Fire Safety Regulations and Equipment Standards

Fire Extinguisher Placement and Maintenance

Extinguishers must be located on every floor, adjacent to exits, and near areas of greatest risk. The maximum distance between them should be 15 meters, ensuring quick and easy access. They should be star-marked and protected, especially if installed outdoors. Annual maintenance is mandatory.

Anti-Fire Regulations

Regulations are governed by the CIE Technical Building Code and RSCIEI (for industrial hydrants).

Industrial Hydrant Systems (BIE)

The manual fire fighting compound (BIE) consists of:

• Water supply (undertaken, independent of the normal water supply).
• Network distribution.
• Fire hydrants equipped with: C1 valve, C2 hose, and C3 nozzles.

Types of Hoses (BIE)

There are two types of hoses:

BIE25

• Length: 25 meters.
• Diameter: 25 mm.
• Full unwinding required: No.
• Usable by: Any person (YES).

BIE45

• Length: 45 meters.
• Diameter: 45 mm.
• Full unwinding required: YES.
• Usable by: Only authorized personnel who have completed a course (you cannot use anyone without training).

In a factory setting, only authorized personnel can operate these systems. Pressure requirements mandate that the system must be held by 2 people.

Hydrant Installation Criteria

The center of a BIE must be located a maximum of 5 meters from an exit, with easy access. The maximum separation between BIEs is 50 meters, and the maximum distance from any point to a BIE is 25 meters. Minimum pressure required is 1 to 2 bar.

Applicability of Hydrants

Hydrants are always required in:

• Hospitals.
• Administrative and teaching buildings with a surface area greater than 2000 m².
• Residential buildings with a surface area greater than 1000 m² or housing more than 50 persons.
• Parking facilities for more than 30 vehicles.
• Residential compounds evaluated as having a risk factor greater than 500.
• All high-risk areas and specific high-risk housing (e.g., lumber).
• Retail spaces with a surface area greater than 500 m².

RSCIEI classifies risk levels as High, Medium, Low, plus categories A, B, C, D, and surface area considerations.

Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

The system includes:

1. Central Alarm Unit: The central component that optically and audibly receives signals from detectors and alarm buttons.
2. Fire Detector: The component incorporating a sensor capable of detecting physical phenomena that give rise to a fire.
3. Fire Alarm: A component not included in the main plant, used to sound an alarm (e.g., a manual alarm button).
4. Manual Alarm Elements: Elements used to manually send an alarm signal for transmission.
5. Alarm Signaling Device: The element that sends an alarm signal from the central control unit to the Central Alarm Receiver (CRA).
6. Automatic Protection System: Automatic fire fighting equipment (e.g., sprinklers).
7. Transmission Troubleshooting Device: The element that checks the status of fire protection components and transmits this information to the central control.
8. Supervision Receiving Unit: Notifies the central control unit of failures so appropriate measures can be taken to combat the fire power source.
9. Power Source: The installation element responsible for feeding the components of the fire protection system (CC).

Types of Conventional Alarm Systems

There are two types of conventional central systems:

Type 1 (Conventional)

• Does not include components 5, 7, and 8; these must be installed separately.
• Cannot accurately detect which specific detector triggered the alarm; it only indicates the general area where the alarm originated.

Type 2 (Analog)

• Incorporates components 5, 7, and 8.
• Allows for the exact identification of the detector that triggered the alarm.