FIRE HYDRANT AND FIRE EXTINGUSIHING SYSTEMS - substation

 

Fire Hydrant and Fire Extinguishing Systems

   SCOPE

         This specification mainly covers the design, manufacture, testing, delivery, commissioning, and guarantee for fire hydrant and fire extinguishing systems for substations.

      Fire hydrant and fire extinguishing the system shall be complete and functional in every respect, whether mentioned or not in this specification.

       The general scope of supply shall comprise mainly all equipment needed for fire fighting purposes in the substation area. Fire fighting for transformers shall be excluded from these specifications and will be specified in a separate part.

 In addition, fire hydrant and extinguishing equipment is deemed necessary for safe and reliable operation. The supply shall include the following whereby alternative proposals are invited:-

 

-         Complete water supply installation including elevated water tank underground tank including water and fire pumps, pipes, sleeves and valves. Quantity of water shall be seized in a tank to extinguish the most extensive fire.

 

-         Fire extinguishing hoses connecting equipment (fire hydrants)

 -         Portable fire extinguishers.

  

 DEFINITIONS

 

      Fire Hydrant:

 Fire fighting by water pumped in a separate piping system to a number of fire hydrants sufficient to cover the whole area of the substation.

       Cable Coatings

 Cable coatings prevent fire  propagation along the cable ducts, reducing the development of smoke and release of the corrosive and toxic fumes from the insulated parts.

        Cable Fire Stops

 Openings for cable penetrations through walls and ceilings shall be protected by fire stops

        Inert gas Agents

 natural inert gases to distinguish fire such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and gas argon (Ar). These agents are suitable for use in areas containing expensive electrical, electronic, or similar equipment.

 

 CLASSIFICATION

             Fire protection system covered by specification is classified into:-

 -         Fire protection of buildings.

-         Fire hydrant water spray system.

-         Portable fire extinguishers.

 

 REQUIREMENTS

       Quality Assurance :

    Applicable codes and standards

 The system design, equipment, and materials under this specification shall to the latest edition of the following codes and standards.

-           EUS: Electricity Utility specification.

-           Egyptian laws and decrees (civil defense law, fire fighting standard specification law).

-           IEEE 979 – 1994 – a guide for substation fire protection.

-           Egyptian code for the design of the buildings and the execution conditions for fire protection (1998- part1).

              - NFPA:standards: National fire protection association (No. 10).

             - International standards specifications for fire fighting.

                       - NFPA standards: sprinkler systems (No. 13) 1994.

 

  Rules and Regulations

 -           Only companies experienced in the design and erection of fire fighting equipment shall be approved and the Manufacturers shall well know the background in this field.

 -           All equipment which is to be operated by the fire brigade and/or other local personal shall bear warning signs having inscriptions in English and Arabic.

 -         Requirements of the air conditioning and ventilation system design shall be coordinated with fire fighting system design.

      Design

  Design Conditions

 -           A comprehensive fire protection system shall be designed in view of a layout that will offer protection where needed.

 -           The buildings shall be designed to minimize the possibility of fire spread internally and also with respect to the surroundings.

 -           Escape routes and emergency exits shall be easily noticeable. Colored signs and lights shall be selected for purchaser approval.

 -           Design features for all fire preventive measures shall be done to suit the system of the buildings and all proper integration.

 -           Fire fighting system must, in any case, be ready for operation before commissioning the substation.

    Fire Protection of Buildings

 The parts of the buildings shall be of non-combustible or fire-resistant construction.

 Measures of fire protection of buildings inside substations shall comprise the following:-

 -         Barriers at cable penetrations through walls and ceilings.

 -         Barriers at cable entries into switchgear cubicles or bays.

 -         Fire-resistance coating for any flammable components.

 -         Fire resistance cladding of cable routes and racks.

 -         Creation of small fire compartments by partitioning of cables, ducts, tunnels, trenches, and basements.

 -         Fire sectionalizing walls, doors and ceilings for each firing cell to be constructed in the material of one hour fire resistance when exposed to fire on two sides.

 -         Steel structures must be with minimum one-hour fire resistance.

 -         Smoke extraction facilities should be considered in building design.

  

   Stairs and Escape Routes

 Stair walls shall be  constructed fire-resistant in all directions in a manner to serve as escape routes and shall be provided with a separate, over pressurizing ventilating system.

   Water Supply System

 Water system inside substation shall be connected to the public networks. The water system shall comprise:-

 -         Water for fire hydrant and fire fighting systems for transformers.

 -         Water needs for service such as drinking, showers, toilets, eyewashes in battery rooms, and similar.

 The water pressure supply shall be maintained by the reinforced concrete elevated water tank, with height not less than 15mt. measured from the bottom of the water compartment, to secure the necessary water pressure in system pipes. The volume of the water in the tank shall be dimensioned for both service water and fire water with a minimum capacity of 120m³. Quantity of firewater shall be sized and maintained through level control devices and an automatic alarm system. Signals shall be transmitted to general alarm panels of the substation.

  Pumping System

 Pumping system shall be designed to cover the following requirements:-

 -         Filling the elevated water tank from public water mains.

 -         Securing the water pressure in fire hydrant system with 3bar at the final delivery point.

 -         Feeding proper pressure in service water network and transformers fire fighting room inlet.

 Alternative diesel pump shall be provided for the fire hydrant system as a standby pump.

  Piping System

-           Piping system for the fire hydrant shall be of 200mm diameter covering the whole substation with fire hydrants every 50m.

-           Hydrants shall be connected with 2.5” morris coupling.

-           Along the main path in the centerline of the S/S area the water pressure in the water line/path shall not be less than 3bar at the end of the line.

 -           Rubber hoses lined with morris coupling with length not less than 30m and a multi-purpose nozzle shall be installed in a firebox with a glass window beside each hydrant.

 -           Piping  system shall be above ground (not embedded) with suitable supports.

           

-           Needed valves, elbows, and connections shall be provided for reliable operation of the system.

  -           Pipes for fire fighting rooms of transformers shall be not less than 2” in diameter.

 

  Portable Fire Extinguishers

 The extinguishers shall be designed, installed, and tested in accordance with applicable codes and standards, latest edition  Extinguishers shall be distributed in all staircases and corridors in a manner that traffic will not obstruct. As a further condition,. Extinguishers shall be located at easily visible and accessible locations considering the event of a fire.

 As a rule, CO2/units containing 30, 12kg shall be supplied. All portable fire extinguishers shall be fitted with spring headed interchangeable safety values

 Rooms and areas shall be equipped with portable carbon dioxide extinguishers in addition.

 Suitable masks to prevent injury to personnel shall also be supplied.

 All extinguishers shall be designed to service over a period of 20 years taking the conditions at the site into account.

 Portable fire extinguishers system shall be supplied according to the table (1) and before putting the substation into operation.

 After completion of the installation random tests of 5% of the portable extinguishers supplied shall be performed in connection with the training programs. The necessary refills shall be provided by the supplier.

 The protection requirements may be fulfilled by several extinguishers of rating not lower than 12 kg.

 For higher ratings of more than 12 kg, mobile extinguishing units are used having a trolley with two wheels, tires may be solid rubber or pneumatic one. Each trolley is equipped with two CO2 steel bottles. A high-pressure rubber hose twelve meters long shall be supplied for each trolley.

   Each building in substation be equipped with fire extinguishers as follows:-

 

Location	CO2 30kg	CO2 12kg
66 kV switchgear	2	4
11 kV switchgear	2	3
Control building	--	3
Guardhouse	--	1
Basement	2	6

 

Table (1)

 

 TESTING AND INSPECTION

 

       The following checks shall be performed for fire hydrant and fire extinguishers after installation

 -         Installation check.

-         Piping system check.

-         Field inspection radiographic films.

-         Pumping system check.

-         Alignment, plumpness, bolting, down, flanges and support, packing, sales rotation, inhibitors removed.

-         Electrical and ground connections for the system workmanship and cleanliness.

-         Insulation resistance measurements.

-         Alarms and signals check.

-         Tests for yield and drawdown.

 

      All testing shall be carried out in accordance with the latest edition of the Egyptian code and other referenced standards.

       Pumping system inspection shall include rotation check, manual turning check, gland packing or mechanical seal check, piping check with the hydrostatic test.

       Motors shall be inspected for insulation resistance measurements, bearing, and lubrication.

     All tests shall be witnessed by the purchaser and results of tests to be certified.

 

 ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION

 The supplier shall forward to the purchaser, three copies of certificates proving that all tests required have been carried out and also samples & catalogs of the equipment.

 SPARE PARTS

 

            List of manufacturer’s recommended spare parts shall be included in addition to spare parts requested by the purchaser if required.

 

  GUARANTEE

 

            The supplier guarantee the delivered equipment against manufacturing, design and material defects for a period as given in the tender documents.

 

 SUBMITTALS

 

     The submittals shall include the following:-

 -         Reference list of all the components of the system.

-         Description of a fire hydrant and fire extinguishing systems.

-         Fire protection of the buildings.

-         Others which are required by purchaser.

 

     The following documentation shall be provided:-

 -         Detailed dimensional drawings.

-         Detailed mounting drawings.

-         Detailed wiring diagrams.

-         Maintenance instructions.

-         Copies of design test certificates where available.

-         Factory test reports.

 

 DELIVERY

 The manufacture shall be responsible for and shall repair or replace at his own expense any and all damaged equipment where damage was due to improper preparation for supply.