Annual Testing of Stairwell Pressurization Systems & Other Smoke Management Systems

Transcription

1 Annual Testing of Stairwell Pressurization Systems & Other Smoke Management Systems Presented by Mike Locke, MechTech Inc. SIA All SIAs are listed in this presentation April 13,

2 Reasons for Revisions to the Testing Requirements Testing requirements are reviewed with each National Code Revision every 3 years AFD was receiving feedback that the enforcement of the annual requirements was not familiar to a number of building Owners & Managers. AFD was also receiving feedback that the testing was disruptive to the occupants of the facilities during certain portions of the testing. 2

3 Reasons for Revisions to the Testing Requirements AFD was further receiving feedback that the testing was expensive and that some of the testing agencies were not responding to requests for testing proposals in a timely manner. 3

4 AFD s response to the Owners & Managers concerns: AFD sent out a request for all Special Inspection Agencies (SIA s) to provide confidential pricing information for typical projects. As would be expected, pricing varied based on the complexity and type of system. AFD then requested ideas from SIA s for revisions that would assist in cost reduction of testing but not compromise the integrity of the intent of the stairwell pressurization Systems. 4

5 AFD s response continued: AFD reviewed the existing testing requirements and incorporated some of the ideas from the SIA s as well as pertinent sections of the 2012 and 2015 National Codes. AFD approved the Revisions to the Annual Stairwell Pressurization Testing on March 04, 2016 with the revised requirements effective on March 07, 2016 per to all AFD approved SIA Firms 5

6 Main Revisions that will effect Cost and Interruption to Occupants 1 Deleted requirement to have a Fire Alarm Contractor onsite during the testing. Frees up $ to do Annual Fire Alarm Testing right before SIA Smoke Control System Testing 6

7 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factor and Interruption to Occupants 2 Deleted the requirement for the Three (3) Stairwell and Vestibule Doors Open on 3 consecutive floors Plus an Exterior Exit Door Open Test. This requirement was causing occupant complaints and multiple tests to repair/renovate or fine tune a system to achieve the required results. 7

8 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factor and Interruption to Occupants # 2 Continued Replaced the 3 Door Open Test with a requirement for testing with All Doors Closed PLUS an Open Exterior Exit Door. This new requirement will essentially eliminate the disruption to the occupants because only the stairwells will be pressurized and air will be flowing out the exterior door. 8

9 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants 3 Deleted requirement to Retest Door Opening Forces during the 3 Door plus Exit Door Open Test. Door Opening Force Testing is Only Required during the Closed Door Test. 4 Clarified the Vestibule to Stairwell and Vestibule to Floor Pressurization Criteria as follows: 9

10 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants # 4 Continued: Previous testing requirements stated that the Vestibule to Stair and Vestibule to Floor Pressurization must be a minimum of 0.05 wg and wg respectively. This has always meant that a total of wg differential was required from the Stairwell to the Floor. 10

11 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants 4 Continued: However, testing of some of the newer buildings revealed that the relative tightness of the Vestibule to the Floor was creating a situation where the overall differential pressure was in compliance with the wg but the Vestibule to Stair differential was less than 0.05 because the differential was dependent on having an airflow path from the Vestibule to the Floor. 11

12 Illustration of Tightly Sealed Vestibule to Floor : Manual or Barometric Damper with Fire Damper To Allow Airflow from Stairwell to Vestibule Stairwell Vestibule Tightly Sealed Vestibule/Door/Threshold Causes Stairwell and Vestibule to Essentially Equalize in Pressure But Overall Pressure Differential from Stairwell To Floor is OK. Floor -.02 wg wg = Pass 12

13 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants 5 AFD provided new Testing Report format that illustrates the minimum data to be included in a SIA Report. The SIA report may include additional data but the new test forms are the minimum criteria. Please Note that the SIA is Required to Report all Test Failures and should NOT submit a report until system passes. 13

14 Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants 6 Please also Note that the Austin Fire Department is readily available to answer any questions from an SIA regarding any alternate testing for buildings constructed prior to 1996 or for any specialized systems such as a Pressure Sandwich or Atrium Exhaust. 14

15 Included in this Presentation are: 1 Minimum Test Data Forms 2 List of currently approved SIA Firms Available through AAFAME are: 1 Marked up copy of the previous Testing requirements 2 Copy of Current Testing Requirements 15

16 AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROVED BUILDING SMOKE-CONTROL SPECIAL INSPECTION AGENCIES Austin Air Balancing Corporation 1106 West 6 th Street Suite 206 Austin, Texas contact: Sutton Page or Charles Page Company has full test and balance capability. Air Technologies, Inc. P.O. Box 129 Manchaca, TX Contact: Chad Mathews, Estimator Chad@airtechtx.com Engineered Air Balance Company 4400 Piedras Drive South, Suite 150 San Antonio, Texas Contact: Gary L. Miller, P.E. gary@eabcoinc.com Company has full test and balance capability MechTech Inc. Services 102 Broad St. Unit 3149 Forney, Texas Contact: Michael D. Locke Mike.Locke@mechtechinc.com Company has full test and balance capability. PHI Service Agency, Inc W. Braker Lane, Suite G Austin, Texas Contact: Bill Kruckenberg Austin Branch Manager billk@phiservices.com Company has full test and balance capability. 1

17 TAB Technologies 3901 S. Lamar, Suite 130 Austin, Texas (office) (fax) Contact: Tyler Lewis Company has full test and balance capability TNT System Solutions, Inc P.O Box 0327 Spicewood, Texas (office) Contact: Denny Kapowitz Company has full test and balance capability. Testing Specialties, Inc Network Blvd., #124 San Antonio, Texas (office) (fax) Contact: Wes Harvey, P.E. Company has full test and balance capability. Last revision on 3/7/2016 1

18 AFD Requirements for other types of Smoke Management Systems such as Atrium Exhaust and Zoned Pressure Systems will be handled based on the original design and discussion with AFD Thank You All for your Attendance Today and Lets open the floor to questions Mike Locke (800)

19 SPECIAL INSPECTION AGENCY ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT Date Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address SUBMITTED TO Austin Fire Department Fire Marshal s Office 505 Barton Springs Road, Suite 200 Austin, TX 78704

20 CERTIFICATION PAGE Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address Certified By: Name AABB or NEBB number: Certification Expiration date: Provide seal here Date:

21 Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION REPORT Manufacturer Model Serial # Instrument Type Calibration Date

22 ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT SUMMARY Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address Function Pass Fail Comments System operates from one pull, one heat detector, one smoke detector and one water flow switch (4 devices total) Firefighter s smoke control panel operates properly Firefighter s smoke control panel is in acceptable condition. All status lights and switches function as intended System operates on emergency power Pressure difference from stair to vestibule to floor/corridor is 0.10 w.g. minimum With open ground floor exterior stairwell door pressure difference from stair to vestibule to floor/corridor is 0.10 w.g. Excess pressure relief device(s) and/or VFD pressure controls operate properly All fans, belts and control dampers inspected for proper operation and condition (belts replaced every 5 years) Control dampers/barometric dampers have proper orientation and are in good operating condition Doors latch properly and can be opened by a force of not greater than 30 lbs.

23 ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address Technician: Test Date: Stairwell ID: CLOSED DOOR TEST Floor ID Vestibule to Stair pressure (inch w.g.) Vestibule to Floor/corridor pressure (inch w.g.) Total Pressure from Stair to Floor/corridor (inch w.g.) Stair door pull (lbs.) Vestibule door pull (lbs.)

24 ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address Floor ID Technician: Stairwell ID: Vestibule to Stair pressure (inch w.g.) CLOSED DOORS PLUS OPEN GROUND FLOOR STAIR DOOR TEST Vestibule to Floor/corridor pressure (inch w.g.) Test Date: Total Pressure from Stair to Floor/corridor (inch w.g.)

25 ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address Technician: Test Date: System Activation Verification Indicate Specific Location and Fire Alarm System ID of each device Floor ID Manual pull Heat detector Smoke detector Fire sprinkler water flow

26 Special Inspection Agency Name Project Name Project Address Report Summary What year was the building constructed? If you don t know, us and ask. We will research the date of construction, the building code was enforced at the time and what the smoke control requirements were. How many floor levels and stair towers does the building have? Does the building have stair vestibules? Is there a relief vent at the top of each stair tower? Provide a general description of the building (e.g., 10 floors of open parking garage with 10 floors of office occupancies above garage level 10). Are VFD fans provided? Note any problems that you encountered. Is a follow up test or inspection by us required? Is there anything we need to know about? If you see something that is not correct, us or call us to discuss it.