NFPA 101A-2013 and Proposed 2016 Editions
Guide on Alternative Approaches to Life Safety
TIA Log No.: 1166
Reference: Worksheet 7.5.4A
Comment Closing Date: February 20, 2015
Submitter: Joseph Versteeg, Versteeg Associates and William Koffel, Koffel Associates, Inc.
1. Revise Worksheet 7.5.4A to read as follows:
Worksheet 7.5.4.A MANDATORY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS – NEW LARGE FACILITY
Stories in Height
Egress
Refuge
General Fire Safety
Control
Requirement
Requirement
Requirement
Requirement (Sd)
(Sb)
(Sc)
(Sa)
1 Story
15
17
15
21
2 Stories
17 17.5
17 18
17 13
23 24
≥3 Stories
19.5
18
15
26
SUBSTANTIATION and EMERGENCY NATURE:
The Mandatory Values for New, Large Residential Board and Care with second story zone location were
miscalculated. It is expected that CMS will adopt NFPA 101-2012. NFPA 101A-2013 will come into greater
use. The errors need to be fixed to make NFPA 101A an acceptable equivalency method for alternative
compliance with NFPA 101-2012. The errors need to be fixed in NFPA 101A-2013 and in the proposed 2016
edition.
The Safety Parameter Values that correspond to minimal compliance with NFPA 101 Section 32.3 requirements
for New, Large Residential Board and Care – all of which must be sprinklered – are as follows:
Zone location: 1 Story
Parameter
Required Feature
Points
1. Construction
V(000)
-2
2. Hazardous Areas
No deficiency
0
3. Manual Fire Alarm
Manual alarm with fire department
3
notification
4. Smoke Detection and Alarm
Interconnected bedroom/suite detectors,
6
plus Note p
5. Automatic Sprinklers
Total building QRS
10
6. Segregation of Sleeping Rooms from Door closing expectation high; ½-hr walls,
2
Exit Access
20-min doors
7. Exit System
Multiple routes; without horizontal exits
0
8. Exit Access (from living unit)
No dead end >30 ft; Travel is >125 ft to
-1
≤250 ft
9. Interior Finish
Exit route >25 to ≤75; Rooms/suites ≤75
1
10. Vertical Openings
Note h for 1-story building
0
11. Smoke Control
Smoke barriers
2
Zone location: 2 Stories
Parameter
1. Construction
2. Hazardous Areas
3. Manual Fire Alarm
4. Smoke Detection and Alarm
5. Automatic Sprinklers
6. Segregation of Sleeping Rooms from
Exit Access
7. Exit System
8. Exit Access (from living unit)
9. Interior Finish
10. Vertical Openings
11. Smoke Control
Required Feature
V(111)
No deficiency
Manual alarm with fire department notification
Interconnected bedroom/suite detectors, plus Note p
Total building QRS
Door closing expectation high; ½-hr walls, 20-min
doors
Multiple routes; without horizontal exits
No dead end >30 ft; travel is >125 ft to ≤250 ft
Exit route >25 to ≤75; rooms/suites ≤75
Enclosed; ≥1 hr
Smoke barriers
Points
0
0
3
6
10
2
Zone location: ≥3 Stories
Parameter
1. Construction
2. Hazardous Areas
3. Manual Fire Alarm
4. Smoke Detection and Alarm
5. Automatic Sprinklers
6. Segregation of Sleeping Rooms from
Exit Access
7. Exit System
8. Exit Access (from living unit)
9. Interior Finish
10. Vertical Openings
11. Smoke Control
Required Feature
II(111)
No deficiency
Manual alarm with fire department notification
Interconnected bedroom/suite detectors, plus Note p
Total building QRS
Door closing expectation high; ½-hr walls, 20-min
doors
Multiple routes; without horizontal exits
No dead end >30 ft; travel is >125 ft to ≤250 ft
Exit route >25 to ≤75; rooms/suites ≤75
Enclosed; ≥1 hr
Smoke barriers
Points
2
0
3
6
10
2
0
-1
1
1
2
0
-1
1
1
2
The Mandatory Safety Requirements values are calculated by inserting into the Worksheet 7.5.3 matrix the
minimal compliance Safety Parameter Values from above as follows:
Zone location: 1 Story
Parameter
1. Construction
2. Hazardous Areas
3. Manual Fire Alarm
4. Smoke Detection
and Alarm
5. Automatic
Sprinklers
Control
Requirem
ent
(Sa)
-2
0
3 / 2 = 1.5
6/2=3
Egress
Requirement
(Sb)
10
10 / 2 = 5
0/2=0
3
6
Refuge Requirement
(Sc)
General Fire Safety
Requirement (Sd)
-2
0
-2
0
3
6
6/2=3
10
(per Note, no /2)
10
6. Segregation of
Sleeping Rooms from
Exit Access
7. Exit System
8. Exit Access (from
living unit)
9. Interior Finish
10. Vertical Openings
11. Smoke Control
Total
2
1 / 2 = 0.5
0/2=0
15
Zone location: 2 Stories
Parameter
Control
Requirem
ent
(Sa)
1. Construction
0
2. Hazardous Areas
0
3. Manual Fire Alarm
3 / 2 = 1.5
4. Smoke Detection
6/2=3
and Alarm
5. Automatic
10
Sprinklers
6. Segregation of
2
Sleeping Rooms from
Exit Access
7. Exit System
8. Exit Access (from
living unit)
9. Interior Finish
1 / 2 = 0.5
10. Vertical Openings
1 / 2 = 0.5
11. Smoke Control
17.5
Total
Zone location: ≥3 Stories
Parameter
Control
Requirem
ent
(Sa)
1. Construction
2
2. Hazardous Areas
0
3. Manual Fire Alarm
3 / 2 = 1.5
4. Smoke Detection
6 / 2 =3
and Alarm
2/2=1
2
2
0
-1
0/2=0
0
-1
1
0
2
17
Egress
Requirement
(Sb)
0
2
15
1
0
2
21
Refuge Requirement
(Sc)
General Fire Safety
Requirement (Sd)
0
0
0/2=0
3
6
6/2=3
0
0
3
6
10 / 2 = 5
10 / 2 = 5
10
2/2=1
2
2
0
-1
0/2=0
0
-1
1
1
2
18
Egress
Requirement
(Sb)
0/2=0
3
6
1
2
13
1
1
2
24
Refuge Requirement
(Sc)
General Fire Safety
Requirement (Sd)
2
0
2
0
3
6
6/2=3
5. Automatic
Sprinklers
6. Segregation of
Sleeping Rooms from
Exit Access
7. Exit System
8. Exit Access (from
living unit)
9. Interior Finish
10. Vertical Openings
11. Smoke Control
Total
10
10 / 2 = 5
10 / 2 = 5
10
2
2/2=1
2
2
0
-1
0/2=0
0
-1
1 / 2 = 0.5
1 / 2 = 0.5
19.5
1
1
2
18
1
2
15
1
1
2
26
Anyone may submit a comment by the closing date indicated above. To submit a comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary, Standards Council, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169‐7471.