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Active fire protection (AFP) is an integral part of fire protection
Fire protection

Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of mitigating systems....
. AFP is characterised by items and/or system
System

System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole.The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the se...
s, which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to work, contrary to passive fire protection
Passive fire protection

Passive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire resistant walls, floors, and doors ....
.

1. Fire suppression Fire can be controlled or extinguished, either manually or automatically. Manual includes the use of a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user , or otherwise requires the expertise of a fire department....
 or a Standpipe system.






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Active fire protection (AFP) is an integral part of fire protection
Fire protection

Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of mitigating systems....
. AFP is characterised by items and/or system
System

System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole.The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the se...
s, which require a certain amount of motion and response in order to work, contrary to passive fire protection
Passive fire protection

Passive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire resistant walls, floors, and doors ....
.

Categories of Active Fire Protection


1. Fire suppression

Fire can be controlled or extinguished, either manually or automatically. Manual includes the use of a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user , or otherwise requires the expertise of a fire department....
 or a Standpipe system. Automatic means can include a fire sprinkler
Sprinkler

Sprinkler may refer to:* Irrigation sprinklers, a device for irrigation of lawns or crops* Fire sprinkler system, the entire systems of pipes and sprinklers intended for fire suppression within buildings...
 system, a gaseous clean agent, or fire fighting foam system. Automatic suppression systems would usually be found in large commercial kitchens or other high-risk areas.

1.1 Sprinkler systems


Fire sprinkler
Fire sprinkler

A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected....
 systems are installed in high rise buildings, department stores, warehouses and other similar buildings. They are usually located at ceiling level and are supplied by a central system of water pumps and a reservoir. The sprinkler system operates usually when heat at the site of a fire causes a glass component in the sprinkler head to fail, thereby releasing the water from the sprinkler head. This means that only the sprinkler head at the fire location operate - not all the sprinklers on a floor or in a building. (This is a common misconception which stems from action movie scenes). Sprinkler systems help to reduce the growth of a fire. Sprinkler systems are evolving into water mist systems which give finer water droplets.

2. Fire detection

The fire is detected either by locating the smoke
Smoke detector

A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke and issues a signal to a fire alarm system, or issues a local audible and/or visual alarm from the detector itself....
, flame
Flame detector

A flame detector is a detector that uses optical sensors to detect flames....
 or heat
Heat detector

A heat detector is a device that responds to changes in ambient temperature. Typically, if the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined threshold an alarm signal is triggered....
, and an alarm is sounded to enable emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation

Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or approaching hurricane....
 as well as to dispatch the local fire department
Fire department

A fire department is a public sector or private sector organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district....
. An introduction to fire detection and suppression can be found . Where a detection system is activated, it can be programmed to carry out other actions. These include de-energising magnetic hold open devices on Fire door
Fire door

A fire door is a type of door, or barrier used as a passive fire protection item within buildings to prevent the spread of fire or smoke which may consist of dangerous chemicals....
s and opening servo-actuated vents in stairways.

Construction and maintenance

All AFP systems are required to be installed and maintained in accordance with strict guidelines in order to maintain compliance with the local building code
Building code

A building code, or building control, is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures....
 and the fire code. An example treatise on code compliance in Miami Dade County can be seen . Code authorities can encourage compliance through open communications, such as an or an

AFP works alongside modern architectural designs and construction materials
Passive fire protection

Passive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire resistant walls, floors, and doors ....
 and fire safety education to prevent, retard, and suppress structural fires.

See also

  • Fire alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
    Fire extinguisher

    A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user , or otherwise requires the expertise of a fire department....
  • Fire hydrant
    Fire hydrant

    A fire hydrant , is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal water service to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water supply to assist in extinguishing a fire....
  • Fire protection
    Fire protection

    Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of mitigating systems....
  • Fire protection engineering
    Fire protection engineering

    Fire protection engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to protect people and their environments from the destructive effects of fire and smoke....
  • Fire sand bucket
    Fire sand bucket

    A fire sand bucket or fire bucket is a steel bucket filled with sand which is used to put out fires. Typically, fire buckets are painted bright red and have the word 'Fire' stencilled on them in white lettering....
  • Fire sprinkler
    Fire sprinkler

    A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected....
  • Passive fire protection
    Passive fire protection

    Passive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire resistant walls, floors, and doors ....
  • Standpipe


External links

  • - article about acoustic fire suppression, Scientific American, January 24, 2008