Insights Category: Technical Information

During construction or fire protection impairments, the need to supply standpipes and sprinklers does not simply go away because of the impairment or because the building is under construction. The question of fire protection water supply is often dismissed with “the fire department will just pump into the system.” While this may be the case in many circumstances, it is not always possible.

The volume of water and pressures that the local fire department can provide during an incident depend on several key factors:

  • How much water is required
  • Where the water needs to be pumped
  • Capacity of the fire apparatus
  • Proximity and adequacy of the water supply (e.g. hydrants, municipal supply)

In order to determine whether the fire department can supply the required fire protection water during an event, first an understanding of how much water is required is necessary.  For the majority of buildings with sprinkler and standpipe systems, the standpipe demand will drive the overall fire protection water supply needs.  As such, this discussion will focus on standpipe system demands, but it is important to note that in cases where the sprinkler system (or other fire protection system) demand exceeds the flow or pressure requirements of the standpipe system, then similar considerations would need to be evaluated for those systems.  That said, the number of standpipes has a direct impact on the volume of water required.  A single standpipe requires 500 gpm, two require 750 gpm, and three or more standpipes require 1,000 gpm.  Current code requires these flows be provided at 100 psi minimum residual pressure at the hose connection outlet.

The next question is where does the water need to go? If the building in question is only three stories tall with two standpipes (750 gpm), it is likely that the local fire department can supply the standpipes with few problems. The difficulties begin as the building’s height increases. The taller the building, the greater pressure is required to overcome gravity’s influence on the water. An additional 0.433 pounds per square inch (psi) is needed for every foot of elevation. A building that is 150 feet tall requires 65 psi just to lift the water to the top, not including the friction loss through the piping or pressure required at the outlet. The presence of pressure restricting valves (PRVs) will only increase the required pressure at the Fire Department Connection (FDC), given the additional pressure loss attributed to the PRVs.

Once the in-building demands are defined, the capacity of the local fire apparatus needs to be understood. Most engines in New England are equipped with single-stage pumps ranging from 1,000 gpm to 1,500 gpm (although two-stage pumps or pumps with ratings over 2,000 gpm are not unheard of). In our area, engines in Boston and Cambridge predominantly have single-stage, 1,250 gpm pumps, with a few notable exceptions. This capacity is measured at 150 psi discharge pressure, “at draft.” This means the pump can pull from a static water supply, like a river, pond, or tank, and add 150 psi to the 1,250 gpm as it passes through. It also means that it can have a residual pressure of 0 from a fire hydrant, and still add 150 psi (though most fire departments will maintain at least a 20 psi residual pressure when working from a hydrant).

If the pressure is increased beyond 150 psi, the pump’s volume capacity begins to drop. At 200 psi, the pump will only flow 70% of its rated capacity (875 gpm for our example 1,250 pump). At 250 psi, it will only flow 50% (625 gpm). This is the pressure added to what is being supplied to the truck, so if the connected fire hydrant has a residual pressure of 100 psi at 625 gpm, the pump will provide 350 psi (100 psi + 250 psi) at 625 gpm at the pump outlet. That said, above 250 psi, many engines will start to see relief valves operate to protect the truck’s piping systems and hose lines. There is a practical maximum pressure that is available, and it is dependent upon how each individual engine was specified and built. Whether these flows and pressures are adequate will depend on the determined in-building demand.

The last factor discussed here is the proximity and adequacy of the water supply that will be connected to the engine. How far away are the fire hydrants, and can they supply the quantities and pressures that are needed? We often see “good” hydrants in large downtown areas – hydrants that can supply 1,200 gpm or 1,400 gpm with a 70 psi residual pressure, but can the hydrant nearest the FDC supply the quantities of water that are needed? Or is it at the end of a 6-inch main in a low-pressure part of the water distribution system? A hydrant that can provide 1,000 gpm but with only 20 psi residual can be problematic for systems that require high pressures.

If the hydrants are more than 100 feet away, the fire department will have to extend the hose lines to reach the FDC, which will lower the pressure available at the FDC. What size hose does the fire department use to connect to hydrants? A 25-foot length of 6-inch hose will provide far more volume – and have less friction loss – than a 100-foot length of 4-inch hose or two 3-inch hoses.

The answers to these and similar questions will impact whether “the fire department will just pump into the system,” and be capable of providing adequate water supply during an incident. Discussions with the local fire department, and an understanding of how their fire engines operate, is crucial to providing adequate fire protection during construction or impairments. A proactive and thoughtful approach can go a long way to mitigating the potential fire protection problems that could otherwise result during an incident response.

If you have questions on standpipes, impairment planning, or construction fire safety, please reach out to info@crcfire.com for additional information.

 

 

Providing appropriate means of egress can be a difficult challenge as site mobilization starts and the construction project is in its infancy.  All new buildings under construction over one-story in height are required to be provided with at least one stairway in a usable condition at all times that meets the requirements of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code (NFPA 241 7.5.6). This stair is required to be lit and provided with appropriate stair identification signage as required to provide safe egress. This stair signage minimally shall include floor number, stair number, and direction of travel for safe egress. In addition, all means of egress features must be provided in accordance with Section 4.6.10 of NFPA 101, which requires doors, stairs, etc. be provided and arranged in a manner in which NFPA 101 can be reasonably applied.

Commonly, it is necessary due to coordination or scheduling issues that installation of the permanent stairs may be delayed, and alternative means of escape must be provided. This compliance is achieved by providing at least one, temporary, code compliant scaffold stair, and a second means of escape via a ladder, alternating tread device, etc. Where temporary, scaffold stairs are utilized, they are required to be 36” or greater in width, with maximum 7” risers and minimum 11” tread depths. Guards/handrails are provided for fall protection with a top and mid rail. Temporary stairs may be erected exterior to the building, or within a future mechanical shaft within the building not yet being utilized. As the permanent stair installation is completed, the temporary stairs can then be removed as they are no longer required for safe egress.

If you have any questions about how your project can provide appropriate, safe egress for the duration of construction, please reach out to info@crcfire.com for additional information.

Wherever chemicals are stored or used, flammable liquid storage cabinets are a familiar sight. Whether it is a laboratory, industrial factory or warehouse, construction site, or repair garage, you are bound to come across a few. Flammable liquid storage cabinets are a common sight in many locations including labs, warehouses, factories, construction sites, and garages. They are usually easy to find as they are typically covered in an enamel-finish yellow paint with big red letters reading “FLAMMABLE KEEP FIRE AWAY”.

Beyond convenience and familiarity, there are many code reasons why cabinets are used:

  1. Separation of incompatible materials
  2. Increases to control area maximum allowable quantities
  3. NFPA 45 laboratory storage requirements
  4. OSHA storage requirements

To be considered adequate by the building and fire codes, storage cabinets for flammable and combustible liquids are required to meet the provisions of NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, or the International Fire Code, depending on the locally adopted fire code. Both codes provide allowances for listed cabinets and unlisted manufactured steel or wooden cabinets.

The more commonly used steel cabinets are manufactured to the following parameters:

  1. No. 18 gauge double-walled steel with 1.5” airspace between walls.
  2. Riveted or welded tight-fitting joints.
  3. Well-fitted doors that are self-closing and latching, with 3-point latch.
  4. A 2” liquid-tight sump at the bottom for nominal spill control.

The following are frequently asked questions regarding flammable liquid storage cabinets:

  1. Are flammable liquid cabinets required to be ventilated? Not typically. Unless required by local jurisdictions, the base codes and standards do not require that cabinets be ventilated.
  2. Are cabinets required to be grounded? Although many manufacturers provide a grounding screw on their cabinets for convenience, they are not required to be grounded when used for closed storage.
  3. How much can be stored in a cabinet? Up to 120 gallons of flammable and combustible liquids are permitted to be stored within a flammable cabinet per NFPA and ICC codes.
  4. Is a cabinet sufficient to meet spill control requirements? Most cabinets only provide a 2” sump capacity which is not always sufficient for a spill of larger containers such as drums.

If you have questions about Flammable and Liquid Storage Cabinets or the requirements when dealing with flammable and combustible liquids, please feel free to contact us.

“When am I required to have my elevator serve as an accessible means of egress?”

A question frequently asked and for the purposes of this response, the assumption is that the project is located in Massachusetts and will be designed under 780 CMR, Massachusetts State Building Code (9th Edition), which is based on the 2015 International Building Code (IBC).780 CMR 1009.2.1 requires at least one accessible means of egress to be an elevator in buildings where a required accessible floor is four or more stories above or below a level of exit discharge. The code defines the level of exit discharge as the story at which an exit terminates and an exit discharge begins. On a flat site, a building that is “four stories above the level of exit discharge” would equate to a 5-story building. See the figure below for examples. Once this number of stories is reached, at least one elevator serving all floors in the building would be required to serve as an accessible means of egress. In order to be considered as an accessible means of egress, the elevator would be required to comply with the provisions of 780 CMR 1009.4, including being equipped with a standby power source. To meet the standby power requirement, it is our experience that this necessitates an emergency generator and not battery-backup to satisfy.

When discussing such buildings, another common question is, “Are there any options to avoid installing an emergency generator to serve as the standby power source when an elevator is required as an accessible means of egress?”

Foremost, if the building is classified as a high-rise, elevators are required to be equipped with a standby power source in accordance with 780 CMR 403.4.8.3, and the generator is not able to be avoided.

If the building is not a high-rise, there may be an option to avoid an emergency generator depending on the specific building design. If the building is a low-rise and is more than four stories above the level of exit discharge, an alternate option is to utilize horizontal exits. 780 CMR 1009.2.1, Exception 1 states that in buildings sprinklered in accordance with NFPA 13 or 13R, an elevator is not required to serve as an accessible means of egress on floors provided with a horizontal exit located at or above the levels of exit discharge. This effectively means the following:

  1. The building cannot have any accessible stories located below the level of exit discharge;
  2. Horizontal exits, complying with 780 CMR 1026, must be provided on all floors.

Horizontal exits have their own series of requirements that must be met. A few considerations before you get rid of the generator include, but are not limited to:

  1. In most occupancies, horizontal exits are not permitted to serve as more than one-half of the required number of exit or egress capacity (780 CMR 1026.1).
  2. The horizontal exit must be 2-hour rated with 90-minute opening protectives and be continuous from exterior wall to exterior wall. Any cross-corridor doors will likely need to be bi-directional assuming that they serve more than 49 occupants on either side (780 CMR 1026.3).
  3. The horizontal exit must extend vertically through all levels of the building. It does not necessarily need to align vertically, but where horizontal transitions occur between stories, the floor/ceiling assembly and all supporting construction must be 2-hour rated (780 CMR 1026.2).
  4. An adequate refuge area complying with 780 CMR 1026.4 must be provided on both sides of the horizontal exit (780 CMR 1026.4). The refuge area must be adequate to accommodate the original occupant load of the refuge area plus the occupant load anticipated from the adjoining compartment.
  5. Standpipe hose connections may be required adjacent to the horizontal exit in accordance with 780 CMR 905.4(2).
  6. Exit signage and manual pull stations are required for the horizontal exit doors serving as a means of egress.

To summarize, there may be an option to avoid installing an emergency generator when elevators are required to serve as an accessible means of egress. However, there are a number of factors that must be considered including whether the building is a high-rise and whether there are any accessible stories located below the level of exit discharge. Beyond this, horizontal exits come with their own slew of requirements which could have significant implications on the design and cost of your project. Contact us today to see how we can help make the best informed decision on your project.

 

In recent years, the inclusion of high-end amenities such as natural gas grills and fireplaces have helped apartment and condominium complexes attract a wide range of renters. These touches of domesticity are a welcome luxury to building occupants, however due to their inherent safety risks, specific safety functions are required when incorporating into a building’s design.

As adopted and amended by 248 CMR, NFPA 54, National Fuel and Gas Code, outlines specific requirements for natural gas appliances such as outdoor fireplaces and grills. One such requirement is the need for an accessible, approved manual shutoff valve approved by the AHJ prior to installation. The manual valve must be dedicated to a single appliance and be located within 6 feet of such appliance unless specific exceptions are met. At decorative fireplaces, this valve may be located within the unit if listed for such use. The details associated with the valve and fuel piping are subject to the provisions of NFPA 54 and 248 CMR, and should be incorporated as a part of the plumbing design.

When arranging shutoff devices, numerous factors must be considered. For example, the manufacturer’s installation instructions/data sheet will provide specific criteria as to the height, orientation, approximate location, and means of attachment for a specific device. Since these are the conditions by which the device has been tested and listed, they must be complied with.

Equally important to the manufacturer guidelines are the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The AHJ will outline their specific requirements for type, number, and location of shutoff devices. These requirements can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, meaning that up-front coordination during the design phase of a project is paramount to minimize unforeseen issues during the building sign-off process. As an example, some AHJ’s may require an emergency shutoff button in addition to the manual shutoff valve previously discussed. Typically these would be located in the vicinity of the appliance and/or situated at the entrance to the space containing the appliance to allow for remote shutoff.

Figure 1: Example of Gas Shutoff Switch at an Egress Door

Ultimately, when installing a natural gas heating appliance, special care should be taken in determining the location of safety devices. While NFPA 54 will outline basic requirements, the manufacturer’s data sheet and the approval of the AHJ should be consulted to ensure the most optimal arrangement is chosen. Proactive coordination will ensure devices are located appropriately from the outset of the project, limiting rework and any changes to overall design.

If you have any questions about concealed space allowances or have any other concerns associated to this topic, please feel free to reach out to info@crcfire.com for additional information.

 

This blog is the third in a series on Evacuation Planning, specifically addressing Fire Drills.  For Part 1 of the series focused on Emergency Action Plans, please see here. Part 2 of the series focused on Required Egress Posting, can be found here.

Fire drills are required within many jurisdictions that adopt NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code. They are required in education, healthcare, residential board and care, ambulatory health care, dormitory, hotel, mercantile, and business occupancies either entirely based on the occupancy classification, or in some cases, based on additional conditions such as total occupant load (NFPA 1 Section 10.5).

Where drilling is required, the following items must be taken into consideration:

  • Drills are required to be done in cooperation with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ);
  • The frequency of the drills should be such that occupants are familiar with the procedure and can display appropriate drill procedure as routine;
  • All building occupants subject to the drill should participate and be provided suitable accommodation to participate;
  • The drills should be focused on educating occupants on the correct procedures, rather than evaluated based on the speed of the drill;
  • Drills should be conducted at both announced and unannounced times and under varying conditions to simulate the unpredictability of when a true incident may occur;
  • The area of relocation should be predetermined; and
  • A written log of each drill should be completed by the person conducting the drill and maintained in an appropriate manner.

In addition to the provisions within NFPA 1, the local AHJ may also have unique requirements.  In the case of Boston Fire Department, specific expectations are listed for essential personnel, exit drill organization, emergency systems, and emergency operation (via Department Guidelines for Evacuation Planning Fire Prevention Order 72).

There is no reason for your next fire drill to resemble a scene from The Office. If you need assistance in creating a procedure or would appreciate assistance in conducting the fire drills on your preferred schedule, our team is available for such services (info@crcfire.com).

 

 

This blog is the second in a series on Evacuation Planning, specifically addressing egress posting requirements.  For Part 1 of the series focused on Emergency Action Plans, please see here.

In the state of Massachusetts, evacuation maps are required to be provided as a condition of building occupancy.  They are required to be posted by the owner on all floors of every building, except High Hazard, Factory, Correctional Facilities (780 CMR Section 111.5.2). In addition to the minimum per floor requirement, all rooms used as a place of assembly or as an R-l (i.e., hotel) sleeping space must include evacuation maps. Said placards are required be securely fastened to the building or structure in a readily visible place, showing exiting paths per floor.

Specifics associated with the placement, number, and composition of such evacuation maps are ultimately subject to the approval of the local building official, but are minimally recommended to include the following:

  • Illustrate a primary and secondary egress route;
  • It is recommended to orient floor plan to match;
  • Provide a “You are Here” designation;
  • Mark available “Exits”;
  • Provide a key/legend.

 

Emergency Action Plans, also referred to as Emergency Management or Evacuation Plans, are required in many jurisdictions, including those such as Massachusetts that adopt NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code.   Such a plan must be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) as a condition of occupancy, whether initial or longstanding.

Though considered best practice for any and all commercial properties, the Code only mandates the Emergency Action Plan if you are classified as one of the following building/occupancy types (NFPA 1, Section 10.2):

  • High-rise;
  • Healthcare or ambulatory healthcare;
  • Residential board and care
  • Hotels and dormitories;
  • Assembly;
  • Special amusement buildings;
  • Educational (i.e., K-12);
  • Bulk merchandising retail buildings;
  • Underground and windowless structures;
  • Facilities storing or handling hazardous materials as defined by NFPA 1, Chapter 60; or
  • Where required by the AHJ.

The Plan is required to be submitted to the AHJ and updated when requested.  The Plan should be unique to the specific building in question, with consideration given to its architectural configuration, occupancy program/arrangement, ability of staff on site to act swiftly in an emergency to assist in evacuation and features of fire protection.

Specifics associated with the length, arrangement, and content of the Plan is at the discretion of the AHJ, but is minimally required to include the following (NFPA 1, Section 10.8.2):

  • Procedures for reporting of emergencies;
  • Occupant and staff roles and responsibilities in different emergencies;
  • Evacuation, relocation and/or shelter-in-place procedures appropriate to the building, its occupancy, emergencies, and hazards (this is often supplemented with evacuation diagrams);
  • Accommodations to assist occupants/staff with disabilities;
  • Appropriateness of the use of elevators;
  • Design and conduct of fire drills; and
  • Description of all features of fire protection and life safety systems.

Be mindful of additional expectations of the AHJ, which may be memorialized in amendments to the Code or city ordinances.  Boston, for example, scales the expectation for a Plan to additional building types (Boston Fire Prevention Code (Section 72-1-02)).  Said buildings are as follows:

  • That house building occupants below grade of such total numbers that their movement under emergency evacuation in fire conditions;
  • Buildings that include significant amounts of combustibles that would make it difficult or impossible to evacuate the occupants in a fire condition;
  • Buildings where a particular configuration (height, length, width, depth, type of construction, or topography) would hinder effectiveness of fire department operations;
  • Buildings 70-feet in height; and
  • Apartment buildings and hotels.

If you would like additional information or would like assistance in preparing an Emergency Action Plan, please contact info@crcfire.com.

As micro units and efficiency dwelling units become more prominent in architectural design, specific code requirements related to room size and minimum dimensions have become increasingly important. In Massachusetts, a few of these requirements come from 780 CMR, Massachusetts State Building Code, and 105 CMR 410.00 State Sanitation Code, which are used to establish the minimum required habitable area for dwelling units.

When sizing individual dwelling units, the following key code requirements must be used together to ensure that all necessary provisions are met:

Massachusetts State Building Code

  • All habitable spaces, other than a kitchen, must not be less than 7 feet in any plan dimension, §1208.1.
  • Every dwelling unit must have at least one room that is at least 120 square feet in net floor area. Furthermore, other habitable rooms are required to be at least 70 square feet in net floor area, §1208.1.

State Sanitation Code

  • Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square feet of floor area for its first occupant, and at least 100 square feet for each additional occupant, which is calculated on the basis of total habitable room area (note that this applies to total area of the dwelling unit);
  • In a dwelling unit, every room occupied for sleeping by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant (i.e. 70 square feet total for one occupant, 100 square feet total for two occupants);
  • In a rooming unit (i.e. dormitory), every room occupied for sleeping by one occupant shall contain at least 80 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied by more than one occupant shall contain at least 60 square feet of floor space for each occupant (i.e. 80 square feet total for one occupant, 120 square feet total for two occupants).

If you are considering a development that includes micro units or have any additional questions on this topic, send us an email at info@crcfire.com.

 

In accordance with the 9th edition of 780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code, an interior exit stairway is defined as a means of egress component that “provides for a protected path of egress travel to the exit discharge or public way.” Where “land-locked” interior exit stairways do not have direct access to the building exterior, use of an exit passageway to connect the interior exit stairway to the building exterior is permitted by 780 CMR Chapter 10, and is a common approach to code-compliance. These exit passageways are designed to maintain the fire-resistance rating of the interior exit stairway(s) which they serve in accordance with the construction requirements of 780 CMR §1024.3.  In high-rise buildings, there is an added complication in that stairways are often pressurized as a means of satisfying the smokeproof enclosure requirements of 780 CMR §1023.11.  Where exit passageways are utilized to extend pressurized exit stairways, the exit passageway may require pressurization in the same fashion as the interior exit stairway, too, depending on its configuration.

Where interior exit stairways are pressurized, the termination of the pressurized exit stairways are subject to the requirements of 780 CMR §1023.11.1 ‘Termination and Extension.’  Exit passageways are specifically permitted to extend the smokeproof stair enclosure to the exit discharge, but are required to be “without openings” to adjacent building spaces.  In other words, the language of 780 CMR §1023.11.1 requires that exit passageways serving this function connect and communicate only with the interior exit stairway and the exterior of the building.  This configuration would not require the exit passageway to be pressurized; however, in practice it is often impractical or infeasible to avoid openings from adjacent building areas for egress purposes from those spaces.

In recognition of this practical challenge, Exception 1 to 780 CMR §1023.11.1 permits openings (from normally occupied spaces) into the exit passageway serving the smokeproof stair enclosure, when such openings are protected and the exit passageway is pressurized in the same manner as the smokeproof enclosure. The code requirement defining the performance criteria for stairway pressurization systems is 780 CMR §909.20.5, which requires 0.10 – 0.35 inches of water column be maintained throughout the interior exit stairway, relative to the building.  To qualify for Exception 1 to 780 CMR §1023.11.1, all doors communicating between the exit passageway and the adjacent building spaces would similarly need to meet the performance criteria of 780 CMR §909.20.5.

Pressurization of the exit passageway can be accomplished in a variety of ways such as the use of air transfer grille(s) in in the walls between the interior exit stairway and exit passageway, installation of ductwork connecting the two areas, or by installation of a separate fan for the exit passageway. In all cases, certain equipment and construction requirements will apply to ensure protection of the pressurization equipment and the integrity of the fire-resistance-rated enclosures are maintained.  Additionally, smoke detectors for the purposes of activating the pressurization systems are required outside of each exit passageway door in accordance with 780 CMR §909.20.6.

If you have any questions related to the requirements associated with pressurized exit passageways, please feel free to reach out to us and request additional information.