Moving Target: A Case Study in Providing Fire Protection Below a Reconfigurable Concert Hall Seating System. Part 1: Concept Design

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Rosa Hines
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2 Moving Target: A Case Study in Providing Fire Protection Below a Reconfigurable Concert Hall Seating System Part 1: Concept Design 2

3 Amy L. Porter, P.E. (TX,VA, NM) AND Michael Wojcik, P.E. (AZ, CO, MA, NM) 3

4 Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Premier concert venue in San Antonio Recently completed $203 million renovation Updates included installation of a Gala System 4

5 Tobin Center Gala System Independent movement of 27 rows Seats can be stored below the flooring when not in use 5

6 Tobin Center Gala System 6

7 Tobin Center Gala System Floor to ceiling range 7 ft. 6 in. -19 ft. Single row travel range 5 ft ft. 6 in. 3 ft. clear zone required below equipment

8 Tobin Center Gala System 8

9 Code Challenges Sprinkler protection required Accessible Combustibles and ignition sources present Supply air plenum Supply air to auditorium from below floor Non-plenum rated combustibles present Limited Access for Firefighting 9

10 Stakeholder Requirements -Egress assembly population- Incipient detection for early action Minimize false alarms/unnecessary discharge Control a single fire event by: Protecting under two most extreme configurations Non-hazardous system discharge Avoid systems with finite discharge limits or provide remote backup UL listed and/or FM approved Designed, signed and sealed by a P.E. Installation complete in 6 months 10

11 Fire Protection Considerations Hazard Definition Complex Geometry Multiple Configurations Obstructions Openings Movement 11

12 Hazard Definition Ceiling Mounted Chairs Floor Mounted Cable Trays and Motors 12

Fire Load Combustible Properties Values Units Number of Seats 736 Seats Theater Seating Vertical Panels Cables Wooden Railings Total less than 1,134 MJ/m 2 Theater Seating Low Fire Load Combustible

50 MJ/kg Wool Fire Load / Seat 10.28 MJ Total Theater Seating Fire Load 127,000 MJ Values Total Fire Load 275,000 MJ Floor Area 702 m 2 Fire Load / Floor Area 392 MJ/m 2 Foam Density 59.

13 Fire Load Combustible Properties Values Units Number of Seats 736 Seats Theater Seating Vertical Panels Cables Wooden Railings Total less than 1,134 MJ/m 2 Theater Seating Low Fire Load Combustible Properties Values Units Number of Seats 736 Seats Wool Density 0.68 kg/m 2 Seat Surface Area 0.74 m 2 Wool Cover Mass (Density x Volume) 0.50 Kg Heat of Combustion MJ/kg Wool Fire Load / Seat MJ Total Theater Seating Fire Load 127,000 MJ Values Total Fire Load 275,000 MJ Floor Area 702 m 2 Fire Load / Floor Area 392 MJ/m 2 Foam Density 59.0 kg/m 3 Cushion Volume m 3 Cushion Mass (Density x Volume) 2.18 kg Heat of Combustion (H c ) MJ/kg Foam Fire Load / Seat (Mass x H c ) MJ Theater Seating Plywood Density 9 Wood Volume / seat kg/m 3 m 3 Wooden Frame Mass (Density x Volume) Kg Heat of Combustion MJ/kg Plywood Fire Load / Seat MJ Wool Density 0.68 kg/m 2 Seat Surface Area 0.74 m 2 Wool Cover Mass (Density x Volume) 0.50 Kg Heat of Combustion MJ/kg Wool Fire Load / Seat MJ Total Theater Seating Fire Load 127,000 MJ Plywood Density kg/m 3 Wood Volume / Panel (full row) 0.34 m 3 Protective Mass / Panel (Density x Volume) 186 Kg Vertical Heat of Combustion Panels MJ/kg Plywood Fire Load / Panel 2,197 MJ Total Plywood Panel Fire Load 56,020 MJ Heat of Combustion (H c ) MJ/kg 10 AWG Cable Weight kg/m 16 AWG Cable Weight kg/m Group 1 Cable Length m Group 1 Cable Mass kg Group 1 Fire Load MJ Units Cables Group 2 Cable Length m Group 2 Cable Mass kg Group 2 Fire Load MJ Group 3 Cable Length m Group 3 Cable Mass kg Group 3 Fire Load MJ Total Cables Fire Load 9690 MJ Plywood Density kg/m 3 Wood Volume / Railing Board 6.40 m 3 Mass / Railing Board (Density x Wooden Volume) 3,460 Kg Automatic Railings Heat of Combustion MJ/kg Plywood Fire Load / Railing Board 40,900 MJ Total Railing Board Fire Load 81,700 MJ Total Fire Load b 275,000 MJ Floor Area 702 m 2 Fire Load / Floor Area 392 MJ/m 2 * Vondrasek, R., Confinement of Fire in Buildings, NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 20 th Edition, p

14 Hazard Classification Light Hazard OH1 OH2 Low Combustibility Low Combustibility Moderate/High Combustibility Low Quantity of Combustibles Moderate Quantity of Combustibles Moderate/High Quantity of Combustibles Maximum 8 ft. Piles Maximum 12 ft. Piles Low HRR Moderate HRR Moderate HRR High HRR for Piles up to 8 ft. Examples: Theaters, Auditoriums, libraries (except large stack rooms), restaurant seating areas Examples: Restaurant service areas, automobile parking and showrooms, bakeries, laundries Examples: Barns, stables, large library stack rooms, paper processing plants, stages, wood product assembly spaces * Classification Information per NFPA 13, 2013 edition, Section 5 and Appendix Material 14

15 Fire Protection Considerations Hazard Definition Complex Geometry Multiple Configurations Obstructions Openings Movement 15

16 Obstructions 16

17 Openings HVAC System Vents 1/8-1/2 in. gaps surround each platform All openings nonsealable Gaps and Openings 17

18 Fire Protection Considerations Hazard Definition Complex Geometry Multiple Configurations Obstructions Openings Movement 18

19 System Movement Ceiling Elevation Seat Rotation Spinning Hinges Sliders Daily-weekly movement 19

20 Performance Based Solution 20

21 Solution: Concept Remove/Minimize Ignition Sources High voltage only present while in motion Minimize other power while occupied Supplement Firefighting with Dedicated Standpipe Connections Detection and Suppression Air-Aspirating Smoke Detection Linear Heat Detection High-Pressure Water Mist 21

22 Detection and Suppression Zoned Deluge Water-Mist Double Interlocked with Smoke and Heat Detection Ensure fire signature for activation Multiple warnings prior to system discharge Zoning Concept Zone defined as the length of two adjacent rows Mist discharge on front of two rows Heat detection determines activation zone Fire zone plus two adjacent to encapsulate event 22

23 Air Aspirating Detection Set to data center-like sensitivity levels Four tiers of notification Alert: Notifies staff Action: AHU Shut down Fire 1: Initiate A/Vs Fire 2: One component of double interlock for water mist suppression system activation 23

24 Air Aspirating Detection Detector rides while carrier cable trays protect wiring Pyrotechnics mode Interrupt A/Vs, retain system interlock 24

25 Linear Heat Detection Low Temperature for Early Detection Initiates Building Fire Alarm Interlock Component that Determines Water Mist Activation Zone 25

26 High Pressure Water Mist Emulates Total Flooding Small droplet size High velocity discharge Direct line of sight not required Nozzles Listed for OH1 Non-hazardous discharge Minimize water damage 26

27 High Pressure Water Mist Positive displacement fire pumps Continuous application FM Approved No integrity/hold time required 27

28 High Pressure Water Mist Moves with System using High Pressure Flex Hoses Not Listed, but previously used in FM insured applications 28

29 Conclusion: Evaluation Sprinkler protection required Zoned deluge, high-pressure water mist Supply air plenum Early detection, notification and action Suppression for incipient/early fire Limited Access for Firefighting Early detection, notification and action Supplemental standpipe connections 29

30 Conclusion: Stakeholders -Egress Assembly Population- Incipient detection for early action Minimize false alarms/unnecessary discharge Control a single fire event by: Protecting under two most extreme configurations Non-hazardous system discharge Avoid systems with finite discharge limits or provide remote backup UL listed and/or FM approved Designed, signed and sealed by a P.E. Installation complete in 6 months 30

31 Conclusion Performance based design solution: Maintains the level of fire protection intended by code for the Tobin Center Gala System occupants without compromising the flexibility afforded by such a unique seating/flooring system. 31

32 Thank You! Any Questions? 32

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