4.In what ways do HVAC systems potentially affect fire events? Pg161Ch5, “passive fire protection limits the spread of fire.”, Pg 131, “In addition, the ducts must frequently penetrate fire-rate assemblies where they can create and opening that can destroy the integrity of the assembly.” 5.What are the potential hazards encountered with lead-acid batteries?
HVAC systems could circulate smoke and fire can get inside the ducts. The Duct work also runs through fire rated walls allowing heat ans smoke to jump from room to room this is a severe hazard for fire crews. 5.What are the potential hazards encountered with lead-acid batteries?
Sep 25, 2014 · Pg153 , “ It can contribute to the fire extension by flame spread over the surface of walls and ceilings . , It affects the rate of fire growth ( which can lead to flashover ) . , It adds to the intensity of a fire because it contributes fuel . , It can produce smoke and toxic gases that contribute to the life hazard .
Oct 12, 2020 · Introduction to HVAC/R Field • Objectives o Explain the various types of HVAC/R professional certifications o Describe safe work practices and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) o List the three states of matter and explain how they apply to HVAC/R systems o Explain the relationship between energy, work, and power o Define the Fahrenheit and Celsius …
How to avoid HVAC fire hazards. While it is possible for HVAC systems to catch fire randomly , HVAC experts insist on regular maintenance as the best way to prevent instances of damage, leakage, or circuitry problems. Fire prevention does not begin and end with authorized inspections. If you are going to ensure the safety ...
Old connections tend to become loose and with the constant high demand for power, burnt and exposed wires can trigger a fire. The smell of smoke or burning plastic is a giveaway.
Faulty gas connections. High gas pressure causes the heat exchanger to heat up. Low gas pressure can cause condensation. Both increase of risk of damage and fires. Poor workmanship or years of neglect can lead to gas leaks and bad air quality, not to mention the potential for an out of control gas furnace.
Stuffing creates, boxes, cleaning equipment, and a host of other materials on or near your HVAC system increases the danger of damaging the unit and causing a fire. All that junk around the unit could catch fire, damaging not just the A/C system, but a large portion of the building.
What to do in case of a fire. The first thing to do in case of a fire is to exit the building and call for help. If possible, turn off the main power switch to the unit and the building. Alert everyone in or around the area and ensure that unsuspecting visitors do not enter the building.
It is possible for your air conditioning system catch on fire. Therefore to prevent damage and injury, it is important to be aware of HVAC fire hazards. Though the chances of a fire are low, the following factors have been known to pose a fire hazard and should be monitored to ensure safety.
Without performing regular maintenance, it is difficult to spot leaking fuel lines. What makes this especially hazardous is the fact that a highly flammable substance – such as oil, gas, and petroleum – is coming into contact with hot elements inside the A/C unit.
The design of smoke control systems is based on many variable conditions, including temperature, wind conditions and the quality or “tightness” of the construction . These conditions tend to make adjusting and testing of the smoke control system difficult at best.
One would be the ability of the various systems that normally have independent network communications to have a common communications. It is advantageous to have the fire alarm system, BAS, and other related systems share a common infrastructure network to facilitate communication and redundancy. This also can have the benefit of cost savings.
IBC Section 909 covers smoke control systems, including where they are required, the procedures for determining system parameters, the acceptable methods that may be used to accomplish smoke control, and the requirements to document the system’s actual performance.
A BAS can help minimize test stress by adjusting the fan speed of individual fans that have variable frequency drives. In the situation of excessive stair pressurization, the individual fan can be “dialed back” to limit its airflow to the stair, resulting in a lower level of pressure affecting door opening forces.
Most importantly, it states that such systems must be equipped with a control unit that complies with UL 864 and has to be listed as smoke control equipment . UL 864 requirements address control units and accessories used for many NFPA standards, including NFPA 72 and NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke-Control Systems.
As touched on previously, security systems often need to be integrated for proper operation of smoke control systems . Sometimes a smoke control system, such as an atrium exhaust system, requires secured doors and/or windows to open on alarm initiation to provide make-up air to allow the system to perform as intended.
Where buildings include parking levels, garage exhaust fans used for removing carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust may be used under fire conditions. This system must be controlled to place all equipment into the proper configuration for smoke control sequences, such as the operation of a sprinkler system.
The reason for any fire alarm to connect with an HVAC system or a BAS is strictly to control the spread of smoke from the fire source on a floor (or given area) to all of the other floors (or areas) in a building . For example, a small fire occurred in a newly opened 5-floor apartment building in the state of New York.
For engineers, coordination is a term that is critical when integrating a fire alarm system with an HVAC system or building automation system (BAS). Although for contractors installing the systems, this can be difficult. However, coordination at the design stage of the project can help ease the process for everyone involved.
The tenant decided to place a towel above the dryer to cover an air intake into the dryer plenum. As the tenant waited in their apartment, the towel heated, crystalized, and produced a sizable amount of smoke, although without much actual flame.
Installing a BAS takes a team effort. This effort requires that the electrical or fire protection engineer and the electrician have some understanding and knowledge of how the electrical work interfaces with the other trades. The design engineer also must ensure that the electrician possesses an understanding of the function and operational design of the BAS.
Some AHJs do not want the fire alarm system integrated with any other system. They do not want the non-fire alarm systems to interfere with the proper operation of the fire alarm system, which is addressed by NFPA 72.
In addition, the fire alarm system must have a listed barrier gateway integral, or attached, to each fire alarm control unit or group of control units, as appropriate, to prevent the other interfaced systems from interfering with or controlling the fire alarm system.
However, it is often the future updates that can cause difficulties where the BAS has been integrated with the fire alarm system.