Fire SafetyBy 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 Codes

• NFPA101: Life Safety Code

• NFPA 70: National Electrical Code

• NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm Code

• NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Windows

Evacuation

Egress Component Description Comment

Exit access a clearly outlined pathway to exitMust remain clear of smoke;

minimum clear wheelchair access of 32”

Vertical Egress smoke proof towers, exterior and interior stairs and ramps

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 p331

Code Provisions for Low Rise Building Evacuation

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 todelay 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

•Also, interior openings allow the smoke to rise away from occupants

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.

Fig1. [Untitled photograph of NFPA logo]. Retrieved September 1, 2010, from: http://www.nfpa.org/