Fire protection guide for electrical installations Building Connections Table of contents In the second edition of this fire protection guide, we have again compiled lots of useful information. The in- terconnections of fire protection between different types of technical building equipment are now ex- plained in even more detail. Perhaps you will find some new information in this edition which can help you in the planning and implementation of fire protec- tion systems. BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 2 Table of contents Fire protection guide for electrical installations Table of contents 1 General introduction 7 1.1 Construction law 12 1.2 The four pillars of fire protection 18 1.3 Construction products 26 1.4 Fire protection concepts 32 2 Maintenance of the fire sections – protection aim 1 36 2.1 Components closing rooms – firewalls 36 2.2 Requirements for cable penetrations - insulation 36 2.3 Proofs of usability 39 2.4 Construction types of cable and combination insulation 42 2.5 Applications and special applications 52 2.6 Selection aid and OBO Construct BSS 60 2.7 Building in old buildings 62 2.8 Cable bandages 65 3 Protection of escape routes – protection aim 2 75 3.1 What is an escape and rescue route? 75 3.2 Installations in lightweight partitions 78 3.3 Installation in false ceilings 80 3.4 Installations in underfloor systems 91 3.5 Shielding with plate material 93 3.6 Cable routing in fire protection ducts 94 4 Maintaining the electrical supply for safety-relevant electrical systems − protection aim 3 104 4.1 Where is the maintenance of electrical functionality required? 104 4.2 Tasks of maintaining electrical functionality 105 4.3 Cable systems with integrated maintenance of electrical functionality 106 4.4 Systems with maintenance of electrical functionality with fire protection ducts 113 4.5 Systems with maintenance of electrical functionality with cable support systems 115 4.6 Special features of vertical routing 130 4.7 Exceptions to maintaining electrical functionality 134 4.8 Limits of maintaining electrical functionality 136 5 Anchorings 140 5.1 Fastening principles 141 5.2 Fastening substrates 142 5.3 Types of anchors 147 5.4 Fastening on steel structures 150 5.5 Fastenings on wooden components 151 6 Fire protection from OBO Bettermann 156 6.1 A short trip through the history of "BSS" 156 6.2 Engineering and support 158 6.3 Seminars 159 7 Imprint 161 7.1 About the author 162 7.2 Sources 165 BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 3 4 BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 Chapter 1 | General introduction Chapter 1: General introduction 1 General introduction 7 1.1 Construction law 12 1.1.1 Construction law protection aims 14 1.1.2 Building classes (using the example of Germany) 14 1.2 The four pillars of fire protection 18 1.2.1 Construction fire protection 18 1.2.2 System fire protection 20 1.2.3 A company's organisational fire protection 24 1.2.4 Combative fire protection 24 1.3 Construction products 26 1.3.1 European Construction Parts Regulation 26 1.3.2 Tests, approvals and standards 28 1.4 Fire protection concepts 32 1.4.1 Planning and contents 32 1.4.2 Handling deviations and compensations 32 BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 5 Chapter 1 | General introduction "It is the people who don't know how to play with (fire) who get burned..." Oscar Wilde BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 6 Chapter 1 | General introduction 1 General introduction ing to regulations and the appropriate fire protection For years, the requirements for building safety have proofs must be available. The requirements are thus increased continuously. In this context, the sensitivity appropriately high and require comprehensive knowl- towards necessary fire protection in buildings is also edge of fire creation, fire behaviour and fire avoidance growing. as well as the range of options to limit or prevent the spread of fire. However, professional fire protection is challenging and multi-faceted. Nowadays, fire protection presents How does a fire occur? many planners and installation engineers of building Often, it is just carelessness – a forgotten candle, an equipment with almost insurmountable obstacles. In- unextinguished cigarette – or a technical defect, stallations run like networks through the complex which triggers a catastrophe. Often, it only takes a building structures and the art of the planner is to har- moment for a flame to become a fire, from the first monise the various networks, such as supply and dis- glow to a huge inferno. posal, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, with the electrical installation. A fire requires three basic conditions: When the fire protection design has been completed, • A combustible substance the appropriate systems and components are in- • Oxygen stalled. The installation engineer is required here. And • An ignition source it is here where there are requirements which cannot be implemented without further work. A damaging fire can only develop with a particular After planning and correct implementation, the fire mixing ratio and a (not always necessary) catalyst. protection building alignment must finally be ap- proved. All the installations must be executed accord- Oxygen Heat Combustible substance With the correct proportion A fire requires three basic conditions BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 7 Chapter 1 | General introduction 2% self-ignition 0.3% lightning strike 3% work with risk of fire 2% explosion 33% electricity 4% naked flame 9% arson 9% overheating 21% miscellaneous and unknown items 17% human error Causes of fire BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 8 Chapter 1 | General introduction Fire statistics The catastrophic impact of the highly toxic and ag- In Germany alone, around 200,000 fires each year gressive fire gases are often underestimated. Esti- cause damage running to billions of euros. Every year, mates suggest that around 95% of fire victims die not around 600 people die as a result of fire and 60,000 due to the immediate effects of the fire, but of poison- are injured, of whom 10% are seriously injured. The ta- ing from the smoke. Immense property damage is al- bles below show the number of fires and fire deaths so incurred through the corrosive effects of the gases each year in the countries evaluated by CTIF (Interna- created during a fire. They may cause lasting damage tional Association of Fire and Rescue Services) [1] in to the structure of a building. 2014. At 33%, electricity is the no. 1 cause of fire. On the one hand, the electrical current is a potential source of ignition. On the other, the materials used to route and fasten electrical installations and cable insulation are usually combustible. For this reason, electrical in- stallations require special consideration for fire protec- tion. No. Total number of fires per year Number of countries States 1 800,000 – 1,500,000 1 United States UK, France, Germany, Russia, Poland, China, India, Brazil, Italy, 2 100,000 - 600,000 13 Mexico, Australia, Argentina, Pakistan Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, 3 20,000 – 100,000 21 Netherlands, Ukraine, Spain, Iran and others Thailand, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Romania, Kazakhstan, Cuba, 4 10,000 – 20,000 20 Czech Republic, Belgium, Serbia, Denmark, Finland and others Iraq, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Slovakia, Georgia, Singapore, Croatia, 5 5,000 – 10,000 15 Philippines and others 6 < 5,000 150 These countries usually have less than 5,000 fires per year Total 220 Table 1: Number of fires per year in 2010 - 2014 Total number of Number of No. States fires per year countries 1 10,000 – 25,000 3 India, Russia, Pakistan 2 1,000 – 10,000 5 USA, China, South Africa, Ukraine, Japan UK, Germany, Indonesia, Belarus, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Spain, 3 200 – 1,000 20 Poland, Canada, Uzbekistan, Romania, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia and others 4 100 – 200 11 Australia, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Hungary, Sweden, Bulgaria, Moldova and others 5 < 100 180 These countries usually have less than 100 fire deaths per year Total 220 Table 2: Number of fire deaths per year in 2010 – 2014 BSS Brandschutzleitfaden für die Elektroinstallation / en / 2019/03/22 08:28:10 08:28:10 (LLExport_04692) / 2019/03/22 08:28:13 9 Chapter 1 | General introduction Approximately 95% of all deaths during fires are caused by smoke poisoning! Impacts of fire Heavy smoke development in a burning building is not Rapid spread of the fire just a risk to the lives and well-being of those affected. If a fire starts, then it may get out of control very The smoke also makes firefighting more difficult, be- quickly. In a moment, the flames consume all com- cause the fire brigade has difficulty in localising the bustible materials, temperatures rise and the fire source of the fire. The aim of preventive fire protection spreads in an explosive manner. Therefore, for fire must therefore also be to limit smoke development to brigades, besides actually fighting the existing flames, the area immediately affected.