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When doing a flow test for a 5-year on an automatic wet standpipe system in a building which has had significant additions over the years, which design pressure applies?
The original 8-story building and pump are from the early 1980's and was required to have a minimum residual 65-psi at the roof, flowing 750 gpm. Fast forward to the most recent building attachment to the existing fire pump, and the code now requires a minimum of 100-psi at 750 gpm at the roof. Would these additions be considered separate zones and therefore be tested individually at their specific design requirement, or would they all be tested at the original design requirements? The building is a healthcare facility and is inspected to NFPA 25-2011 per the Joint Commission requirements. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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We have a fire barrier, with a fire-resistance rating of 1-hour, that has conduit passing through.
The conduit is not continuous from device to device, only used as a sleeve for the penetration. How long (continuous) does the conduit need to be past the edge of the fire barrier to maintain a 1-hour rating? My concern (however minor) is that the inside of the conduit is not firestopped, only the outside penetration. Smoke could pass through the inside of the conduit and effectively circumvent the fire barrier. Thanks in advance, big fan of the forum. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A firestop question from someone who doesn't venture much into that space - if we are using a firestop sealant around through-wall pipe and duct penetrations, and there is exposed structure in the room where everything is being painted black, can the sealant also be painted black?
The concern would be possibly compromising the sealant itself, or making future inspections more difficult. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am new to the fire engineering fraternity and I'm currently working with a small office building. It's a single-story, 5,800 sqft office use with a small battery room and small server room.
IBC (2021) Section 906 and IFC start with "where required". I cannot find where extinguishers are required for business occupancy. What is the code path to determine if fire extinguishers are required? Does the IBC/IFC not address where extinguishers are required? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a military project (UFC 3-600-01 and NFPA 101 criteria) with 1/2-hour fire-resistance-rated fire barriers between each sleeping unit.
Each 1/2-hour wall consists of gypsum on each side of a metal-studded wall. The gypsum runs within about an inch of the floor in each room (not touching the floor, intentionally, to avoid soaking up moisture/water) where it has metal stud on the backside. Is firestop required along the base of the gypsum to maintain the 1/2-hour rating? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Do large LED screens in auditorium/lecture hall setting need to achieve particular flame spread/smoke development performance?
Are these considered part of the wall interior finish? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a high-rise building, with rated stair shafts. This project is under NFPA 101.
Under NFPA 101, Is is permissible to penetrate the wall of the stair enclosure (an exit enclosure) with duct that is not serving the staircase? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm having trouble finding a definitive code section (in IFC or NFPA 101) about prohibiting open flames in biosafety (BSC) cabinets.
I have a position paper from the Institutional Biosafety Committee which references a lot of well-known organizations (such as WHO, NIH, CDC, etc.) and some manufacturers who strongly discourage the use of open flames in biosafety cabinets saying there are better alternatives to sanitize biological samples. I've also seen many college ESH references saying the same thing. The hazard is catching the HEPA filter on fire and in general I've read that an open flame is not good for maintaining the laminar air flow through the cabinet. However, finding something in code or selwhere prohibiting the use has proven elusive. Anyone have any thoughts or references that would help here? Unfortunately, it may take something directly from code to get the practice prohibited at my place of work. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project with a comment from the AHJ stating that the dryer vent cannot terminate to the exterior condominium wall, which is the egress wall for the condominium exit exterior breezeway on that floor.
We're under NFPA 101 (regarding Section 30-3.6.3 for Unprotected Openings). Is a duct penetration considered an unprotected opening? Dry vents cannot have fire/smoke dampers, so can it just be a metal duct? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a building that used to be a business occupancy but the new occupant wants to now use the occupancy as a church (assembly).
The building is not sprinklered and has no fire alarm system. The new occupant load is 279 people. The problem is the main entrance is on ground level but the second rear exit is below ground level to exit the building. Is the second rear exit below ground level acceptable? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a question about protection of sprinklers in windows specifically for a connection of a basement parking garage and a first level mall commercial space. NFPA 101 accepts that there is a connection between both occupancies, but there must be compartmentalization of 3-hours without automatic sprinklers and 2-hours with automatic sprinklers. In this case, we have an escalator from the basement up to level 1, as shown below:  Can we consider this to be compartmentalized with glass and sprinklers on both sides of the glass? Do the access doors have to be 1-1/2 hour, our could they not have any fire resistance if I have sprinklers on both sides? This project is under NFPA 101 (specifically Table 6.1.14.4.1 for separation between occupancies), NFPA 5000, and NFPA 13 (9.3.5/19.4.3 for sprinkler protection of windows). Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Who has dealt with the question of egress from the vault of a linear accelerator (used to treat patients)?
The vault can only be opened from the inside by a button which can be disabled from the outside! The only manual opener is a crank on the outside! I realize the patient could be incapacitated but what about maintenance and cleaning crews? Any recommendations, especially from those with experience, would be appreciated. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a double fire wall (two masonry walls next to each other with small air gap in-between). I need to have a door in each wall.
The doors would have to swing opposite directions, I think, which means a double Firewall could not be used in an egress condition where doors both have to open in the direction of travel to the exit. It sounds like I need a tied or cantilevered Firewall instead of a double Firewall. Is this correct, or are there any other approaches to a door within a double Firewall? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project where the general contractor is stating that the vertical penetration in the stairwell landing, where the standpipes are located, need to be sealed.
They are not asking for it to be a fire-rated seal, but they say some sort of seal will be required. I know on past projects this typically was never a requirement. I have searched NFPA and the IBC with no luck on finding something that would insinuate that no seal is required for the vertical standpipes openings within the rated stair. Is a seal required for these stair landing penetrations? Any input is much appreciated. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Have a four-story project that is under 2015 IBC and NFPA 101. NFPA 101, for fully-sprinklered buildings with accessible floor levels (floors 2-4 included) - designates the entire floor level as accessible and an area of refuge. Reference NFPA 101 7.2.12 and NFPA 72 24.10.
Along with that designation includes a requirement for a two-way communication system generally next to the elevator bank for the building. There's not much detail out of NFPA 101, and I'm finding very few people are familiar with these systems. Who typically specifies and provides details/locations on these systems? It is not tied into the fire alarm system - yet is related to life safety - so we're getting some feedback that these systems should be shown on fire alarm plans. However, the fire alarm subcontractors have nothing to do with these systems. Low voltage / specialty consultants are stating that the systems are code mandated and aren't looking to coordinate these locations with fire marshals and plan review. It's not a cost item and no one is pointing fingers - but I am trying to understand going forward where these systems are typically shown on plans and who should be specifying them? Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe At our site I'm dealing with personnel wanting to park small vehicles (Gem carts and forklifts) inside the building.
I know this is clearly not allowed in an egress corridor (where it was) but I'm having trouble finding parts of the code addressing storage in mechanical rooms or similar space. I know NFPA 101 has rules for high hazard contents but not sure if I can make that argument for the vehicles. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does anyone have much experience with fire pins/plugs as part of a fire door?
I came across some during a project to replace fire doors. There's a male and female component but ultimately a pin/plug is released at high temperature and goes into a hole to secure a pair of fire rated double doors. My question is: are the pins just a substitute for a lower latch or is there some special code or regulatory driver for them? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Anybody in this group has experience to design or approval of parking stackers inside the building?
This is outside the code will be reviewed as Amended Means & Methods. They occur on two different projects (1) The Car's engine shall be off when enter the parking garage and electronic left will park the cars in stack, and (2) The car will be driven inside the garage to platform to be parked. In both cases the fire sprinkler design density, exhaust system and means of egress requirements are in question. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have an exit enclosure that is rated as Class I Division I. My understanding of an accessible route and means of egress, is that it is a "safe" means of egress.
Can an accessible route have a Class I Division I (explosion hazardous classification), or does it need to be purged and pressurized according to Type X requirements? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am working on a project with male and female restrooms in separate structures located near a park. The structures are roughly 500 sqft. The structures must comply with NFPA 101 for means of egress. I am trying to figure out travel distance requirements.
What occupancy would you classify the restrooms as? And in turn what would be the maximum travel distance if there is only a single door? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This building is an H-1 occupancy. There is an area of refuge on the 4th floor. The shelter-in-place Class 3 area of refuge is protected from interior and exterior hazards. There are vertical openings through all 4 floors. The UFC is governing.
Based on this, do the stairwells need to be intertied directly to the shelter-in-place area of refuge for an exit enclosure that is a direct accessible means of egress (we are providing accessibility provisions)? Does the shelter-in-place area need to be a smoke enclosure as well as the interconnected stairwell system? Based on this will both the stairwell and the shelter-in-place need to be pressurized to meet design intent? Both exterior and interior air is hazardous and a scrubber would be needed to inject air for stairwell pressurization. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am dealing with a Military building. It is an H-1 occupancy. The building is currently 4 stories high.
This is not allowed per IBC based on means of egress. Has anyone made an argument based on UFC referring to NFPA 101 for means of egress related items to make an H-1 occupancy allowed to be more than 1 story? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When does NFPA 101 take precedence over NFPA 13 in regards to omitting sprinklers in closets less than 12 sqft in area in individual dwelling units of new apartment buildings?
We have a 44-story high rise with 10 sq ft closets that are 2'x5' and we are trying to eliminate the sprinklers. NFPA 13 would require them since it is not a hotel or motel but NFPA 101 allows for the omission. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Could Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer materials be considered non-combustible? For this project it's intended to be used as an interior building material.
NFPA 130 & NFPA 101 definition of non-combustible material: 4.7 Non-combustible material A material that complies with any of the following shall be considered a noncombustible material [101:4.6.13.1].
Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials can meet the following minimum standards for flammability:
Can this material be considered an equivalent to non-combustible material? While Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials have an excellent fire resistance rating under ASTM and UL tests, it is not specifically classified as non-combustible under ASTM E136. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a dormitory project where, on the first floor, and entry lobby at the front entrance connects directly into a main corridor that runs the length of the dormitory. On either end of the corridor are exterior exits. There are also exit enclosures from the two upper levels that discharge to the exterior on both ends of the building. This project is under NFPA 101-2018 and is fully-sprinklered.
NFPA 101-2018 7.1.3.1 and 28.3.6 state the following: 7.1.3 Separation of Means of Egress. 7.1.3.1 Exit Access Corridors. Corridors used as exit access and serving an area having an occupant load exceeding 30 shall be separated from other parts of the building by walls having not less than a 1-hour fire resistance rating in accordance with Section 8.3, unless otherwise permitted by one of the following: (1) This requirement shall not apply to existing buildings, provided that the occupancy classification does not change. (2) This requirement shall not apply where otherwise provided in Chapters 11 through 43. Because this is a new dormitory, Chapter 28 also applies: 28.3.6 Corridors. 28.3.6.1 Walls. 28.3.6.1.1 Exit access corridor walls shall comply with 28.3.6.1.2 or 28.3.6.1.3. 28.3.6.1.2 In buildings not complying with 28.3.6.1.3, exit access corridor walls shall consist of fire barriers in accordance with Section 8.3 that have not less than a 1-hour fire resistance rating. 28.3.6.1.3 In buildings protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 28.3.5, corridor walls shall have a minimum 1∕2-hour fire resistance rating. Our question is - is the lobby, by code, considered part of the corridor (and therefore need to be rated)? Two ways of looking at this - one is that the code is strictly only discussing requirements for the corridor and not a lobby. The other way of looking at it is that the lobby is acting as the corridor when it serves as part of the exit access for the building. Normally a 1/2-hour rating wouldn't make all that much of a difference, but there's storefront in the lobby space between an adjacent office and the lobby which would have a cost impact to the project. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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