Basic Fire & Life Safety for Radiation Safety Professionals

1. Basic Fire & Life Safetyfor Radiation Safety Professionals Robert Emery, DrPH, CHP, CIH, CSP, RBP, CHMM, CPP, ARM Vice President for Safety, Health, Environment, Risk Management & Quality Assurance The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Associate Professor of Occupational Health The University of Texas School of Public Health

2. Why do we need fire and life safety codes? According to the NFPA, in 2007 there were… • 530,500 structure fires – one every minute • 3,000 civilian deaths – one every 2.5 hours • 15,350 civilian injuries – one every 30 minutes • $10,600,000,000 in property damage • A fire department responded to a fire every 20 seconds

3. Objectives • Introduce the codes that drive fire and life safety compliance • Overview of fire detection and suppression • Provide tools to conduct a basic fire and life safety assessment

4. Fire Regulations and Codes NFPA • Safety and Health Regulations • OSHA (29 CFR 1910 & 1926) • Fire and Life Safety Codes • International Building Code (IBC) • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) • Municipal Requirements IBC NIOSH OSHA

5. Additional Requirements • All codes are minimum requirements • Insurance company requirements • Company policies • The Joint Commission • State and/or City requirements

6. How are These Codes Enforced • Codes are adopted by reference by ordinance. • Plans for remodeling or a new construction must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) prior to starting work. • State Fire Marshal’s Office • Local Fire Department or City Code Officials • Designated Local AHJ • Take Home Message – Know what code(s) apply to your operation

7. Which do I follow? • Remodeling or new construction plans must be approved by authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) prior to starting work • State Fire Marshal’s Office • Local Fire Department or City Code Officials • Designated Local AHJ

8. Alarms Sprinklers Rated Corridors Exit Access Number of Required Exits Egress Widths Occupant Loads Elevator Recall Fire Rated Doors & Frames Smoke Control Rated Stairwells Fireproofing Requirements Electrical Safety Construction Combustibility Fire and Smoke Dampers Emergency Power Roof Assemblies Features of Building Fire and Life Safety

9. Fire Alarm Systems • Play an Essential Role in Protecting Property and Lives From Fire. • Protection Goals Governs System Selection • Building Occupant Safety • Satisfy Building Codes or AHJ Requirements • Property Protection • First Responder Safety • Environmental Protection • Combination

10. Fire Alarm Systems • IBC references NFPA 72 for installation and maintenance • NFPA 72 – National Fire Alarm Code • Basic Components • Panel • Detection • Manual Alarm • Notification • Off-Premises Connection for Supervision

11. Fire Alarm Systems • Fire Alarm System Will Provide Three Types of Signals • Alarm • Trouble – indicates a fault in a monitoring circuit or component of the fire alarm system • Bad smoke detector • Ground fault • Supervisory – indicates a problem with other fire protection systems being monitored by the fire alarm system • Water valve to sprinkler system closed • Clean agent system problem Alarm Trouble Supervisory

12. Off-Premises Connection for Supervision

13. Common Fire Detection • Smoke Detector • Ionization • Photoelectric • Heat Detectors • Fixed Temperature • Rate-of-Rise

14. Manual Pull Stations • Manual pull devices will be located on the wall • Activated by pulling on a handle • Sends signal to building’s fire alarm system which places the building into alarm

15. Notification Appliances • Audible alarms (How loud is loud enough?) • Public – SPL must be 5 dB above any ambient noise that lasts 60 sec. or more, or 15 dB above the 24-hr average, whichever is greater • Sleeping quarters – Minimum of 75 dBA

16. Notification Appliances • Voice Communication • Better to have a larger number of lower SPL units vs. a few very loud units • Intelligibility can be a problem

17. Notification Appliances • Visual alarms • Primarily intended to augment audible alarms • Common Locations of Visual Alarms • Corridors • Meeting rooms • Restrooms • Enclosed elevator lobbies

18. Fire Alarm System Interfaces • Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning • Duct detectors • AHU shut-down • Sprinkler water flow alarms • Magnetic lock release mechanisms • Door unlocking devices • Elevator recall • Stairwell pressurization

19. System Reliability • Based on Four Elements • Design • Equipment • Underwriters Laboratories • Factory Mutual Global • Installation • Maintenance • Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance are crucial • Unfortunately, some problems may be identified after the previous three have been completed

20. Fire Suppression • Water Based Suppression • Clean Agent Systems • Fire Extinguishers

21. Water Based Suppression • Wet-Pipe • System contains water under pressure at all times • Series of closed sprinkler heads • Heat activates sprinkler head • Water is discharged immediately * Not recommended if system could be exposed to temperatures below 40ºF

22. Wet-Pipe System • Main valve • Alarm check valve • Fire department check valve • Fire department connection • Water motor alarm • Sprinkler head • Inspector’s test valve

23. Wet-Pipe System • Only the sprinkler heads heated by the fire activate • Fire sprinklers spray 18 gallons of water per minute Sprinkler head Water is released and deflected in a spray pattern As temperature rises the bulb will shatter

24. Sprinkler Color Codes and Ratings

25. Field Method for Temporary Stoppage of Sprinkler Head

26. Dry-Pipe System • System contains air under pressure • Compressor on system keeps pressure up • Sprinkler heads hold the pressure • A dry-pipe valve holds back the water supply • Valve opens when pressure falls below a predetermined level • Sprinkler head activation – pressure drop – valve opens – water sent to all heads – water discharged from activated sprinkler head(s) * Recommended for areas that could experience freezing temperatures

27. How do Dry-Pipe Systems Work? • Heat Activated Pressure Drop Valve Opens Water sent to all sprinkler heads Water Discharges from activated head

28. Supply check valve Main valve Dry pipe valve Fire department check valve Fire department connection Water motor alarm Sprinkler head Inspector’s test valve Dry-Pipe System

29. Pre-action System • System contains air under pressure • Compressor on system keeps pressure up • Water held back by pre-action valve • System equipped with supplemental detection • Operation of detection system allows pre-action valve to open and water fills the system • Water not discharged until fire has generated sufficient heat to activate a sprinkler head * Typically found in computer rooms and museums

30. How do Pre-Action Systems Work? • Smoke Detected Valve Opens Water sent to all sprinkler heads Water Discharges from activated head

31. Supply check valve Main valve Water control or deluge valve Fire department check valve Fire department connection Water motor alarm Sprinkler head (closed) Detector Electrical bell Manual release station Control panel Inspector’s test valve Pre-action System

32. Fire Pumps • Fire pumps are utilized when the hydraulic demand exceeds public supply capacity • Components • Pump and motor • Controllers • Jockey pump • Water tank

33. Water Supply • Standpipe System • Class I – 2 ½ inch hose connection intended for fire department use • Class II – 1 ½ inch hose connections intended for first-aid fire fighting • Class III – Provided with both 2 ½ inch and 1 ½ inch hose connections • Fire Department Connection

34. Suppression Without Water • Halon – NFPA 12A • Being phased out per 1987 Montreal Protocol • Carbon Dioxide – NFPA 12 • Clean Agent – NFPA 2001 • Inert gas formulation * These systems are often not recognized as allowable substitute for water suppression

35. Fire Extinguishers • NFPA 10 standard for portable fire extinguishers • Select appropriate extinguisher for area • Class A, B, C, D, and K • Identify hazard occupancy • Light Hazard • Offices, schools, assembly halls • Ordinary Hazard • Mercantile storage, parking garages • High Hazard • Woodworking area, warehouses

36. Conducting a Basic Assessment • Determine Your Building Occupancy Type First • IBC Occupancy Classifications • Assembly: Group A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5 • Business: Group B • Educational: Group E • Factory and Industrial: Groups F-1 and F-2 • High Hazard: Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5 • Institutional: Group I-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4 • Mercantile: Group M • Residential: Groups R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 • Storage: Groups S-1 and S-2 • Utility and Miscellaneous: Group U

37. Conducting a Basic Assessment • Additional Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy • Covered Mall Buildings • High-Rise Buildings • Atriums • Underground Buildings • Motor-Vehicle-Related Occupancies • Motion Picture Projection Rooms • Stages and Platforms • Special Amusement Buildings • Aircraft-Related Occupancies • Combustible Storage • Hazardous Materials • Drying Rooms

38. Know Your Building • Once occupancy is determined codes will give you guidance • What type of construction is required? • Is a sprinkler system required? • Is a fire alarm system required? • Exiting and egress? • Emergency power required? • Is a smoke control system required? • Is a standpipe system required?

39. Conclusion • Codes drive facility fire and life safety requirements • Know what codes apply to your operation • All codes are MINIMUM requirements • Who is your AHJ? • Many things can be left up to this individual’s interpretation • Maintain systems in accordance with code requirements and manufacturer’s recommendations

40. References • International Building Code, International Code Council • www.iccsafe.org • National Fire Protection Association • www.nfpa.org • The Joint Commission • www.jointcommission.org