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 civilian injuries – 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 Marshal’s 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 Marshal’s 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
 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
Alarm
Trouble
Supervisory
Slide 11
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 by pulling on a
handle

Sends signal to building’s
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 Locations of Visual
Alarms
– 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
Design
Equipment
Maintenance
Installation
– 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 40ºF
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
Inspector’s 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
temperatures
Slide 26
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 headSlide 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
Inspector’s 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?
4.
1.
Smoke Detected
3.
Valve Opens
Water sent to all sprinkler heads
5.
Water Discharges from activated headSlide 30
Pre-action System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Supply check valve
Main valve
Water control or deluge
valve
Fire department check
valve
Fire department
connection
Water motor alarm
Sprinkler head (closed)
Detector
Electrical bell
Manual release station
Control panel
Inspector’s test valve
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 ½ inch hose connection
intended for fire department use
– Class II – 1 ½ inch hose
connections intended for first-aid
fire fighting
– Class III – Provided with both 2 ½
inch and 1 ½ 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
– Light Hazard
occupancy
 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 individual’s
interpretation
Maintain
systems in accordance with
code requirements and manufacturer’s
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