Life Safety Damper s and Smoke Control Applications for IBC Buildings (2012 and 2018) High-Rise Buildings 2012/2018 IBC section 202 (Definitions)

2012: • Southern Nevada Amendments: A building with an occupied floor located more than 55 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. 2018: • A building with an occupied floor located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

2 High-Rise Building Provisions 2012/2018 IBC Section 403

Specific requirements for high-rise buildings are detailed in this section. For Mechanical engineers the main points are: 403.4.7 Smoke Removal Four (4) Air changes per hour for Post Fire Salvage. Southern Nevada amendments are still in place in the 2018 IBC. 403.5.4 Smokeproof enclosures Stair Pressurization systems section 909.20 and 1023.11. 404.5 Smoke Control Smoke control system design in accordance with section 909.

3 Post Fire Salvage Systems 2012/2018 IBC Section 403.4.7

• Manual Only Operation at Fire Command. • Four (4) air changes per hour of mechanical exhaust and makeup air. • Makeup up air can be drawn from other areas through doors or windows. • Does not activate if smoke is detected or a waterflow switch is activated. • Can be controlled through the Building Management System. • Does not have to be hard wired through Fire Alarm. • Southern Nevada Amendments: • Requires additional belts and service factor to match smoke control fans. • Exhaust ducts must be leak tested to 1.5 times the maximum design pressure. 5% leakage allowable the same as active smoke control • Requires secondary standby power supply unless the exception from 403.4.7.1.3 is met.

4 Active Smoke Control 2012/2018 IBC Section 909 • Automatic Operation through the Fire Alarm system. • Activation is typically through sprinkler water flow or area smoke detection. • Typical Methods of Active Smoke Control: • 909.6 Pressurization Method – Exhaust the zone to provide a minimum 0.05” WC pressure differential at the zone boundaries. • Used where zone boundaries can be fully enclosed with doors or other closing devices. Hotel corridors, private gaming spaces, convention centers, etc. • 909.8 Exhaust Method – Exhaust and makeup air within the active zone to maintain smoke layer at least 6 feet above any walking surface that forms a portion of the egress system. • Used in large enclosed volumes with fixed openings between zones such as malls, atriums, casino gaming floors, etc. • Makeup air must be delivered to the space below the smoke layer. • Smoke Control fans: • Must be capable of operating at the expected smoke temperature • Be provided with the additional belts and service factor • Connected to minimum NEC 701 (legally required standby) power, though typically these fans are connected to the emergency branch of the electrical system. • 909.10.2 Smoke control duct systems must be leak tested to 1.5 times their design pressure for a maximum of 5% of design flow. • 909.10.4 Automatic (motorized) dampers used in a smoke control system must be listed for their use (UL 555S smoke dampers).

• 909.17 – All elements of the smoke control system must be configured within 90 seconds. 5 Life Safety Dampers • Fire dampers • Must be UL 555 listed. • Typically close by a fusible link set from 165F up to 286F (curtain type), but motorized fire dampers (multiblade) are able to be used in instances where damper access for maintenance/testing are more difficult. • Are Static (no air velocity through the damper) or dynamic (closes under airflow). Dynamic dampers are more commonly used. • Are 1.5 or 3 hour rated. • Fail Closed. • Must be installed within a wall or within the distance required for “Out of plane” dampers. • Smoke Dampers • Must be UL 555S listed. • Typically close by smoke detection at the damper (zero velocity or similar detector), or configure based upon Fire Alarm input. Elevated temperature rating of 250F minimum, but typically 350F is utilized. • Do not provide a fire resistance rating. • Are Class 1 or 2 leakage depending upon the application. • Fail open or closed. • Can be installed out of a wall. • Monitored by Fire alarm for open and closed position. • Combination Fire/Smoke Dampers • Must be UL 555 and 555S listed. • Typically close by fire link temperature, smoke detection at the damper (zero velocity or similar detector), or configure based upon Fire Alarm input. Elevated temperature rating of 250F minimum, but typically 350F is utilized. • Are 1.5 or 3 hour rated. • Are Class 1 or 2 leakage depending upon the application. • Fail closed. • Must be installed within a wall or within the distance required for “Out of plane” dampers. 6 • Monitored by Fire alarm for open and closed position for smoke control dampers, closed position only for non-smoke control dampers. Fire Wall 2012/2018 IBC Section 706 and 717.5.1

• Wall that separates building structures to allow collapse of the structure on either side without collapse of the wall under fire conditions. • Separates high rise from low rise buildings on the same site (parking garage or guestroom tower separations). • Ducts and air transfer openings cannot be made through a fire wall regardless of the damper unless they meet the exception noted in 706.11. • Exception: Penetrations by ducts and air transfer openings of fire walls that are not on a lot line shall be allowed provided the penetrations comply with Section 717. The size and aggregate width of all openings shall not exceed the limitations of Section 706.8. • If the exception is met a combination fire/smoke damper is required if the fire wall is also a horizontal exit. If a 3-hour fire wall is in place a 3-hour combination fire/smoke damper is required. • Table 706.4: The walls is typically 3-hours fire resistive in Casino type buildings with 4-hours required for H-1 and H-2 occupancies.

7 Fire Barrier 2012/2018 IBC Section 707 and 717.5.2

• 1 or 2 hour wall located throughout buildings: • Exit Passageways. • Shaft enclosures. • Horizontal Exits. • Hazardous occupancy areas. • Emergency Generator Room. Fire Command Center. Fire Pump Room. • Incidental use areas. • Emergency Electrical rooms. • Elevator machine rooms. • Trash/linen chute termination rooms. • Pollution Control Unit rooms. • Ducts and air transfer openings can be made through a fire barrier. Depending upon the wall type and hourly rating everything from no damper to a Fire or a combination fire/smoke damper is required. • No damper is required under the following circumstances: • Wall is 1-hour or less (areas other than Group H), building equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, and and a ducted HVAC system is utilized (26 gauge thickness minimum • Only fire dampers are required in the following penetrations: • 2-hour fire barriers that are not a horizontal exit or smoke zone boundary.

8 Horizontal Assemblies (Floor) 2012/2018 IBC Section 711 and 717.6

• Typically a 2-hour floor or roof penetration where only two floors are connected (penetrate one floor only). • A fire damper is required a slab penetrations of ducts and air transfer openings. • No fire damper is required at roof penetrations. • If a duct connects more than two (2) floors it must be routed inside of a shaft. • There are exceptions to allow a duct to penetrate three floors or less with a fire damper at each floor, but it must comply with a very specific set of requirements meant for small exhaust ducts located in multi-level apartments or units within buildings.

9 Horizontal Exit 2012/2018 IBC Section 707 and 1025/1026

• Typically 2-hour wall that bisects the building (connects two opposing exterior walls). • Typically also a smoke zone boundary within active smoke control system designs. • This wall is used to allow safe egress from the building through the fire rated wall to reduce exit sizes within the building for high occupant densities. • A Combination fire/smoke damper is necessary at each duct or air transfer opening in a horizontal exit wall.

10 Shaft Enclosures - Vertical 2012/2018 IBC Section 713 and 717.5.3

• Shafts are enclosed in 2-hour fire barriers in high rise buildings, but their damper requirements differ from the Fire Barrier section. • A vertical (wall penetration) of a shaft requires a combination fire/smoke damper unless the exceptions are met: • Remove the fire damper for the following: • Exhaust systems using a 22-inch high sub duct and continuous fan operation (with standby power). • Supply or Exhaust penetrations in a parking garage that are separated from other building shafts by 2-hour or more rated construction. • Remove both fire and smoke damper: • Kitchen and clothes dryer exhaust systems that are installed in accordance with the International Mechanical Code. • Remove the smoke damper for the following: • Group B and R occupancies equipped with automatic sprinklers: • Kitchen, clothes dryer, bathroom/toilet exhaust installed with 22-inch subducts (26 gauge). • Exhaust fans on the roof or above the levels of service and operate continually and are on standby power. • Supply or Exhaust penetrations in a parking garage that are separated from other building shafts by 2-hour or more rated construction. • Typically 2-hour fire rated in large buildings. • Shafts are used to route ductwork and other services without sealing the floor penetrations (other than the top and bottom levels of the shaft) where a duct must connect more than two levels (penetrate two or more floors).

11 Shaft Enclosures - Horizontal 2012/2018 IBC Section 713.11

• Bottom of shaft typically form the slab of a specific level. Penetrations of the horizontal assembly require the following: • A fire damper is typically required at ducted penetrations of the bottom of a shaft when it is enclosed. • The shaft bottom is able to be left open under certain instances: • If the shaft terminates in a room having a use related to the purpose of the shaft (trash/linen chute termination rooms). • The room is surrounded by fire barriers the same rating as the shaft (typically 2-hour for large buildings). • Penetrations of the room must be protected the same as shaft enclosure penetrations. • The fire resistance rating of the room is not required provided that the shaft does not open onto any other floor (terminates at the roof and directly down to the bottom room). • The fire resistance rating of the room and bottom of the shaft enclosure are not required when: • There are no combustibles inside the shaft. • There are no other openings or penetrations through the shaft enclosure to the interior of the building. • These allow express duct risers from a lower level up to the roof or building exterior without any damper. • Top of shaft penetrations are also typically a horizontal assembly (slab/floor) and have generally used a fire damper. • The IBC does not specifically call out top of shaft provisions.

12 Smoke Barrier 2012/2018 IBC Section 709 and 717.5.5

• 1 or 2 hour wall located at smoke zone boundaries. • 1-hour fire rating is • Ducts and air transfer openings can be made through a smoke barrier. Depending upon the wall type and hourly rating everything from no damper to a smoke or a combination fire/smoke damper is required. • No damper is required under the following circumstances: • 1-hour or less rated wall with ducted penetrations where the duct is constructed of steel and all of the openings are in one smoke compartment. • Smoke dampers are required in the following penetrations, though typically for HVAC systems a combination fire/smoke damper is used at these penetrations: • Transfer air openings in smoke barriers. • Ducted systems that serve either side of a smoke barrier.

13 Fire Partition 2012/2018 IBC Section 708 and 717.5.4

• Separation walls between dwelling or sleeping units and at corridors specifically in group I and R occupancies (overnight sleeping). • Walls separating tenant spaces in covered and open mall buildings. • Enclosed Elevator lobbies unless they are located in buildings with automatic sprinkler protection can be downgraded to Smoke Partitions based upon 2012 IBC section 713.14.1. • This section is removed in the 2018 code and 1-hour smoke barrier construction is required in section 3007 and 3008. • Penetrations of fire partitions require different dampers depending upon the specific wall: • A fire damper is typically required at ducted penetrations of fire partitions, though there are some specific wall types to note: • General: • A fire damper is needed for general fire partition penetrations other than for small (100 square inch) ducts that do not serve other spaces similar to the Fire Barrier exceptions. • Corridors: • A combination fire/smoke damper is required where ductwork serves the corridor or an air transfer opening is provided in the corridor wall. • For 1-hour or less walls, no damper is required where ductwork is minimum 26 gauge and the ducts do no serve the corridor. • Enclosed Elevator Lobby: • Ductwork penetrating the walls must comply with the Corridor damper provision in the 2012 IBC. • For the 2018 IBC the lobby walls are 1-hour smoke barriers which typically require Combination fire/smoke dampers be provided where duct systems serve both the lobby and the adjacent spaces. 14 Smoke Partition 2012/2018 IBC Section 710 and 717.5.7

• Non-fire rated wall that is provided to resist the passage of smoke in specific instances. • Corridor walls within I-2 facilities (24 hour care where the occupants are incapable of self-preservation). • Elevator lobby walls in 2012 IBC for fully sprinklered buildings as noted in the Fire Partition section. • Ducts and air transfer openings can be made through a smoke partition. Depending upon the building occupancy type either no damper or a smoke damper is required. • No damper is required under the following circumstances: • Ducted HVAC systems in Group I-2 occupancies (Healthcare applications) • These typically include patient bedroom corridors. • A listed smoke damper is required at transfer air openings in I-2 occupancies. • A combination fire/smoke damper is typically needed for ducted penetrations of elevator lobbies as noted in the Fire Partition section.

15 Clean Agent Systems (FM-200 or similar) Dampers protecting wall penetrations of rooms protected by FM-200 or similar must be sealed to prevent the fire suppressing agent from escaping the room.

Typically a 2 -hour Rated Wall (Fire Barrier) • Provide a 1.5 hour combination fire/smoke damper at the wall penetration for ductwork. • Class I or II are acceptable. • Dampers must close on either an active smoke control zone activation or through the clean agent system activation.

16 Exit Passageway & Stairs 2012/2018 IBC Section 909.20, 2012 IBC 1022 and 1023, or 2018 IBC 1023 and 1024

• Horizontal stair transfer or other protected exit to the building exterior. • Ductwork and services are not permitted to penetrate the exit passageway unless it is providing independent pressurization air (stair press). • Stair pressurization ductwork must be an independent system. • It typically routes from a roof mounted fan directly into the stair enclosure. The stair wall rating goes around the stair press duct to allow the ductwork to be open to the stair. • If stair pressurization fans/ductwork are located inside of the building they must be separated by the same construction as the stair (typically 2-hour fire barriers or horizontal assemblies) from the Outside air intake louver all the way to the stair. • This includes electrical and control wiring, VFDs, and other components necessary for fan operation. • Exit passageways and stairs are not typically conditioned.

17 Thank You Matt Dolan +1 702-755-0414 [email protected]