Applications of California Historical Building Code in Fire Safety Upgrades

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1 Applications of California Historical Building Code in Fire Safety Upgrades California Preservation Foundation 37 th Annual Conference May 3-6, 2012 Presented by: Cheryl L. Domnitch, P.E. Hughes Associates, Inc.

2 Define Project Scope, Goals & Objectives Develop/Prioritize Goals: - Life Safety - Fabric/Character Preservation - Contents Preservation - Property Protection - Continuity of Operations - Protection of Building Heritage

3 Overview of Issues As with any renovation of a historic structure, upgrading the building to absolute code compliance may be impractical. Therefore, a level of life safety different than required by the regular code may be acceptable.

4 Codes & Standards California Historical Building Code provides regulations for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, relocation or reconstruction of buildings or structures designated as qualified historical buildings or properties.

5 Compliance Approach Prescriptive Code Provisions Performance-Based Code Provisions

6 Approval Process The CHBC shall be used by any agency with jurisdiction and whenever compliance with the code is required for historical buildings or properties.

7 Case Studies Toyon Hall, Stanford University, Stanford, California Effective Installations of Automatic Sprinkler Systems - California Theatre, San Jose, California - Stuart Company Building, Pasadena, California Twohy Building, San Jose, California

8 Case Study: Toyon Hall Stanford University Automatic Sprinklers in Lieu of One-Hour Construction - CHBC, Section : Required occupancy separations of one-hour may be omitted when automatic sprinkler protection is provided throughout. - CHBC, Section :One-hour fire-resistive corridors shall not be required when automatic sprinkler protection is provided throughout.

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15 Effective Installations of Automatic Sprinkler Systems It is not desirable in Historic Structures to allow the automatic sprinkler system to be a design-build element as is typical in new construction. Design-build sprinkler installations can have a significant negative impact on the historic fabric and character of the building.

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19 Case Study: California Theatre, San Jose Installation of Automatic Sprinkler Protection Throughout Performance-Based Approach to Maintain Historic Fabric/Character of Entry Lobby

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26 Case Study: Stuart Company Building, Pasadena Installation of Automatic Sprinkler Protection Throughout Performance-Based Approach to Maintain Historic Fabric/Character of Garden Court

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32 Case Study: Twohy Building, San Jose Twohy Building: Conversion of Office Building To Loft Apartments

33 Goals and Objectives 1. Accomplish Change in Occupancy/Use 2. Retain Open Stairway 3. Retain Glazed Transoms 4. Retain Glazed Doors

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36 PBA: Life Safety Evaluation CHBC addresses a life safety evaluation for individual components, but not specifically in a holistic approach. However, the CHBC states in multiple locations, The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept solutions that are reasonably equivalent to the regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties. (Section )

37 Life Safety Evaluation NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, applied for the Twohy Building because the document afforded the only consistently recognized available tool to conduct a performance based engineering analysis. Applying the performance-based guidance within NFPA 101 required review and approval from the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

38 PBA Methodology Define goals, objectives, performance criteria Develop design fire scenarios Evaluate building conditions Develop trial designs Develop design brief (life safety analysis report)

39 Twohy Building: Fire Protection and Life Safety Upgrades Complete automatic sprinkler protection Fire detection and alarm system New enclosed exit stairway Modifications to framing at glazing on corridor transoms and doors

40 Open Stairway

41 Glazed Transoms and Doors

42 Glazed Transoms and Doors