Rural and urban fire and building collapse

1. Civil Engineering Department
Subject : Disaster management
Topic : Rural and Urban fire & Building
collapse
Name : Zala surpalsinh. I
Enroll No : 150600106063
GUIDED BY : PROF. A. F. Gheri

2. Facts in connection with fire
protection in building
it is too expensive to make all the buildings fully
protected against fire.
The amount spent on fire resisting construction
should br in relation to the reduction in loss in case
fire breaks out.
The preventive measures include suitable planning,
proper method of construction and satisfactory
means of escape.

3. • it does not necessarily follow that a non-
combustible material possesses more power to
resist fire.
• The main purpose of making a building fire
resistant is the protection of life, goods and
activities within the building.
• The degree of fire resistance required will largely
depends on the use of building. For instance, a
theater or a townhall will demand greater degree
of fire resistant construction than an warehouse
or a godown.

4. • The provision of suitable means of escape from
fire should be made in relation to the dangers
and the number of persons to be affected in fire
hazard.
• The means of escape from fire should be located
in such a way that they remain unobstructed by
smoke or fumes.

5. Classes of fire
Class A
Ordinary combustible
solids
Wood, paper, cloth,
plastics, rubber, coal,
carbon based
compounds etc.
We can use water to
extinguish class A fire
Class B
Flammable &
combustible liquids
Petrol, oil, paint, thinners,
kerosene, alcohol, etc...
A carbon dioxide fire
extinguisher may be
used on small class - B
fires or a foam based
extinguisher

6. Class C
Flammable Gases
L.P.G., Butane.
Acetylene, Hydrogen,
natural gas and
methane etc...
Foam based
extinguisher can be
used. power
extinguisher may also
be used.
Class D
Combustible Metals
Magnesium, aluminum,
sodium or potassium
etc...
Extinguishers having dry
chemical or sand should
be used.

7. Class E
Electrical fires
Switchboards,
powerboards, etc...
Extinguishers having
dry chemical or sand
should be used.
Class F
Cooking oil and fats
Cooking oils and fats
usually found in
industrial kitchens etc.
Extinguishers having dry
chemical or sand should
be used.

8. CAUSES OF FIRE
1. Smoking in anathorised places and careless
discarding of lighted ends of cigarettes, cigars,
matches and tobacco.
2.faulty electrical wiring or short - circuiting.
3. Heating and cooking equipments.
4. Open flames and sparks.

9. 5. Flammable liquids.
6. Chimneys and flues.
7. Suspected arson
8. Spontaneous combustion.
9. Lightning etc.

10. Precautionary measures
• 1. The work of electrical wiring
and electrical installations
should be entrusted to an
expert.
• 2. If there is smoke, crawl on
your hands and knees to safety.
Heat rises to the ceiling and
there is roughly a safety zone
between 30 cm off the floor and
approximately height of the door
knob.

11. 3. If your clothes catch on fire,
drop to the floor and roll to
extinguish the flames.
4.feel each foor before you open it.
If the handle of the door is hot or if
smoke is seen coming from its
bottom or sides, do not open the
door.
5. Train your family members or
staff members for fighting a fire
and acquaint them with fire
preventive measures.

12. Effects of fire
Various types of construction materials produce
different gases when ignited by fire.
The effect of these gases are as follows :
1. Carbon monoxide :
This is very poisonous gas. It is invisible and odourless.
It hampers oxygen from reaching the brain.
It is the most abundant of fire gases.

13. 2. Carbon dioxide : This gas increases the rate of
breathing and it is thus responsible for increasing
the intake of other toxic gases.
3. Hydrogen sulphide : This gas affects the
nervous system and it causes dizziness and pain
in the respiratory system.
4. Nitrogen sulphide : This gas is extremely
poisonous and it numbs the throat.
At the time of fire, about 800°C temperature is
generated. But human body can withstand
temperatures of only between 65°C to 120°C.

14. Fire detection and extinguishing
systems
• Fire detection system is also known as fire
alarm system.
• It is an installation provided with the aim of
warning the occupants to the building of the
outbreak of fire and to call for assistance at the
same time.
• fire alarm system can be either manual or
automatic.

15. 1. Manual alarm system
• This consists of a hand bell or similar sounding
device emmitting distinctive sound when struck.
• such devices are installed near all the main
exists and passages.
• in the event of fire, the device is sounded by
which man and the occupants are thereby
warned to have safe exit in shortest possible time.

17. 2. Automatic alarm system
• This type of system, on detection of fire, starts
sounding alarms or information to the nearest
control point.
• The system can also perform the function of
sending message to the nearest fire brigade
station.
• It is used in large industrial buildings which may
remain unoccupied during night.

19. Fire extinguishing systems
• Each building should have suitable fire extinguishing
system.
• The commonly adopted fire extinguishing systems are :
1. Manual fire extinguishing equipment
2. Fire hydrants
3. Wet riser system
4. Automatic sprinkler system

20. 1. Manual fire extinguishing equipment :
Portable fire extinguisher is the equipment most
commonly adopted in this category. These devices are
useful for extinguishing fire as soon as it starts. They
are not so useful when once the fire has spread.
Portable fire extinguisher can be of carbon dioxide
type, large foam generation type etc.
Sometimes bucket full of water and dry sand are also
installed at convenient places for taking care of minor
fires.

22. 2. Fire hydrants
• This consists in providing a 150 mm diameter
ring main outside in the ground around the
periphery of the building.
• fire hydrants are provided on the ring main.
• The ring main is fed from an underground water
tank. It is ensured that the water pressure
available at each fire hydrant is of the order of
3.5 to 4 kg/cm2.

24. 3. Wet riser system
This consists in providing 100 to 150 mm diameter
vertical Galvanized iron pipes at suitable locations
within the building.
The pipes are also known as risers and are fed from
an underground water storage tank through a fire
pump which ensures supply of water at 3 kg/cm2 at
the topmost outlet.
The wet risers have suitable connections at each floor
from where constant supply of water can be drawn in
the event of fire.

26. 4. Automatic sprinkler system
In this system a network of water supply pipes ( normally
20 mm diameter ) are fixed to the ceiling of the floor or roof
slab. The center to centre spacing of the pipes is normally 3
m. The pipes receives supply of water through header
pipes normally 40 mm in diameter which in turn are
connected and fed from water storage tank.
An installation known as sprinkler head is fitted to the pipes
in ceiling at regular intervals normally at 3 m. Each
sprinkler head is provided with a fusible plug. In the event
of fire, the fusible plug melts by virtue of rise in temperature
and water rushes out of the sprinkler head. The water spray
falls on the fire and helps in extinguishing the fire.

28. • GENERAL FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENT FOR
BUILDINGS: IS : 1641-1988 recommends that
the building shall confirm to the following general
requirements :
1. All buildings and particularly buildings having
more than one storey shall be provided with
liberally designed and safe fire-proof exists or
escaps.
2. The escapes shall be so placed that they are
immediately accessible.

29. 3. The escape routes shall be well ventilated as
persons using escaps are likely to be overcome by
smoke and/or fumes which may enter from the fire.
4. Fire proof doors shall conform rigidly to the fire
safety requirements.
5. Fire proof doors shall be maintained in good
working condition so that they may be readily opened
to allow quick escape of persons.
6. False ceiling, either for sound effects or air-
conditioning shall be so constructed as to prevent
either total or early collapse in the event of fire so that
persons underneath are not fatally trapped.

30. 7. Floors :
Floors are required to withstand the effects of fire for the full
period stated for the particular grading. The design and
construction of floors shall be of such a standard that shall
obviate any replacement, partial or otherwise.
8. Roofs :
Roofs for the various fire-grades of the buildings shall be
designed and constructed to withstand the effect of fire for
the maximum period for the particular grading , and this
requires concrete or equivalent construction.

31. 9. Basements :
Where basements are necessary for a building
and where such basements are used for storage,
provision shall be made for the escape of any heat
arising due to fire and for liberating smoke.

32. Fire risk reduction measures
( Before fire )
• Do's
1. Identify fire prone areas, situations, sources,
surroundings.
2. Form task force responsible for fire fighting in fire prone
communities.
3. Keep all the emergency telephone numbers handy in
your house.
4. Develop effective warning system and disseminate to the
community and family members.

33. 4. Ensure the proper wiring is done in the house
and use standard electrical equipment and if
required, change the old electrical circuits.
5. Turn off the electric equipment after its usage.
6. Store all the inflammable items like kerosene,
petrol in a safe place and away from the fire area.
7. If possible locate water/pond or well near the
house and plant tress.

34. • DONT'S
1. Do not keep the cooking gas cylinder inside the
house, where possible.
2. Do not use anauthorised electrical lines and
supply.
3. Do not leave open fire like candles. Extinguish
the fire immediately after its usage.
4. Do not forget to mark the emergency exit points
clearly and make sure the emergency evacuation
passage is clear at all times.

35. 5. If possible, do not build houses to closely, so
that if one house catches fire, there will be less
danger of spreading it easily in the community.
6. In villages, avoid using roofs with thatch and
grass and also the plastic sheeting which could
increase the intensity of the fire, if it takes place.

36. Fire risk reduction measures
( During fire )
• Do's
1. The first thing to remember is not to panic, be calm
and act smartly which can save maximum lives and
reduce the casualties.
2. Immediately cut off the electricity, gas and water
supply.
3. Immediately call up the fire brigade and tell them the
exact address of your house or community and also
the type and intensity of fire, if possible, so that they
are well equipped when they arrive for the response.

37. 4. Issue the warning signal and evacuate the
house immediately.
5. If the smoke is too much, crawl and keep
yourself as low as possible during evacuation.

38. • Don'ts
1. Do not allow a person whose clothes or body is
in fire to run around. Immediately cover him with
rugs and do not pour water on him.
2. In panic, do not enter the burning house to pull
out the trapped family members or other
community members without wearing proper fire
proof clothes or material.

39. BUILDING COLLAPSE
structural integrity and failure
→ structural integrity and failure is an aspect of
engineering which deals with the ability of a
structure to support a designed load ( weight, force
etc...) without breaking or collapsing and includes
the study of breakage that has previously occurred
in order to prevent failures in future designs

40. → structural integrity is term used for the
performance characteristic applied to a component,
a single structure, or a structure consisting of
different components.
→ structural integrity is the ability of an item to
hold together under a load, including its own
weight, resisting breakage or bending.
→ it assures that the construction will perform its
designed function, during reasonable use, for as
long as the designed life of the structure.

41. structural failure refers to the loss of structural
integrity, which is the loss of load-carrying capacity
of a component or member within a structure, or of
the structure itself.
→ structural failure is initiated when the material is
stressed beyond its strength limit, thus causing
fracture or excessive deformations.
→ Ultimate failure strength is one of the limit states
that must be accounted for in structural
engineering and structural design.

42. Main causes of failure
1. The first, whether due to size, shape, or the choice
of material, is that the structure is not strong and tough
enough to support the load.
2. The second is instability, whether due to geometry,
causing the structure to fail from fatigue or corrosion.
3. The third type of failure is caused by manufacturing
errors. This may be due to improper selection of
materials, incorrect sizing, improper heat treating,
failing to adhere to the design, or shoddy workmanship.

43. 4. The fourth is unpredictable, from the use of
defective materials.
5. The fifth cause of failure is from lack of
consideration of unexpected problems. Sabotage
and natural disasters can all overstress a structure
to the point of failure. Improper training of those
who use and maintain the construction can also
overstress it, leading to potential failures.

44. Thane building collapse
• On 4 April 2013, a building collapsed in Thane in
Maharashtra, india.
• It has been called the worst building collapse in the area.
• 74 people died, including 18 children, 23 women, and 33
men, while more than 100 people survived.
• The building was under construction and did not have an
occupancy certificate for its 100 to 150 low to middle
income residents. Living in the building were the site
construction workers and families. It was reported that the
building was illegally constructed because standard
practices were not followed for safe, lawful construction.

45. Delhi building collapse
• On November 15, 2010, monsoon rains and
swollen river proved too much for a poorly
constructed tenement building in New Delhi,
India. Tragically, 67 people died in the collapse
and a further 150 were injured. The multi-story
building housed around 400 migrant workers
from rural parts of eastern india. With mostly
earning barely enough to cover basic costs, they
had tuned to living in crowded, illegally built
apartments blocks.

46. Sixty seven tenants of this new delhi building paid
the price with their lives when the structure
crashed to the ground without warning at 8:00 pm.
Rescuers used sniffer dogs in an attempt to
discover survivors in the wreckage and pounded
through large pieces of the building with
jackhammers. Bodies were pulled from the twisted
remains all night long, with anxious family
members standing by, waiting to hear the news :
dead or alive ?