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Insights Category: Technical Information

Atrium smoke control systems and their associated mechanical exhaust rates and makeup air often come with a unique and challenging set of design constraints. Mechanical exhaust systems must be designed such that exhaust inlets are distributed and oriented appropriately to prevent plugholing. These design constraints associated with exhaust are generally manageable and can be overcome. Providing makeup air for the smoke exhaust system is often the most challenging constraint to overcome when designing an atrium smoke control system using mechanical exhaust.

Makeup air can be provided from natural (i.e. operable doors/windows) or mechanical sources (i.e. supply air fans). How and where makeup air is introduced can have a significant impact on the atrium’s architectural design and the performance of the smoke control system.

Newly constructed atria smoke control systems are subject to the requirements of the International Building Code or NFPA 92 (Standard for Smoke Control Systems, 2012 edition is used here) and must adhere to the makeup air limitations of NFPA 92, Section 4.4.4.1.4.

The prescriptive requirements of this standard place a significant constraint on makeup air velocity. Specifically, makeup air velocities are not allowed to exceed 200 ft/min where the air may come in contact with the plume (NFPA 92, 4.4.4.1.4).   Makeup air velocities greater than 200ft/min can affect the fire, disrupt it’s plume and consequently produce greater volumes of smoke requiring removal. Identifying adequate area to introduce makeup air at velocities near 200 ft/min (approximately to 2.25 miles/hr.) can be challenging compared to locating exhaust inlets which will have an effective area that is an order of magnitude less than that needed for makeup air.

NFPA 92 does allow for higher makeup air velocities if supported by an engineering analysis, often through the use of a computer fire model. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) fire models (such as the Fire Dynamic Simulator – FDS) simulate fire growth and smoke movement throughout an atrium and allow for the performance of the system to be evaluated based on the specific architecture of the atrium and the arrangement of exhaust and makeup air. Makeup air velocities greater than 200 ft/min are able to be simulated and evaluated to determine effects on the smoke development and performance of the smoke control system. Generally speaking, atrium smoke control systems that are evaluated using a CFD model can often support makeup air velocities in excess of 200 ft/min and thereby may allow for greater flexibility in the atrium’s design.

Atria smoke control system designs are rarely the same from project to project but using a CFD model often yields consistent advantages by allowing for increased design flexibility and cost savings. If you have an atrium that requires smoke control on your project, we’d be happy to discuss it further – please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

 

Laboratory Signage

As a stronger emphasis is being placed on laboratory safety during the permitting process in and around the City of Boston, questions frequently arise regarding the types and locations of signage required within the laboratory space. The following sections highlight the general types of signage required within research and development laboratories from the perspectives of 780 CMR and 527 CMR 1.00.

NFPA 704 Signage

NFPA 704 signage is intended to quickly and clearly communicate chemical hazards to emergency responders. The NFPA 704 placard is a multicolored diamond with numerals to indicate the health, flammability, instability, and special hazards presented by chemicals.

527 CMR requires NFPA 704 signage to be placed on stationary aboveground tanks, stationary aboveground containers, at entrances to locations where hazardous materials are stored, dispensed, used, or handled in quantities requiring a permit, and at other entrances and locations designated by the AHJ (527 CMR 60.5.1.8.2.1).

For R&D laboratories, this means NFPA 704 signage is required at all laboratory entry points, including the main laboratory entrance and any entrances to individual rooms within the laboratory space. In addition, NFPA 704 signage is required at any entry points to support spaces where chemical hazards are present (e.g. chemical storage rooms, waste rooms, gas storage rooms etc.).

There are also cases where the AHJ may request additional signage beyond that discussed above. For example, in the case where multiple tenants share a dedicated chemical storage room and have each been allocated a caged area within the room, certain jurisdictions may require tenant-specific NFPA 704 signage to be placed near each tenant’s storage area in addition to signage at the main door to the room.

In all cases, the NFPA 704 signage must accurately reflect the contents of the entire laboratory or storage area served and continued effort must be made to ensure signage is kept current to reflect the hazards present within the space.

Emergency Signage

Signage identifying locations of emergency equipment including fire extinguishers and eye wash/shower stations is intended to make the locations of such equipment easily identifiable for laboratory occupants. For fire extinguishers, NFPA 10 as referenced by 527 CMR requires that signage indicating the presence of an extinguisher be located in close proximity to the extinguisher and visible from the normal path of travel (NFPA 10, 6.1.3.3.3). For emergency eye wash/shower stations, ANSI Z358.1 as referenced by 527 CMR requires a well-lit sign that is highly visible from within the area served by the emergency eye wash/shower (ANSI Z358.1, 4.5.3 & 5.4.3).

Aside from being affixed properly in the location of the extinguisher or eye wash/shower station, the style of signage that is typically recommended for laboratory applications is the projecting type, which extends perpendicularly or in a V-shape off the wall such that it can be viewed from multiple angles. Further, contrasting colors are typically utilized to enhance visibility, such as red and white for fire extinguishers and green and white for safety showers.

Locations of potential obstructions should be considered when locating emergency signage. Fire extinguisher and emergency wash station signage is often easily obstructed by laboratory equipment such as freezers, refrigerators, or glassware storage. Signage locations may therefore need to be adjusted to avoid obstructions and maintain visibility by laboratory personnel.

Spill Kit Signage

Spill kit signage is intended to clearly identify the locations and types of spill kits for laboratory occupants in the event of a chemical or biological spill. Where provided, it is recommended that chemical and biological spill kits be located in separate, distinct locations from one another. Often times they are located in labelled cabinets under lab sinks or in storage adjacent to emergency eye wash/shower stations. Wherever the spill kits are stored, easily identifiable markings are required to be installed to identify the spill kit and denote whether it is for biological or chemical spills.

If you have any questions or would like assistance with fire and life safety code compliance relative to laboratories, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@crcfire.com.

The exit access configuration within a building is impacted by multiple code requirements to ensure that occupants can safely reach an exit and continue to the exit discharge. One of the major limitations that is required to be evaluated when configuring the exit access arrangement is Exit Access Travel Distance. Exit Access Travel Distances are limitations that identify the maximum distance from any point of a story to an exit. These are measured along the exit path from the most remote point of a story along the natural and unobstructed path of horizontal and vertical egress travel to the entrance to an exit (2015 IBC 1017.3). An exit can include exterior exit doors at the level of exit discharge, interior exit stairways and ramps, exit passageways, exterior exit stairs and ramps and horizontal exits.

Although IBC Section 1017.3 and NFPA 101 Section 7.6 outline how this measurement is taken, there are some common questions raised specific to this process given the different components exit access configurations consist of. The following include a few clarifications to address some these misconceptions while measuring Exit Access Travel Distances:

  1. Travel Distances are measured to the nearest exit, not all exits. The most remote point on the floor is required to be within the exit access travel distance limitations to any one exit on the floor.
  2. Often, travel distances change throughout the design of a project. Introducing new furniture or wall partitions for a tenant fitout or alternate furniture layout on a floor may obstruct an existing exit access path. As a result, the new exit access path could exceed the maximum travel distance beyond what is permitted. As design changes take place, it should be confirmed that compliant exit access travel distances are maintained.
  3. If an exit access stairway or ramp is provided along the path of travel, the Exit Access Travel Distance includes the travel down the exit access stairway/ ramp. The measurement along exit access stairways is required to be made on a plane parallel and tangent to the stair tread nosing’s in the center of the stair and landings. The measurement along ramps is required to be made on the walking surface in the center of the ramp and landings.

It is important to understand how to measure exit access travel distances. If you have any questions on or concerns about this information, please contact our office at info@crcfire.com.

 

This Insights post discusses how a story relative to grade is classified from the perspectives of NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code and the International Building Code (IBC). With the growing laboratory market in the Northeast, more and more tenants are using and storing flammable & combustible liquids, which may trigger compliance with NFPA 30 depending on the jurisdiction. Because NFPA 30 prohibits the storage of flammable liquids in “basements,” it is important to understand the distinction between what qualifies as a basement per NFPA 30 vs. the building code.

What is an NFPA 30 Basement?

From the perspective of NFPA 30, a Basement is defined as “a story of a building having one-half or more of its height below ground level and to which access for fire-fighting purposes is restricted.” This means that if the area of exterior wall below the surrounding ground surface is greater than half of the total area of all exterior walls on the level in question, the story is considered a Basement in accordance with NFPA 30. An example is provided below (NFPA 30 Handbook, Exhibit I.3.2):

What is an IBC Basement?

Stepping over to the IBC, a Basement is a story that is not a Story Above Grade Plane, which is defined as “a story having its finished floor surface entirely above grade plane or where the finished floor of the level above is either: (1) more than 6 feet above grade plane, or (2) more than 12 feet above the finished ground level at any point.” Where a story does not satisfy one of these criteria, it is considered to be a Basement in accordance with the IBC. Two examples demonstrating the application of the IBC definitions are shown in the figure below (IBC Handbook, Figure 202-21).

Note that the term Grade Plane refers to a reference plane representing the average of finished ground level adjoining the building exterior walls, whereas the term grade refers to the surrounding ground level. The determination of grade plane will be a function of the site topography and may require detailed calculations depending on elevation changes.

 Can a story be both an NFPA 30 “Basement” & an IBC “Story Above Grade Plane”?

There are cases where a story can be considered a Basement per NFPA 30 and still be classified as a Story Above Grade Plane per the IBC. Because this possibility exists, it is important that both definitions are evaluated as part of the design process. The following is an example:

What Does this Mean for My Project?

The classification of a story will impact the code requirements pertinent to the design of a building, such as the allowable height and area, construction type, and chemical allowances. Since the classification of a story differs depending on the code, it is critical to evaluate a building in accordance with each applicable code to ensure that all relevant code requirements are met.

If you have questions regarding how to apply these requirements to your project, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

 

When a standpipe is required during construction (see blog post Construction Standpipes and PRVs – A Question of Pressure (Feb 2020) for more detailed information), the question is often raised – where is an acceptable location?

Model code requirements for standpipe locations, and more importantly, fire hose connections, differ slightly.  Section 3311.1 of the International Building Code (IBC), states “…Such standpipes shall be provided with fire department hose connections at locations adjacent to stairways complying with Section 3310.1.”  The language is unchanged between the 2015, 2018, and 2021 editions, and is adopted without amendments in the Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR 9th Edition.  NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration and Demolition Operations, 8.7.4.2.4 requires “At least one fire department hose valve shall be provided at each intermediate landing or floor level in the exit stairway, as determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. (emphasis added).”  That requirement is also unchanged between the 2013 and 2019 editions.

Both IBC and NFPA requirements are similar in that the hose valves will be located near a stairway.  This is important as standard fire department standpipe operations dictate that the fire department will connect to the hose valve on the floor below the lowest floor on fire.  Using the floor below allows for setup of hose lines in a clear environment, it affords firefighters a path to safety by following their hose line back to the fire hose connection, and it means that in the event they are overwhelmed by fire and have to abandon the hose, they will still be able to close the valve and maintain pressure in the standpipe.  The IBC requirement for “adjacent to stairways” takes into account that the stairs may be a temporary stair, such as a scaffold stair tower, which provide very little room for firefighters to safely set up a hose line.

Sometimes, the builder will look to run a temporary construction standpipe along the exterior of the building or in an available open shaft.  Following the guidance in either of the model codes, again, this is acceptable only if there is a stair adjacent to the standpipe.  Fire departments typically bring 150 – 200 feet of hose arranged for standpipe operations in buildings so equipped.  This is in response to NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems, 7.3.2.2.1.1 and 7.3.2.2.1.2, which dictates travel distance to hose connections may be no greater than 130 feet in a non-sprinklered building and 200 feet in a sprinklered building.  In common core-shell buildings, where the distance from the curtain wall to a core stairwell can be 50 feet or greater, a third or more of the hose brought into the building will be used simply to get to the stair, leaving insufficient hose to reach the floor on fire.

Should a construction standpipe be placed outside of a stair enclosure, it is crucial that coordination with the AHJ take place before the standpipe is installed. The fire department’s ability to use a construction standpipe can depend on multiple items, of which location is a major factor.

If you have any other questions related to construction project NFPA 241 Construction Fire Safety Impairment Plans, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.  For additional information about required construction standpipes, check out this link.

 

For projects in Massachusetts, interior and exterior signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces are required to comply with 521 CMR and the 2010 ADA.  521 CMR Section 41.2.2 states that the mounting height of permanent room signs is required to be 60” above the finish floor to the centerline of the sign.  Section 703.4.1 of the 2010 ADA requires tactile characters to be a minimum of 48” above the finish floor, measured from the baseline of the lowest tactile character, and 60” maximum from the finish floor, measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character.

In many cases, it is not possible to comply with both 521 CMR and ADA when mounting a sign.  In December 2021, the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB) released an advisory opinion stating that the ADA signage mounting requirement provides equal or greater access compared to the 521 CMR requirement. Based on the advisory opinion, only the mounting height requirement of the ADA need to be considered without seeking a variance to 521 CMR.  The mounting height figure for signage as seen in chapter 703 of ADA is shown below:

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@crcfire.com.

This week’s Insights post discusses how a building’s Fire Separation Distance (FSD) and Frontage are measured from adjacent buildings or structures, lot lines, and public ways. There are various impacts that these measurements have, including the composition of the building’s exterior wall construction, restrictions on unprotected openings, and allowable building area, which are all critical to a building’s façade, geometry, and shape and size. Therefore, it is crucial to appreciate these attributes early in design. For the purposes of this post, the 2015 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC) is referenced as it is the currently adopted model code for the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR).

The IBC defines Fire Separation Distance (FSD) as the distance measured from the building face (at a right angle from the face of the wall) to one of the following (IBC Section 202):

  • The closest interior lot line;
  • To the centerline of a street, alley, or public way;
  • Or, to an imaginary lot line between two buildings on the same lot (note: an imaginary lot line does not have to be equidistantly placed between two buildings)

A demonstration of each of these three conditions are shown in the figures below (IBC Commentary, Figure 202(20) – 202(22)):

Most notably, FSD drives the fire-resistance rating required for exterior walls based on occupancy type(s) and the construction type of the building (IBC Table 602). FSD also dictates the percentage of allowable unprotected openings that may be permitted in the exterior wall (IBC Table 705.8), in order to mitigate the potential of flame spread from one structure to an adjacent one.

Similar in concept to Fire Separation Distance (FSD), Frontage of a building is a measure of the amount of open space or access to a public way around a building’s perimeter. However, this factor drives allowable area increases for the building (IBC Section 506.3). The IBC Commentary expands on this concept to state that “the allowable area of a building is allowed to be increased when it has a certain amount of frontage on streets (public ways) or open spaces, since this provides access to the structure by fire service personnel, a temporary refuge area for occupants as the leave the building and reduces exposure to and from adjacent structures.

In order to qualify for Frontage Increase, a building must possess:

  • At least 25% of its perimeter located along a public way or open space (IBC Section 506.3.1);
  • At least 20 feet in width from the building’s exterior wall to the public way or open, as measured at right angles to any of the following (IBC Section 506.3.2):
  • The closest interior lot line;
  • The entire width of a street, alley, or public way;
  • Or the exterior face of an adjacent building on the same property.

An important distinction for a portion of the building’s perimeter to qualify for Frontage is the need for the wall to be accessible for the fire department by means of a street or fire lane. The IBC Commentary expands on fire department access with: “for instance, if the back side of a building on a narrow lot cannot be reached by means of a fire lane on one side of the building (and there is no alley or street at the back), that portion of the perimeter is not considered open for purposes of frontage increase, even if there is actual open space exceeding 20 feet in width.” For example, the north exterior wall in the figure below can be accounted for Frontage since a fire lane is provided on the adjacent side (IBC Commentary Figure 506.3.2.(1)).

Please note that the content of this blog is relative to a new building with respect to existing or known site conditions on its lot. This does not account for any requirements (in terms of fire-resistance rating or proximity from a building), for select equipment such as electrical transformers, emergency generators, chemical or gas bulk storage tanks, dumpsters, sheds, etc. Please refer to the codes and standards specific to these types of equipment or features for any additional separation requirements from adjacent structures.

For information or request for assistance on your project, please contact us at info@crcfire.com.

 

 

 

 

Laboratory Life Safety – NFPA 45 and Means of Egress

With the current influx of life science projects, a few questions are becoming increasingly common: Are there any specialty egress requirements for R&D laboratories? Are there any code considerations to be aware of regarding the layout of laboratory equipment? The answers to these questions tie back to the Laboratory Unit approach as regulated by NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals (2011 edition).

What is a Laboratory Unit?

NFPA 45 utilizes the concept of Laboratory Units, which are similar in concept to control areas in that they are compartmentalized areas in which the allowable quantities of chemicals are limited. Laboratory Units are classified as Class A (high fire hazard), Class B (moderate fire hazard), Class C (low fire hazard), or Class D (minimal fire hazard) based on the quantities of flammable and combustible liquids within the unit. As the relative fire hazard increases, the requirements for life safety and means of egress become more stringent.

How many exits do I need to serve my Laboratory Unit?

NFPA 45 contains specific criteria for determining where a second means of access to an exit is required from a laboratory space, which may be more restrictive than the criteria otherwise specified by local building and life safety codes. The required egress arrangement will be dictated by the classification and size of the laboratory unit, as well as by the arrangement of equipment and hazards within the laboratory unit. For example, if a Class C Laboratory Unit exceeds 1,000 sf, a second means of access to an exit is required to be provided from the unit. Further, if there is a hazard located adjacent to the primary means of exit access that could obstruct the egress path in the event of an accident (e.g. an explosion hazard), a second means of access to an exit is required regardless of classification and size of the laboratory unit.

What are the limitations on exit access door configurations for my Laboratory Unit?

NFPA 45 contains requirements for door swing and the use of horizontal sliding doors that are dependent on the Laboratory Unit classification and are to be applied in conjunction with local building and life safety code requirements for doors. For example, exit access doors serving a Class A Laboratory Unit are required to swing in the direction of exit travel, whereas those serving a Class C Laboratory Unit are permitted to swing against the direction of exit travel if not otherwise required by building or life safety codes to swing in the direction of egress. Further, exit access doors serving Class C laboratory units are permitted to be horizontal sliding doors provided they comply with other local building and life safety code requirements.

If you have any questions or would like assistance with fire and life safety code compliance relative to laboratories, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Both building and fire codes require a building to be “fully sprinklered” for multiple reasons. Certain occupancy types, such as residential (Group R) or hazardous materials (Group H) occupancies are always required to be fully sprinklered. Many other occupancy types are required to be fully sprinklered when over a certain area, located a certain distance above/below grade, and/or based on occupant load. In Massachusetts, there are specific instances where the Massachusetts General Laws require full sprinkler protection. Fully sprinklering a building can also give certain benefits in design and construction such as increased height and area, longer egress travel distances, reduction in ratings for fire barriers, and elimination of certain fire alarm components. For all these conditions, the International Building Code (903.3.1.1) requires that sprinklers be installed throughout in accordance with the proper NFPA sprinkler standard – be it NFPA 13, 13R, or 13D – but there are exceptions. When can you call a building “fully sprinklered” when sprinklers really are not installed everywhere?

The first set of locations are those from the building code (IBC 903.3.1.1.1):

  1. Rooms where application of water causes a serious life or fire hazard
  2. Rooms where sprinklers are not desirable because of contents, where approved by the fire code official (such as rooms for storage of water-reactive materials)
  3. Generator and transformer rooms separated with 2-hour rated construction
  4. Rooms that are noncombustible with wholly noncombustible contents
  5. Fire service access elevator machine rooms and machinery spaces
  6. Machine rooms and spaces, control rooms and spaces associated with occupant evacuation elevators
  7. Certain bathrooms less than 55 square feet in R-1, R-2, and R-3 occupancies

The next set of locations are provided by NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. For this discussion, we are using the 2013 edition as it is the edition currently adopted and in use in Massachusetts. Newer editions have slightly different criteria (and different locations within the standard itself). These locations are only for NFPA 13 sprinkler systems, and do not include the locations where sprinklers can be omitted which are identified in NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies or NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. Both NFPA 13R and NFPA 13D have additional locations – such as attics and bathrooms less than 55 square feet – where sprinklers are not required.

  1. Noncombustible concealed spaces with minimal combustible loading
  2. Concealed spaces of noncombustible and limited combustible construction with limited access and not permitting occupancy or storage of combustibles
  3. Certain spaces above ceilings within combustible construction
  4. Concealed spaces filled with noncombustible insulation
  5. Concealed spaces over rooms less than 55 square feet
  6. Concealed spaces where the exposed materials are constructed entirely of fire retardant-treated wood
  7. Noncombustible concealed spaces where the heat content of the facing and substate of the insulation does not exceed 1,000 Btu per square foot
  8. Combustible soffits, eaves, overhangs, and decorative frame elements not over 4 feet in width, that are draftstopped into volumes less than 160 cubic feet, separated from the building with no openings or unprotected penetrations into the building, and with no storage beneath
  9. Noncombustible or limited-combustible, nonaccessible vertical duct, mechanical, or electrical shafts
  10. Noncombustible exit corridors where the exterior walls are at least 50 percent open
  11. Closets in dwelling units and hotels that are less than 24 square feet and the ceilings are noncombustible or limited combustible, or 6 square feet in hospital patient rooms.
  12. Two-hour rated electrical rooms for dry type electrical equipment only with no combustible storage
  13. Inside or underneath portable furniture
  14. Inside electrical equipment, mechanical equipment or air handling units not intended for occupancy

Additionally, in Massachusetts, there are several specific locations where sprinklers are not required:

  1. Certain spaces in telecommunications buildings that are provided with smoke detection and separated from the remainder of the building with 1-hour fire barriers and 2-hour floors.
  2. Noncombustible and limited combustible concealed spaces and plenums containing electrical, data, communications, and other cables as permitted by 527 CMR [plenum-rated cable].
  3. Transformer vaults meeting certain requirements
  4. Machine rooms of traction/drum hydraulic elevators, elevator hoistways, and elevator pits; sprinklers are also expressly prohibited from these spaces by 524 CMR Massachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations

It should be noted that Massachusetts specific exemptions or prohibitions on sprinkler installation in certain rooms may not be applicable in buildings subject to federal regulations; such as healthcare facilities regulated by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements, federal buildings where PBS-P100 Facilities Standards for Public Buildings Service, or Department of Defense Unified Facilities Criteria requirements are utilized. In those cases, the most restrictive requirements would apply and conflicts between the codes should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Given the above criteria, there are many locations where sprinklers do not have to be installed for a building to be considered “fully sprinklered.” These locations depend on a number of factors with the design and intended use of the building and its spaces and can be a subject to the discretion of both the Registered Design Professional and Authority Having Jurisdiction involved. If you have questions as to whether sprinklers are required in a particular location, please contact our office at 617-500-7633 or info@crcfire.com to speak with our team.

In an era of increasingly complex building designs with advanced MEP/FP and life-safety systems, building signage is a simple, effective tool that can have a tangible benefit to first responders and fire department personnel.

In an emergency situation, responding personnel need to be able to quickly understand the building layout and the fire and life safety systems in order to effectively plan and conduct their emergency operations.

Building Codes and Referenced Standards provide a good baseline for minimum required signage.  For example, the International Building Code (911.1.6) requires the Fire Command Center to post clear information regarding the building size, floors, construction type, stair and egress information, fire protection systems, fuel sources, hazmat areas, and more.

NFPA Standards (including NFPA 1: Fire Code, NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems) have specific requirements for signage and labeling, with the goal of assisting the Fire Department with location, activation, and isolation of systems.   Common signs include those for sprinkler and standpipe control valves, drains, fire pump equipment, fire hose valves, and fire department connections (also see our blog post Fire Department Connection Signage – Code Red Consultants).

While Codes and Standards provide the minimum baseline, local jurisdictions may have additional requests they have found to be effective.  The design and construction team can work in collaboration with the local Authorities Having Jurisdiction to develop a signage strategy that will not only satisfy the Codes but also benefit the building occupants and responding emergency personnel.  Examples of some “best practice” signage can include:

  • Simple and Intuitive naming of stairwells and building levels (East/West, A/B, etc.)
  • Consistency with sign size, font, color, and material.
  • Additional wayfinding aides in obstructed or congested areas such as basements, mechanical equipment areas, and roofs. This can include robust signage, painted floors, additional lighting and exit signs, etc.
  • A consistent naming scheme amongst the MEP/FP trades and Architect, so system labels correspond with room names and numbers, stairs, floor level, etc.
  • Correct orientation of graphical signage (e.g. directional maps) based on the viewing position of the sign.

As building designs and systems get more and more complicated, it can be easy to overlook important details such as signage.  It’s good to remember that sometimes the simplest tools can be the most reliable and impactful, and a thoughtful signage strategy can go a long way in aiding emergency responders.

For more information on building signage please contact us at info@crcfire.com