputy minister for medium machine-building approved on June 30, 1986, and which were consented to by the heads of main administrations and the Main Administration of Fire Protection of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

BS 5586 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings, British Standards Institution, London. 

Sprinkler systems are automatic or semiautomatic extinguishing systems for buildings and other facilities. Smdies and experience have shown them to be the most effective means for controlling fires in buildings. Fires in most buildings with sprinkler systems require activation of only a few sprinklers near the fire for control. The cost to include sprinkler systems is offset by reduced insurance premiums and reduced losses if a fire does occur. There are standards for sprinkler systems. " ... 

Fire Modeling Software, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2014. www.nist.gov/el/fire protection/ buildings/fire-modeling-programs.cfm ... 

BS 5423 1987 Portable fire extinguishers, British Standards Institution, London Classification of Fire Hazards in Buildings, Fire Offices Committee, London (1973)... 

Building Legislation Standards are concerned mainly with safety to life and therefore consider the early stage of fire and how it affects the means of escape, but also aim to prevent eventual spread to other buildings. 

Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, Standard E 119, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pa., 1995. 

The standard sized sheets are four ft (1.22 m) wide and from 8 to 16 ft long. Sheets are available in thicknesses from j up to 1 in. (0.63 to 2.5 cm), but the most common thicknesses are S and 5/8 in. (1.3 and 1.6 cm). There are special products for bathrooms, such as moisture-resistant board (3% of market) and sheathing appHcations (2% of market), but the vast majority of the product sold is either standard board (60% of market) or the fire-rated Type X board (29% of market). Type X (1.6 cm thick) is the basis of most of the one-hour fire walls in buildings built since the 1960s. 

NFPA 99C Standard on Gas and Vacuum Systems, 1999 ed. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.NFPA 101 Code for Safety to Life from Fire in Buildings and Structures. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

NFPA 220 Standard on Types of Building Construction, 1995 edition. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

In addition to spacing criteria, many standards provide requirements for building design and construction to provide fire resistance and protect occupants. Table 3.2 summarizes typical key references for fire protection and evaluation. 

Many companies, as well as industry insurers, trade associations, and standards organizations, have developed specific criteria for spacing between plants, buildings, equipment, and property lines. These criteria are meant to reduce the impact of explosions or fires on major equipment and facilities, including adjacent units and buildings. Table 1.2 illustrates the wide variations of spacing criteria that are suggested. 

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