GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF INFRUSTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BUILDING ASSESSMENT REPORT FIRE FOR 75 Fox Street Building OCTOBER 2014
Report for Department of Infrastructure Development Fire Services Preliminary Report: 75 Fox Street October 2014 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION... 1 1.1 Design Criteria and Specifications... 1 1.2 Scope of the Services Scheme Report... 2 2. PROJECT SUMMARY... 2 3. FIRE SYSTEMS... 2 3.1 Fire Water System... 2 3.1.1 Details... 2 3.2 Sprinkler System... 3 3.2.1 Details... 3 3.3 Gas Suppression System... 5 3.3.1 Details... 5 3.4 Smoke Ventilation... 6 3.4.1 Details... 6 3.5 Means of Escape... 7 3.5.1 Details... 7 3.6 Structure and Compartmentation... 8 3.6.1 Details... 8 4 Recommendation... 9 i P a g e
1. INTRODUCTION The 75 Fox Street building is located at cnr. Fox and Sauer 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 75 Fox Street building, 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 10400-T, The application of the National Building Regulations Part T: Fire Protection SANS 10400-D, The application of the National Building Regulations Part D: Public safety. SANS 10400-M, The application of the National Building Regulations Part M: Stairways. SANS 10400-W, The application of the national building regulations Part W: Fire Installation SANS 543, Fire Hose Reels SANS 1186-1, Symbolic safety signs Part 1: Standard signs and General requirements SANS 10105-1, 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
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 photographic assessment only. 2. PROJECT SUMMARY 2.1 Project Description 75 Fox Street is an existing building and is comprised of three (3) basement levels, ground floor with reception, nine (9) upper floors and a roof service level. The 75 Fox Street building is a total of 49, 510m 2. The building is currently occupied and the majority of the Fire systems are active and maintained. 3. FIRE SYSTEMS 3.1 Fire Water System 3.1.1 Details The existing fire water system is operational and has been recently serviced. Existing hose reels and hydrants are installed within cupboards with fire extinguishers in all areas of the building, figure 1. Figure 1 - Existing Equipment and Signage Figure 2 Servicing The existing fire extinguishers are hung in positions depending on the risk and are specified according to the fire load, figure 3. They are suitable for use. There is existing statutory signage installed and does meet the SANS requirements for photoluminescence, figure 4. 2
Figure 3 Plant Room Hydrant Figure 4 Statutory Signage The fire extinguishers and fire hose reel have been removed from the basement level 1 electrical areas, figure 5. There is an existing combined domestic and fire water tank on the roof. The combined capacity is 54m 3 of which the lower third (18m 3 ) is dedicated fire water storage that is adequate storage capacity for fire hose reel purposes only, figure 6. Figure 5 Removed Hose Reel Figure 6 Existing combined Water Tanks 3.2 Sprinkler System There is an existing sprinkler system in the entire 75 Fox building. The main sprinkler control valves are situated in basement level 1 adjacent to the vehicle ramp into the basements with the booster connections at street level. 3.2.1 Details Sprinkler control valves are operational, figure 7. The installation is fitted with a small false alarm prevention pump. The sprinkler valves serve the following areas: Valve 1 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd floors Valve 2 8 th and 9 th floors Valve 3 7 th floor Valve4 4 th, 5 th and 6 th floors Valve 5 basements 1, 2, 3 and ground floor Valve 6 1 st to 9 th floor lift lobbies The sprinkler system was recently serviced in 2014, figure 8. 3
Figure 7 - Sprinkler ICVs Figure 8 - Sprinkler Servicing Some sprinkler spares are still in the spares cabinet but are old, figure 9. It is recommended that a sample of all sprinkler heads be tested to confirm they are still operational. The heads used for testing must be replaced with new sprinkler heads. This will apply to all types of sprinkler heads used within the building. The existing sprinkler system on the office floors is reticulated within the floor voids with vertical droppers through the slabs to the sprinkler heads, figure 10. Currently the majority of the sprinkler heads are positioned within regulation but will require repositioning should partition changes be made within the building to meet statutory requirements. If this is required the existing slab opening will require closing and the coring of new penetrations through the slabs Figure 9 - Sprinkler Spares Figure 10 Underfloor Sprinkler Range Pipes Sprinklers are positioned centrally within coffers within the coffer slab areas with some droppers being extended to accommodate false ceilings, figure 11. The basement sprinkler heads are of fusible link type, figure 12. It is recommended that all these heads be replaced with suitable new sprinkler heads to ensure suitable operation. The current sprinkler installation is supplied by the municipal water connection. A water flow test will need to be conducted to test whether the existing water supply is adequate for the sprinkler system for a nine (9) storey building such as this. Should the supply not be adequate, a new pump and water tank supply will need to be installed to meet statutory requirements. 4
Figure 11 Coffer Slab Sprinkler Heads Figure 12 Basement Sprinkler Heads 3.3 Gas Suppression System There is an existing FM200 gas suppression system in the server rooms of the 75 Fox building. The system has a stand-alone smoke detection system that initiates the system in event of fire. 3.3.1 Details The data centre on 6 th floor is protected with FM200 gas suppression, cylinders are piped into the floor voids and room space, figure 13. Each room within the data centre is similarly protected. The system was last serviced in 2011, figure 14. Figure 13 FM200 Cylinders Figure 14 FM200 Servicing The gas suppression cylinders are within operational pressure levels, figure 15. The gas cylinders were filled in 2001, figure 16. 5
Figure 15 FM200 Pressure Figure 16 FM200 Manufacturing Data The dividing walls between the data centre rooms are fire rated and extend from slab to slab to ensure independent gas suppression compartments as per regulations. 3.4 Smoke Ventilation 3.4.1 Details There is an existing basement smoke ventilation system installed. HVAC engineer to comment and ensure operation, figure 17. The office levels are ventilated through openable windows. Figure 17 Basement Level Ventilation Figure 18 Staircase Pressurization Emergency escape routes are fitted with stairwell pressurization systems at the top of the stairs, figure 18, 19. The mechanical engineer must confirm that the system is operational and meets the requirements of the standards for smoke ventilation. 6
Figure 19 - Staircase Ventilation Figure 20 - Atrium All levels of the building are connected with a central atrium, figure 20. Smoke ventilation from this atrium was not found, the atrium requires either mechanical smoke extraction or natural ventilation at the highest points in the area. 3.5 Means of Escape The 75 Fox Street building is currently served by five main fire escapes that link all floors of the building. 3.5.1 Details The final exit door to street level from the western staircase has a security gate installed stopping its use, figure 21. This is illegal and blocks the escape route from the building. This must be removed. Temporary evacuations signs have been put up in the western staircase that conflict with the existing fire signage, figure 22, and direct escape into the parking basement and not to outside the building. These must be removed and escape must be directed to the final escape door to street level, figure 21. Figure 21 Northern Escape Door Gate Figure 22 Internal Western Staircase 7
Existing emergency directional signage is installed and is suitable for use, figure 23. Hand railings are on a single side of the stairs only, figure 24, current regulations require handrails on both sides. Figure 23 Ground Floor Escape Door Figure 24 Eastern Internal Staircase The second eastern fire escape is an external staircase within a courtyard that exits on ground level, figure 25. It must be ensured that discharge from this stair is directly to outside the building. The escape doors into the staircase are fitted with redlam bolt type locking devices, figure 26. These are suitable for emergency use. Figure 25 - Eastern External Staircase Figure 26 Escape Door Redlam Bolt The number of escape routes are adequate for a population of a standard office building based on the time of construction. 3.6 Structure and Compartmentation The 75 Fox building is of concrete structure with brick internal structure. There are numerous vertical shafts and service penetrations between floors. 3.6.1 Details Fire sealing of services through firewalls is of good quality, figure 27. Should further services be pulled through these openings they will need to be resealed. Fire sealing of services in vertical service shafts is of good quality, figure 28. Should further services be pulled through these openings they will need to be resealed. 8
Figure 27 Basement Fire Sealing Figure 28 - Vertical Slab Penetration Seals Smoke baffles have been installed in the floor voids as per regulation, figure 29. All services that pass through the baffles have been smoke sealed, should further services be pulled through these openings they will need to be resealed. Figure 29 Underfloor Smoke Baffles and Cable Seals 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. Complete ground floor fire hose reel, fire hydrant and fire extinguishers installation as per SANS 10400 T/W. Test portion of sprinkler heads for compliance. Replace all heads if no longer suitable for application. Reinstate sprinkler spares cabinet and replace missing spares. Revise sprinkler layouts to suit any proposed changes to partitioning. Test domestic water supply for suitability for sprinkler system. Install new pump and tank system if required. Ensure basement and staircase smoke ventilation systems are operational Address atrium ventilation, install smoke extraction or actuated natural ventilation at roof level. Remove all security gates in escape routes. Install second hand rail within all stairwells as per SANS 10400-S. Ensure final escape from staircases is directly to outside the building. All vertical penetrations to be fire sealed Service all gas suppression equipment. 9