Fire Safety By Alicia Civile and Alexandra Fernandez

Fire Safety By Alicia Civile and Alexandra Fernandez

Fire Safety Design & Objectives • When a building is designed to resist the start and spread of a fire, designers protect not only the building itself and its contents, but more important the lives of people who occupy the building. • To react safely to a fire emergency, a building occupant needs early warning, the means to extinguish a small fire, and at least two ways out of the building. Once a fire has started, people may only have a few minutes to get out safely. • As a result, people may panic, but they need to get to a door immediately. The design of the building may help, or it may lead to a dead end, trapping them inside.

Fire Safety Design & Objectives • Fire Safety Objectives • The most common fire safety objectives, in order of importance, are: • 1. protection of life • 2. protection of property • 3. continuity of operation

Fire Safety Overview • Fire Safety Provisions • Alarms • Barriers • Dampers • Fire Rated Doors • Evacuation Plans • Extinguishers / Extinguishing Systems

Fire Safety Overview • Fire Safety Organizations • NFPA National Fire Protection Association • OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration • ADAAG Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines • USFA United States Fire Administration • UL Underwriters Laboratories Fig. 1

Fire Safety Codes • NFPA 101: Life Safety Code • NFPA 70: National Electrical Code • NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm Code • NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Windows

Evacuation Code Provisions for Low Rise Building Evacuation Egress Component Description Exit access a clearly outlined pathway to exit Vertical Egress smoke proof towers, exterior and interior stairs and ramps Comment Must remain clear of smoke; minimum clear wheelchair access of 32” Does not include elevators Horizontal Egress Doors leading directly outside, two hour fire rated enclosed hallways Special horizontal exits: internal firewalls with two fire doors swinging in opposite directions Exit Discharge Area outside exits leading to public way Exit discharge provisions rarely affect interior projects Binggeli Table 15 -3 CODE PROVISIONS FOR EVACUATION OF LOW RISE BUILDINGS p 331

Evacuation • Escape Routes • Stairs + Corridors: slow fire and guide occupants out of building • Exits Objectives • Offer more than one route out • limit distance to exit

Evacuation • Areas of Refuge • Provides a safe place for those in need of assistance to await help. • Should be free of smoke, gas, heat, and fire • ADAAG titled areas of rescue assistance • Horizontal Exit • Does not lead to building exterior • Leads to safety in separate part of building or adjoining building on same level

Evacuation • Vertical Openings • The vertical opening enclosures serve to delay the spread of fire and are vital in preventing the rapid flow of smoke, death-dealing gases, and superheated air throughout the building Stairs, elevators, ductwork, electrical wiring, piping chases • Required to be enclosed with fire-rated walls • Must include self closing fire rated doors on each floor

Evacuation • Vertical Openings • May include exterior exits that allow smoke & fire to escape outside

Evacuation • Outdoor Exit Routes • Outdoor exit routes are permitted but must meet the minimum height and width requirement for indoor exit routes and must: • Have guardrails to protect unenclosed sides if a fall hazard exists • be reasonably straight and have smooth, solid, substantially level walkways • Not have a dead-end longer than 20 feet

Evacuation • Emergency Exits and Signage • Exit or directional signs must be at: • Exit doors • Corridor intersections • Exit stairways or ramps • Interior and exterior exits must be marked • exit signs must always be illuminated • Exterior exit doors must open out

Evacuation • Emergency Exits and Signage • Exterior exit doors must have panic hardware • Landings and stairs must have hand rails • Exit routes must be adequately lighted • Floor surfaces must be clear of all hazardous items that

Evacuation • Fire Doors • Fire doors include push bars, hinges, closing devices, latches • Required in educational facilities • Objective: Stall the spread of fire to allow for evacuation • ADA requirement: push force required to open door must not exceed five pounds

Evacuation • Corridors and Paths of Egress • Exit route ceilings must be at least 7’ 6” high • Exit access must be at least 28” wide at all points • Placing equipment in corridors is not feasible • Exit route doors must be unlocked from the inside

Materials • Construction Materials • Exit must be separated by fire resistant materials • Construction materials which separate the exit from other parts of the workplace must have one-hour fire resistance-rating if the exit connects three or fewer stories • Materials must be chosen according to their performance in standard test methods • Objective: • contain fire • retain structural integrity

Fire Dampers + Draft Stops + Firestops • Fire Dampers • Part of HVAC ductwork • Stops ductwork airflow during emergencies • Controls smoke, heat, and fire from passing through ductwork • Fire damper must be included when duct perforates fire rated assembly

Fire Dampers + Draft Stops + Firestops • Draft Stops • Bingelli states that they are “required in combustible construction to close off large, concealed spaces” • Create independent spaces and prevent airflow • Firestops • Bingelli states they “restrict the passage of smoke, heat, and flames in concealed spaces” • Protect pipes and wires which pass through walls

Compartmentation and Fire Barriers • Compartmentation • “Prevents the spread of fire, smoke, and heat beyond a restricted area of the building. ” • Preserves building and inhabitants • Fire Barriers • Fire rated structural elements • Wall, ceiling, or floor systems • Prevent the spread of fire and heat

Compartmentation and Fire Barriers • Firewalls • Stop the spread of fire from building to building or building sections • 3 -5 hour rating

Smoke Detection + Extinguishing • Fire Alarm Systems • Automatic fire alarm systems are regulatory in educational institutions • Manual pull stations should additionally be present in case fire is noticed prior to system detection • Smoke Detectors • Prevent death from smoke and poisonous gas inhalation

Smoke Detection + Extinguishing • Sprinkler Systems • Require water supply and standby power • NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems • Send out water and sound alarm upon start of use • Fire Extinguishers • Stop small fires at their source • Must be within 75’ of occupant

Works Cited Binggeli, Corky. (2009). Building systems for interior designers. Wiley. Fig 1. [Untitled photograph of NFPA logo]. Retrieved September 1, 2010, from: http: //www. nfpa. org/