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

 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
 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
 2009: Most recent edition
 2000: Edition adopted by Joint Commission & CMS
 International Building and Fire Codes
 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) IBC (2009)
 Assembly  Assembly Group A
 Educational  Business Group B

 Day-Care  Educational Group E

 Health Care  Factory Group F

 Ambulatory Health Care  High-Hazard Group H

 Detention and Correctional  Institutional Group I

 One and Two Family Dwellings  Mercantile Group M

 Lodging of Rooming Houses  Residential Group R

 Hotels and Dormitories  Storage Group S

 Apartment Buildings  Utility and Miscellaneous Group U

 Residential Board and Care

 Mercantile

 Business

 Industrial

 Storage
Ambulatory Care Buildings

 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
 Life Safety Code has separate
occupancy chapter for ambulatory
care
 Egress Capacity Widths
 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
IBC 2006 IBC 2009
(2000)
Occupancies other than those listed below 0.3” 0.2”
High Hazard (NFPA 101) or
0.7” 0.3”
Hazardous: H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 (IBC) 0.3” for all
Health Care (NFPA 101) or 0.3” (AS) 0.3” (AS) occupancies
Institutional: I-2 (IBC) 0.6” (NS) NA (NS)
Board and Care (NFPA 101) 0.4” 0.2”
Duct-Type Smoke Detectors
NFPA 90A: Standard for the
Installation of Air-Conditioning and
Ventilating Systems
NFPA 101 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
International Mechanical Code
IBC referenced standard
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
Discussion Items for Local
Fire Marshal During Design
 Fire Hydrant Locations
 Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Locations
 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

 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)
Accreditation Requirements

 Requirements vary by occupancy:

 Ambulatory Care, Behavioral Health,
Hospitals, Laboratories, etc.
 New vs. Existing Facilities
 Life Safety Chapter covers fire
protection requirements
Accreditation Requirements

 Joint Commission Statement of

Conditions (SOC)
 Basic Building Information (BBI)
 Life Safety Assessment (LSA)
 Plan for Improvement (PFI)
HITF Interpretation
Examples
 Exit Access from Suites
 Stairwell is NOT equivalent to an Exit Access
Corridor
 Storage Bins > 32 gallons
 Hazardous Area
 Exit Discharge
 Non-paved surfaces to public way
 Sprinkler Obstructions
 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
Example Citations

 Following are several examples of

common citations
 Even the best designed systems are
subject to oversights or differing field
conditions
Pull Station Mounting

 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

 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
 Incorrect mounting of
devices
 Equipment installed
shall be listed for the
purpose for which it is
used.
 NFPA 72 (2010) 10.3.1
Synchronization
 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
 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
 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 System should be
properly
maintained at all
times to ensure
reliability
 Obvious
impairments should
be repaired
immediately and
will fail inspections
 Spare Sprinkler Cabinet

 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

 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
 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
Questions?