Pressurized ladder, what's your real one importance in fire cases?
Based on Technical Instruction (IT) No. 13/2011 of the Fire Department of the State of São Paulo, which talks about the basic requirements for emergency exits in case of fire, pressurization of the stairs is the system responsible for enabling the exit of the people of the burning places, in a safe way.
The fire prevention system is broad and includes a series of factors and measures. In this article, we will primarily talk about the pressurized ladder. Understanding how this system works and why it is so fundamental.
First Paragraph in IT 13 / 2011:
"Objective:
"1.1 Establish the minimum requirements necessary for the dimensioning of the pressurization of safety stairs in buildings.
1.2 Keep the emergency stairs free of smoke, in order to allow the occupants of a building to escape in the event of a fire. This system can also be activated in any case of need to abandon the building."
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION No. 13/2011 STATE SECRETARIAT OF SP. Available in: https://www.bombeiros.com.br/pdf/instrucoes-tecnicas-13.pdf.
Access on 31 May. 2019
Dimensioned issues
IT nº 13 specifies all parameters that must be strictly followed in buildings. Mainly as a way to maintain safety in the event of a fire.
Parameters such as: width of the exits, distance traveled, handrail, floor, wall, lining, ceiling and material of the objects present in the structure of the building were regulated. All this, so that the production of more fire and smoke in the place is not facilitated or encouraged.
Other normative references (NBR's) were used as a basis for the creation of IT 13. These cite important factors such as: fire door, emergency lighting system, electric elevators, electrical installations and reaction to fire of the materials that are formed in the construction.
because this system
é So important?
There are data that estimate that in fatal fire cases, the number of deaths from asphyxia exceeds the number of deaths from burns.
This is very serious!
ASSISTANCE IN SMOKE POISONING ACCORDING TO MEDICINA NET. Available in: https://www.mdsaude.com/2013/01/fumaca-incendio.html Access on 31 May. 2019
Without a system that protects this escape route (the fire escapes), this place is certainly compromised due to smoke, putting people's safety at risk.
In addition to being toxic, due to the high degree of smoke, high temperature smoke causes internal swelling and burns throughout the respiratory tract. Promoting the closing of the airways, leading to death by poisoning or asphyxiation.
But what is pressurization?
Pressurization is the system that prevents fire smoke from entering emergency exits, so that people can be safely evacuated.
Through this system, which is composed of a fan (with an independent energy source), panels, shutters and air filters, the air is captured in an external environment and supplied to the interior of the stairs through ducts and grilles on all floors, keeping the place under positive pressure.
In addition, this system must be well balanced. All floors must receive airflow calculated to maintain equal positive pressure.
In the event of a fire, the smoke detector will activate the pressurization system which will start working immediately.
Having the guarantee that the ladder will remain pressurized, the fire department is able to act effectively in removing people from the site. Since the smoke will not invade the emergency exits.
Instalação
There are 2 ways to implement this system. Where the fan can be installed in an engine room or in an antechamber.
This fan is located in a separate environment, captures the outside air that is routed and inserted into the floors until they reach a positive pressure that varies between 40 and 60 pa. In this way the smoke that is outside is prevented from entering the place.
System stages
There are 2 ways to have your ladder pressurized:
- In the 1-stage system, the ladder is only pressurized when the smoke detector is activated.
- In the 2-stage system, the environment is kept under constant pressurization. However, the air flow volume is kept low, and when the alarm is triggered, the pressurization level increases.
The use of Air Filters in the fire escape pressurization system, it promotes the capture of dust particles that are suspended in the air.
Os G1 filters (ABNT) - Metal Thick Filters are the ones indicated mainly for this system and are installed in the external air intake.
What differs where the system will be installed is the size of the building. And this can range from small and medium-sized buildings as well as large commercial buildings (where they are usually installed in a machine room).
other needs
For efficiency, it is necessary that in addition to pressurization, the fire doors are effective so that there is no loss of air that pressurizes the environment.
Likewise, it is of utmost importance that there is an independent source power system in the building. Because it's no use having the ladder pressurized, without the guarantee that everything will work correctly. Especially in the event of a power outage during a fire.
The pressurization system has:
- Smoke detector
- Alarm system
- Inflation System
- Exhaust System
- Ventilators
- shutters
- Grills
- Air Filters
- ducts
- Fire Door
- Independent electrical power system
It is through pressurizing the air that stairs become a safe escape route for people.
It is through the stairs that the Fire Department works and ultimately saves many lives!
Linter has been a reference in the Air Treatment market for over 2 decades!
Enter the site and discover the complete line of Filter e Equipment.
Click to enter site 👉 linterfiltros.com.br