NFPA 914 CODE FOR FIRE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES

Transcription

1 NFPA 914 CODE FOR FIRE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES Jack Watts Cultural Heritage and Fire Protection Issues Siena 23 May 2008

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5 NFPA 914 Thinking outside the box Building Regulations Developers Safety Officials NFPA 914 Preservationists Fire Protection Engineers

6 NFPA 914 Highlights Preservation Goals & Objectives Professional Expertise Dialog Compensatory Features Fire Risk Indexing Performance-based Evaluation

7 914 - Contents Chapter 1 Administration Chapter 2 Referenced Publications Chapter 3 Definitions Chapter 4 Goals and Objectives Chapter 5 Reserved Chapter 6 Security Chapter 7 Process Chapter 8 Prescriptive-Based Option Chapter 9 Performance-Based Option

8 914 - Contents, continued Chapter 10 Management Operational Systems Chapter 11 Fire Prevention Chapter 12 Additions, Alterations and Renovations Chapter 13 Fire Precautions During Construction Repair and Alternations Chapter 14 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Chapter 15 Special Events Annexes A-Q

9 914 Process Process Team Assessment Historic Elements, Spaces, and Features Fire Safety Issues Options Prevailing Prescriptive Requirements Risk Indexing Performance Approach

10 Design Options Dual-Track Approach Fire Safety Objectives Prescriptive Code Performance-Based Approach

11 914 Prescriptive Option Working with the prevailing code Alternatives Equivalency Modifications

12 Compensatory Features that may surpass building regulations Egress routes Construction materials Fire-retardant treatments Fire/smoke barriers Fire stopping Fire detection and alarm Automatic suppression Smoke control systems

13 Compensatory Features not included in regulations Fire Prevention Security Contractor activities Special events New technologies (e.g. electrical) Inspection, testing, and maintenance e.g. thermal imaging Management operational systems Chapter 10 Fire brigade response

14 Fire Risk Indexing Building regulations specify minimum requirements with no credit for superior conditions FRI balances weak and strong attributes, e.g. height, area, egress path length.

15 Fire Risk Index ATTRIBUTE GRADE WEIGHT SCORE Fire Prevention 15 % Exits / Evacuation 13 % Significance 13 % Vertical Openings 12 % Automatic Suppression 8 % Bldg Height & Construction 8 % Compartmentation 8 % Fuel (contents & finishes) 8 % Detection and Alarm 5 % Emergency Response 5 % Smoke Control 5 % TOTAL 100%

16 914 Performance Option Special Definitions Performance Criteria Retained Prescriptive Requirements Design Specifications Fire Scenarios Evaluation Safety Factors Documentation

17 Performance Evaluation Process

18 914 Annexes A. Explanatory Information B. Planning and Design Appraisal C. Survey Criteria for an Historic Structure D. Basics of Fire and Fire Protection Systems E. Project Resources F. Compliance Alternatives G. Performance Evaluation Process H. Performance Criteria

19 914 Annexes, continued I. Models and Methods J. Fire Safety Inspection Forms K. Fire System Maintenance Checklists L. Safety Factors M. Sample Adopting Ordinance N. Secretary of the Interior s Standards O. Fire Ratings of Archaic Materials P. Upgrading Wood Panel Doors

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21 Summary Historic buildings present unique fire safety challenges Regulations focus on new construction with limited attention to conservation / preservation concerns NFPA 914, Code for Fire Protection in Historic Structures, provides a framework for the application of fire safety science to cultural preservation.

22 Il Mulino Palazzo Siena Built 1246

23 Grazie