Fire protection glossary of Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
This comprehensive glossary covers key terms, acronyms and abbreviations used in the field of fire protection, providing clear definitions for better understanding.
A
- Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS): document required by NSW authorities indicating that a building meets minimum standards for fire protection.
- Air Water Extinguishers: extinguishers using a mixture of water and air. They are best for Class A fires.
- AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction): The organization or individual responsible for enforcing fire protection codes, standards, and regulations.
- Alarm Signal: A notification triggered by a fire detection system to alert occupants or emergency responders of a fire.
- Alarm Signaling Equipment (ASE): It receives an alarm signal from the Fire Panel or Sprinkler System and transmits that signal to the Monitoring Service Provider. The signal normally goes via the mobile phone network.
- Automatic Fire Alarm System: A system that detects a fire and automatically sends an alert without human intervention.
- Automatic Sprinkler System: A fire suppression system that activates sprinklers when heat from a fire is detected.
- Australian Standard AS1851-2012: This Australian Standard on fire protection implementation is a mandate in NSW.
B
- Backflow Preventer: A device that prevents the reverse flow of water in a fire protection system to maintain clean water supply integrity.
- Building Code: A set of regulations governing the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings, including fire protection requirements.
- Building Occupant Warning System (BOWS): System that communicates alarms and orders to building occupants. It is an ‘alert and evacuate’ tone generator. It has an integral power supply, speaker line supervision, digitised speech messages and PA microphone.
C
- Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers: CO2 extinguishers displace the oxygen that a fire needs to be viable.
- Class A Fire: Fires involving ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, and fabric.
- Class B Fire: Fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol (gasoline), oil, or alcohol.
- Class C Fire: Fires involving electrical equipment.
- Class D Fire: Fires involving combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, or sodium.
- Class K Fire: Fires involving cooking oils and grease, typically in commercial kitchens.
- Combustible material: Any material capable of igniting and burning.
- Compartmentation: The practice of dividing a building into sections with fire-resistant barriers to limit fire spread.
D
- Dry Chemical Extinguisher or Dry Powder Extinguishers: A portable extinguisher filled with a dry chemical powder to suppress fires.
- Dry Pipe System: A type of sprinkler system in which the pipes are filled with pressurized air instead of water to prevent freezing in cold environments.
E
- Egress: A clear and safe path for occupants to exit a building during a fire or emergency.
- Emergency Lighting or Emergency Exit Lighting: Backup lighting that activates during power outages to guide occupants to safety.
- Emergency Lights Circuit Breaker: The emergency lights circuit breaker contains both a remotely-operated switched circuit for controlling the lighting fixtures and a manually-operated switched circuit. The latter provides power to the emergency equipment’s charging and detection circuit.
- ESFR (Early Suppression, Fast Response) Sprinklers: A type of sprinkler designed to control high-challenge fires quickly, often used in warehouses.
- Emergency Warning and Intercommunication System (EWIS): an enhanced system for fire alarm alerting and evacuation control. Its most common use is in larger or more complex buildings. An EWIS combines the functions of EWS with advanced intercommunication features to manage emergency responses in complex or large-scale buildings.
- EWS (Emergency Warning System): A life safety system that helps people evacuate during a fire or other emergency. EWSs can include emergency intercom systems, audible messages, and visual emergency warning signals. Note that an EWS focuses mainly on alerting occupants and initiating evacuation.
- Evacuation Planning Division (EPD): typically refers to a specialized team, department, or organizational unit responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining evacuation plans and strategies.
F
- False fire alarm reduction: a program developed by Fire+Rescue NSW to reduce false alarms.
- Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP): The central hub that monitors and controls fire detection and notification devices in a building. This use interchangeably as an FIP in some cases and less common in Australia. Said definition may include additional features that is not specific to Australian Safety Regulations.
- Fire alarm system: A system of devices that detect and alert occupants to the presence of a fire.
- Fire barrier: A fire-resistant construction that separates different parts of a building to prevent the spread of fire.
- Fire Blankets: a blanket that you use to smother a fire on an item or person.
- Fire Dampers: A fire damper closes automatically upon detection of heat (via something such as a fusible link or heat detector). The purpose is to interrupt airflow and to restrict the passage of flame.
- Fire Door: A door made from fire-resistant materials to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between compartments. Smoke Doors and Curtains also operate under a similar intent.
- Fire extinguisher: A portable device that can be used to extinguish small fires.
- Fire Extinguisher Refills & 5 Yearly Pressure Tests: maintenance is essential for fire extinguishers.
- Fire Hose Reel Cabinets: roviding proper storage for safety equipment is an important part of fire safety preparedness.
- Fire Hydrant: A water source accessible to firefighters for extinguishing fires.
- Fire Indicator Panel (FIP): is the controlling component of a fire alarm system. The panel receives information from environmental sensors such as heat or smoke detectors.
- Fire Industry Academy (FIA): Australia’s leading fire protection education institute. It is accredited as a registered training organizaiton (RTO).
- Fire load: The total potential energy available for combustion in a specific area, calculated based on the materials present.
- Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA): The largest Australian fire protection organization. It administers the FPAS.
- Fire Protection Accreditation Scheme (FPAS): The leading Australian fire protection qualification. FPAS is also taught by Fire Industry Academy.
- Fire resistance: The ability of a material or construction to withstand the effects of fire for a specified period of time.
- Fire Safety Signs: signs that effectively convey to occupants what to in an emergency situation.
- Flame spread: The rate at which flames spread across the surface of a material.
- Fire sprinkler system or Fire Water Sprinklers: A system of pipes and sprinkler heads that discharge water or other extinguishing agents when a fire is detected.
- Firestop: A material or construction used to seal gaps or openings in fire-rated walls or floors to prevent the spread of fire.
- Fire Suppression Systems: any system with the intent to extinguish and prevent the spread of a fire, e.g. sprinklers.
- Fixed and Swing Type Fire Hose Reels: A fire hose is kept on one of two basic types of fire hose reels.
- Foam Extinguishers: these basically smother a fire.
H
- Heat Detector: A device that senses high temperatures or rapid increases in temperature to detect a fire.
- Halon: A fire suppression agent commonly used in the past but phased out due to environmental concerns.
I
- Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM): Regular procedures to ensure fire protection systems are functional and compliant with standards.
- Ionization Smoke Detector: A type of smoke detector that uses ionized particles to sense the presence of smoke.
L
- Life Safety Code (NFPA 101): A code developed by the NFPA to establish guidelines for minimizing risks to life during emergencies, including fire protection requirements.
M
- Manual Pull Station: A device that allows occupants to manually activate the fire alarm system.
- Mass Notification System (MNS): A communication system that broadcasts alerts and instructions during emergencies.
- Mobile Wheeled Fire Extinguishers: larger fire extinguishers which don’t require the user to carry them.
N
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): The largest American fire protection organization, which nonetheless has enormous global influence on standards.
P
- Passive Fire Protection: This concept attempts to secure fire safety using fire stoppers
- Portable Fire Extinguisher: A handheld device used to suppress small fires in their early stages.
- Pre-Action Sprinkler System: A sprinkler system that requires two triggers (such as heat detection and alarm activation) to release water.
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Gear worn by firefighters and safety personnel, including helmets, gloves, and breathing apparatus.
S
- Smoke Detector: A device that detects smoke particles in the air and triggers an alarm to alert occupants to the potential danger of a fire. See our Smoke Alarms and Detectors page.
- Standpipe System: A system of pipes and hoses installed in buildings to provide water for firefighting.
- Suppression System: A fire protection system designed to extinguish or control a fire, such as sprinklers or gas-based systems.
T
- Tactical Fire Plans (TFPs): these help fire fighters when they arrive at the scene of a conflagration. They are are to scale basic building floor plan showing the location of installed active and passive fire and safety equipment, as well as paths to exits and building services.
- Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC): A device used by firefighters to detect heat signatures through smoke or darkness.
- Two-Way Communication System: A system that allows occupants to communicate with emergency personnel during evacuations.
U
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories): An organization that tests and certifies fire protection equipment for safety and performance.
W
- Wall Hydrant: A hydrant mounted on the outside wall of a building. Its supply comes from interior piping. There are control valves inside the building. They are normally key operated and accessed from the exterior.
- Wet Barrel Hydrant: Each outlet of a wet barrel hydrant has a valved outlet threaded for a fire hose.
- Water Curtain: A method of fire suppression that creates a barrier of water to prevent fire spread.
- Wet Chemical Extinguishers: These are special purpose design extinguishers, specifically for use in kitchens and restaurants, where the major risk is burning fats and oils.
- Wet Pipe System: A type of sprinkler system where pipes are always filled with water, ready for immediate discharge during a fire.
Z
- Zoning: Dividing a building into sections for fire alarm or suppression purposes, allowing for targeted responses to specific areas.
This fire protection glossary is essential for understanding fire protection terminology and ensuring proper application and compliance in safety practices. Let us know if you’d like to dive deeper into any specific term! Our fire protection technicians are always happy to discuss their passion.
A fire protection glossary can be a helpful resource for anyone involved in the design, construction, or maintenance of buildings, as well as for those responsible for fire safety and emergency planningOur fire protection glossary is a collection of terms and definitions related to fire protection and fire safety. This glossary, while a standalone document is only part of a much larger fire protection lexicon. Refer to your local Redmen technician or manual or reference guide for any terms we don’t include here.
This glossary is essential for understanding fire protection terminology and ensuring proper application and compliance in safety practices.
Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into any specific term!
