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| Fire safety in air ports | | | Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Yetoo
Air ports being large
commercial complexes that have many potential fire hazards relating to air craft landing,take off and emergency landing operations, hangeroperations, interior refurbishing operations, refueling operations on the ramp and the air portterminal. Fire protection and smoke control are important issues in the design of air port terminal.
TERMINAL BUILDINGS;
Construction and clearances
1) The class of construction should be Type i,ii or iv as per Fire Code 220,which call for fire resistance rating of at least 4 hrs in case of Type 1 and 2 hours in case of Type ii construction for exterior and interior load bearing walls,columns and beams.The classification roughly matches with that of National Building code of India, part iv, Fire and Life Safety Code.
ii) Glazing material covered openings facing the ramp where potential fuel spill points are located with in a distance of 30.5m horizontally should be provided with automatically activated water spray system or fire shutter system.
iii) Air supply intake and exhaust openings if located on the ramp side of the building,should be at least 15m from the point of vapour release and more than 3m above the ramp level.
iv) Openings facing the ramp from the rooms containing coal gas,oil fired equipment or open flame devices should be 15m from any point of vapour release.
v)Stacks and chimneys from boiler heater or incenrator should terminate at least 6.1m above the ramp and above the roof of the building.Double screens should be provided on the stacks/chimneys to control fly ash sparks.Their outlet should be at least 30 m horizontally from the air craft position and vapour release.
V1) The ventilation and access openings of transformers or electric service rooms located on ramp side should be located at least 10" above ramp level and 50" horizontally from the point of release of vapour.
FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT;
i) Sprinkler protection if the area of the assembly portion exceeds 1115 sqms.
ii) Manual Fire Alarm Stations to alert public or airport fire station should be installed.
iii) Annuniciation of all building fire alarm signals to be at the front entrance of the building unless the air port is in 2 way voice communication with the public fire station.
iv) Fire hydrant is to be provided booth on the ramp and street side of the terminal building.No portion of the building should be more than 500" away from a hydrant.
v) Standpipe and hose system are a must for all buildings having more than 2 floors.
v) Hydrant posts should be protected against impact damage from the vehicles and taxing aircraft.
OPERATIONAL PRECAUTIONS;
i) Open trenches are not to be used when they are in line of pedestrian/passenger traffic.
ii) Periodical maintenance of drain and separator is essential to ensure freedom from obstructions and proper functions.
iii) After a large oil spill on ramp enters drainage system, flushing with abundant volume of water is necessary to purge the residual fuel.
v) No smoking on the ramp.
vii) No open flames with in 15 m radius of aircraft.
viii) Permit to work should be issued on daily basis.
Ix) No rubbish accumulation should be allowed on ramp.
x) All waste flammable liquid is to be collected in approved container before disposal.
LOADING WALKWAYS;
I) These should be designed to provide safe means of egress from air craft for 5 minutes under fire exposure conditions.
2) There should be no window other than those located in ramp access service door and in the cab area for operating the loading walkway.
3) During ramp emergency ,walkway interiors should have positive air pressure from uncontaminated source.
4) Door in the egrss path to the terminal building should swing towards terminal building.
5) Emergency lights should be installed in all aircraft loading walk ways.(The author is an expert in environment ,project& waste Management, occupational safety& health & pollution control and empanelled expert from IRCA). |
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