Effective Use of Two Stage Alarms

& Voice Communication Systems

Approving These in Fire Safety Plans

Sean Tracey, P.Eng., MIFireE

Canadian Regional Director

NFPA

Outline of the Presentation

• Background

• Overview of Fire Alarm Provisions

• Code provisions for voice systems• Code provisions for voice systems

• Advantages

• Hurdles

• Fire Safety Plan Considerations

• Resources

Background

• Why begin to look at this?

• National Capital Region issues• National Capital Region issues

• The selection and effective use of alarm and

comms systems has an impact on fire

ground operations

World Trade Center

Disaster September 11th, 2001

• NFPA only Standards Developer on initial BPAT

• Recommended changes from NIST changes from NIST studies being forwarded through TCs

• NFPA forms High Rise Advisory Council

Chicago Fire

October 17th, 2003

• Around 5 pm

• Storage closet on the 12th floor

• 6 fatalities• 6 fatalities

• Major recommendations

regarding sprinklering, employee

training, and fire department

operations

Fire Alarm Systems

• Purpose of a fire alarm system

– Notify occupants of a fire

– Signal indicating an emergency– Signal indicating an emergency

– Occupants to start required evacuation

– On activating give sufficient time for

evacuation.

Code Requirements

• Note: NFPA has different terminology

including general evacuation alarm, private

mode and pre-signal mode

Fire Alarm SystemsOne Stage vs. Two Stage

• Single stage: upon the operation of any

manual station, waterflow detecting device,

or fire detector, cause an alarm signal to or fire detector, cause an alarm signal to

sound on all audible signal devices in the

system

Fire Alarm SystemsOne Stage vs. Two Stage

Two stage:

a) alert signal upon the operation of any

manual station, waterflow detecting device,

or fire detector,or fire detector,

b) Automatic alarm if not acknowledged

within 5 min of its initiation, and

c) have manual stations, that causes an alarm

signal to sound

Allows supervisory staff to investigate as well can allow for

zoning

3.2.4.3. Types of Fire Alarm

Systems

A single-stage system in a Group F, Division

1 occupancy,

A 2-stage system in a Group B occupancy,

A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B, A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B,

Division 3 occupancy where the building is

3 storeys or less, and

A single- or 2-stage system in all other cases.

Technically you can have a single stage fire alarm system

in a high-rise office tower or hotel. Should this impact the

design of means of egress and fire safety plans?

• Two-stage alarm systems are normally used

if programmed evacuation is required or if a

general alarm would cause undue distress to

Fire Alarm SystemsOne Stage vs. Two Stage

general alarm would cause undue distress to

the occupants, for example in health care

facilities.

– Reduces the potential for false alarms

– In high buildings this can facilitate the staged

evacuation and thus reduce the impact of the

evacuation on the means of egress

Voice Communications SystemsNBC 3.2.6.8. High Buildings

A voice communication system conforming to

Article 3.2.4.22. shall be provided in a

building ifbuilding if

a) the floor of the top storey is more than 36 m

above grade, or

b) a floor area or part of a floor area located

above the third storey is designed or intended

for use as a Group B, Division 2 or 3

occupancy.

Voice Communications Systems

• NBC also requires those with more than

1000 occupants and having a two stage

alarm system to have voice communication alarm system to have voice communication

systems to facilitate in the evacuation and

messaging to the occupants.

• To operate the alarm system the facility is

required to establish a control facility

[3.2.6.7]

Comms Centre

Requirements

• a) a two-way means of communication with

the central alarm and control facility and to

the mechanical control centre from each

floor area, and

• b) intelligible loudspeakers operated from

the central alarm and control facility

The Problem

• Code may require a two stage alarm system

but the NFC does not mandate that this be

usedused

• This can result in inconsistent application

within a jurisdiction – impacts operations!

• The best solution is to have consistent

requirements when approving fire safety

plans

Supervisory Staff and Voice

CommsElements in the FSP

• The training of supervisory staff in the use

of the voice communication system,

• The the action to be taken by supervisory • The the action to be taken by supervisory

staff in initiating any fire emergency

systems until the fire department arrives,

• Instructions to the supervisory staff and fire

department for the operation of the systems

referred to in Clause (c), and

Problem with Supervisory Staff

Training, and Availability

• The problem is that supervisory staff may

not be adequately trained on how to use the

system and may not be confident in its use.system and may not be confident in its use.

– Property Owners let these go to alarm

– Impacts the credibility of the alarm system

• What happens when supervisory staff are

not available or after hours?

– System goes to alarm

Fire Safety Messaging by

Supervisory Staff

• Intelligible pre-recorded, synthesized, or

live messages

• shall be designed so that the alarm signal in • shall be designed so that the alarm signal in

a 2-stage fire alarm system can be

selectively transmitted to any zone or zones

while maintaining an alert signal or

selectively transmitting voice instructions to

any other zone or zones in the building

Human Behaviour During Fire

• Confidence in Emergency Procedures -

clear concise messaging by supervisory

staff ensures that the building occupants staff ensures that the building occupants

have confidence in the overall alarm system

• Voice Communications – are proven

reinforcing queues* -- reduces alarm

recognition time

Evacuating People with

Disabilities

• Fire Safety Plan should identify if this is an

issue and the procedures to follow

• Are there adequate features to allow

defence in areas of refuge?defence in areas of refuge?

Types of Evacuations

• Total

• Total –staged

• Partial

• Relocation

– Horizontal

– Vertical

Total Evacuation

ALARMALARM

Single stage evacuation of a

building

Staged Evacuation

ALARMALARM

Found with 2 stage alarms – alarm sent to

the fire floor and remaining floors in alert

notification.

Horizontal Relocation

Relocation

ALARMALARM

Relocation AreaRelocation Area

Two stage alarm - notification of fire floor

remainder of building in alert stage.

USFA Special Report Operational Considerations

for Highrise Firefighting, April 1996,

In some cases, occupants may be safest if they

remain in place or evacuate to a floor beneath the

fire floor instead of exiting the building.

Firefighters should determine as quickly as

possible in a fire incident whether a full, partial, or possible in a fire incident whether a full, partial, or

no evacuation is necessary, and communicate their

evacuation plan to occupants by using a public

address system or other means. Experience shows

that occupants will need guidance with evacuation.

Waiting until the incident to determine the evacuation

plan is too late. Needs to be part of the pre-incident plan

and therefore Fire Safety Plan.

Which Type of Evacuation?

• Occupancy type

• Risks present

• Occupant issues

Determined in the FSP for the

facility by the property owner

– but this selection impacts

FD Ops.

• Occupant issues

• Building size (both height and footprint)

• Building layout – presence of zones

• Building construction

• Protective features & alarm systems

Means of Egress Capacity &

Occupancy Load

Module 3-28 Module 3-28

An example of queuing. Photo taken by John

Labriola during WTC evacuations.

An example of cross flow. Photo taken by

John Labriola during WTC evacuations.

FD Operations

• Impact on operations

– Cross flow

– Can’t commence stairwell attack

– Staging of apparatus

• Fire service is expected to take over voice

comms on arrival

• SOPs needed when two stage alarm systems

are present with voice comms

FD Operations

• No consistent standards or procedures

adopted for this

• Need procedures on how they will direct

occupants to evacuate.occupants to evacuate.

• Has a direct impact on FD considerations

• Pre-Incident plans reflect what expectations

are of building owners

• SOPs needed to clarify this so building

owners will understand their responsibilities

Advantages of Effective Alarm

System to Tenants/Occupants

• Greater confidence in systems

• Potential for injury is reduced

• Lessens the impact of false alarms on • Lessens the impact of false alarms on

workplace productivity

Advantages of an Effective

Alarm System to Fire Services

• Proven better managed evacuations

• More effective fire ground operations

– Reduces the potential for cross flow– Reduces the potential for cross flow

– Quicker setup in stairwell

• Smoother transition to take over of facility

communications

Advantages of an Effective

Alarm System to Property Owner

• Enhanced trust in reliability of voice

systems

• Less lost time due to false alarms• Less lost time due to false alarms

• Lessens potential liability for injuries during

false alarm evacuations

• Disadvantage – need a greater emphasis on

supervisory staff training on use of the

system and messaging (technically required

by the code)

Fire Safety Plans

• Opportunity to effect change – must be

approved by the local AHJ

• Consider an SOP for when two stage alarms • Consider an SOP for when two stage alarms

with voice comms are present

– They must use the voice system

– Training & exercises for Supervisory Staff

• Examples of community fire safety plan

templates can be downloaded on the web

Additional Requirements for

FSP/Supervisory Staff Training

• Outline expectations for maintenance and

testing of the system

• Clearly identify expectations of employees • Clearly identify expectations of employees

during alert and alarm stages and

evacuation type required

• FD should consider a standardized FSP for

all fire safety plans with 2 stage alarms and

voice systems

– Example provided with the presentation

• Have a working knowledge of the building

fire and life safety systems.

• Ensure the building fire and life safety

Additional Requirements for

FSP/Supervisory Staff Training

• Ensure the building fire and life safety

systems are in operating condition.

• Arrange for a substitute in their absence.

• Daily, monthly and yearly checks of voice

and alarm systems as required by the Fire

Code

• Consider having standardized messaging or

scripts for staff to follow

• Should have staff training using realistic

Additional Requirements for

FSP/Supervisory Staff Training

• Should have staff training using realistic

scenarios to walk through the scripts

Resources

• NFPA Guide to Introduction to Employee

Fire and Life Safety 2001

• USFA Special Report: Operational

Considerations for Highrise Firefighting -

USFA-TR-082/April 1996

• 10 of the 29 scholarships to attend went to Canadians – Including 4 from BC– Including 4 from BC

• Continue to work to improve fire safety messaging

• EMAC Approved Messages - as a downloadable resource

• Fire Prevention Week Theme 2012– Fire Prevention Week - Have 2 Ways Out

PTSC-Online

• NFPA became a gold

level sponsor in 2011

• Dedicated NFPA

section on the sitesection on the site

• Use for policy

development and

sharing materials

Presentation and an opportunity to participate in

a discussion forum available at:

www.PTSC-Online.ca

Conclusion

• The effective use of voice comms with 2

stage alarm systems have been proven to

enhance confidence in the alarm systemenhance confidence in the alarm system

• Fire department operations are directly

impacted by facilities use of these systems

• Standardize practice that uses the benefits

of these systems and effective staff trainig

benefits all

CONTACTING US

• Canadian Regional Manager:

(bilingual service)Sean A. Tracey (613) 830 - 9102 (W)

(613) 841 - 1929 (F)stracey@nfpa.org

• Web sites: www.nfpa.org

Presentation and an opportunity to participate in

a discussion forum available at:

www.PTSC-Online.ca