Fire Protection Design for Healthcare Facilities
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Transcript Fire Protection Design for Healthcare Facilities
Fire Protection Design for
Healthcare Facilities:
Beyond Building Code
Compliance
Scott Voelkerding, PE, CFPS
Fire Protection Engineer
September 16, 2010
Overview
Fire Protection: The Holistic Approach
Applicable Codes and Standards
Engaging Authorities in Design
Accreditation Requirements
Example Citations
Existing Facilities
Scott Voelkerding, PE, CFPS
Registered Fire Protection Engineer
13 states
NJ Pending
NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist
8 years with URS
Lead Fire Protection Engineer for University
Medical Center (New Orleans, LA)
Lead Author Cleveland Clinic Fire
Protection Life Safety Standards &
Specifications
Fire Protection: The Holistic
Approach
Active and passive systems working
together to prevent or minimize the effects
of fire
Design of fire suppression and fire alarm
systems
Design of egress & smoke control systems
Fire resistive construction, including
firestopping of penetrations, spray
fireproofing
Comprehensive Code Compliance
Applicable Codes and
Standards
NFPA 101: Life Safety Code
2009: Most recent edition
2000: Edition adopted by Joint Commission & CMS
International Building and Fire Codes
2009: Most recent edition
Some jurisdictions adopt older editions, amendments
to these codes, or adopt their own codes altogether
Occupancy Classifications
No “one to one” correlation between codes,
each have different thresholds
NFPA 101 (2000)
Assembly
Educational
Day-Care
Health Care
Ambulatory Health Care
Detention and Correctional
One and Two Family Dwellings
Lodging of Rooming Houses
Hotels and Dormitories
Apartment Buildings
Residential Board and Care
Mercantile
Business
Industrial
Storage
IBC (2009)
Assembly Group A
Business Group B
Educational Group E
Factory Group F
High-Hazard Group H
Institutional Group I
Mercantile Group M
Residential Group R
Storage Group S
Utility and Miscellaneous Group U
Ambulatory Care Buildings
IBC 2009 added a section for
ambulatory health care facilities
Still classified as Group B if
occupancy is less than 24 hours
Specific requirements for sprinklers,
fire alarms and smoke compartments
Life Safety Code has separate
occupancy chapter for ambulatory
care
Egress Capacity Widths
NFPA 101 and the IBC differ regarding egress capacity
requirements
IBC 2009 standardized egress capacity widths for all
occupancies and removed sprinkler exceptions
Required Egress Stairway Width per Occupant Comparison
NFPA 101
(2000)
IBC 2006
Occupancies other than those listed below
0.3”
0.2”
High Hazard (NFPA 101) or
Hazardous: H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 (IBC)
0.7”
0.3”
Health Care (NFPA 101) or
Institutional: I-2 (IBC)
0.3” (AS)
0.6” (NS)
0.3” (AS)
NA (NS)
Board and Care (NFPA 101)
0.4”
0.2”
IBC 2009
0.3” for all
occupancies
Duct-Type Smoke Detectors
NFPA 90A: Standard for the
Installation of Air-Conditioning and
Ventilating Systems
International Mechanical Code
NFPA 101 referenced standard
IBC referenced standard
Air supply systems greater than
2,000 cfm and return air systems
greater than 15,000 cfm
Exception: If all portions of the
building served by air distribution
system have area smoke detectors
Return air systems greater than
2,000 cfm
Exception: If all portions of the
building served by air distribution
system have area smoke detectors
Engaging Authorities
Engage Authorities Having
Jurisdiction (AHJ) early and often in
the design process:
Local Fire Marshal
State Fire Marshal
Building Department
Government Fire Protection Engineer
Discussion Items for Local
Fire Marshal During Design
Fire Hydrant Locations
Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Locations
Fire hydrant within 50-100 feet of FDC
Fire Command Center location and layout
Annunciator Locations
Vehicle Access
Knox Box Locations
Evacuation Strategy
Other Sources to Consider
Underwriter Requirements
FM Data Sheets
Published AHJ Memorandums
NFPA Healthcare Interpretation Task
Force (HITF)
Accreditation Documents
Joint Commission Statement of
Conditions
Center for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS)
Accreditation Requirements
Requirements vary by occupancy:
Ambulatory Care, Behavioral Health,
Hospitals, Laboratories, etc.
New vs. Existing Facilities
Life Safety Chapter covers fire
protection requirements
Accreditation Requirements
Joint Commission Statement of
Conditions (SOC)
Basic Building Information (BBI)
Life Safety Assessment (LSA)
Plan for Improvement (PFI)
HITF Interpretation
Examples
Exit Access from Suites
Storage Bins > 32 gallons
Non-paved surfaces to public way
Sprinkler Obstructions
Hazardous Area
Exit Discharge
Stairwell is NOT equivalent to an Exit Access
Corridor
Patient Lift Equipment - Rails
Portable Equipment in Corridors
<30 minutes
Hazardous Area Examples
Boiler/fuel fired heater rooms
Laundry Rooms >100 sf
Flammable Storage Rooms
Laboratories
Maintenance Repair Shops
Soiled Linen Rooms
Combustible Storage Rooms
Trash Collection Rooms
Example Citations
Following are several examples of
common citations
Even the best designed systems are
subject to oversights or differing field
conditions
Pull Station Mounting
Incorrect mounting
height
Operable part of
manual fire alarm box
shall be not less than
42 inches and not
more than 48 inches
above the floor level.
NFPA 72 (2010)
17.14.4
Smoke Detector Spacing
Smoke detectors next
to air diffusers
Smoke detectors
should not be located
in a direct airflow or
closer than 36 inches
from an air supply
diffuser or return air
opening.
NFPA 72 (2010)
A17.7.4.1
Notification Appliance
Mounting
Incorrect mounting of
devices
Equipment installed
shall be listed for the
purpose for which it is
used.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.3.1
Synchronization
Visible notification
devices not synchronized
High flash rates of
strobes may pose a risk
of seizure to people with
photosensitive epilepsy.
Visible appliances in the
same field of view should
be synchronized.
NFPA 72 (2010)
A.18.5.4.3.2(3)
Storage
Obstructions to
equipment
Manual fire alarm
boxes shall be
installed so that
they are
conspicuous,
unobstructed, and
accessible.
NFPA 72 (2010)
17.14.5
Fire Alarm Control Panel
Smoke detectors above
FACP
Where not continuously
occupied, smoke
detectors shall be
provided at the location of
each FACP, NAC power
extender, and supervising
station transmitting
equipment.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.15
Device Maintenance
System components
shall be installed,
tested, and maintained
in accordance with
manufacturer’s
published instructions
and the Code.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.3.2
Site Maintenance
Fire department
connections shall be
maintained without
obstruction by fences,
bushes, trees, walls, or
any other fixed or
moveable object.
IFC (2009) 912.3
Dry Pipe Systems
Dry pipe systems
should ONLY be
installed where heat is
not adequate to prevent
freezing and they
should be converted to
wet systems when heat
is provided.
NFPA 13 (2007) A.7.2
Sprinkler Response
Where quick
response sprinklers
are installed, all
sprinklers within a
compartment shall
be quick-response
unless otherwise
permitted
NFPA 13 (2007)
8.3.3.2
Obstructions
Obstructions to sprinkler
discharge
Install sprinklers under
fixed obstructions over 4
feet wide
Examples: ducts, decks,
open deck flooring,
overhead doors
NFPA 13 2007 8.5.5.3.1
Sprinkler Maintenance
System should be
properly
maintained at all
times to ensure
reliability
Obvious
impairments should
be repaired
immediately and
will fail inspections
Spare Sprinkler Cabinet
At least six spare
sprinklers, a
sprinkler wrench,
and list of
sprinklers installed
shall be maintained
on the premises
NFPA 13 2007
6.2.9
Firestopping
Through penetrations
of fire resistance rated
construction shall be
protected by a firestop
system in accordance
with ASTM E 814 or UL
1479
Polyurethane
expanding foam NOT
acceptable
IBC (2009) 713.3.1.2
What about my existing
facility: Is it “grandfathered”?
NFPA 101
New vs. Existing
Building Rehabilitation
IBC
Chapter 34
Compliance Alternatives Evaluation
NFPA 101A
Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES)
Summary
Involve fire protection engineer in
design process
Establish (editions of) applicable
codes and standards early in design
Engage Authorities Having
Jurisdiction early and often
Consult accreditation documents,
underwriter standards, HITF
Interpretations
Consider FSES for existing facilities
Questions?