Fire Safety

Forum Post: Fire Safety Codes and Standards

Naomi Millán — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:49:00 GMT

You can help influence fire safety codes and standards. The National Fire Protection Association is currently accepting public comment on quite a few standards, including NFPA 1221 Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems, NFPA 914 Code for Fire Protection of Historic Structures and NFPA 214 Standard on Water-Cooling Towers.

You can comment on these and many others at www.nfpa.org/.../list_of_codes_and_standards.asp

Forum Post: Reader Question: Who Does What in Fire Sprinkler Retrofit?

Naomi Millán — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:27:00 GMT

Can you answer this question:

"In the case of retrofit who makes the openings and penetrations. Is that the sprinkler contractor or do you have a drywall guy follow you around and cut and path where you need it. Or box out fr a sprinkler line below the ceiling, who does the firestopping around the penetrations."

Find the article which inspired this question and Paul's original post at:

www.facilitiesnet.com/.../Sprinkler-Retrofits-LifeCycle-Issues--2077

Forum Post: Cocoanut Grove Fire

Naomi Millán — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:21:00 GMT

Almost 500 people died in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire in Boston 70 years ago, making it the deadliest known nightclub fire in the world. A coalition has come together to gather and preserve information on that night. You can find the gathered historical documents at www.cocoanutgrovefire.org.

Forum Post: Re: Fire Sprinkler Pipe Inspections

John Mellusi Jr — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:47:00 GMT

At install in the computer room the company only installed a panel for just the pre-action system no panel was installed for FM 200 system. The installing company grabbed a lead from the actuator on the pre-action to trigger the FM system. After some doing the installing company is making it right and installing a separate panel on their dime.

File: Savings for Orange County Fire Authority

Pam McDowell — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:50:00 GMT

Here is one example of the savings that our products can help achieve.

Forum Post: Re: Piping color guide

Doug Delhay — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:22:00 GMT

As DotComDotGov noted, there are pipe labeling standards, but no requirement to paint pipes and/or pipe insulation. Some like to paint up a mechanical room to help identify pipe contents and routing, but I have found (like in the Navy) that it is usually done where there is a greater abundance of manpower and money than any real need. It is my experience that by adding paint to your piping you are adding up front costs and maintenance costs down the road. Painting pipes is more for those who are unfamiliar with the piping and the function of the equipment. It is rare that you have to paint a pipe from point A to point B if you know where point A and point B are and what function they perform.

Forum Post: Re: Looking for Fire Safety Questions

Naomi Millán — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:44:00 GMT

Carl Baldassarra, P.E., FSFPE, executive vice president with The RJA Group, Inc. will be our fire safety expert. Please pose your questions for Carl here by September 9th.

Forum: Fire Safety Discussions

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:05:00 GMT

This forum is designed to create dialogue among facility, maintenance, and engineering managers — not sales and marketing professionals. Managers can share their experiences related to fire safety with their colleagues.

Forum: Fire Safety Products & Services Marketing

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:05:00 GMT

This forum is designed for managers seeking out promotional materials related to cutting-edge fire safety products and technology. This is the only forum in which manufacturers and service providers should participate.

Files: Fire Safety Media

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:04:00 GMT

Forum: Fire Safety

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:39:00 GMT

Forum Post: Re: Maintenance of Fire Protection and Fire Alarm systems

stancosignage — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:50:00 GMT

my company manufactures evacuation maps/signs and safety signage for public and federal buildings. we would like to be included in your resources files for

future references. We advise our clients to contact the local city/fire marshal or building inspector to get a faxed copy of the fire evacuation codes locally and

offer free design services and layout !

john curtis

evacuationsigns.com

Santa Ana, Ca

1 800 580 6668

Forum Post: Re: building & fire code

stancosignage — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:46:00 GMT

my company creates evacuation maps and other signage for safety.. would like to be in your resource files for future projects..

we work on public facilities/federal facilities under GSA contract..

www.evacuationsigns.com

john curtis

stanco signage systems, inc.

santa ana, cal

Forum Post: Fire Safety Consultant

fire116 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:55:00 GMT

I am a Building and Fire code consultant, and can assisted with building and fire code compliance. Contact me at (315) 391-4495 or douglasrspeck@msn.com website www.codecompliance.net

Forum Post: Fire Safety Consultant

fire116 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:47:00 GMT

I am a Building and Fire code consultant, and can assisted with building and fire code compliance. Contact me at (315) 391-4495 or douglasrspeck@msn.com website www.codecompliance.net

Forum Post: Mass Notification and NFPA

Pete Carletti — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:23:00 GMT

Saw this write up recently and wanted to share it with the group for advice and comment as it will impact all sometime in the future.

Mass notification primer

By jgriffin

Published: Dec 11 2009 - 1:17pm

magazine_article_issue:

Dec2009-SDI : Greg Kessinger, SET, CFPS
Live Date: Dec 11 2009Subtitle:
Greg Kessinger looks at NFPA guidelines for installing mass notification systemsArticle Body:

"Consider that the mass notification system will be used by authorities such as police and

fire departments, emergency medical squads, government and even state militias."

A new day has dawned in mass notification which equals an enhanced and heightened level of

security. Mass Notification Systems (MNS) facilitate fast and safe evacuation, or re-location of

occupants in emergency situations; not just from fire, but cowardly terrorist attacks, a crazed

gunman’s murder spree, biological/chemical/hazardous chemical incidents, accidents, weather-related

emergencies or any combination of these.

You may not be aware that this better type of system for the notification of large groups was

developed at request of the U.S. Air Force. The previous (2007) edition of NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm

Code placed information on what was known as MNS into the Annex. Since the Annex material of any

NFPA standard is not adopted as part of the code’s requirements, it served as a basic guideline for

these new systems and their installation.

The ‘ink’s still wet’ 2010 edition of the Code moved the Mass Notification guidelines out of the Annex

and into the body as Chapter 24. This now means that any jurisdiction that has adopted NFPA 72 can

now refer to Chapter 24 in their building and/or fire code as the chapter in the standard that contains

installation rules for any required MNS. Even NFPA 72 has been fundamentally changed to allow for a

fire alarm’s voice evacuation system to serve as the backbone of a building or campus-wide MNS. For

example, the rule requiring an AHJ to give permission before the use of the voice alarm system could

1 / 2

include anything other than fire alarm messages has been removed. Now, the rule in section 24.3.4.1

specifically allows the fire alarm, emergency voice/alarm communication (EVAC) system and the MNS

to be used for background music, general paging and other non-emergency purposes. Eventually, this

will lead to the installation of more voice alarm systems (as opposed to horns and bells), since this

new option will mean cost savings for building owners. The 2007 edition began this integration when

it specifically allowed other live emergency voice messages to override the fire alarm system

message. Which begs the question, ‘who will do this overriding?’

Consider that the mass notification system will be used by various authorities such as police and fire

departments, emergency medical squads, government and even state militias. Even local

security/emergency forces employed by property owners will have input. Because of the potential for

several groups to respond to the question, ‘who’s in charge here?’ a careful threat assessment must

be made, detailing what the chain of command will be for each specific scenario. This must be done

with input from all stakeholders, by someone with experience and training in risk assessment.

Basic fire alarm installation requirements for voice alarm systems did not change in the 2010 edition

of NFPA 72. However, the additional features and interconnections with other systems could become

significant. Mass notification may require the voice alarm system to accept live voice messages from

a location outside the protected premises. This will require the communication method be secured

from tampering or interference. The menu of pre-recorded voice messages must be greatly expanded

to cover multiple occurrences. Since this list of possible announcements cannot be comprehensive,

live announcement capability will have to be expanded. Data or network communications will be built

into most proprietary voice systems but a simple relay with dry contacts will play an equal part in this

interconnection since several technologies will be needed to communicate with the masses. Voice

announcements will penetrate into all areas of a building. Voice intelligibility will be necessary in most

areas. Some areas will be exempt from this requirement due to a building’s unique structural

acoustics. Since voice messages cannot always be understood due to language or hearing difficulties,

text messages will begin to be used extensively.

While additional scrolling signs, networked amplifiers and speaker arrays used for wide area

announcements may not be a part of your average contract, the backbone of the notification will be

handled by your

National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
compliant, audible and intelligible, fire alarm
evacuation communication system.

Greg Kessinger, SET, CFPS, can be reached at

Greg@firealarm.org or www.FireAlarm.org .

2 / 2

Forum Post: Who Performs your Fire and Smoke Damper Inspections?

Craig Rutledge — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:24:00 GMT

Are you contracting out the fire and smoke damper inspection in your facility or performing in house?

If contracting out are you using a fire and smoke damper inspection specialist, mechanical contractor, alarm company, etc.?

Thank you,

Craig Rutledge

Life Safety Services, LLC

1-888-675-4519 - Phone

craig@lifesafetyservices.com - E-Mail

www.lifesafetyservices.com - Web

Forum Post: THE IMPORTANCE OF INSPECTING FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPERS

Craig Rutledge — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:57:00 GMT

KEEPING BUILDINGS SAFE BY KEEPING FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPERS WORKING

Keeping buildings safe from the threat of fire is a responsibility we all share as fire code inspectors, fire and smoke damper inspectors, building owners, and facility managers. Our overriding goal should be the prevention of such horrific tragedies as the deadly fires at the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas in 1980, and the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and casino in 1981, where nearly 800 people were injured, and 85 were killed. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) stated in it’s report on the fire at the MGM Hotel that fire dampers “…did not completely close” and that as a result, “…products of combustion were distributed throughout the HVAC equipment … providing a method for the spread of smoke that may also have contributed to several fatalities.”

Another more recent tragedy is that of the World Trade Center in New York City where nearly 3,000 civilians and firefighters lost their lives when both towers became engulfed in smoke and flames. The United States Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology investigated the World Trade Center disaster and found that had there been operable fire and smoke dampers in the two towers, they “would have acted to slow the development of hazardous conditions on the uppermost floors of the building” in tower one and two, and as a result provided occupants more time to flee the building.

These are just a few examples of how tragic and devastating a large scale fire can be. Fires occur every day in the United States – fires that in some cases could be prevented, or at the very least lessened by properly working dampers.

Unfortunately, for the exception of hospitals that have the inspection of fire and smoke dampers enforced by groups such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), many facilities do not inspect their dampers every four years as required by NFPA 90A. The reasons for this vary, but most often it is due to a lack of manpower in the building’s facilities management department. But for those of us in the business of fire prevention, we need to ask ourselves if this is in the best interest of safety.

Less frequent testing of dampers (or in some cases never testing them at all) will most certainly lead to higher failure rates, putting buildings in greater risk of extensive damage and potential loss of life should a fire occur.

Life Safety Services inspects more than 250 hospitals and other facilities a year and sees an approximate failure rate of 10% in dampers – and these are dampers that are inspected and maintained on a regular basis. If inspected less frequently, we are likely to see this rate increase. Even the top damper manufacturers, Ruskin, Greenheck and Nailor recommend testing and inspection of dampers every six months. According to these manufacturers, increased testing should extend the life of the damper and lessen the need to replace the dampers thus saving money and making buildings safer at the same time.

There are a number of reasons we should be working to maintain and even strengthen the current codes and standards used to inspect the fire dampers at facilities.

The failure rates of fire dampers are still high.
Dampers have been tied to preventing the spread of toxic fumes in the event of a terrorist attack.
Fire dampers can save lives by stopping or delaying the spread of deadly gas, smoke and flames.
Buildings experience less overall damage when fire dampers help contain the spread of a fire. This means lower replacement and reconstruction costs for building owners and managers.

There is no question that properly installed, inspected and maintained fire dampers will save lives and money. If, as fire prevention personnel, we allow codes to be loosened, we will surely see the effects in a rise in fatalities and costs associated with building fires. The prevention of large scale fires is the only way to ensure the safety of those who live, work, heal and play in these facilities.

Craig Rutledge, is a partner of Life Safety Services, LLC, which specializes in the inspection of Fire and Smoke Dampers at facilities throughout the United States. Life Safety Services is a member of the NFPA, ASHE, IAQA, and NADCA. Rutledge is a Certified Indoor Environmentalist, NADCA Certified “Air Systems Cleaning Specialist”, and Certified Mold Remediator.” He can be reached at 1-888-675-4519, or by e-mail, craig@lifesafetyservices.com

Forum Post: Balancing Safety and Security

MaxiForceBollards — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:27:00 GMT

MaxiForce uniquely solves one design challenge facing many towns and cities - balancing the need for both security and safety in fire access roads.

Security design requirements often require that barriers be placed in a fire lane to create ‘stand-off’ distance and limit vehicular access to a building. On the other hand, safety design considerations need to ensure that first responders have unhindered access to the building and its occupants.

To date, design stakeholders have been forced to weigh the pros and cons of pipe bollards and other barrier technologies. These solutions were not ideal and created unacceptable encumbrances for the first responder. These resulted in costly and unacceptable time delays. The final decision in this historical design ‘push and shove’ is often left to the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ); usually the Fire Chief. He or She had to evaluate exceptions to the International Fire Code (IFC) Section 503 (see reverse side) or might not be consulted at all.

The MaxiForce^TM collapsible bollard solves these problems and has already been approved by many cities, counties and municipalities. It is a patented

collapsible bollard system that was specifically designed to balance the needs of both the security and safety practitioner. Its distinctive collapsing feature is activated by a nut on the side of the bollard that fits a conventional fire hydrant wrench. Additionally, our patented break-away feature allows a responder vehicle (fire truck, police care, or ambulance) to gently push the bollard over and access the roadway. This break-away component is then easily replaced. For a more budget friendly solution we also provide a padlock-secured version of our collapsible bollard. It includes the same break-away feature that makes this bollard system ideal for fire lanes. MaxiForce^TM looks forward to an opportunity to share with you more about this exciting technology.