Ways Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems (FARS) Enhance Emergency Response in Large Buildings in the Middle East
“I’m out of air.” For a firefighter trapped on a high floor of a soaring skyscraper or within a horizontal structure, these four words could be their last—unless a Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS) is in place to deliver air quickly. For anyone who has heard these or similar words in a mayday call, it is a somber reminder of the limitations that firefighters continue to face when fighting a fire.
A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is designed to provide air for a predetermined length of time—sometimes as little as 30 minutes. However, experienced firefighters often find the supply is used up more quickly due to increased breathing rates in high-stress situations. To manage this, they often carry extra air bottles, which can slow response times—an issue particularly critical in tall buildings.
Urban landscapes of the Middle East are rapidly expanding and evolving. Towering structures like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia have arisen as both iconic buildings representing architectural feats, as well as significant firefighting challenges that are increasingly complex.
The height of these skyscrapers adds complexity to firefighting operations. Traditional firefighting methods can quickly prove insufficient. Firefighters must contend with limited access to upper floors, where fires can spread rapidly, often driven by strong winds that fuel fire spread and smoke dissemination. Fire may also travel upwards with alarming speed, creating a race against time for responders.
High-rise construction materials, such as glass and lightweight composites, can also contribute to rapid fire spread, creating addition challenges to containment and extinguishment. This is especially critical in a region where extreme temperatures can compromise the effectiveness of firefighting equipment and personnel safety.
Additionally, a high-density urban environment also complicates search and rescue efforts. With thousands of occupants in these mega-tall structures, the potential for mass evacuations during a fire emergency poses significant logistical challenges. Many high-rise buildings are also mixed-use, housing both residential and commercial spaces, which can mean unpredictable occupancy patterns.
In addition to some of the world’s tallest buildings, the Middle East is also home to sprawling horizontal structures, including Big Box stores, distribution warehouses and large retail centers. It can be challenging to find one’s way through one of these structures with full visibility—imagine the challenge of navigating these tightly packed rows with low light and heavy smoke. Getting disoriented and not being able to find your way out is a reality firefighters often face when fires occur in these types of structures.
The need for air to survive is a human limitation on how long and how effectively a fire brigade can attack a fire. It is a limitation on how quickly they can rescue those who are trapped. It is a limitation on how long a trapped firefighter can survive.
The Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS) is a technology designed to help push the fire service beyond these limitations. FARS is a standpipe for air. It delivers breathable air to designated fill stations strategically located throughout a building. Firefighters can refill air bottles while under full respiration and return to fire attack and search and rescue operations.
As urbanization continues and more skyscrapers and sprawling horizontal structures are built, the need for innovative firefighting solutions becomes increasingly urgent FARS represent a vital advancement, providing firefighters with the necessary support to effectively combat fires in these structures, helping ensure the efficiency of emergency response teams, so they can do their job of protecting people and property.
How a FARS Works
FARS enables firefighters to refill air bottles through emergency air fill panels located throughout a structure. Air is supplied through a distribution network of stainless-steel pipes that run vertically (for high-rise structures) or horizontally (for horizontal structures) within the building.
FARS requires a dedicated air supply source, typically an on-site cascade air storage system with a specified number of air refills. This air storage system keeps air fill panels throughout the structured at-the-ready for on-demand air refills from the time firefighters arrive on the scene. When a fire brigade’s mobile air unit arrives, air is then supplied through the unit.
In high-rise buildings, fill stations are usually placed in stairwells, providing firefighters with convenient access as they ascend and descend. Firefighters can activate the system by connecting their SCBA bottles to the fill station outlets using tubing contained within the fill panel. The system is designed to refill an SCBA within two minutes while the firefighter remains on mask and on air under full respiration. Once a firefighter is on mask and on air, they can stay on mask and air using FARS.
A FARS also includes an air monitoring system that provides continuous, 24/7 monitoring o system humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrocarbons. Regular maintenance and inspections are required to help ensure the system remains operational.
Life Safety and Economic Benefits of FARS
Equipping relevant buildings with FARS provides several crucial benefits for firefighters, occupants, and building owners, including:
- Increased firefighter endurance: High-rise buildings require firefighters to remain on-site longer than in smaller structures. Installing FARS in stairwells allows for quick refills, enabling firefighters to preserve energy during extended operations.
- Faster fire suppression: A FARS enables firefighters to refill their air cylinders quickly, which is vital in large structure fires. Rapid response is crucial in mitigating the spread of flames.
- Enhanced firefighter safety: stay on mask and on air to avoid exposure to toxic smoke.
- Enhanced occupant safety: FARS provides firefighters ready access to breathable air, which is essential for effective search-and-rescue operations. It can mean rescuing more trapped occupants faster.
- Reduced property damage: Fast air replenishment contributes to quicker fire suppression and containment. The sooner a fire is controlled, the less damage occurs, allowing for quicker rehabilitation of properties—this is a particularly important factor for the numerous high-value developments across the Middle East.
Conclusion
Fire safety in tall buildings is particularly complex and critical, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions like the Middle East. A Firefighter Air Replenishment System offers vital benefits for both firefighters and building owners while helping them protect occupants and communities from the devastating impacts of high-rise building fires. By providing ready access to breathable air, FARS enables faster response times and allows firefighters to spend more time actively engaged in fire suppression efforts.
As the skyline of the Middle East continues to rise, so too must our commitment to advanced fire safety technologies that can safeguard lives and property in these architectural marvels.
Author: Jason Burley, global director, Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems, Johnson Controls
More information can be found at Johnsoncontrols.com .
