M E M O R A N D U M TO: FROM: NFPA Technical Committee on Building Service and Fire Protection Equipment Gregory Harrington, P.E., Staff Liaison DATE: October 1, 2009 SUBJECT: NFPA 5000 A2011 ROP Letter Ballot The ROP letter ballot for NFPA 5000 is attached. The ballot is for formally voting on whether or not you concur with the committee s actions on the proposals. Reasons must accompany all negative and abstention ballots. Please do not vote negatively because of editorial errors. However, please bring such errors to my attention for action. The submittable PDF ballot form offers you the opportunity to submit your completed ballot electronically via e-mail. If you are interested, please print out the attached Ballot Submittal Instructions for further information. These instructions provide information on how to download the files and submit the ballot. Returning the ballot electronically is an option. You are still welcome to submit your ballot via fax to 617.984.7110 or e-mail to lmackay@nfpa.org. Please complete and return your ballot as soon as possible but no later than Thursday, October 22, 2009. The return of ballots is required by the Regulations Governing Committee Projects. Attachments
5000-173 Log #143c BLD-BSF Add text to read as follows: Carbon monoxide detectors shall be provided, installed, and maintained in accordance with 55.2.x Addresses a method to provide early warning to occupants of the presence of harmful amounts of products of incomplete combustion (carbon monoxide). The proposal is not within the scope of Chapter 55. The proposal has been duplicated to the Technical Committee on Residential Occupancies and the Technical Committee on Board and Care Facilities. 5000-238 Log #168 BLD-BSF Add new text to read as follows: 55.x Buildings provided with standby electrical power for the purpose of continuing operations or occupancy shall provide standby power for any electric fire pump installed to provide an adequate water supply or minimum operating pressure to a required automatic sprinkler system, except that existing installations may be continued in service subject to the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Standby power in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electric Code and NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, Type 60 shall be provided. The standby power system shall have a capacity and rating sufficient to supply all required equipment. Selective load pickup and load shedding shall be permitted in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electric Code. Clarifies the intent for when standby power is required for fire protection systems. Power source reliability for fire pumps is already addressed by NFPA 20 and NFPA 70. The requirement for "Type 60" appears to mandate automatic transfer of power within 60 seconds; standby power is permitted by NFPA 110 to be provided by manual transfer. 1
5000-239 Log #169 BLD-BSF Add new text to read as follows: 55.2 Where required. Automatic fire extinguishing systems installed as an alternative to the required automatic sprinkler systems shall be approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Automatic fire extinguishing systems shall not be considered alternatives for the purposes of exceptions or reductions permitted by other requirements of this code. Clarifies the intent of the code that alternative fire extinguishing systems as intended by 55.x protect that specific fuel load and do not eliminate the need for complete building protection by a complete sprinkler system. Accept the proposal renumbered as new 55.5.4. The committee action relocates the proposed provision to the appropriate location in the Code. 2
5000-240 Log #144 BLD-BSF Add text to read as follows: 55.2.x.1 Carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be shall be located outside of each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping rooms. When more than one carbon monoxide detector is required to be installed, the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one carbon monoxide detector will activate all of the carbon monoxide detectors in the dwelling area. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms or sleeping rooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. All carbon monoxide detectors shall be listed and shall be installed in accordance with their listing and the manufacturer s installation instructions. 55.2.x.1.1 Exception: Carbon monoxide detectors shall not be required in occupancies or dwelling units not containing a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. 55.2.x.2 Power source. In new construction, the required carbon monoxide detectors shall be permanently installed and shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source. When primary power from the building wiring is interrupted, they shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or in buildings that undergo alterations or additions regulated by Section 9.6.x.3. 55.2.x.3 Alterations and additions. When alterations or additions requiring a permit occur in existing occupancies or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in such existing occupancies, the entire occupancy shall be provided with carbon monoxide detectors located as required for new construction. The carbon monoxide detectors shall have a power source in accordance with Section 9.6.x2. 55.2.x.3.1 The carbon monoxide detectors may be battery operated or plug-in and are not required to be interconnected when other remodeling considerations do not require the removal of the appropriate wall or ceiling coverings to facilitate concealed interconnected wiring. 55.2.x.3.2 Alterations to the exterior surfaces of existing buildings including, but not limited to, re-roofing, re-siding, window replacement and the construction of decks without roofs, are exempt from the requirements of this section. 55.2.x.3.3 Carbon monoxide detectors shall not be required in buildings not containing a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Provides specific requirements for carbon monoxide detector installations. 1.1.2 Danger to life from fire 1.1.5 Considerations not related to fire 4.1.2 Comparable emergencies See the action on Proposal 5000-245b (Log #CP250). It is not within the scope of Ch. 55 to mandate the installation of CO detection and warning equipment. Installation of such equipment is within the scope of NFPA 720. The proposed provisions for alterations and additions should be located in Ch. 15, Building Rehabilitation. 3
5000-241 Log #198 BLD-BSF Dave Frable, U.S. General Services Administration Revise text as follows: Automatic smoke detection in accordance with 55.2.1.4.1(1), 55.2.1.4.1(2) and 55.2.1.4.1(3) shall not be required where the buildings are is protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 55.3 and the area containing the fire alarm control unit is sprinklered. The intent of this code change proposal is to provide clarification based on the requirements in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code (2007 edition), paragraph 4.4.5, Exception No. 2 ( ). Currently, one could interpret that the subject text in 55.2.1.4.1.2 only eliminates the automatic smoke detection at the notification appliance circuit power extenders and the supervising station transmitting equipment and not the fire alarm control unit when the building is protected throughout by an approved supervised automatic sprinkler system. It should be noted that there has never been any evidence presented of a fire alarm system failure due to attack by fire in a fully sprinklered building. Since the purpose of a sprinkler system is to control fire spread, it makes sense that in a fully sprinklered building fire would not experience growth to the point of disabling equipment. The fact that smoke detection over control equipment only offered limited value in terms of detecting all threats to a fire alarm system from fire, and that fire growth would be limited in a fully sprinklered building, was the basis for exception number 2 to 4.4.5 in NFPA 72. 5000-242 Log #220 BLD-BSF Dave Frable, U.S. General Services Administration Delete text as follows: Elevator lobby, hoistway, and associated machine room smoke detectors used solely for elevator recall, and heat detectors used solely for elevator power shutdown, shall not be required to activate the building evacuation alarm if the power supply and installation wiring to these detectors are monitored by the building fire alarm system, and the activation of these detectors initiates a supervisory signal at a constantly attended location. The intent of this code change proposal is to delete Section 55.2.3.2.1. The basis for this requirement was that the subject elevator lobbies, hoistways, and machine rooms were subject to unwanted alarms due to occupant smoking and reliability concerns regarding smoke and heat detectors. However, those concerns have been addressed over the years due to the advancements in smoke and heat detector technology as well as laws concerning smoking in buildings. Therefore, the threat of unwanted alarms has been greatly reduced in these specific areas of a building. In addition, elevators are now playing a more prominent role in the evacuation strategy for a building and therefore the smoke and heat detectors used to address elevator functions need to activate the buildings evacuation alarm. The provision is not mandatory; it provides an option to building owners for detectors that are intended to perform a specific fire safety function (elevator recall), and not necessarily provide early notification of fire to building occupants. 4
5000-243 Log #167 BLD-BSF Add new text to read as follows: 55.2.3.6.2.1 When selective occupant notification is utilized in accordance with 9.6.3.6.2, the portions of the building that do not receive the initial notification of alarm shall be separated from areas of the immediate emergency and initial evacuation by construction having a fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour. Consistent with Building Code requirement (IBC). No technical substantiation for the proposal has been provided. The committee was unable to verify that the provision is a requirement of the IBC. 5000-244 Log #139 BLD-BSF Joshua Elvove, U.S. General Services Administration New 55.2.5.2(6) text to read as follows: (6) HVAC shutdown HVAC shutdown has not been included in this section that seems to include all other fire safety functions. 5
5000-245 Log #140 BLD-BSF Joshua Elvove, U.S. General Services Administration Revise text to read as follows: 1. Add an asterisk for a new annex note to 2. Delete 55.3.2.1.1 from body of text and relocate as new annex note under 55.3.2.1 with the following revision: Monitoring shall include, but shall not be limited to, monitoring of control valves, fire pump power supplies and running conditions, water tank levels and temperatures, tank pressure, and air pressure on dry-pipe valves Monitoring shall include, but shall not be limited to, monitoring of control valves, fire pump power supplies and running conditions, water tank levels and temperatures, tank pressure, and air pressure on dry-pipe valves 3. Renumber 55.3.2.1.2 as 55.3.2.1.1. Per the NFPA Manual of Style, lists are not permitted in the body of the code; hence, the list has been relocated to the annex. The list has been truncated to remove references to fire pump power supplies and fire pump running as these are not supervisory signals as defined by NFPA 72 (as voted upon by the Assembly in Chicago) nor within the scope of NFPA 72 (chapter 5). Since the annex note is clearly referring to the practice of sprinkler supervision as defined by NFPA 72, it isn t appropriate to include fire pump power supplies and fire pump running in this list. Fire pump alarms are defined by NFPA 20, and the term supervisory is not used. NFPA 20 already requires fire pump alarms including fire pump power supplies and fire pump running to be transmitted to a constantly attended location. Delete 55.3.2.1.1 and revise the existing A.55.3.2.1 as follows: A.55.3.2.1 NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, provides details of standard practice in sprinkler supervision. Subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction, sprinkler supervision is also permitted to be provided by direct connection to municipal fire departments or, in the case of very large establishments, to a private headquarters providing similar functions. NFPA 72 covers such matters. Where municipal fire alarm systems are involved, reference should also be made to NFPA 1221, Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems. Monitoring should include, but not be limited to, monitoring of control valves, water tank levels and temperatures, tank pressure, and air pressure on dry-pipe valves. The committee action appends the proposed annex note to the current A.55.3.2.1 and revises it to use nonmandatory language in accordance with the NFPA Manual of Style. 5000-245a Log #CP251 BLD-BSF Technical Committee on Building Service and Fire Protection Equipment, Revise Section 55.6 as follows: Where required by another section of this, portable fire extinguishers shall be selected, installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10,. The proposal is intended for consistency with action taken on NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. The substantiation for Proposal 101-205 follows: The word "selected" may have been unintentionally left out of 9.7.4.1 (NFPA 101). The word "selected" needs to be inserted because one of the major intents and purposes of NFPA 10 is to provide guidance to the user of the standard on the selection of the appropriate agent and extinguisher type for the risks of hazards involved. 6
5000-245b Log #CP250 BLD-BSF Technical Committee on Building Service and Fire Protection Equipment, Add a new Section 55.11 and renumber subsequent paragraphs as follows: Where required by another section of this Code, carbon monoxide (CO) detection and warning equipment shall be provided in accordance with NFPA 720,. The proposal is intended for consistency with action taken on NFPA 101,. A reference to NFPA 720 in Ch. 55 is appropriate where CO detection is required by another section of the Code in recognition of the number of proposals received on this issue. This proposal is not intended to mandate the installation of such equipment; such determination is intended to be made by the occupancy chapters. NFPA 720 contains requirements for the selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment that detects concentrations of carbon monoxide that could pose a life safety risk to most occupants in buildings and structures. 5000-246 Log #45 BLD-BSF Kenneth E. Isman, National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. Add new text as follows: Every building shall have a water supply available to the premises that is capable of producing the required fire flow as calculated in accordance with NFPA 1 for the required duration as determined by NFPA 1. Builders and developers need to provide sufficient water for fighting a fire at the buildings that they construct. The fire department should not be responsible for bringing water with them to fight a fire. In rural communities without public mains and hydrants, stored water needs to be available to fight fires. In communities with water utilities and fire hydrants, sufficiently sized mains need to be placed in service to provide reasonable fire flow. Section 18.4 of NFPA 1 provides a method for determining the required fire flow and duration for all properties. This procedure needs to be followed and implemented when a building is being constructed. Determining water supply requirements for fire department operations is typically not within the purview of the building official. Site utilities are not typically addressed by the building code. 7