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
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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

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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

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2009: Most recent edition
2000: Edition adopted by Joint Commission & CMS
International Building and Fire Codes
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
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
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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
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Ambulatory Care Buildings
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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

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Life Safety Code has separate
occupancy chapter for ambulatory
care
Egress Capacity Widths
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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
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Discussion Items for Local
Fire Marshal During Design
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Fire Hydrant Locations
Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Locations
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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
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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)
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Accreditation Requirements
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Requirements vary by occupancy:

Ambulatory Care, Behavioral Health,
Hospitals, Laboratories, etc.
New vs. Existing Facilities
 Life Safety Chapter covers fire
protection requirements
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Accreditation Requirements

Joint Commission Statement of
Conditions (SOC)
Basic Building Information (BBI)
 Life Safety Assessment (LSA)
 Plan for Improvement (PFI)

HITF Interpretation
Examples
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Exit Access from Suites
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Storage Bins > 32 gallons
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Non-paved surfaces to public way
Sprinkler Obstructions
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Hazardous Area
Exit Discharge

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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
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Example Citations
Following are several examples of
common citations
 Even the best designed systems are
subject to oversights or differing field
conditions
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Pull Station Mounting
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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
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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
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Incorrect mounting of
devices
Equipment installed
shall be listed for the
purpose for which it is
used.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.3.1
Synchronization
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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
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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
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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
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
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
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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
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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
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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
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System should be
properly
maintained at all
times to ensure
reliability
Obvious
impairments should
be repaired
immediately and
will fail inspections
Spare Sprinkler Cabinet
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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
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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
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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
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Questions?