Basic Fire & Life Safety

for Radiation Safety

Professionals

Robert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARM
Vice President for Safety, Health, Environment, Risk Management & Quality
Assurance
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Associate Professor of Occupational Health
The University of Texas School of Public Health

Why do we need fire and

life safety codes?
According to the NFPA, in 2007 there
were

530,500 structure fires one every minute

3,000 civilian deaths one every 2.5 hours

15,350 civilianinjuries one every 30 minutes

$10,600,000,000 in property damage

A fire department responded to a fire every 20

seconds
Slide 2

Objectives
Introduce

the codes that drive fire and life

safety compliance

Overview

of fire detection and

suppression

Provide

tools to conduct a basic fire and

life safety assessment
Slide 3

Fire Regulations and Codes

Safety

and Health Regulations

OSHA (29 CFR 1910 & 1926)

Fire

and Life Safety Codes

International Building Code (IBC)

National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA)
Municipal Requirements
Slide 4

Additional Requirements
All

codes are minimum requirements

Insurance company requirements
Company policies
The Joint Commission
State and/or City requirements

Slide 5

How are These Codes Enforced

Codes are adopted by reference

by ordinance.

Plans for remodeling or a new

construction must be approved by
the authority having jurisdiction
(AHJ) prior to starting work.
State Fire Marshals Office
Local Fire Department or City Code
Officials
Designated Local AHJ

Take Home Message Know what

code(s) apply to your operation
Slide 6

Which do I follow?
Remodeling

or new construction
plans must be approved by
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
prior to starting work
State Fire Marshals Office
Local Fire Department or City Code
Officials
Designated Local AHJ
Slide 7

Features of Building Fire and Life

Safety

Alarms
Sprinklers
Rated Corridors
Exit Access
Number of
Required Exits
Egress Widths
Occupant Loads
Elevator Recall
Fire Rated Doors
& Frames

Smoke Control
Rated Stairwells
Fireproofing
Requirements
Electrical Safety
Construction
Combustibility
Fire and Smoke
Dampers
Emergency Power
Roof Assemblies

Slide 8

Fire Alarm Systems

Play

an Essential Role in
Protecting Property and
Lives From Fire.

Protection

Goals
Governs System
Selection
Building Occupant Safety
Satisfy Building Codes or AHJ
Requirements
Property Protection
First Responder Safety
Environmental Protection
Combination

Slide 9

Fire Alarm Systems

IBC

references NFPA 72 for

installation and maintenance

NFPA

72 National Fire Alarm Code

Basic

Components

Panel
Detection
Manual Alarm
Notification
Off-Premises Connection for Supervision
Slide 10

Fire Alarm Systems

Fire

Alarm System Will Provide

Three Types of Signals
Alarm
Trouble indicates a fault in a
monitoring circuit or component of the
fire alarm system

Alarm

Bad smoke detector

Ground fault

Supervisory indicates a problem with

other fire protection systems being
monitored by the fire alarm system
Water valve to sprinkler system closed
Clean agent system problem

Trouble

Supervisor
Slide 11
y

Off-Premises Connection for

Supervision

Slide 12

Common Fire Detection

Smoke

Detector

Ionization
Photoelectric

Heat

Detectors

Fixed Temperature
Rate-of-Rise

Slide 13

Manual Pull Stations

Manual

pull devices will be

located on the wall

Activated

handle

by pulling on a

Sends

signal to buildings
fire alarm system which
places the building into
alarm

Slide 14

Notification Appliances

Audible alarms (How loud is loud

enough?)
Public SPL must be 5 dB above
any ambient noise that lasts 60
sec. or more, or 15 dB above the
24-hr average, whichever is greater
Sleeping quarters Minimum of 75
dBA
Slide 15

Notification Appliances
Voice

Communication

Better to have a larger

number of lower SPL units vs.
a few very loud units
Intelligibility can be a problem

Slide 16

Notification Appliances
Visual

alarms

Primarily intended to augment

audible alarms
Common

Alarms

Locations of Visual

Corridors
Meeting rooms
Restrooms
Enclosed elevator lobbies
Slide 17

Fire Alarm System

Interfaces

Heating Ventilation and Air

Conditioning
Duct detectors
AHU shut-down

Sprinkler water flow alarms

Magnetic lock release mechanisms
Door unlocking devices
Elevator recall
Stairwell pressurization

Slide 18

System Reliability
Based

on Four Elements

Design
Equipment
Underwriters Laboratories
Factory Mutual Global

Installation
Maintenance
Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance are crucial
Unfortunately, some problems may be identified
after the previous three have been completed

Slide 19

Fire Suppression
Water

Based Suppression

Clean

Agent Systems

Fire

Extinguishers
Slide 20

Water Based Suppression

Wet-Pipe

System contains water under

pressure at all times
Series of closed sprinkler heads
Heat activates sprinkler head
Water is discharged immediately
* Not recommended if system could be exposed to
temperatures below 40F
Slide 21

Wet-Pipe System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Main valve
Alarm check valve
Fire department
check valve
Fire department
connection
Water motor alarm
Sprinkler head
Inspectors test
valve
Slide 22

Wet-Pipe System
Sprinkler
head

Water is
released
and
deflected
in a spray
pattern

As temperature
rises the bulb will
shatter

Only

the sprinkler heads heated by the fire activate

Fire sprinklers spray 18 gallons of water per minute
Slide 23

Sprinkler Color Codes and Ratings

Color

Sprinkler
Classification

Temperature Rating

Red

Ordinary

135-170

Yellow/Green

Intermediate

175-225

Blue

High

250-300

Purple

Extra High

325-375

Black

Ultra High

500-575

Slide 24

Field Method for Temporary

Stoppage of Sprinkler Head

Slide 25

Dry-Pipe System
System

contains air under pressure

Compressor on system keeps pressure up

Sprinkler

heads hold the pressure

A dry-pipe valve holds back the water supply
Valve opens when pressure falls below a
predetermined level
Sprinkler head activation pressure drop
valve opens water sent to all heads water
discharged from activated sprinkler head(s)
* Recommended for areas that could experience freezing
Slide 26
temperatures

How do Dry-Pipe Systems

Work?
1.

2.

Pressure Drop

3.

4.

Heat Activated

Valve
Opens

Water sent to all sprinkler

heads
5.

Water Discharges from activated Slide 27

Dry-Pipe System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Supply check valve

Main valve
Dry pipe valve
Fire department
check valve
Fire department
connection
Water motor alarm
Sprinkler head
Inspectors test
valve
Slide 28

Pre-action System
System

contains air under pressure

Compressor on system keeps pressure up

Water

held back by pre-action valve

System equipped with supplemental detection
Operation of detection system allows pre-action
valve to open and water fills the system
Water not discharged until fire has generated
sufficient heat to activate a sprinkler head
* Typically found in computer rooms and museums
Slide 29

How do Pre-Action Systems

Work?
1.

3.

4.

Smoke Detected

Valve
Opens

Water sent to all sprinkler

heads
5.

Water Discharges from activatedSlide 30

head

Pre-action System
Supply check valve
2. Main valve
3. Water control or deluge
valve
4. Fire department check
valve
5. Fire department
connection
6. Water motor alarm
7. Sprinkler head (closed)
8. Detector
9. Electrical bell
10. Manual release station
11. Control panel
12. Inspectors test valve
1.

Slide 31

Fire Pumps
Fire

pumps are utilized when the

hydraulic demand exceeds public
supply capacity
Components

Pump and motor

Controllers
Jockey pump
Water tank
Slide 32

Water Supply
Standpipe

System

Class I 2 inch hose connection

intended for fire department use
Class II 1 inch hose
connections intended for first-aid
fire fighting
Class III Provided with both 2
inch and 1 inch hose
connections

Fire

Department Connection
Slide 33

Suppression Without Water

Halon

NFPA 12A

Being phased out per 1987

Montreal Protocol
Carbon
Clean

Dioxide NFPA 12

Agent NFPA 2001

Inert gas formulation

* These systems are often not recognized
as allowable substitute for water
suppression
Slide 34

Fire Extinguishers
NFPA

10 standard for portable fire

extinguishers
Select appropriate extinguisher for area
Class A, B, C, D, and K

Identify

hazard occupancy

Light Hazard
Offices, schools, assembly halls

Ordinary Hazard
Mercantile storage, parking garages

High Hazard
Woodworking area, warehouses
Slide 35

Conducting a Basic
Assessment
Determine

Type First

IBC

Your Building Occupancy

Occupancy Classifications

Assembly: Group A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5

Business: Group B
Educational: Group E
Factory and Industrial: Groups F-1 and F-2
High Hazard: Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5
Institutional: Group I-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4
Mercantile: Group M
Residential: Groups R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4
Storage: Groups S-1 and S-2
Utility and Miscellaneous: Group U

Slide 36

Conducting a Basic
Assessment
Additional

Detailed
Requirements Based on Use
and Occupancy

Covered Mall Buildings

High-Rise Buildings
Atriums
Underground Buildings
Motor-Vehicle-Related Occupancies
Motion Picture Projection Rooms
Stages and Platforms
Special Amusement Buildings
Aircraft-Related Occupancies
Combustible Storage
Hazardous Materials
Drying Rooms

Slide 37

Know Your Building

Once

occupancy is determined codes

will give you guidance

What type of construction is required?

Is a sprinkler system required?
Is a fire alarm system required?
Exiting and egress?
Emergency power required?
Is a smoke control system required?
Is a standpipe system required?
Slide 38

Conclusion
Codes

drive facility fire and life safety

requirements
Know what codes apply to your
operation
All codes are MINIMUM requirements
Who is your AHJ?

Many things can be left up to this individuals

interpretation

Maintain

systems in accordance with

code requirements and manufacturers
recommendations
Slide 39

References
International

Building Code,
International Code Council
www.iccsafe.org

National

Fire Protection Association

www.nfpa.org
The

Joint Commission

www.jointcommission.org

Slide 40