FIRE PROTECTION OPR Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 1 Fire, Buildings, and Codes Fire is one of the major hazards to life and property in buildings. Regulations in respect of fire safety therefore constitute a major part of every building bylaw. These regulations naturally influence the design of almost every building. Good building codes are based on the best information available, but since they must be written as minimum regulations, they inevitably contain compromises and some features that are almost arbitrary. The careful designer will not be satisfied with merely meeting minimum regulations but will wish to base his design on first principles. J. H. McGuire: Canadian Building Digest emphasis added Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 2 1
Fire Protection and Codes It has been noted repeatedly in class that building codes don t really care about HVAC and lighting system performance; that most design decisions will be informed by OPR rather than by code. This changes radically with a shift of focus to fire protection. Society cares about fire safety, and what society cares about shows up in building codes. Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 3 Fire Protection and OPR The design of fire protection systems is heavily governed by building codes multiple layers of building codes. But it would be wrong to assume that code-compliance will lead to client satisfaction. Owners are forced to deal with fire protection design issues of concern to society, but they may well have concerns that are above and beyond those of society. These will be dealt with via development of the owner s project requirements. Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 4 2
Fire Protection Design Intents let s consider these the first principles Protect occupants << society & owner want site scale building scale Protect building << owner & society may want Protect building contents << owner may want Provide for continuous operation << owner may want Protect adjacent buildings << society wants Protect firefighters << society wants what society wants will eventually end up in a building code; what an owner wants must be addressed via the owner s project requirements Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 5 Fire Protection This is a very broad term that includes: Fire egress (so people can escape a fire) Fire prevention (so fires don t start) Fire extinguishment (so fires can be put out) Fire compartmentation (so fires don t spread) Fire detection (so we know there s a fire) Smoke control (because smoke fire) Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 6 3
Fire Protection and Buildings Multiple systems are involved Egress, extinguishment, prevention, smoke control, etc. Complexity of interactions is a function of building type Multiple disciplines are involved Architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural, interiors, landscape architecture, commissioning provider, fire protection consultant, owner s personnel, etc. The architect s role Design the architectural fire protection elements Coordinate all fire protection elements Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 7 Fire Basics The fire triangle shows the three elements that are necessary for ongoing combustion Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 8 4
Fire Basics A typical fire progresses through four key development stages Incipient stage (no heat or smoke) Smoldering stage (smoke, little heat) Flame stage (visible flame, some heat) Heat stage (great heat) fire detection approaches need to carefully address these stages (through appropriate sensor selection) Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 9 Fire Basics A fire may spread through five scales site scale building scale Fire in a room address this via prevention Room fire address via extinguishment Building fire address via compartmentation Conflagration address via urban design Fire storm address by fleeing (quickly) fire protection, in general, must address these stages Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 10 5
Fire Protection Systems Passive systems (generally architectural) Fire egress paths Fire walls/floors (compartments) Structural fireproofing etc. Active systems (generally mechanical and electrical) Fire extinguishers (architectural) Fire sprinklers Fire alarms Standpipes etc. even in a simple building, there is a lot going on Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 11 Passive Fire Protection Systems Include fundamental construction decisions (floor area limits, material selections) Architectural; enunciated in codes; will likely learn in studio Include fire egress (protected pathways) Architectural; enunciated in codes; will learn in studio Include fire compartments (rated constructions) Architectural; enunciated in codes; will learn in studio/practice Include structural protection (ratings) Structural/architectural; enunciated in codes; will learn in structures/practice Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 12 6
Passive Fire Protection Systems passive fire protection requirements are embedded in various building codes, which are updated regularly (2006 code cover for illustration only) markup symbols indicate a change from previous code edition Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 13 Passive Fire Protection Systems building codes place limits on building height and uncompartmented floor area as a function of occupancy classification Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 14 7
Passive Fire Protection Systems building codes place limits on interior finishes and fire resistance capabilities (ratings) as a function of occupancy classification Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 15 Passive Fire Protection Systems building codes are layered upon building codes, which are layered upon Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 16 8
Passive Fire Protection Systems the International Fire Code broadly addresses fire protection systems Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 17 Passive Fire Protection Systems compartmentation egress the main focus of NFPA 101 is protection of occupants Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 18 9
Examples of Egress and Compartmentation fire damper and fire door indicate a fire-rated wall ^^ egress = well-marked, clearly defined, and protected (safe to use) exit pathways >> compartmentation = division of a large building into smaller, safer chunks via fire barriers (and protected openings) Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 19 Active Fire Protection Systems Architectural Portable fire extinguishers The system consists of the orchestration of individual devices and their locations The system is assembled by the architect (the devices are designed by a manufacturer) This is a manual system (versus automatic) This is a code-mandated system Extinguishers are ubiquitous System design issues Type(s) of extinguisher to use Capacity of units Unit locations User travel distances www.global-b2b-network.com Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 20 10
Portable Fire Extinguishers Serve as first-aid for a fire event (usually a fire in a room situation) Are provided for occupants to use Must be easily accessed Must be readily visible Must be easily moved and used No arcane knowledge should be required to deploy (just grab and use) Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 21 Portable Fire Extinguishers Types A (for ordinary combustibles) B (for flammable liquids) C (for live electrical) D (for flammable metals) Combined types (A B C) www.hfpd.org/fire-extinguisher-types.gif type (applicability) is a function of the extinguishing agent used (water, foam, dry chemical, gas, ) Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 22 11
Portable Fire Extinguishers servicefireequip.com/services/fire-extinguisher/ occupants will not know this very important information; they will use the nearest extinguisher and assume that it is safe to do so don t let them down << these types are NOT the US norm Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 23 montgomerycountymd.gov Portable Fire Extinguishers osha.gov firebee.co.uk afpsw.com fire extinguisher labels (including UL in the US) staples.com signage www.aneverydaystory.com Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 24 12
Portable Fire Extinguishers swa.org www.aneverydaystory.com sometimes the canisters are color-coded (but red best gets your attention) Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 25 Portable Fire Extinguishers << recessed cabinet surface cabinet >> visible and readily accessible = easily vandalized and generally not aesthetically pleasing this cabinet has a break-front for security; note inspection tags on both Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 26 13
Portable Fire Extinguishers ^ when in France fire-stuff central > located along emergency egress path, near exit Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 27 Trends in Portable Fire Extinguishers? www.japantrendshop.com/ gizmodo.com/ Water? Ball State Architecture ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS 2 Grondzik 28 14