GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF INFRUSTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF INFRUSTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BUILDING ASSESSMENT REPORT FIRE FOR 69 PRESIDENT SEPTEMBER 2014

2 Report for Department of Infrastructure Development Fire Services Preliminary Report: 69 President September 2014 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION Design Criteria and Specifications Scope of the Services Scheme Report PROJECT SUMMARY FIRE SYSTEMS Fire Water System Details Sprinkler System Details Smoke Ventilation Details Means of Escape Details Structure and Compartmentation Details Fire Fighting Services Details Recommendation i P a g e

3 1. INTRODUCTION 69 President is located at cnr. President and Simmonds Streets, Johannesburg, Gauteng (see Locality Map). Figure 1: Locality Map The project brief, as issued by Gauteng Funding Agency (GFA), was to conduct an initial assessment of the building fire infrastructure and systems of 69 President, and to provide recommendations regarding the repairs and renovations of the building. 1.1 Design Criteria and Specifications This project will be implemented in compliance with all the requirements of the National Building Regulations and the new SANS10400, with specific focus on Part T of the regulations. The entire assessment shall be carried out in accordance with relevant SANS codes applicable for the facility: SANS T, The application of the National Building Regulations Part T: Fire Protection SANS D, The application of the National Building Regulations Part D: Public safety. SANS M, The application of the National Building Regulations Part M: Stairways. SANS W, The application of the national building regulations Part W: Fire Installation SANS 543, Fire Hose Reels SANS , Symbolic safety signs Part 1: Standard signs and General requirements 1

4 SANS , The use and control of fire-fighting equipment Part 1: Portable and wheeled (mobile) fire extinguishers. SANS 1910, Portable refillable fire extinguishers SANS 10287, Automatic sprinkler installations for fire-fighting purposes 1.2 Scope of the Services Scheme Report This report deals with the fire services to be implemented based on the existing systems and proposed architectural changes to the building, this is photo assessment only. 2. PROJECT SUMMARY 2.1 Project Description 69 President is an existing building and is comprised of a basement services level, ground floor with reception, two above ground parking levels, twenty seven (27) upper floors and an eleventh floor service level. The 69 President building is a total of 30,765m 2. The building is currently in a state of disrepair and appears to have been in the process of being refurbished. The majority of the services, Fire systems included, have been stripped, damaged or demolished. 3. FIRE SYSTEMS 3.1 Fire Water System Details The existing fire water system is non-operational due to non-completion theft and damage. Existing hose reels in the eastern staircase are damaged and not connected to the water supply and have missing hoses and valves, figure 1. New hose reels are on site for installation at the western staircase but the majority have not been installed, figure 2. Figure 1 - Existing Hose Reel Figure 2 New Fire Hose reels 2

5 The new hose reels that have been installed have not been connected to the fire water mains, figure 3. The last service on the fire water system was in 2007, figure 4. Figure 3 - New Hose Reel Installed Figure 4 - Last Service All portable fire extinguishers have been removed, figure 5. The existing fire water tank has had valves removed, figure 6. The fire water storage tank does not have adequate storage capacity for firefighting purposes. A new fire water supply tank and diesel pump will be required to supply a minimum of one hydrant and 2 hose reels for at least 120 minutes. Figure 5 - Missing Fire Extinguisher Figure 6 Existing Water Tanks The existing diesel fire water pump has been damaged and is not operational, figure 7. This pump will need to be replaced with a new diesel powered fire water pump suitable for supplying the hydrants at the highest point within the building as per current standards. The motor of the jockey pump has been removed, figure 8. Both the pump and motor require replacement to meet current standards. 3

6 Figure 7 - Fire Water pump motor Figure 8 - Fire Water Jockey Pump The pump control equipment has been damaged and all wiring has been stripped from the control panels, figures 9 and 10. All will need to be replaced along with the pumps themselves. Figure 9 Pump Controller Figure 10 - Pump control Equipment There are currently no fire hydrants installed on any levels of the building, figure 11. The current fire hydrant supply system is designed with a pressure reducing system every 10 floors. This system has been removed and will need to be reinstated to make the system active, figure 12. Alternatively the installation of a multi-stage pump will eliminate the need for this. Figure 11 - Hydrants Not Installed Figure 12 - Pressure reducing systems removed 4

7 There is no statutory fire signage installed indicating fire equipment. There is currently no means of fighting a fire should one occur in the building. 3.2 Sprinkler System There is an existing sprinkler system in the basement areas of the 69 President building. The main sprinkler control valve is situated within the fire pump room Details The entire basement sprinkler system is non-operational due to theft and damage. Sprinkler control valve is not operationa0l and has no pressure, figure 9. All sprinkler spares have been taken from the spares cabinet. The fire pump control panel has been stripped of all wiring, (figure 10). Figure 13 - Sprinkler ICV Figure 14 - Sprinkler Alarm Gong The basement sprinkler protection seems intact and could possibly be reused after pressure testing to confirm its status, figure 15, 16. Adjustments to the sprinkler layout will be required to suit the revised layouts with the basement to meet statutory requirements, figure 15, 16. Figure 15 - Missing Sprinkler Heads Figure 16 - Sprinkler Range Pipes The requirements of the current SANS Part T requires sprinkler protection in an office building over 30m in height with floors over 500 m 2. The existing floor area is over 700m 2 per level, hence requires sprinklers. However, separating the floors into areas of 500m 2 and less will comply with the regulations without sprinkler protection since it is an existing building. This can be done be places a class B fire door at the entrance to each floor at gridline 11 of the architects drawings. Alternatively a new sprinkler system can be installed throughout the building. 5

8 3.3 Smoke Ventilation Details The existing basement smoke ventilation system is not operational. HVAC engineer to comment and ensure operation. Ventilation of the parking levels is through open sections on all sides. These are in good condition and comply with regulation, figure 17. The exiting windows are not openable, figure 18. All floor areas are to be compartmented into areas of 500m 2 or less to meet the requirements of SANS for smoke ventilation. Alternatively mechanical smoke ventilation will be required. Figure 17 Parking Level Ventilation Figure 18 Office level Windows Staircase ventilation for the eastern staircases is done through large louvers at the top of the stairwells. These are in good condition but do not comply with regulations for a building over 30m in height, figure 19. A mechanical pressurization system is required to be installed in the staircase. Staircase ventilation for the western staircases is done through small louvers along the height of the stairwells. These do not comply with regulations for a building over 30m in height, figure 20. A mechanical pressurization system is required to be installed in the staircase. Figure 19 - Eastern Staircase Ventilation Figure 20 - Western Staircase Ventilation 6

9 3.4 Means of Escape The 69 President building is currently served by two enclosed fire escapes that link all floors of the building. The eastern stair discharges in the main building lobby, the western stair discharges into occupied space on ground level Details Hand railings in the staircases have been damaged and there are sections missing (figure 21). These require repairs or replacement. Hand railings are on a single side of the stairs only, current regulations require handrails on both sides. Surfaces of stair treads are damaged and not suitable for use (figure 22). Repairs are required. Figure 21 - Western Staircase Handrails Figure 22 - Western Staircase Treads The existing eastern steel staircase has not been maintained and the treads are sagging, figure 23. Structural engineer to confirm that they are safe for use. Access doors into the eastern stairwell are in process of being replaced with fire doors, the frames are installed but no doors, figure 24. The frames do not comply with the regulations for class B fire doors, the rebates are less than the requires 25mm. Figure 23 Eastern Steel Staircase Figure 24 Eastern Staircase Fire Door Frame 7

10 Access doors into the eastern stairwell are in process of being replaced with fire doors, the frames are not installed yet, figure 25. There are several security gates in both staircases, figure 26. These do not comply with regulations and must all be removed. Figure 25 - Western Staircase Fire Door Figure 26 - Security gates The number of escape routes are adequate for a population of a standard office building based on the time of construction. The eastern staircase requires direct access to outside the building without exiting into occupied office space. There is no statutory fire signage installed indicating escape routes. 3.5 Structure and Compartmentation The 69 President building is of concrete structure with brick internal structure. There are numerous vertical shafts and service penetrations between floors Details All HVAC vertical ducts have access doors on each floor, the existing doors do not comply with the requirements for fire separation between the ducts and floors, figure 27. All of these access doors need to have minimum rating of 120 minutes. All vertical electrical ducts require fire sealing, they are currently all open between floors, figure 28. Figure 27 HVAC Duct Access Doors Figure 28 - Vertical Slab Penetrations 8

11 HVAC dampers been installed where ducts enter the service shafts, figure 29. However all dampers are not mounted against the wall of the duct. All fire dampers are to be repositioned so that they are either built into the wall or are flush up against it. The external curtain wall runs continuously between floors with no separation between floors, figure 30. This is creating a flue between all floors that will result in rapid spread of fire between all floors. This space between the curtain wall and slab requires fire sealing both above and below the floor slab with an insulated panel in between the seals. This is a critical issue and needs to be addressed immediately. Figure 29 - Fire Dampers Figure 30 - Unsealed Curtain Wall 3.6 Fire Fighting Services It must be ensured that the fire department has safe access to a building for firefighting purposes Details It appear that the existing service lift is being enclosed behind fire doors, figure 31, indicating that it will be used as a fireman s lift. These fire doors are only installed on one floor and the installation has not been completed, no door closers and iron monger have been installed. Figure 31 - Fireman s Lobby Fire doors Figure 32 - Fireman s Lift Controller HVAC ducts that are entering into the kitchen area adjacent to the fire doors are not installed with fire dampers. To create the safe environment of a fireman s lobby, such dampers must be installed. 9

12 4 Recommendation The critical remedial work required to meet the minimum national fire standard is recommended and a high level budgetary cost for the remedial work is presented. Install new fire hose reels, fire hydrants and fire extinguishers as per SANS T/W. Install new diesel fire water booster pump and 160m 3 storage tank. Replace main Sprinkler control valve to current regulations. Revise and repair sprinkler installation to suit regulations, all piping to be painted and supported as per regulations. Reinstate sprinkler spares cabinet and replace missing spares. Pressure test existing mains pipework to ensure compliance with regulations. Install new sprinkler system throughout or compartment all office levels into compartments of 500m 2 or less. Reinstate basement smoke ventilation system. Install new statutory fire signage throughout. Repair/ replace existing handrails in stairwells. Remove all security gates in escape routes. Structural engineer to comment or structural integrity of eastern steel staircase. Install new pressurization systems in both stairwells. Install second hand rail within all stairwells as per SANS S. Repair damaged surfaces of all stairs. Complete installation of fire doors to all escape stairs. Eastern staircase requires direct exit to outside the building, layout to be revised to suite. All vertical penetrations through floor slab to be fire sealed All HVAC ducting to have fire dampers correctly installed at entry to vertical service ducts. Replace all HVAC service duct doors Enclose goods lift to be converted to fireman s lift within fireman s lobby with suitable class B fire doors and fire dampers. Fire seal curtain wall on all levels to ensure smoke barrier between floors. 10