GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF INFRUSTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BUILDING ASSESSMENT REPORT FIRE FOR LIBRARY HOTEL OCTOBER 2014
Report for Department of Infrastructure Development Fire Services Preliminary Report: Library Hotel Oct 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 Smoke Ventilation... 3 3.2.1 Details... 3 3.3 Means of Escape... 3 3.3.1 Details... 3 3.4 Structure and Compartmentation... 4 3.4.1 Details... 4 4 Recommendation... 4 i P a g e
1. INTRODUCTION Library Hotel is located at cnr. Commissioner and Fraser Streets, Johannesburg, Gauteng (see Locality Map). Figure 1: Locality Map The project brief, as issued by Gauteng Funding Agency, was to conduct an initial assessment of the building fire infrastructure and systems of Library Hotel, 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 1
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 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 Library Hotel is an existing multi-level building and is comprised of ground floor, upper floors and a service level. The Library Hotel building is a total of 2349 m 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 or demolished. 3. FIRE SYSTEMS 3.1 Fire Water System 3.1.1 Details The entire fire water system is non-operational. All hose reels have been completely removed, figure 2. All portable fire extinguishers have been removed, figure 1. All hydrants have been removed from the vertical riser pipes. There is no indication of a pump or tank supply for the fire water system. 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. Figure 1 Extinguisher Mounting Board Figure 2 Hose Reel Location 2
3.2 Smoke Ventilation 3.2.1 Details The main central stair has no ventilation and is open to each floor Smoke ventilation on the floors is by openable windows (figure 3, 4), these are not in working condition and many have been removed. Figure 3 Openable Windows Figure 4 Removed windows 3.3 Means of Escape The Library Hotel building is currently served by a central fire escape stair that is not enclosed and is open on all levels. There was an additional staircase to the west of the building that has been demolished. 3.3.1 Details Hand railings are on a single side of the stairs only, current regulations require handrails on both sides. The northern fire escape stair has been demolished, figure 6. The central staircase is open to all levels, figure 5. This stairwell needs to be enclosed into a fire compartment to ensure integrity of the emergency route and limit fire spread between levels. Hand railings in the staircases have been damaged and there are sections missing (figure 11). These require repairs or replacement. There is no statutory fire signage installed indicating escape routes. Figure 5 - Central Staircase Figure 6 - Northern Staircase The number of safe escape routes are not adequate for a population of a standard office building. The demolished staircase is required for adequate means of escape. The central stair has no smoke ventilation, ventilation will be required once enclosed. 3
3.4 Structure and Compartmentation The Library Hotel building is of concrete structure with brick internal structure. There are numerous vertical shafts and service penetrations between floors. 3.4.1 Details There are several areas of damaged slabs, structural engineer needs to comment on structural stability in terms of a fire situation. There are many old service penetrations through floor slab (figure 7), all openings through slabs require fire sealing rated to 120 minutes. Figure 7 Vertical Openings 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 10400 T/W. Install new fire water booster pump and storage tank. Install new statutory fire signage throughout. Repair/ replace existing handrails in stairwells. Enclose central fire escape stair and add natural ventilation at top of stair at 25% of stairwell footprint area. Install second hand rail within all stairwells as per SANS 10400-S. Reinstate demolished stairwells. Install new fire doors to all escape stairs. All vertical penetrations through floor slab to be fire sealed All damaged sections of slab to be repaired to ensure a minimum of 60 minutes structural stability 4