Fundamental Concepts for Design of Special Hazard and Fire Alarm SystemsChapter 1

ObjectivesList the items that comprise a set of contract documents for the design of a special hazard or fire alarm systemList the categories of drawings that comprise a contract drawing packageExplain the differences among the categories of contract drawings*

Objectives (cont.)Evaluate a set of contract drawings to determine the value of each drawing relative to the accurate development of a special hazard or fire alarm system designExplain the problems associated with the designer of a special hazard or fire alarm system failing to reference drawings relevant to fire protection systems in a contract drawing package*

Objectives (cont.)List the divisions of the contract specificationsExplain the relationship between a set of contract drawings and the contract specificationsDetermine the divisions of the specifications that are of most value to the development of a fire protection system design*

Objectives (cont.)Identify the problems that could develop if the contract specifications conflict with the contract drawingsList the items that should be found in every designers survey kitPerform a survey of a building to be used for the design of a fire protection system*

Objectives (cont.)Survey and accurately determine dimensions of a reflected ceiling planSurvey a building using the structural elements as the primary points of referenceField-check a drawing of a fire protection systemPerform metric conversions where appropriate*

Objectives (cont.)Evaluate design objectives for special hazard suppression systemsKnow the characteristics that define a special hazardEvaluate branches of the Fire Safety Concepts TreeKnow the difference between prescriptive and performance-based design*

Fire Protection as a ProfessionFire professionals are dedicated to saving livesSerious errors or less than minimal fire protection can lead to deathApplication of technical knowledge is fundamentalEthical behavior on the same level as technical knowledge*

Fire Protection Engineers and TechniciansFire protection engineer: Licensed professional engineer Can apply science and engineering to protect the public from the impacts of fireFire protection technician: Achieved NICET Level III of IV certification in the appropriate subfield Knowledge, experience and skills necessary to lay out fire protection systems*

Fire Protection Engineers and Technicians (cont.)Functions of a fire protection engineerFire protection analysisFire protection managementFire science and human behaviorFire protection systemsPassive building systems*

Fire Protection Engineers and Technicians (cont.)Functions of a fire protection engineer (cont.)Evaluation of the hazards and protection schemes required to develop a workable, integrated solution to a fire safety problemPreparation of design documentsLayout of fire protection systems*

Fire Protection Engineers and Technicians (cont.) Functions of a fire protection engineer (cont.)Affixing a professional seal to documentsReview fire protection installation shop drawings for compliance with engineers designMonitor installation of fire protection systemsResponsibility for designing and maintaining competency through continued education*

Fire Protection Engineers and Technicians (cont.)Functions of a fire protection technicianThe system layout in accordance with the engineers designShop drawings in accordance with the engineers design or as otherwise permitted by state regulationsSupplemental calculations based on the engineers design*

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ): individual or agency who reviews and approves drawings and completed installationsExamples of AHJsMunicipal permitting organizationFire prevention officer of the municipalityInsurance companyGovernmental organizationCode official*

Metric Conversions, Significant Figures, and RoundingMetric Conversion Act of 1975: requires conversion to the metric system for all federal projects by 1992Buildings not designed using the metric system can cause problemsMost fire protection calculations performed with two significant figures to the right of the decimal point*

Metric Conversions, Significant Figures, and Rounding (cont.)Metric units

QuantityUnitSymbolLengthMetermMassGramgTimeSecondsTemperatureKelvinK

The National Fire Protection AssociationPublishes more than 290 codes, standards, recommended practices, and guides for fire safety and design of fire protection systemsCodes: mandatory requirement suitable for adoption into lawStandards: mandatory NFPA requirements that may be used to approve a fire protection systemRecommended practices: NFPA documents that provide nonmandatory adviceGuides: informative NFPA documents*

Oral, Written, and Graphic CommunicationFire protection professionals depend on the ability to clearly communicate complex ideas to a wide audienceCommunications skills include written communication, oral communication, and graphic communication*

Graphic Communication: Drawing Fire Protection SystemsGraphic communication - conveyed through drawingsDrawing: graphic representation of a designers ideasComputer-aided design (CAD): computerized method of preparing drawingsFire protection system drawings are drawn to scale*

Graphic Communication: Drawing Fire Protection Systems (cont.)Figure 1-1 Computer aided design process for fire drawings

Graphic Communication: Drawing Fire Protection Systems (cont.)Figure 1-4. An architects scale is needed for design of fire protection systems

Graphic Communication: Drawing Fire Protection Systems (cont.)Drawing medium - the reproducible surface on which a drawing existsSize of the print medium must be larger than the drawing you are printing, to allow room for notes and a title blockCover sheet of a contract drawing contains a wealth of information for the fire protection designer*

Site (Underground) DrawingsCivil drawings: coordinate underground utilities entering and leaving a building or group of buildingsProfile plan: shows reference elevations with respect to finished gradeInvert elevation: references the bottom of a pipe with respect to the reference elevation*

Architectural PlansArchitectural drawings: drawings that show dimensions of walls, floors, ceilings, and other building featuresPlan job: design performed using new architectural plans as the basis for designSurvey job: a project involving an existing building for which plans cannot be obtained*

Structural DrawingsStructural drawings: provide details related to the floors, roof, and structural elements of a buildingFoundation plans: show floor and wall structural details and sectional viewsFraming plans: show beam and joist size and elevation*

HVAC DrawingsHVAC drawings: heating, ventilating, and air conditioning drawingsSupply diffuser: ceiling element used to distribute fresh air to a roomReturn diffuser: ceiling element used to draw stale air from a roomPlenum space: space above a suspended ceiling that is kept under negative pressure for return air*

Plumbing DrawingsDesignated in the contract set with a P prefixMay show fire protection system piping layout or schematicWater supply and other fire protection-related information may be in the plumbing general notes*

Fire Protection Contract DrawingsStrong preference in the profession to display all fire protection and detection requirements on a separate set of contract drawings*

Electrical DrawingsContract drawing set has an E prefixUseful to special hazard and fire alarm system designersProvide the location and power requirements of lighting and other electrical devicesLocations of other electrical devices may also be shown on electrical drawings*

SpecificationsDeveloped by architects and engineers fromStandardized computer specification database Revisions to specifications for a project that may conflict with the contract drawingsPerformance specification: a general specification that provides the minimum information necessary to estimate, design, and install a fire protection system*

Specifications (cont.)Detailed specification: requirements for the design of a fire protection systemLittle latitude for interpretation or alternativesSpecification divisions: categories of building component groupings standardized by the Construction Specifications InstituteSpecification sections: detailed requirements for each CSI division*

Specification Division Numbers and TitlesProcurement and Contracting Requirements GroupGeneral Requirements SubgroupFacility Construction SubgroupFacility Services SubgroupSite and Infrastructure SubgroupProcess Equipment Subgroup*

Specification Division Numbers and Titles (cont.)Fire protection systems and fire alarm systems are within Division 21Formerly part of Division 15Change resulted in better coordination and reduced conflict between two different contractors or subcontractors*

Fire Protection SurveysSurvey: investigation of a building and its components to take detailed measurements of the building as a reference for a fire protection drawingGet your bearingsDetermine the general building layoutBring proper survey equipment*

Fire Protection Surveys (cont.)Figure 1-11. Survey equipment

Fire Protection Surveys (cont.)Survey building detailsDevelop a system design strategyBuilding elevations and ceiling measurementsWater supply informationDraw the building, layout the system, field-check the drawing and inspect the system after installation*

Automatic Sprinkler SystemsHistorically successful in protecting life and protecting hazards that are capable of being protected by waterFall into three categoriesLight hazard (churches, hospitals, schools)Ordinary hazards (parking garages, laundries, shopping centers)Extra hazard (saw mills, textile operations, paint dipping)*

Special Hazard Suppression SystemsProtects hazards not amenable for protection by an automatic sprinkler systemSpecial hazard categoriesLarge quantities of flammable liquidsFacilities containing valuable or irreplaceable commoditiesFacilities where water may pose a danger*

Special Hazard Suppression Systems (cont.)Special hazard categories (cont.)Automatic sprinkler systems are not always fast enough for effective suppressionMobile facilities where the transport of water is unfeasibleFacilities where service loss is intrinsically linked to facility loss or water damageFacilities where high-tech research lost by fire or water damage could be significantly more than the dollar loss*

Design Approaches for Special Hazard DesignRequires evaluation of design objectives and design concepts, and implementation of design methodologyDesign objectivesProperty protection and preservationLife safety and preservationBusiness continuityProtection of the environment*

Design Approaches for Special Hazard Design (cont.)Design concepts: Fire Concepts Safety Tree (see Figure 1-13, Page 40)Design methodologiesPrescriptive design: direct use of national, local, or manufacturer standards to design a suppression or detection systemPerformance-based design: an engineering approach to fire protection design (see Figure 1-14, Page 43)

Figure 1-14. Steps in the Performance-Based Analysis and the Conceptual Design Procedure for Fire Protection DesignDesign Approaches for Special Hazard Design (cont.)*

SummaryMust understand differences between a fire protection engineer and a fire protection technicianKnowledge of oral and written communication and media is essential, particularly computer-aided designContract documents consist of contract drawings and specifications*

Summary (cont.)Contract drawings consist of the cover sheet and civil, architectural, structural HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and electrical drawingsAll documents used to minimize conflicts or omissions that could affect performance of a fire protection systemSpecifications generally take precedence over contract drawings*

Summary (cont.)Specifications divided into specification divisionsSpecifications for fire suppression systems are located in Division 21Fire alarm systems are in Division 28An organized and well-planned strategy for conducting a survey assures a successful result*

Summary (cont.)Fundamental approaches, objectives, concepts, and methodologies related to special hazard and fire alarm design must be understood and evaluated before commencing design*