Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Great Fire of 1666: parlament established: Classes of buildings Types of materials allowable Established fees for cost of inspections Metropolitan building act, 1844: took above and revised: To regulate height Occupancies Establish a building official USA codes prompted by fires and diseases in urban areas (NYC) 1625: first code for settlement of New Amsterdam regulated roof coverings to protect from chimney sparks 1871: Chicago fire prompted insurance agencies to see benefit of codes 1905: natl Board of Fire Underwriters first model fire code = first National building Code Result was three model building codes BOCA: Building Official Conference of America UBC: Uniform Building Code SBC: Standard Building Code Combined in 1990 into single International Building Code 2000, first publication
Local Regulations
Local codes may include amendments to the model code in use pertaining to concerns of geographical region
Natl Fire Protection Association (NFPA): standards related to the causes and prevention of destructive fires Sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, hazardous materials, fire fighting NFPA publishes own code NFPA 5000 Other standards writing organizations: ASHRAE Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Gypsum Assoc (GA) American Concrete Institute (ACI)American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) American Institute of Timber Construction American national Standards Institute (ANSI): does not develop or write standards, but approves those developed by other organizations and works to avoid duplications
Testing Laboratories When standards describe a test procedure, a Natl Recognized Testing Lab (NRTL) must perform test An independent lab recognized by OSHA to test products to specifications of applicable standard Most well known NRTL is Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Listed label: When product is successfully tested, passed the safety test and is manufactured under UL follow-up services program Classified label: samples tested for certain uses only and must cary statement specifying conditions tested for Most common uses of UL testing is for doors and other opening penetrations UL 10B Fire Test of Door Assemblies Results of tests are listed in ULs Building Materials Directory Types of Tests and Standards Codes indicate what tests or standards material must satisfy ASTM C36, Standard Specification for Gypsum Wallboard Most important tests are those that rate ability of a construction assembly to prevent passage of fire and smoke from one space to another ASTM E-119 Standard Method of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials Overall, test evaluates assemblies ability to prevent passage of fire, heat and hot gases for a given amount of time Tests sample of wall, floor/ceiling assembly applying fire on one side Part 1: Measures heat transfer, determines temp at which the surface of adjacent materials on side of assembly not exposed will combust at Part 2: Hose Stream test that uses a high pressure hose stream to simulate how well assembly stands up to impacts from falling debris and cooling and eroding effects of water Assemblies tested given a rating according to time 1-hr 2-hr 3-hr 4-hr Doors and other openings 20-min 30-min 45-min NFPA 252 NFPA 252, Fire Tests of Door Assemblies Evaluates ability of a door assembly to resist passage fo flame, heat and gases Time base fire endurance rating & hose stream Test determines if door will stay within its frame when subjected to standard blast from fire hose
NFPA 257 NFPA, 257, Standard on Fire Test for Windows and Glass Block Assemblies Degrees of fire protection in units of time for window openings in fire resistive walls Flammability tests for finishes ASTM E-84, NFPA 265 and NFPA 286 If a material is flammable and if it simply burns with apply heat or supports combustion (adds fuel to fire)
ASTM E-84
ASTM E-84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials Also known as Steiner tunnel test Most common Rates the surface burning characteristics of interior finishes Can be used to generate a smoke developed index Class A (I): 0-25 most resistant Class B (II): 26-75 Class C (III): 76-200 Codes specify min flame spread for various occupancies
NFPA 265
NFPA 265, Room corner test Determines contribution of interior wall and ceiling coverings to room fire growth Simulate real conditions Textile coverings applied to three sides of and 8 x 12 x 8 room Ignition source provides heat output of 40 kW for five min and then 150 kW for 10 min Passes if: Flame does not spread to ceiling during 40 kW exposure and No flashover and no spread of flame to outer extremity during 150 kW exposure
NFPA 286
NFPA 286, Standard Method of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior finishes to Room Fire Growth: Evaluates materials other than textiles to address concerns with finishes that do not remain in place During the E-84 test Evaluates extent finishes contribute to growth in a room by assessing heat and smoke released, combustion products release and potential fire spread beyond room
Fire barrier: designed to restrict spread of fire, confine it to limited area and afford safe passage for egress To enclose vertical exit enclosure Separate different occupancies in mixed use Separate single occupancies into different fire areas Provide barrier where required by code Must be cont from floor to slab Must have resistance rating greater than 1-hr Openings protection varies depending on rating of barrier May range from 20-min to 3-hr Max aggregate width of 25% of length of wall Single opening cannot exceed 120 ft2 Exceptions: If adjoining area sprinklered Fire doors Not limited if opening protective assembly has been tested according to ASTM E-119 and has fire resistance rating equal to or greater than that of wall Fire Wall: used to separate a single structure into separate construction types 2 to 4-hr rating Continuous from foundation thru roof One side can collapse w/o affecting structural stability of adjacent Smoke barrier: membrane w/ min fire resistive rating of 1 hour Openings of 20-min
Finishes
Second type of fire resistive classification: single layers of finish material rated according to ASTM E-84 and use is restricted to certain areas of buildings Purposes: to control flame spread rate to limit amount of combustible material Traditionally: E-84 exclusive for interior finishes but IBC allows use of finish materials with exception of textiles if in accordance with NFPA 286, Std Method of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish Textile coverings must either be rated as Class A according to ASTM E-84 and be protected by an automatic sprinkler system or must meet requirements of NFPA 265 NFPA 253, the Flooring Radiant Panel Test: tests amount of radiant energy needed to sustain flame is measured and defined as critical radiant flux Two classes Class I: critical radiant flux of not less than .45 W per cm2 Required in vertical exits, egress passage and exit corridors in Group I-2 and I-3 (hospitals nursing homes detention facilities Class II: critical radiant flux of not less than .22 W per cm2 Required in vertical exits, egress passage and exit corridors in Groups A, B, E, H, I -4, M, R-1 and S occupancies
Occupancy Groups
A Assembly
A-1: A-2: A-3: A-4: A-5: assembly w/ fixed seats assembly for food and drink assembly for worship,recreation or other assembly for indoor sports Assembly for outdoor sports theatres, live performance bars, restaurants libraries, museums, conf rooms (+50) arenas stadiums offices, banks, education above 12th grade Post office grade schools & day care if > 5 kids & > 2.5 yrs old see code see code see code assisted living, group home, convalescent facilities hospitals, skilled care ails, reformatories daycare for infants Dept. stores, markets, retail, sales rooms Hotels apartments, dorms, convents
H Hazardous I Institutional
I-1: I-2: I-3: I-4: 16 ambulatory people on 24hr medical care on 24hr basis >5 people restrained Daycare for >5 adults or infants
S Storage U Utility
Occupancy class determines: max. area, # floors allowed how buildings must be separated from together structures occupant load egress design interior finish requirements fire partitions and barriers dire detection & suppression venting and sanitation requirements
Example: 12,00 ft2 Type V bldg formerly low hazard (F-2). To be remodeled into nightclub (A-2). IBC states max allowable floor area for F-2 is 13,000 & 6,000 for A-2, entire area cannot be used as a nightclub unless adding fire walls. Portions separated are considered separate buildings as long as requirements for fire wall met. 4hr for H-1 & H-2 2hr for F-2, S-2, R-3 and R-4 3hr for others
Location On Property
Ch 6 of IBC Requirements for siteing of buildings relative to adjacent property Resistance of exterior nonbearing walls based on distance from property lines
Occupant Load
Occupant load: number of people code assumes will occupy a given building Assumes certain uses will be more packed with people exiting should respond accordingly IBC requires load be established by larges number by: Actual number Auditorium with fixed seating Taking area in square feet and dividing by an occupant load Most common method Occupant load factor: floor area presumed to be occupied by one person When occupant load from an accessory space exits through a primary space, the egress facilities from the primary space occupant load must include the occupant load of the primary space plus the occupant load of the accessory space Requires occupant loads should be cumulative as occupants exit thru intervening spaces to an ultimate exit Mixed occupancies each area calculated then added together Example: occupant load for restaurant dining room that is 2,500ft2 assembly w/o fixed seats load factor of 15ft2 dividing 15 into 2500 = 167 persons Example: occupancy load for office w/ gross area of 3700ft2 & two training classrooms of 1200ftt ea -business area had occupant load factor of 100 gross, so 3,700 divided by 100 = 37 persons -classrooms load factor of 20, two classrooms of 1200 five a total of 2400ft2 divided by 20 = 120 persons for the two classrooms -157 total persons
Exceptions: second story of an apartment w. only four units and max travel distance of 50 Large occupancy loads: three exits when occupant load is between 501 & 1000 Four exits requires for 1000+ occupants
Separation of Exits
When two exits are required, they must be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one half the length of the max overall diagonal dimension of the building or area to be served if three or more exits, two must conform to the one half diagonal distance rule, third a reasonable distance apart
Width of Exits
Required max width determined by multiplying the occupant load by appropriate factor given in table 1005.1 of IBC, resulting number is minimum total width in inches In standard buildings .3 for stairways .2 for egress components In sprinklered buildings factors are: .2 for stairways .25 for egress components Example: if occupant load is 157, min width of corridor in office unsprinklered building, multiply 157 by .2 = 31.4 However: elsewhere in codes, min width serving an occupant load greater than 50 is 44
CORRIDORS
Corridor: fully enclosed portion of an exit access that defines and provides a path of egress travel to an exit Purpose is to provide space w/ limited choices as to paths or directions of travel When two exits laid out so possible to travel in two directions to an exit Width of exit must not be less than 44 Exceptions: 24 Access to electrical, mech and plumb equipment 36 Where occupant load is 50 or less 36 - Within a dwelling unit 72 Group E occupancies serving occupant load of 100 or more 72 Group I occupancy corridor serving health care centers 96 Group I-2 bed movements However: min width determined by code should be verified w/ min dith reqd by ADA Corridor cannot be encroached upon except: Door opening into path of egress travel can reduce the required width up to one half during curse of the swing but when fully open the door cannot project more than 7 Horizontal projections such as handrails trim, fixtures and lights can project horizontally max of 4
Corridor Construction
Slab to slab construction exceptions: Group E classrooms and assembly rooms have half of their required egress loading directly to the exterior at ground level In a dwelling unit In open parking garages Group B occupancies that only require one exit
Openings in Corridors
Doors, glazing and fire shutters to have min rating of 20min Total area of fire protection rated glazing between rooms and corridors cannot exceed 25%
Corridor Continuity
`When corridor required to be fire rated continuous to exit Exceptions: Corridors may pass thru foyers, lobbies and reception as long as these spaces are rated as adjacent corridors Corridors in fully sprinklered Group B to pass through enclosed elevator lobbies
Dead Ends
Dead end: occupant has only one choice of direction leading to an exit Code allow dead ends if the do not exceed 20 Exceptions: Not limited in length where length is less than 2.5 times the least width of the dead end corridor D and F occupancies ma have 50 dead end corridors if entire building is sprinlered 50 long in group I-3
DOORS
Potential obstruction to egress Must be distinguishable from adjacent construction Recognizable as means of egress Cannot be covered w/ reflective materials Cannot be concealed with decoration
Size of Doors
Must be sufficient for occupant load (32 min)
Door Swing
Pivoted or side hinged to ensure familiarity to user Special doors not considered exit Some revolving allowed if leaves collapse & at least one conforming door adjacent Swing in direction of travel when area served has occupant load of 50 or more Cannot swing into a required travel path. If so, door must be recessed in cove Doors without closers: max opening force of 5lbf Doors with closers: max opening force of 15lbf Max allowable force to set door in motion is 30lbf Door must swing to fully open position
Guard (guardrails)
Guard: to prevent falls from elevated area Where 30 or more above floor Min 42 high 4dia sphere cannot pass up to 34 must resist a load of 50lbf/ft
Sound Ratings
IBC requires wall, floor/ceiling assemblies in residential occupancies: Min sound transmission class (STC) of 50 (45 field tested for walls Min impact insulation class (IIC) for floors of 50 (45 field tested)