During the design of the building, it is very important that the fire safety of the ventilation chambers is developed as competently as possible. Only then can they help minimize the spread of fire and do not spread the fire.
On the one hand, it seems that this is the most difficult engineering and fire safety issue, but in fact, everything has been calculated for a long time. and often it is enough just to comply with the current norms and rules established at the recommendatory and mandatory level.
But what these documents are and how to understand the basic concepts and standards, we will now tell you in detail.
The content of the article:
-
What documents standardize the design of ventilation?
- Fire-extinguishing and fire alarm means of ventilation chambers
- Electrical wiring in ventilation chambers
- Fire safety categories of ventilation chambers
- Fire safety of internal systems
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
What documents standardize the design of ventilation?
In order not to be unfounded, we will provide a list of documents that should be relied on when complying with the fire safety standards of ventilation chambers.
It:
- Government Decree No. 390
- SP 60.13330.2012
- SP 7.13130.2013
- SP 5.13130.2009
- ФЗ №123
- NPB 110-03
Previously, developers relied on SNiP 2.04.05-86, which was called "Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning" and was approved by the USSR State Construction Committee. However, this document already has an invalid status, and although it was quite often replaced by new rules, it was considered the most applicable on this issue.
The documents SP 60.13330.2012 and SP 7.13130.2013 are currently relevant. They apply to the design of air exchange and other engineering systems in buildings and structures.
The ventilation chamber, according to SP 73.13330.2012, is a special room in which exhaust and supply structures with equipment are located. That is, if the building has air exchange systems and they are located in ordinary rooms, workshops, warehouses and other things, and not in an isolated room or a trailer - this is just a room with ventilation equipment, and not camera
SP 7.13130.2013 was approved by the Ministry of Emergency Situations by Order No. 116, as providing for the rules of Federal Law No. 123 - “Technical Regulations on Fire Safety Requirements”. At the same time, SP 60.13330.2012 refers to the points we need from this document and these paragraphs are included in PP RF No. 1521 of December 26, 2014, that is, in the list of national standards on the basis of which the requirements of the TR are met.
Of course, even PP No. 1521 can in some cases be challenged in court, but we will not raise this issue, because adherence to integrity can play a cruel joke on the issue of security of people.
Consider what these documents say about ventilation chambers.
Fire-extinguishing and fire alarm means of ventilation chambers
According to safety standards, it is imperative to install fire extinguishing devices and devices in cases where there are people or property in the room. The ventilation chambers usually contain expensive equipment that can be considered valuable assets.
Despite the fact that fire extinguishing means are not mandatory in all categories of fire hazard of ventilation chambers, the compartment that they serve must be equipped in accordance with all the rules
Meanwhile, let us turn to Federal Law No. 123, which indicates the places of mandatory installation of fire extinguishing equipment. It says that a detailed list is in SP 5.13130.2009, in Appendix A. Where, in turn, there is a clause stating that such devices and devices are not required in ventilation chambers, if of course, they do not serve industrial facilities belonging to A and B categories or do not have flammable materials.
The same is indicated in NPB 103-10, which also regulates the list of premises requiring special equipment for warning and fire extinguishing.
Electrical wiring in ventilation chambers
In the structural system of ventilation chambers, there is usually an electrical wiring that is connected to air heaters, fans and other elements of supply and exhaust structures.
It goes without saying that a functioning wiring can become both a source of ignition and the cause of its rapid spread.
Again, it is recommended to secure this moment. So in SP 5.13130.2009, in clause 4.1 it is stated that a power fire-resistant cable intended for smoke exhaust systems and ventilation must be with copper conductors, have a low emission of gases and fumes during combustion and in no case contribute to the spread of combustion during group laying according to the A-class.
SP 5.13130.2009 and NPB 103-10 state that despite the area of the object, fire safety the ventilation chamber for its intended purpose for communication rooms, is equipped with means of signaling about fire. At the same time, it is prescribed that the means of the fire alarm system must be located in the security room or the dispatcher with easy access to them even in case of fire in the compartment
As you can see, the requirements are not strict, but at the same time, there are also standards for ventilation chambers materials.
Guided by SP 7.13130.2013, the enclosing structures when the camera is located in the serviced fire compartment must be made of materials with fire resistance from EI 45.
If the ventilation chamber is located outside the fire compartment attached to it, the constructive fire resistance of the enclosures is EI 150.
Fire safety categories of ventilation chambers
Ventilation chambers installed anywhere in the building must meet all the fire safety requirements of the specific premises they serve.
According to Federal Law No. 123, it is necessary to assess the fire safety risk of the premises. As a basis, you can take the orders of the Ministry of Emergency Situations No. 382, 404, as well as clauses 6.6-6.7 of SP 7.13130.2013 for standard rooms of ventilation chambers and SP 12.13130.2009 - for compartments in which there is a combustible load.
According to PP No. 390 and other regulations, the management of the enterprise in which it is established ventilation chamber, are obliged to indicate the explosion / fire hazard category of a specific object on its doors anyway
In clause 6.6 of SP 7.13130.2013 there is a clear definition of the categories of premises for exhaust ventilation equipment. The document indicates that they are classified according to the classification of the facilities that they serve.
And:
- When placing devices for general ventilation of residential, public, administrative knowledge, if they have fans, compressors, blowers and, in addition, also if local suction systems with wet dust collectors are installed, these are category D.
- In the presence of local suction systems designed to remove explosive mixtures - A, B.
Extreme hazard category, when the system serves premises of different fire safety classifications.
The exhaust systems have been disassembled, now about the supply systems, if they are separate.
The principle of separation and classification is approximately the same as in the previous paragraph.
There is a clear delineation of fire hazard categories from A to D. The most fire hazardous are considered A, B, C categories. They are subject to increased requirements for equipping with fire safety equipment
At the same time, keep in mind that a room with ventilation equipment and a separate ventilation chamber are similar in meaning, but different in constructive meaning.
Clause 6.7 is intended for supply systems:
- If filters and other equipment with oil from 75 liters are installed in the ventilation chamber in any of the installations - B1.
- With a functioning recirculation, provided that there are no wet dust collectors or no emissions in the form of combustible gases - B1, B2, B3, B4, G.
- Also, in accordance with the category of the premises, subject to its relation to B1, B2, B3, B4.
- If there is gas-powered equipment in the serviced premises - G.
When working with recirculation for several categories of premises, the most dangerous one is taken for granted.
Further, it is carried out on the basis of the studied materials + the area of the room, the calculation of the fire risk and, accordingly, it is equipped with protective systems in accordance with the assigned category.
The requirements for the installation of various systems and fire extinguishing means depend on the definition of the category and the specific purpose of the operated premises. In the case of ventilation chambers, fenced with fire partitions and ceilings, the standards are lightweight
However, you do not have to load up with gas masks, sand boxes, shovels and other accessories. Everything is much simpler and the law is quite loyal to some points.
Consider the rules for the location of the structural arrangement of the ventilation chambers.
Fire safety of internal systems
We will analyze paragraph 6 of the above-mentioned SP 7.13130.2013, which is called “Fire safety of ventilation systems ...”.
The rule states that all ventilation systems in each fire compartment are equipped in accordance with the assigned fire safety category.
During the design of the ventilation system, it should be understood that it is not worthwhile to make common intake duct structures for smoke and supply ventilation in a single fire compartment.
A condition for the possible alignment of channels is the mandatory installation of fire-prevention normally open valves on the supply structures exactly at the point where they intersect the fences
The list of categories that are not subject to exceptions is in clause 6.4 of SP 7.13130.2013.
However, designers still try to make separate ventilation shafts for all rooms, at least most often. The thing is that the purpose of the rooms changes frequently.
For example, there was a warehouse of category D and there was nothing fire hazardous in it. But, suddenly, he was retrained and they began to store combustible materials. The storage life is short, but it is extremely problematic to redo the entire air exchange structure.
As for common intake devices for smoke and supply systems in different compartments, such it is not recommended to provide structures and even set the distance between adjacent in 3 meters. But it is allowed if fire-retardant valves with control are installed on the inlets so that it is possible to isolate the spread of fire if necessary.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The gross violation of the fire safety standards of ventilation chambers. In an isolated room there is an underground office and, in addition, people smoke here:
The organization of the design and installation of ventilation chambers should be carried out by professional engineers. The project must be developed, approved and executed with all regulatory requirements, in accordance with the category assigned to the object. At the same time, accurate calculations are carried out and a list of mandatory and recommended protective measures is drawn up.
Remember that a well-thought-out ventilation chamber in which fire safety requirements are met, not only will help you avoid problems with checks from the relevant structures, but also save you and your employees' lives.
Have you ever designed ventilation chambers at your facility? What difficulties did you face in arranging their fire protection system? Share your experience in the comments and ask questions of interest on the topic of the article.
