Campus Fire and Life Safety III: Codes and Systems
CFLS III: CS-Student Manual
1st Edition, 2nd Printing-June 2018 FEMA/USFA/NFA CFLS III: CS-SM Campus Fire and Life Safety III: Codes and June 2018 1st Edition, 2nd Printing Systems Campus Fire and Life Safety III: Codes and Systems
CFLS III: CS-Student Manual
1st Edition, 2nd Printing-June 2018
This Student Manual may contain material that is copyright protected. USFA has been granted a license to use that material only for NFA-sponsored course deliveries as part of the course materials, and it shall not be duplicated without consent of the copyright holder. States wishing to use these materials as part of state-sponsorship and/or third parties wishing to use these materials must obtain permission to use the copyrighted material(s) from the copyright holder prior to teaching the course.
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CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Table of Contents ...... iii Acknowledgments ...... v Course Goal ...... vii Audience, Scope and Course Purpose ...... vii Grading Methodology ...... vii Schedule ...... ix Firefighter Code of Ethics ...... xi A Student Guide to End-of-course Evaluations ...... xiii
UNIT 1: CODES AND SYSTEMS ...... SM 1-1
Appendix: What is Off-Campus?
UNIT 2: BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY ...... SM 2-1
Appendix: The Fire Sprinkler Situation in the United States
UNIT 3: FACILITIES ...... SM 3-1
Appendix A: Prohibited Items List Appendix B: In Defense of: Fire Safety
UNIT 4: EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM ...... SM 4-1
Glossary/Acronyms
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The development of any National Fire Academy (NFA) course is a complex process aimed at providing learners with the best possible learning opportunity we can deliver.
There are many players in course development, each of whom plays an equally important part in its success. We want to acknowledge their participation and contribution to this effort and extend our heartfelt thanks for making this quality product.
The following people participated in the creation of this course:
Woody Stratton Training Specialist U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Academy Emmitsburg, Maryland
Russell Kuck Instructional Systems Specialist U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Academy Emmitsburg, Maryland
Rae Harrison Contract Specialist U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Academy Emmitsburg, Maryland
George F. Stone III, Ph.D. Project Manager DSFederal, Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland
Joseph V. Saitta, Ph.D. Instructional Systems Designer DSFederal, Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland
Curtis P. Miller Instructional Systems Designer DSFederal, Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland
Tim E. Knisely Subject Matter Expert; Owner, Fire-Safe Solutions Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
David G. Taylor Subject Matter Expert, Director of Life and Fire Safety Services at Gettysburg College Biglerville, Pennsylvania
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vi CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
COURSE GOAL
This course will empower the learners with the ability to prevent or mitigate Campus Fire and Life Safety (CFLS) risks and impacts. This course will include identifying and mitigating common risks, as well as understanding the basic components and operation of fire protection and life safety systems.
AUDIENCE, SCOPE AND COURSE PURPOSE
The target population for this course will include (but not be limited to):
• Campus staff with responsibility for student safety, including campus housing coordinators. • Fire department staff (both on campus and off campus). • Local government officials (code enforcement, building inspection, etc.). • Off-campus housing interest groups.
This course is the third in a series of three interrelated courses. The course will use an interactive lecture format with group activities. This two-day course will be offered at the state and local levels. It is intended to predominately be delivered at a college campus in a metropolitan area with several colleges and universities nearby. In addition, the course will occasionally be offered at the NFA campus.
Learners should possess the ability to read and comprehend standard fire safety documents, including checklists, regulations, standards and codes that will be introduced or reviewed in this course. There are no other prerequisites identified. Prior attendance at another CFLS course, while encouraged, is not a prerequisite.
The purpose of this course is to empower the learners with the ability to prevent or mitigate CFLS risks and impacts. This course will include identifying and mitigating common risks, as well as understanding the basic components and operation of fire protection and life safety.
There will be a focus on looking at the fire and building codes and systems, on- and off-campus fire risks, special concern facilities, and educating students, personnel and stakeholders about these risks. An additional outcome will be the ability to adapt or enhance an existing program so that it meets the needs of the local campus community.
GRADING METHODOLOGY
Each learner will be assessed on the last day of class with one of two versions of the final examination. Each written evaluation will consist of a minimum of 30 multiple-choice questions. If needed, a retest form for learners who do not pass the first attempt can be used.
Learners will each need to earn at least a score of 70 percent on the 30-question final examination to pass the course. If they do not pass, they may take the alternate form of the examination once to attempt to obtain a passing score of 70 percent.
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SCHEDULE
TIME DAY 1 DAY 2
Unit 2: Building Fire Protection and Life Safety (cont’d) 8:00 - 9:00 Introduction, Welcome and Administrative Activity 2.3: Creating a Testing, Maintenance and Inspection Program
9:00 - 9:10 Break Break
9:10 - 10:20 Unit 1: Codes and Systems Unit 3: Facilities
10:20 - 10:30 Break Break
Unit 1: Codes and Systems (cont’d) Unit 3: Facilities (cont’d)
10:30 - 12:00 Activity 1.1: Raising Awareness in the Activity 3.1: Creating a Fire Prevention Campus Community Through Stakeholders Hazard Inspection Program
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Break Lunch Break
Unit 1: Codes and Systems (cont’d)
1:00 - 2:15 Unit 3: Facilities (cont’d) Unit 2: Building Fire Protection and Life Safety
2:15 - 2:30 Break Break
Unit 3: Facilities (cont’d)
Unit 2: Building Fire Protection and Life Activity 3.2: Developing an Off-campus Fire Safety (cont’d) Safety Inspection Program
Activity 2.1: Emergency Response to Fire 2:30 - 5:00 Activity 3.3: Greek Housing Theme Party Protection System Alarms
Activity 3.4: Special Concern Facilities Activity 2.2: Coordination of Installation of
New Fire and Life Safety Systems Unit 4: Evaluating a Campus Fire and Life Safety Inspection and Prevention Program
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CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
UNIT 1: CODES AND SYSTEMS
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
The learners will be able to:
1.1 Describe how the significant fires that have occurred in the campus environment have helped to develop new codes and the increased use of fire protection systems.
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
The learners will be able to:
1.1 Describe the three main components of the federal Campus Right-to-Know legislation.
1.2 Describe how codes are developed to address the campus fire safety issues.
1.3 Identify three regulating agencies that have an interest in campus fire safety.
1.4 Describe the plan review and plan approval process for a typical model code.
CODES AND SYSTEMS
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SM 1-2 CODES AND SYSTEMS
UNIT 1:
CODES AND SYSTEMS
Slide 1-1
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
Describe how the significant fires that have occurred in the campus environment have helped to develop new codes and the increased use of fire protection systems.
Slide 1-2
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
• Describe the three main components of the federal Campus Right-to-Know legislation. • Describe how codes are developed to address the campus fire safety issues. • Identify three regulating agencies that have an interest in campus fire safety. • Describe the plan review and plan approval process for a typical model code.
Slide 1-3
SM 1-3 CODES AND SYSTEMS
I. CAMPUS FIRE OVERVIEW
CAMPUS FIRE OVERVIEW
• Campus fire safety enhanced by raising the awareness. • Not all campus-related fires reported beyond the local news. • Campus-related fires occur regularly and affect students who live both on campus
and off campus.
Slide 1-4
A. Campus fire overview.
1. The Boland Hall fire at Seton Hall University in January 2000 was the catalyst for getting agencies and stakeholders to work together for the common goal.
2. Not all campus-related fires make news beyond the local news market.
3. Even for fatal fires, these fires are only in the news for a day or two, and then other stories take the headline.
4. Campus-related fires occur regularly and affect students who live both on campus and off campus.
OFF-CAMPUS FIRE DANGER
• Most students live off campus. • Disproportionate percentage of fires and
fatalities involving students occur off campus.
Slide 1-5
B. Currently:
1. Approximately 66 percent of students live off campus.
SM 1-4 CODES AND SYSTEMS
2. More than 80 percent of fires and fatalities occur off campus.
3. Houses, apartments and Greek housing each present dangerous conditions for the occupant and the firefighter.
4. Many of these occupancies comply with the local minimum codes, but they still may not be safe.
5. History shows that many of these occupancies have disastrous results in the event of a fire.
6. Of all the occupancy groups, off-campus housing has a disproportionate number of fires, injuries and fatalities.
C. The fire causes in student housing are very similar to those in the other types of residential living, and they include:
1. Unattended cooking or cooking while impaired with alcohol or drugs is a cause of fire.
2. Carelessly discarded smoking materials, especially into a trash can, mulch or overflowing ashtray, is another frequent cause of fires.
3. The misuse of electrical appliances contributes to fires through improper use of extension cords and cube adapters, as well as overloading of circuits.
4. Heating appliances, such as space heaters or supplemental heating systems, that are not used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions are another danger.
5. Arson and intentionally set fires are common in the campus community. These may be related to domestic disputes, retaliation, or random acts.
D. Generally, people expect never to have a fire, so most parents do not consider fire safety when choosing where their children will live.
1. In a public building or a private home, what do people do when the fire alarm sounds?
2. After discovering that there is a fire, what do they do next?
a. Do they evacuate?
- Others may:
-- Go to the fire to investigate.
SM 1-5 CODES AND SYSTEMS
-- Fight or try to contain the fire prior to evacuating others or calling 911.
-- Alert others, call 911, or activate the fire alarm. This is likely the best action.
-- Collect valuables. Possession of valuables may vary depending on the age group.
-- Help other residents to evacuate, especially those who are slow to evacuate or have disabilities.
-- Close the door to contain the fire in the room, floor or origin.
-- Turn off appliances, even if not involved in the fire.
-- Get dressed prior to evacuating.
-- Re-enter to search for others, belongings or pets.
b. In a student housing building, would most occupants do anything differently?
- Their valuables may be a little different than the noncampus-based residents, but will likely include:
-- Computers, tablets or laptops.
-- Books.
-- Smartphones or iPods.
- Some will call their parents because they do not know any better.
SM 1-6 CODES AND SYSTEMS
TYPES OF STUDENT HOUSING
• On-campus housing. • Off-campus housing. • Greek housing. • Others: – Studying abroad. – Internship. – Spring break.
Slide 1-6
E. Types of student housing commonly include:
1. On-campus housing.
2. Off-campus housing.
3. Greek housing.
4. Others, such as:
a. Studying abroad.
b. Internship.
c. Spring break.
F. Headline: Fiery Terror at Acapulco Resort During Spring Break; No Injuries Reported.
SM 1-7 CODES AND SYSTEMS
II. A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT FIRES
A HISTORY OF
SIGNIFICANT FIRES
• Reports of dozens of incidents significantly impacting campus communities. • Contributing factors in fires of 1970s or before are still present today. • Improvements made to the building fire protection. • Educational requirements have increased.
Slide 1-7
A. If we read through trade magazines, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) investigations, or even daily news, you will find dozens of incidents that had significant impacts on a college community.
B. We will take a closer look at several of these and find that many of the contributing factors from fires in the 1970s or before are present in modern fires.
C. Many improvements have been made to the fire protection of buildings. Educational requirements have increased for the on-campus buildings or those controlled by the institution.
D. The institutions that have made these improvements will still have fire incidents, but those will be minimized. Those incidents may not get much media attention due to these improvements.
HOTEL/MOTEL COMPARISON
• The hotel and motel industry once had a fire loss record similar to recent campus experience. • The industry forced Congress to take action to protect its employees. • Result was the Fire Safety Act of 1990 — also known as the Hotel/Motel Fire Safety Act.
Slide 1-8
SM 1-8 CODES AND SYSTEMS
E. The hotel and motel industry had a similar fire loss record at one time, which forced Congress to take action to protect its employees.
1. The Fire Safety Act of 1990 is:
a. Also known as the Hotel/Motel Fire Safety Act and requires 90 percent of all federal travel nights to be in lodging properties that are in compliance with this act.
b. An action that was taken by Congress, following several large-loss fires in the 1970s and 1980s.
c. A law that requires that federal employees stay in hotels or motels that meet life-safety standards for fire protection when traveling on official business or hosting conferences.
d. A law that requires that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintain a list of these facilities that meet or exceed the federal requirements. This list now contains more than 40,000 properties.
- To be on this list, a hotel or motel must have electric smoke alarms in each guestroom and sprinklers if the facility is four or more stories.
- Insurance requirements and the industry standard have also led most major hotel brands to lead by example and retrofit existing properties that do not meet the federal mandate.
- Building codes were also improved several times over the years, including the requirement for sprinklers in all hotels built today.
2. What has been the impact from this legislation?
a. How many hotels do you stay in today that are not in compliance with this act?
b. How many hotel or motel fires make headlines today?
SM 1-9 CODES AND SYSTEMS
A HISTORY OF
SIGNIFICANT FIRES (cont’d)
• Campus fires: – Pre-2000. – 2000 and after. – More recent fires.
Slide 1-9
CAMPUS FIRES PRE-2000
• Providence University. • Bloomsburg University. • University of North Carolina.
Slide 1-10
F. Campus fires (pre-2000).
1. Providence University, Providence, Rhode Island, December 1977 — 10 students killed.
a. A fire started in a closet inside a resident’s room in the early morning hours.
b. The fire spread was rapid due to combustible decorations lining the corridors from a Christmas decorating contest.
c. Dead-end corridors also contributed to the large loss of life, as the fire blocked the egress path to the only exit.
2. Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, October 1994 — Beta Sigma Delta Fraternity: five students killed.
SM 1-10 CODES AND SYSTEMS
a. A sofa caught fire earlier in the morning in this off-campus fraternity and was extinguished by the house occupants. The sofa was removed from the building and placed on the front porch.
b. The smoke alarms were sounding due to the smoke in the house, and the batteries were removed so they could go back to sleep.
c. The fire department was never called.
d. Later in the morning, the still smoldering sofa reignited and quickly consumed the front porch and main exit to the building.
3. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, May 1996 — Phi Gamma Delta fraternity: five students killed.
a. An early morning fire occurred after a graduation party at the house.
b. The fire was first reported by a neighboring fraternity at approximately 6 a.m.
c. The fire started in a trash can, believed to be from carelessly discarded smoking materials.
d. The fire grew undetected and quickly spread through the basement party room due to the combustible wall coverings and up through the open stairways.
e. Due to the warm weather, many of the building’s fire doors and windows were open for ventilation.
f. This fire occurred not only on Graduation Day, but it was also Mother’s Day.
CAMPUS FIRES POST-2000
• Seton Hall University. • Bloomsburg University.
Slide 1-11
SM 1-11 CODES AND SYSTEMS
G. Campus fires (post-2000).
1. Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, January 2000 — three students killed.
a. A fire was ignited in the student lounge where a paper banner was draped over a sofa.
b. The heat and smoke from the fire quickly spread through the floor of the residence hall, trapping occupants in their rooms.
c. Dozens were injured trying to escape.
2. Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, March 2000, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity — three students killed.
a. A fire consumed the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house in the early morning hours.
b. Several occupants had to jump from windows to escape the fire.
c. The cause was never determined.
d. One of the victims was from the same New Jersey town as a victim from Seton Hall.
RECENT CAMPUS FIRES
• Southern Illinois State University. • University of Cincinnati. • University of Massachusetts.
Slide 1-12
H. Most recent fires.
1. Southern Illinois State University-Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois, April 2012 — two students killed.
a. Two students were killed while they were asleep in their second- floor bedrooms.
SM 1-12 CODES AND SYSTEMS
b. The fire started in the third bedroom on the second floor that was vacant at the time of the fire.
c. The fire is believed to have started due to a power strip or laptop on the bed.
2. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 1, 2013 — two students killed.
a. An early morning fire on New Year’s morning critically injured two students from the University of Cincinnati.
b. These two victims succumbed to their injuries in the following weeks.
c. The fire started in a bedroom on the second floor of a house, caused by a space heater in close proximity to bedding materials.
d. The two victims were asleep in the attic-level bedrooms and were trapped by the smoke and heat.
e. The fire caused $20,000 in damage.
3. University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, Jan. 21, 2013 — one student killed.
a. An early morning off-campus fire gutted a number of apartments that house local students and other residents.
b. A 21-year-old student died in the fire and several others were injured.
c. The fire spread to 10 apartments in the building.
d. The cause is still under investigation.
SM 1-13 CODES AND SYSTEMS
FACTORS TO THE CAMPUS
FIRE SEVERITY
• Disabled alarms. • No alarms. • Lack of sprinklers. • Alcohol impairment. • Construction features.
Slide 1-13
I. Factors that contribute to the severity of a fire in the campus community.
1. Disabled smoke alarms or no smoke alarms.
2. Lack of sprinklers.
3. Alcohol impairment.
4. Construction features of the building.
a. Interior finish.
b. Protection of openings.
c. Dead-end corridors.
5. Many fires occur after a party and in the early morning hours.
STAKEHOLDERS
• People with a direct interest in student housing fire safety or safety in general (whether on or off campus). • Interest may be personal, moral, financial or job-related.
Slide 1-14
J. Stakeholders are the people with a direct interest in fire safety or safety in general of student housing, whether on or off campus.
SM 1-14 CODES AND SYSTEMS
ACTIVITY 1.1
Raising Awareness in the Campus Community Through Stakeholders
Purpose
To identify the people in the campus community with a direct interest in fire safety, or safety in general, relating to student housing, whether on or off campus. The interest may be personal, moral, financial or a job responsibility.
Directions
1. List the people with a direct interest in campus fire safety (stakeholders).
SM 1-15 CODES AND SYSTEMS
2. List the roles or interests in campus fire safety for each stakeholder.
SM 1-16 CODES AND SYSTEMS
II. A HISTORY OF SIGNIFICANT FIRES (cont’d)
IMPACT OF CAMPUS FIRE
• Local. • Statewide. • Nationwide. • Media attention. • Fire protection improvements. • Model code changes.
Slide 1-16
K. The Seton Hall local impact.
1. Why did the Seton Hall fire in 2000 have an impact across the country about fire safety in student housing?
2. Perhaps it is Seton Hall’s proximity to New York City and the metro news hub.
3. This is one of the first significant fires where you could track the news updates by the Internet.
4. This fire had both a statewide and national impact.
L. Statewide impact.
1. New Jersey.
a. The governor of New Jersey ordered that all residence halls in New Jersey be equipped with sprinklers within four years.
b. When the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania fraternity fire occurred two months later, it was discovered that one of the victims was from the same town as a victim at Seton Hall.
c. The governor immediately amended the state law to include fraternity and sorority houses in the state of New Jersey.
2. New York.
SM 1-17 CODES AND SYSTEMS
a. The governor appointed a task force to study the campus fire problem on Feb. 14, 2000.
b. The report identified the need to provide fire safety training for not only the students, but to those administering residence life programs and the residence life leaders.
c. Required annual inspections of all campus facilities of degree- issuing institutions in the state.
- A total of just over 300 public, private and community colleges.
d. The first year’s inspections identified more than 16,000 violations.
M. Nationwide impact.
1. NFPA — Campus Fire Forum at NFPA headquarters.
a. In 1999, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the NFPA hosted the first Campus Fire Forum at the NFPA headquarters.
b. This invitation-only event brought campus fire safety professionals from across the country together to meet and discuss the nation’s campus fire problem.
c. While this meeting occurred in 1999, the Seton Hall fire provided momentum for this meeting to be continued at the NFPA fall meetings.
2. These meetings helped guide the creation of special interest groups that focus specifically, or in part, on the issues of fire safety and fire protection.
a. The Center for Campus Fire Safety, a nonprofit member based organization dedicated to the reduction of campus based fires, continues the Campus Fire Forum as an annual training event.
b. Other campus based organizations and private companies now offer fire safety features services to their members and customers.
N. Media attention.
1. National media outlets now report on and provide background to other fires.
SM 1-18 CODES AND SYSTEMS
2. Some feature investigative reports that have in-depth looks at one or more fire trends.
O. The fire protection industry has developed fire protection features and systems, specific to campus-related buildings, especially the residential settings.
P. Most model fire codes now have specific language in place that requires emergency planning for college and university housing and the need for fire drills.
III. THE CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT
THE CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY
RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT
• Sponsors: Sen. Lautenberg and Rep. Pascrell from New Jersey. • The 2008 Higher Education Reauthorization Act included Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act. • Took effect in June 2010.
Slide 1-17
A. Sen. Lautenberg and Rep. Pascrell from New Jersey took the fire safety issue to Washington, D.C. After a number of years of debate, the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act was passed.
1. In August 2008, President George W. Bush signed the Higher Education Reauthorization Act into law and included the Campus Fire Safety Right- to-Know Act.
2. The U.S. Department of Education developed the language, and the regulations were published in the Federal Resister and took effect in June 2010.
SM 1-19 CODES AND SYSTEMS
THE CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY
RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT (cont’d)
• Provide information about the school’s fire safety. • Only applies to on-campus residential buildings. • Requires colleges to report fire safety information to the U.S. Department of Education annually.
Slide 1-18
3. The intent of the legislation is to provide parents and students with information about the school’s fire safety.
4. This requirement only applies to on-campus residential buildings.
5. This law requires colleges to report fire safety information to the U.S. Department of Education annually, much like they report crimes through the Clery Act.
FIRE SAFETY REPORTING
COMPONENTS
• Institution with on-campus student housing facilities must: – Log all reported fires in on-campus student housing facilities. – Annually publish fire safety policies and fire statistics. – Submit fire statistics annually to the U.S. Department of Education.
Slide 1-19
B. Fire safety reporting components.
An institution with on-campus student housing facilities is required to:
1. Maintain a log of all reported fires that occur in those on-campus student housing facilities.
2. Publish an annual Fire Safety Report that contains fire safety policies and fire statistics for each of those facilities.
SM 1-20 CODES AND SYSTEMS
3. Submit the fire statistics from the Fire Safety Report annually to the U.S. Department of Education.
FIRE — DEFINED
• “Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.” • This definition contains two descriptions of a fire: – Areas not intended for burning. – Burning in an uncontrolled manner.
Slide 1-20
C. The Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act starts by defining what a “fire” is.
1. “Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.”
a. Areas not intended for burning:
- Trash can fire.
- Stove fire.
- Grease fire.
- Furniture fire.
b. Burning in an uncontrolled manner.
- Chimney fire.
- Furniture fire.
SM 1-21 CODES AND SYSTEMS
REPORTABLE FIRES
• All fires that result in injury or death, regardless of the size or cause. • Includes: – Fires on roof or outside walls. – Incident with evidence of a fire.
Slide 1-21
2. All fires that result in an injury or death, regardless of the size or cause, need to be reported.
3. A reportable fire includes:
a. Fires on the roof or outside walls.
b. An incident where there is evidence that there was a fire, such as a burned-out trash can fire.
4. A reportable fire does not include:
a. Burned popcorn in a microwave if there are no open flames.
b. Candles found lit, even if in violation of policy.
FIRE LOG
• Written. • Easily understood. • Chronological, by date. • Report: – Fires already extinguished. – Those discovered while still burning.
Slide 1-22
D. The Fire Log.
SM 1-22 CODES AND SYSTEMS
1. The Fire Log is defined as the “recording of fires that occur in on-campus student housing facilities.”
a. An institution must maintain a Fire Log that is:
- Written.
- Easily understood.
- By date.
b. Reported fires include:
- Fire already extinguished.
- Those discovered while still burning, even if easily extinguished without further assistance.
FIRE LOG (cont’d)
• Fire Log elements: – The date the fire was originally reported. – The nature or cause of the fire. – The date and time of the fire. – The general location of the fire.
Slide 1-23
2. Fire Log elements.
a. The date the fire was originally reported.
b. The nature or cause of the fire.
c. The date and time of the fire.
d. The general location of the fire.
SM 1-23 CODES AND SYSTEMS
FIRE LOG (cont’d)
• Maintaining the Fire Log: – Must make an entry/addition within two business days of receiving the information. – Most recent 60-day period must be open to public inspection, upon request. – Any older portion must be open to public inspection within two days of request.
Slide 1-24
3. Maintaining the Fire Log.
a. Your institution must make an entry or an addition to an entry to the log within two business days of receiving the information.
b. The Fire Log for the most recent 60-day period must be open to public inspection, upon request.
c. Any portion of the Fire Log that is older than 60 days must be available within two business days of a request.
FIRE LOG (cont’d)
– Must provide students and employees with a description of the log. – Archive for three years after last annual report.
Slide 1-25
d. The institution must provide students and employees with a description of the log, noting its location and availability.
e. Archived fire logs must be kept for three years following the publication of the last annual Fire Safety Report, in effect for seven years.
4. Reporting to the campus community.
SM 1-24 CODES AND SYSTEMS
a. The institution must make an annual report available to the campus community about the fires reported in the Fire Log.
b. This requirement may be satisfied by the annual Fire Safety Report.
FIRE SAFETY REPORT
• Published by October 1. • Minimum components: – Description of each on-campus student housing facility fire safety system. – Number of fire drills held. – Policies/Rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking and open flames. – Student housing fire evacuation procedures.
Slide 1-26
E. Fire Safety Report.
1. The annual Fire Safety Report must be published by October 1. The purpose of the report is to disclose fire safety policies and procedures related to the institution’s on-campus housing and to disclose statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities.
2. This responsibility may be delegated to any number of departments or staff, including fire prevention, public safety, emergency management or facilities.
3. At a minimum, the Fire Safety Report must contain the following components:
a. A description of each on-campus student housing facility fire safety system.
- Fire safety system is any system or mechanism related to the detection of a fire, the resulting warning from a fire, or the control of a fire.
- This may include fire alarms, smoke alarms/detectors, sprinklers, smoke control and fire doors.
b. The number of fire drills held during the previous calendar year.
SM 1-25 CODES AND SYSTEMS
- A fire drill is defined as a supervised practice of a mandatory evacuation of a building for a fire.
- Disclose the number of fire drills for each on-campus student housing facility — even if zero.
- This requirement cannot be met by a false alarm that leads to an evacuation.
- A drill involves planning, supervision and evaluation.
c. The institution’s policies or rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking and open flames in a student housing facility.
- Disclose all of the institution’s policies or rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking and open flames in your housing facilities.
d. The institution’s procedures for student housing evacuation in the case of a fire.
FIRE SAFETY REPORT (cont’d)
– Policies regarding fire safety education and training programs (students and employees). – Procedures for students and employees in the case of fire. – Titles of each person or organization to which students and employees should report a fire. – Plans for future improvements in fire safety. – Fire statistics.
Slide 1-27
e. The policies regarding fire safety education and training programs provided to the students and employees.
- Include in-person and online programs, if applicable.
- Describe all procedures that students should follow in the case of a fire, as well as employees who are involved in student housing.
f. The institution must describe the procedures that students and employees should follow in the case of a fire.
SM 1-26 CODES AND SYSTEMS
- This includes a list of titles of the staff or organizations that should be told “after the fact” that a fire occurred. It is not a list of whom to notify that there is a fire emergency.
g. For the purpose of including a fire in the statistics in the annual Fire Safety Report, include a list of the titles of each person or organization to which students and employees should report that a fire occurred.
h. Plans for future improvements in fire safety, if determined necessary by the institution.
- Must provide details on the types of improvements being considered or planned.
- Or that no improvements are necessary at this time.
i. Fire statistics.
- Fires reported in the Fire Log must be included in this report as the fire statistics.
REPORT TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
• All institutions must submit fire statistics to the U.S. Department of Education. • The institution’s CEO receives a survey packet, user ID and password.
Slide 1-28
F. Report to the U.S. Department of Education.
1. All institutions must submit the fire statistics to the U.S. Department of Education.
2. The survey packet is sent to the CEO of each institution, along with a user ID and password.
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REPORT TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (cont’d)
• Shortcomings of the report: – Fire incidents at fraternities or sororities not tracked unless the building is on campus. – No record keeping for off-campus housing unless the housing is owned by the institution. – False alarms or fire alarm activations of any type are not tracked.
Slide 1-29
G. Shortcomings of this legislation.
1. The legislation does not track fire incidents at fraternity houses or sorority houses unless the building is campus-owned.
2. There is no record keeping for off-campus housing unless the housing is owned by the institution.
3. False alarms or fire alarm activations of any type are not tracked.
IV. CODES AND STANDARDS
CODES AND STANDARDS
• Federal legislation specifically references campus-owned residential buildings. • Building codes and standards do not differentiate between on and off campus. • Use groups defined based on the structures and not specific to the house’s occupants.
Slide 1-30
A. Use groups are defined based on the use of the structure and are not specific to the occupants of the house or its owner.
SM 1-28 CODES AND SYSTEMS
1. An on-campus fraternity house would be treated the same as an off- campus fraternity house. Only, the use group would most likely be a rooming or lodging house.
2. An apartment building in a municipality is treated the same as an on- campus apartment building. The use group would be an apartment or multifamily dwelling.
B. This unit will take a closer look at codes and standards and how they apply broadly to campus-related buildings.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• Codes and standards are minimum requirements for building designs, construction and occupancy. • Other regulations (e.g., zoning, land development plans or municipal guidelines) further restrict use and occupancy.
Slide 1-31
1. Minimum requirements:
a. Codes and standards establish minimum requirements for the design, construction and occupancy of buildings.
b. Other regulations, such as zoning, land development plans or municipal guidelines, may further restrict the use and occupancy of a building.
SM 1-29 CODES AND SYSTEMS
MODEL CODES
• Most common type of building or fire code. • Municipalities can adopt existing code rather than write their own. • If allowed, local amendments can be adopted that meet community needs. • Model codes established by consensus organizations and vetted. • A code must be adopted to be enforceable.
Slide 1-32
2. Model codes are the most common type of building or fire code, as municipalities can adopt an existing code rather than write their own.
3. If allowed by the state governments or state codes, local amendments can be adopted by the municipality that meet the needs of the community.
4. Model codes are established by consensus organizations and are vetted through the organization’s guidelines and policies.
a. A code must be adopted by a municipality for it to be enforceable.
b. Building and fire code officials must understand the limitations of the code so they do not enforce something that is not required in the law.
MODEL CODE ORGANIZATIONS
• There are two model code organizations in the United States. – International Code Council (ICC). – National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Slide 1-33
5. There are two model code organizations in the United States that have a series of codes that are used to regulate building construction and maintenance.
SM 1-30 CODES AND SYSTEMS
a. International Code Council (ICC).
b. NFPA.
INSPECTOR FAMILIARITY
• If a governing body adopts one of these model codes, an inspector must still be familiar with the other available codes. • Example: A state code may adopt ICC code for constructing a hospital. But the health department or insurance underwriter may require compliance with the NFPA Life Safety Code®.
Slide 1-34
6. If a governing body adopts one of these model codes, an inspector must still be familiar with the other available codes — or at least the existence of the code.
a. For example, a state code may adopt the ICC code for the construction of a hospital. But, the U.S. Department of Health or the insurance underwriter may require compliance with the NFPA Life Safety Code®.
b. The inspector will not be able to enforce a code that is not adopted by the municipal government, but one must understand that there may be some conflict or areas where the code does not blend well.
c. Having this understanding between the codes may help to reduce or eliminate these differences.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
CODE AND STANDARD • Code: law or regulation adopted or enacted by a jurisdiction at the municipal or state level and broadly describes the required level of protection or systems. • Standard: set of guidelines establishing minimum requirements and will specify
how a system or product is to be installed.
Slide 1-35
SM 1-31 CODES AND SYSTEMS
7. What is the difference between a code and standard?
a. A code is a law or regulation that was adopted or enacted by a jurisdiction at the municipal or state level and broadly describes the desired level of protection or system that is required.
b. A standard is a set of guidelines that is developed to establish minimum requirements and will specify how a system or product is to be installed.
- Simply, the code tells you that it must be protected to comply.
- The standard tells you how to protect it using the minimum approved procedures.
- For example:
-- The International Building Code (IBC) states that all multifamily apartment buildings must be protected by a sprinkler system, in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems or NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies.
-- The NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R standard describes how the sprinkler system is to be installed.
CODE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS • Elected officials, code officials or the public may determine that a new code or amendment is needed. • A code development committee is formed. • Committee composed of all parties interested in buildings or fire safety.
Slide 1-36
8. Code development process.
SM 1-32 CODES AND SYSTEMS
a. When elected officials, code officials, or members of the public determine that a new code or amendment is needed, a code development committee is formed.
b. This action may be in response to a fire, a series of fires, or other incidents that could be prevented or minimized through the code process.
c. This committee should be made up of all interested parties that have an interest in buildings or fire safety.
This may include the following:
- Fire department.
- Building department.
- Industry or trade representatives.
- Insurance.
- Real estate or property managers.
- Design professionals.
- Elected officials.
- Interested members of the public.
CODE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS (cont’d)
• If committee develops a proposal for change, it will then go through an ordinance adoption process similar to other laws and ordinances. • If the change is approved, the governing body establishes an effective date.
Slide 1-37
d. If the committee develops a proposal for change, then this change will need to go through a code adoption process.
SM 1-33 CODES AND SYSTEMS
e. If this change is approved, the governing body will establish an effective date, anywhere from 30 days to one year or more.
PERMITS AND PLAN REVIEW
• Codes specify that if a building is altered or its use/occupancy changes, then a building permit is required. • Building permit is an official document granting permission to conduct work. • A plan is submitted with the permit application. • Other permits may be needed.
Slide 1-38
C. Permits and plan review.
1. Municipal or state building codes specify that if a building is constructed, altered or demolished, or if the use or occupancy of the building or tenant space changes, then a building permit is required.
2. A building permit is an official document that grants permission to conduct work within a building or lot.
3. In order to receive a building permit, a plan submittal is required to along with an application.
a. Depending on the scope of the work, other approvals may be needed, such as:
- Zoning.
- Sewer.
- Water.
b. The plans are drawn to scale by a design professional.
c. The review is conducted to determine if the proposed work is in compliance with the adopted code.
4. The codes differ depending on the use of the building or space, the type of construction, and the equipment that will be used in the building.
SM 1-34 CODES AND SYSTEMS
a. Once the plans are approved, a building permit can be issued.
b. Only at this time can the work on the building commence.
c. Periodically, during the construction phases, it will need to be inspected before other phases can begin.
d. Once all required inspections have been completed and the project is complete, a certificate of occupancy can be issued.
e. In most municipalities, all buildings require a certificate of occupancy to be legally occupied.
FIRE PREVENTION AND CODE
ENFORCEMENT INSPECTIONS
• Once built, there may be requirements for continued or ongoing inspections of a building. • The inspections are typically maintenance-type inspections. • Each municipality or state will specify inspection frequency. • Some inspections stem from complaints.
Slide 1-39
D. Fire prevention and code enforcement inspections.
1. Once buildings are built, there may be a requirement for continued or ongoing inspections of a building.
a. These inspections are typically maintenance-type inspections performed to maintain systems within the building.
b. These are often required by the adopted fire code or property maintenance code.
2. Each municipality or state will specify the frequency of these inspections.
a. Others are inspected based on complaints.
b. This complaint may be from a citizen or the fire department.
SM 1-35 CODES AND SYSTEMS
INSPECTION RATIONALE • Fire prevention and code enforcement is necessary because building conditions change as soon as they are built and occupied. • Fire prevention inspection or code enforcement inspections decrease the incidence and severity of fires.
Slide 1-40
3. Fire prevention and code enforcement is necessary because building conditions change as soon as they are built and occupied.
a. These changes may involve blocked or obstructed exits, failed emergency lighting, and removed and relocated doors and walls.
b. Many of these changes occur without anyone giving building safety a thought and may make the building unsafe.
INSPECTION ACTIVITIES • Fire prevention and code enforcement activities may include any or all of the following activities: – Code enforcement. – Public education. – Fire investigation. • Fire prevention activity often increases after a tragedy.
Slide 1-41
4. A fire prevention inspection or code enforcement inspection is used to decrease the incidence and severity of an unwanted fire and ensure that buildings are maintained in a safe condition. Fire prevention and code enforcement activities may include any or all of the following activities:
a. Code enforcement: Inspection is the legal means of discovering and correcting deficiencies.
SM 1-36 CODES AND SYSTEMS
b. Public education: Public education teaches dangers and methods for reducing the risk.
c. Fire investigation: Fire investigations identify fire causes that may lead to code changes or legislation to reduce the risk.
E. Fire prevention is often increased after a tragedy.
1. Frequently, new laws and codes are also implemented following a tragedy.
2. Others may conduct a neighborhood canvas to educate the local residents about what happened and how to prevent future incidents.
3. This is also a time when the fire department can offer to test their smoke alarms.
4. Fire prevention activities may also identify a need for a change in the code.
5. When this is identified, the process to change the code must start once again.
F. Not all municipalities require fire prevention inspections. Many states do not adopt this requirement either.
1. This type of inspection is essential in order to make sure that campus- related housing buildings are maintained in as safe a condition as possible.
2. Understanding that conditions change, sometimes overnight or by event.
3. Continued persistence by all stakeholders is necessary to prevent a fire tragedy from occurring.
SM 1-37 CODES AND SYSTEMS
V. SUMMARY
SUMMARY
• Campus fire overview. • A history of significant fires. • The Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act. • Codes and standards.
Slide 1-42
SM 1-38 CODES AND SYSTEMS
APPENDIX
WHAT IS OFF-CAMPUS?
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SM 1-40 CODES AND SYSTEMS
SM 1-41 CODES AND SYSTEMS
SM 1-42 CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
UNIT 2: BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
The learners will be able to:
2.1 Describe the code requirements of different fire protection and life safety systems.
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
The learners will be able to:
2.1 Explain at least three different types of fire protection systems.
2.2 Formulate a new fire protection and life safety system process that ensures reliability, consistency and quality assurances.
2.3 From a provided scenario, create a maintenance program for an existing system.
2.4 List at least three examples of the need for documentation of all system test, maintenance and inspections (TMIs).
2.5 Define compliance and the methods for achieving it.
BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
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SM 2-2 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
UNIT 2: BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION
AND LIFE SAFETY
Slide 2-1
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
Describe the code requirements of different fire protection and life safety systems.
Slide 2-2
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
• Explain at least three different types of fire protection systems. • Formulate a new fire protection and life safety system process that ensures reliability, consistency and quality assurances.
Slide 2-3
SM 2-3 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
(cont’d)
• From a provided scenario, create a maintenance program for an existing system. • List at least three examples of the need for documentation of all system tests, maintenance and inspections (TMIs). • Define compliance and the methods for achieving it.
Slide 2-4
I. TESTING AND MAINTENANCE CODE REQUIREMENTS
TESTING AND MAINTENANCE
CODE REQUIREMENTS
• Many fire and life safety systems. • Variety of code requirements regulating installation, performance, testing and maintenance. • A quality Campus Fire and Life Safety (CFLS) program begins with the fundamentals of fire protection systems.
Slide 2-5
A. Fire protection system types.
1. There are many fire and life safety systems available today and a variety of code requirements that regulate their installation, performance, testing and maintenance.
2. Campus Fire and Life Safety Professional(s) (CFLSP) need to know these systems, the code requirements, and how to maintain them.
3. Having a quality Campus Fire and Life Safety (CFLS) program on a campus community begins with the fundamentals of fire protection systems.
SM 2-4 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
TESTING AND MAINTENANCE
CODE REQUIREMENTS (cont’d)
• Poor maintenance programs: – Result in high false alarm rates. – False alarms promote noncompliance and lack of trust. – High false alarm rates cause complaints and expose the institution to liability.
Slide 2-6
4. A poor maintenance program will result in high false alarm rates.
5. False alarms will promote noncompliance and lack of trust among your students and employees.
6. High false alarm rates cause complaints from parents, faculty and administrators and expose the institution to liability.
B. Fire protection systems.
1. Water-based fire protection system: A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure consisting of a water supply system that provides adequate pressure and flow rate to a water distribution piping system onto which fire sprinklers are connected.
a. The first automated fire sprinkler system was patented in 1870 by Philip W. Pratt of Abington, Massachusetts.
b. Fire sprinkler systems have been around for more than two centuries and have seen significant improvements over the years.
c. It is true that early versions were not very reliable and caused significant water damage.
d. But modern sprinkler systems are credited with reducing deaths and loss of property by more than 65 percent.
SM 2-5 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
WATER-BASED FIRE
PROTECTION SYSTEM
• Purpose of sprinkler systems: – Detect fire. – Report. – Confine/Control fire. – Extinguish.
Slide 2-7
2. Purpose of sprinkler system.
a. Detect fire.
b. Report.
c. Confine/Control fire until fire units or fire suppression forces arrive.
d. Extinguish.
WATER-BASED FIRE
PROTECTION SYSTEM (cont’d)
• Guidance: – National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. – NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. – NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies.
Slide 2-8
3. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) develops, publishes and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. Virtually every building, process, service, design and installation in society today is affected by NFPA documents.
SM 2-6 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
a. Three NFPA codes deal with water-based fire protection systems. They are:
- NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
- NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes.
- NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies.
b. These codes provide fire protection engineers with the guidance to design a fire sprinkler system.
4. NFPA 13 uses building occupancies’ classifications to determine sprinkler design requirements.
a. Provides guidelines for most occupancies.
b. Assumes total coverage, with some omissions.
c. Assumes hose stream allowances for fire suppression.
d. Water supply amount and duration based on hazard.
5. NFPA 13D addresses one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes.
a. It anticipates only partial coverage.
b. Omits:
- Bathrooms.
- Unused attics.
- Closets.
- Open, attached balconies and porches.
c. No hose stream allowances.
d. Duration of 10 minutes.
- Seven minutes for small, one-story buildings.
SM 2-7 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
6. NFPA 13R deals with residential buildings with up to four floors.
a. Life safety system, intended to prevent flashover.
b. Only partial coverage required.
c. Omits:
- Bathrooms.
- Unused attics.
- Closets, balconies and porches.
d. No hose stream allowances.
e. Duration of 30 minutes.
7. These systems are designed for life safety and not property loss.
WET AND DRY SPRINKLER
SYSTEMS
• Wet systems activate immediately by heat. • Dry systems filled with air or nitrogen. When activated, pressure is reduced and water flows. • Use dry systems for areas that may freeze. – Delayed response with dry systems. – Maintenance is more costly.
Slide 2-9
8. Wet and dry sprinkler systems.
a. Wet systems activate immediately upon a sprinkler head being activated by heat.
b. Dry systems are filled with air or nitrogen and, when activated by a sprinkler head, the pressure in the pipe goes down, thus activating the water to flow into the pipe and into the sprinkler head.
c. Dry systems are required for areas that are exposed to environments that are susceptible to freezing.
d. There is a response delay with dry systems.
SM 2-8 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
e. Dry systems are more costly to maintain.
DELUGE
• Deluge systems are dry systems. • High-flow response. • Entire area is activated versus a single head. • Systems include: – Foam. – Water mist. – Preaction systems.
Slide 2-10
9. Other special hazard systems.
a. Deluge are dry systems, but they are designed for high-flow response for a high hazard or protection of egress.
b. Instead of one sprinkler head being activated, the entire area is activated through multiple applicators.
c. There are foam, water mist and preaction systems that are used for specific high-hazard protection areas.
FIRE PUMPS
• Fire pumps are connected to automated sprinkler system. • Provide additional pressure. • Meet water flow requirements for structure and water supply.
Slide 2-11
10. Fire pumps are connected to an automated sprinkler system and provide additional pressure to meet the water flow requirements for the size of the structure and available water supply.
a. Document weekly testing.
SM 2-9 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
b. Yearly flow performance test.
c. Typically, high rises and other large square footage buildings require fire pumps.
d. In most cases, the water supply is from a municipal water system, but tanks and other static water sources, such as ponds and lakes, are also used.
e. Fire pumps can be powered by electric, steam or mechanical engines.
f. Electrical pumps require an alternate power supply, such as a generator.
g. These fire pumps are required to be exercised every week.
h. Require documentation.
i. Existing systems are required to have a flow rate test yearly.
j. Fire pumps on an NFPA 13D system are exempt from weekly testing.
STANDPIPE SYSTEM
• Standpipe is an arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections and allied equipment. • Installed with hose connections so that water can be discharged in streams and spray patterns to extinguish fire.
Slide 2-12
11. Standpipe system.
a. A standpipe is an arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections and allied equipment installed in a building or structure. The hose connections are located in such a manner that water can be discharged in streams and spray patterns while extinguishing a fire, thereby protecting a building or structure and its contents, in addition to protecting occupants.
SM 2-10 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
b. Found in multistoried facilities of four or more stories.
c. Parking garages.
d. Theater or stages.
e. Rooftop heliports.
f. Piers, wharves, docks.
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM
SYSTEMS
• Campus Fire and Life Safety Professional(s) (CFLSP) influence what fire alarm systems are purchased and installed. • Standard campus community fire alarm guideline is important for system quality and performance. • NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code regulates these systems.
Slide 2-13
12. Automatic fire alarm systems.
a. CFLSP have tremendous influence on which fire alarm systems are purchased and installed on a campus community.
b. Developing a standard campus community fire alarm guideline is very important for the quality and performance of these systems.
c. Technology allows for much flexibility.
d. Allows a campus community to custom-build a system that is compatible with its environment.
e. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code regulates the installation, performance, location, testing and maintenance requirements for a fire alarm system.
SM 2-11 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM
SYSTEMS (cont’d)
Initiating Devices (Inputs) Fire Alarm Control Notification Appliances (Outputs) Panel
Auxiliary Functions (Outputs) Primary Secondary Reliable Power Supply
Slide 2-14
13. Fire alarm system elements.
a. Initiating device.
b. Fire alarm control panel.
c. Notification appliance(s).
d. Auxiliary functions.
e. Primary power.
f. Secondary power.
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM
TYPES
• Addressable fire alarm systems. • Audible devices. • Visual strobe lights. • Voice evacuation assist systems. • Fire department command center.
Slide 2-15
14. Automatic fire alarm types.
a. Addressable fire alarm systems.
SM 2-12 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
- Provides precise point-to-point identity of every device connected to the system.
- It will report when the device has been removed, requires maintenance, or is alarming.
- Improves maintenance quality as well as decreases response time to an alarm.
- Responders know exactly where to look.
- Allows real-time monitoring.
- Increased credibility with fewer false alarms.
- Increases response time to location.
b. Audible devices.
c. Visual strobe lights.
d. Voice evacuation assist systems provide building occupants with voice instructions on evacuating the building.
e. Fire department command center.
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM
TYPES (cont’d)
• Nonaddressable fire alarm systems. • Smoke management systems. • Chemical detectors. • Manual pull stations. – Anti-tamper devices.
Slide 2-16
f. Nonaddressable fire alarm systems have devices that are arranged in a zoned-style wiring arrangement.
- Typically, zones are by floor but do not give exact location.
- Delays response to the exact location of the problem.
SM 2-13 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
g. Smoke management systems.
- Atriums.
- Covered malls.
- Campus facilities with large openings.
- Warehouses.
- High-rise buildings.
- Stages.
h. Chemical detectors.
- Carbon monoxide.
- Hydrogen chloride.
- Chlorine.
- Sulfur dioxide.
i. Manual pull stations.
- Devices allow building occupants to activate the fire alarm system to warn other occupants of a fire or other emergency, as well as alert emergency responders.
- In a campus community setting, these alarms can cause a high rate of false alarms if the fire and life safety program does not address these situations seriously.
- False alarms cause apathy amongst occupants, especially students, and will cause poor evacuations.
- It is a criminal offense (usually a felony) to falsely activate a fire alarm and, in most states, carries significant consequences.
- Anti-tamper device is a plastic cover attached over the manual pull station.
-- When the cover is removed, it causes a horn to sound as a deterrent by alerting other occupants that the manual pull station is about to be activated.
SM 2-14 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
-- These devices, such as Stopper IIs, have been very effective in deterring false alarms and identifying those who do falsely pull alarms.
- Malicious intent of manual pull station alarms.
-- Obtaining compliance starts with those who respond to these malicious false alarms.
-- Responders need to stress that these alarm systems are here to save lives, and malicious intent endangers every resident/occupant.
-- Each alarm should be thoroughly investigated to obtain the identity of the guilty party.
-- If the identity is determined, a strong judicial process and/or criminal prosecution needs to be adhered to.
-- Compliance is about the message that is sent.
-- In resident halls where repetitive alarms are occurring, perhaps an option is holding the entire hall accountable unless someone comes forward.
DETECTION SYSTEM
COVERAGE DECISIONS
• Detection system coverage is a difficult decision. – Benefits and disadvantages need to be reviewed by stakeholders.
Slide 2-17
C. Detection system coverage decisions.
1. Bedroom detection may be with a smoke detector or a smoke alarm. Detection system coverage is a difficult decision.
SM 2-15 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
DETECTION SYSTEM
COVERAGE DECISIONS (cont’d)
• Detection options. – Cover every bedroom with a smoke detector. – Cover every bedroom with a smoke alarm. – Connect smoke detectors to a fire alarm. -- Power sources for alarms. – Photoelectric detectors. – Ionization detectors. – Heat detectors.
Slide 2-18
a. The benefits and disadvantages need to be reviewed by fire protection professionals.
b. Smoke detectors connected to a fire alarm system have many advantages when it comes to reliability and confidence.
- If an occupant removes the detector from the ceiling, the system is going to send a signal.
- These detectors will communicate when it is dirty and needs to be cleaned, thus lowering false alarms.
- Some disadvantages are that there will be more system alarms, as there will simply be many more devices on a system to cause a false alarm. The more devices, the more that it will cost to maintain.
- Students can still cover the alarm with a plastic bag and make the device ineffective.
- Fines and judicial processing need to be established for this type of behavior.
2. Smoke alarm battery/system detection coverage.
a. The frequency of false alarms differs between the two types.
b. Battery-powered alarms have fewer system false alarms.
c. Reliability of power is sometimes questionable.
d. Battery alarms require a battery replacement program.
SM 2-16 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
e. Students often remove batteries and alarms.
3. Photoelectric or ionization detectors or heat detection.
a. Kitchen areas are often a problem for smoke detection, causing false alarms.
b. Ionization detectors can also cause false alarms in kitchen areas.
c. Heat detection is oftentimes more reliable in bathrooms and kitchens, reducing the incidence of false alarms.
DETECTION SYSTEM
COVERAGE DECISIONS (cont’d)
• Other smoke/flame detection devices. – Beam detectors. – Duct detectors. – Heat detectors. – Flame detectors. – Infrared and ultraviolet detectors. – Carbon monoxide detectors.
Slide 2-19
4. Other smoke/flame detection devices.
a. Beam detectors used in large, open rooms.
b. Duct detectors are used in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
c. Heat detectors.
- Rate-to-rise detectors measure temperature and activate when temperature rises rapidly. These are not well-suited near HVAC and outside air sources.
- Fixed detectors activate strictly when the temperature reaches a certain set point.
d. Flame detectors use optical sensors to detect flames.
e. Infrared and ultraviolet detectors.
SM 2-17 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY
f. Carbon monoxide detectors are often used near gas-fired appliances. Carbon monoxide alarms are generally found in residences.
FIRE SUPPRESSION
KITCHEN HOOD SYSTEMS
• Guidance: – NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. – NFPA 17A, Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems. • Test and inspect biannually. • Over 1,000 commercial kitchen fires per
day.
Slide 2-20
5. Fire suppression kitchen hood systems.
a. NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations and NFPA 17A, Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems.
b. NFPA 13 allows for a water protection system.
c. Biannual test and inspection.
d. According to Simplex Grinnell, there are over 1,000 fires ignited in commercial kitchens per day in the United States.
e. The failure of a suppression system to operate properly will prove very costly.
f. With high-temperature appliances using oil and solid fuels, it is essential that kitchen fire suppression systems stay in good operating condition.
g. A restaurant fire suppression system is designed to provide fire protection for restaurant cooking appliances, exhaust hoods and ducts, as defined in NFPA 13, 17A and 96.
h. These systems are pre-engineered and consist of mechanical and electrical components for installation by an authorized distributor.
i. A portable Class K wet chemical fire extinguisher is required to be provided with all commercial suppression hoods.
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SPECIALTY SYSTEM TYPES
• Halon (clean agent). • Carbon dioxide. • Dry chemical. • Wet chemical. • Water mist.
Slide 2-21
6. Specialty system types.
a. Halon is a clean agent (i.e., an electrically nonconducting, volatile or gaseous fire extinguishant) that does not leave a residue upon evaporation. Because Halon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), the production of Halon ceased on Jan. 1, 1994, under the Clean Air Act. There is no cost-effective means of safely and effectively disposing of the Halon that has already been produced, therefore recycling and reusing the existing supply intelligently and responsibly to protect lives and property is the best solution. Halon was used commercially beginning in the 1960s and was trademark protected. The trademark was cancelled in July 2004 when it expired.
b. Carbon dioxide.
c. Dry chemical in existing systems.
d. Wet chemical.
e. Water mist.
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PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
• NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers requires a monthly visual inspection. • Yearly maintenance and inspection. • Training.
Slide 2-22
7. Portable fire extinguishers.
a. NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers requires a monthly visual inspection to ensure that it is in its designated location and that it will work properly, if needed.
b. Monthly visual inspection should include:
- Extinguishers are in their designated places.
- There are no obstructions to access or visibility.
- Safety seals are not broken or missing.
- There is no evidence of physical damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle.
- Pressure gauge readings are in the proper range or position.
- Operating instructions are legible and facing outward.
- Fullness — confirmed by weighing or lifting.
- Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) label in place.
c. Yearly maintenance and inspection.
- Deficiencies that are found require service to be completed to correct the problem.
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- Each extinguisher needs to have yearly maintenance performed by an authorized person.
- Every six years, dry chemical stored-pressure fire extinguishers that require a 12-year hydrostatic test must be emptied and proper maintenance procedures must be performed.
- The 2007 edition of NFPA 10 contains a new requirement for the removal of dry chemical extinguishers manufactured prior to October 1984.
- Removal is to occur at the time of the next six-year maintenance interval or next hydro test interval, whichever comes first.
- Cylinder hydro testing every 12 years.
- Anti-tamper devices must be in place. d. Training.
- Training for employees falls under Occupational Safety and Health Act 1910.157, Portable Fire Extinguishers.
- Only those employees who are required to use a fire extinguisher as part of their jobs and have it listed in their job descriptions are required to be trained to use fire extinguishers.
- On a campus community, this may include facilities and public safety employees.
- This training must be documented and maintained in employee files.
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LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
® • NFPA 101, Life Safety Code establishes minimum safety requirements for fire and similar emergencies. • It defines occupant egress requirements. – Safety. – Lighting. – Warning.
Slide 2-23
D. Life safety systems.
1. NFPA 101, Life Safety Code® was established as a minimum requirement that will provide a reasonable degree of safety from fire and similar emergencies in buildings and structures.
2. It defines means of egress requirements; building construction is designed to allow a safe exit by occupants, adequate lighting, and warning to occupants of a fire.
3. The code also divided building occupancies into different classifications to determine what requirements are needed by occupancy.
4. Exit signs shall be visually inspected at maximum 30-day intervals for operation of the illumination sources.
a. Exit signs connected to or provided with a battery-operated emergency illumination source, where required, shall be tested and maintained every 30 days for a minimum of 30 seconds and an annual test of 1 1/2 hours.
b. Battery-operated emergency lights shall use only reliable types of rechargeable batteries provided with suitable facilities for maintaining them in properly charged condition.
c. Batteries used in such lights or units shall be approved for their intended use and shall comply with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®.
d. The emergency lighting system shall be either continuously in operation or shall be capable of repeated automatic operation without manual intervention.
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EMERGENCY POWER
• Functional test required for battery-powered emergency lighting systems. – Monthly: 30-day intervals for at least 30 seconds. – Annual test conducted for 90 minute duration. • Emergency generators for emergency lighting systems are installed, tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. Slide 2-24
5. Emergency power systems require periodic testing of the emergency lighting equipment.
a. A functional test shall be conducted on every required battery- powered emergency lighting system at 30-day intervals for a minimum of 30 seconds.
b. An annual test shall be conducted for a 90 minute duration.
c. Equipment shall be fully operational for the duration of the test.
d. Written records of visual inspections and tests shall be kept by the owner for inspection by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
6. Generator.
a. Emergency generators providing power to emergency lighting systems shall be installed, tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems.
b. NFPA 110 establishes safety standards that protect commercial building occupants against various dangers, one of which is improperly lit egress paths during low visibility.
c. Besides requiring luminescent egress markings and safety signage to be placed along egress paths, the NFPA also requires regular testing of emergency generators.
d. Combined, these measures help to ensure that:
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- Generator-powered backup lighting will operate as expected.
- Luminescent markings and signage will illuminate egress paths if backup lighting fails.
e. Requirements for generator testing are contained in NFPA 110.
f. If your building contains an emergency generator, practicing these requirements is a key to maintaining its reliability.
g. A monthly test is performed on Level 1 and Level 2 generators.
- A Level 1 generator is one whose failure could result in death or serious injury.
- A Level 2 generator is one whose failure would not result in life-threatening injury.
h. During testing, a generator should operate under available load for a minimum of 30 minutes.
i. If a generator fails the monthly test, it should be operated under a load supplied by a load bank (i.e., load bank testing) for two continuous hours each year.
j. During this two-hour period, the unit should be operated as follows:
- At 25 percent of the nameplate kilowatt rating for 30 minutes.
- At 50 percent of the nameplate kilowatt rating for 30 minutes.
- At 75 percent of the nameplate kilowatt rating.
7. Emergency mass notification system (EMNS).
a. Fire alarm systems play a huge role in EMNS.
b. They should be considered as an option when replacing or installing any new alarm system.
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c. These EMNS systems include voice announcement as well as special strobe lights to indicate different emergencies, as well as message boards that can be operated by an integrated fire and security system.
d. Codes and regulations for EMNS.
- Campus community safety and security reporting — Clery Act.
-- The Clery Act requires every Title IV campus community, without exception, to have and disclose emergency response and evacuation procedures in response to a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of students or employees occurring in the campus community.
-- The emergency response and evacuation regulations are intended to ensure that your campus community has sufficiently prepared for an emergency situation on the campus community.
-- That you are prepared for an emergency situation in the campus community.
-- That you are testing these procedures to identify and improve weaknesses.
-- That you have considered how you will inform the campus community and other individuals, such as parents and guardians.
STANDARD ON
DISASTER/EMERGENCY
• NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/ Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. • It recommends a risk assessment of: – Natural hazards (geological, meteorological and biological). – Human-caused events (accidental and intentional). – Technology-caused events.
Slide 2-25
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- NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs states that a risk assessment of the following hazards should be completed:
-- Natural hazards (geological, meteorological and biological) such as loss of electrical power, pandemics, tornadoes, severe storms, blizzards, and wildfires require notification to the campus community and a response plan.
-- Human-caused events (accidental and intentional) such as an active shooter, hostage situation, train derailments and chemical releases require notification to the campus community and a response plan.
-- Technology-caused events can affect normal day to day operations, as well as special events.
- The entity shall conduct a risk analysis to determine risk and detrimental impacts of the hazards on the following:
-- Health and safety of people in the affected area at the time of the incident (injury and death).
-- Health and safety of personnel responding to the incident.
-- Continuity of operations to have the least impact on the campus community, as well as the surrounding local community.
-- Property, facilities and infrastructure to include such things as snow loads on roofs, earthquake resistance, security measures, and incident responses.
-- Delivery of services would include enough food and water to sustain the campus community for long periods of time.
-- The environment, such as waterways, storm runoff, flooding risks and mold.
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-- Economic and financial condition of the institution needs to be considered and whether the institution can afford to close for long periods of time.
-- Regulatory and contractual obligations that the institution needs to comply with and maintain.
-- Reputation of or confidence in the institution is critical for retaining students and recruiting quality prospective students.
-- Regional, national and international considerations, as many institutions have study abroad programs, faculty research, and attract foreign students for study and athletic travel.
-- The institution shall develop a strategy to prevent an incident that threatens people, property and the environment.
MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS
CONTINUITY PROGRAMS
• Continuity programs include: – Business continuity. – Continuity of government. – Continuity of operations. • Programs are similar in intent — less similar in content.
Slide 2-26
E. Management and business continuity programs.
1. Plans for business continuity, continuity of government and continuity of operations are generally similar in intent and less similar in content.
2. Continuity plans have various names in both the public and private sectors.
3. These include business continuity plans, business resumption plans, disaster recovery plans, and so on.
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4. In addition, within the public sector, continuity of operations plans might use business impact analysis to identify critical governmental functions.
5. Recovery planning for the public sector normally includes bringing infrastructure and individuals back to preincident conditions, including implementation of mitigation measures, to facilitate short- and long-term recovery.
6. Business continuity planning in the private sector incorporates both the initial activities to respond to an emergency situation and the restoration of the business and its functions to preincident levels.
7. As a result, there are both differences and similarities between public sector recovery plans and private sector business continuity plans.
MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS
CONTINUITY PROGRAMS (cont’d)
• Continuity plans consider: – Succession. – Predelegation of emergency authorities. – Emergency action steps. – Primary/Alternate emergency operations centers. – Alternate or backup facilities. – Vital records protection/backup. – Protection of resources, facilities and personnel.
Slide 2-27
8. Specific areas to consider in continuity plans include the following list.
a. Succession: to ensure that the leadership will continue to function effectively under emergency conditions.
b. When practical, there is a designation of at least three successors for each position.
c. Predelegation of emergency authorities: to ensure that sufficient enabling measures are in effect to continue operations under emergency conditions.
d. Emergency action steps: actions that facilitate the ability of personnel to respond quickly and efficiently to disasters/ emergencies.
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e. Primary and alternate emergency operations centers: a facility or capability from which direction and control is exercised in an emergency.
f. Alternate operating or backup facilities: Provisions also exist for alternate site(s) for departments or agencies having emergency functions or continuing operations.
g. Vital records: the measures that are taken by the entity to protect the entity’s vital records, for example, financial data, personnel records and engineering drawings, that the entity should have to continue functioning during emergency conditions and to protect the rights and interests of the entity.
h. Protection of resources, facilities and personnel: the measures that are taken to deploy resources and personnel in a manner that will provide redundancy to ensure that the entity can continue to function during emergency conditions.
i. Plans and procedures are in place to ensure the protection of personnel, facilities and resources so that the entity can operate effectively.
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS AND
WARNINGS
• Establish and regularly test/exercise communications systems and procedures. – To alert officials and emergency personnel. – To alert people potentially impacted by emergency.
Slide 2-28
F. Crisis communications and warnings.
1. Communication systems shall be established and regularly tested to support the program.
2. Communication procedures shall be established by the entity and regularly exercised to support the program.
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3. The entity shall develop and maintain the capability to alert officials and emergency response personnel.
4. Emergency communications and warning protocols, systems, processes and procedures shall be developed, periodically tested, and used to alert people potentially impacted by an actual or impending emergency.
5. The entity shall determine communication needs, provide capabilities to execute plans, and review and address the interoperability of multiple responding organizations.
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS AND
WARNINGS (cont’d)
• Outdoor sirens. • Visual. – Interior and exterior strobes. – Message boards. • Audible voice. – Intelligible. • Text and email.
Slide 2-29
6. Outdoor sirens.
7. Visual alarm system.
a. Interior and exterior strobes in buildings.
b. Message boards on transportation vehicles.
8. Audible voice systems.
a. Interior of buildings.
b. Exterior grounds.
c. How often are they tested?
d. Coverage area.
e. Intelligible.
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9. Text messaging and email.
a. How often is it tested?
b. How is information collected?
c. Is participation mandatory or voluntary?
SYSTEM MONITORING • Monitoring of detection systems is as important as the actual devices. • If monitoring fails to notify emergency responders in a timely manner, endangers life and property.
Slide 2-30
G. System monitoring.
1. The monitoring of your systems is as important, if not more important, than the actual devices.
2. If your monitoring media fails to notify emergency responders in a timely manner, then it endangers lives and property and makes your fire protection systems ineffective.
SYSTEM MONITORING (cont’d)
• An unreliable monitoring system creates liability. • Poor monitoring (delay) can be used in a civil liability claim. • Most localities have monitoring requirements.
Slide 2-31
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3. Liability is involved if you do not have a reliable monitoring system in place.
4. Any delay in notifying emergency responders resulting from a poor monitoring process could be used by plaintiffs in a civil liability claim. It will reflect on the property owner’s credibility as a responsible property owner, and a court could rule it as negligence.
5. Most local authorities have their own requirements on alarm monitoring; they can vary from one municipality to another.
SYSTEM MONITORING (cont’d)
• Monitoring systems vary by locale. – Report to different responders or operations centers. – Report in different manners. – Different backup systems and procedures. – Different integration (fire and security).
Slide 2-32
a. Where do alarms report?
- Local sounding in building only.
- Private monitoring vendor receives alarms and reports to institution and or local police/fire.
- Campus community monitoring — police/fire department.
- 911.
b. How do they report?
- There are many different technologies today to connect fire and life protection reporting to a central monitoring station.
- When a fire alarm system is not able to report due to a technology failure, then there is vulnerability, and action needs to be taken.
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- Implementing a fire watch is required by NFPA 72 after four hours of an inoperative fire alarm system.
- Inform all residents that the alarm system is not reporting alarms to the central station. Residents must call the central station to report any fire alarms.
- You must have a written backup plan that you implement when an alarm system monitoring system fails.
-- A phone dialer system transmits the signal over a phone line. These systems do have some delay, dependent on phone service, and do not allow for two-way communication.
-- Internet/Web-based reporting is relatively new and is certainly state of the art in communication. It does allow for two-way communications, but it is dependent on the Internet working. Your Internet services need to run during a power failure, and this requires emergency sources.
-- There is fiber optic cable that allows for instant and two-way communication. Fiber is expensive, but does have advantages. Dispatchers can reset alarm systems, deactivate devices.
-- Radio frequency transmitting of alarms to a radio receiver. This can cover distances, is fast and reliable, and does not allow for two-way communications. c. Backup systems and procedures. d. System integration (fire and security).
- Currently, integration of fire and security systems is very popular, as technology is making these systems affordable.
- It provides emergency managers and responders with many different tools to monitor buildings through Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), make announcements through the voice command system, and assist in criminal investigations by giving date and time events.
- It also allows dispatchers to provide emergency responders with more accurate real-time information.
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ACTIVITY 2.1
Emergency Response to Fire Protection System Alarms
Purpose
To realize the importance of having an effective fire and life safety protection system and how it could impact emergency response to the facilities. To share your thoughts and opinions on the issues associated with response to fire protection system alarms. You will identify the consequences associated with not having an automatic local fire department response to reported fire alarms on campus.
Directions
This is a small group discussion about whether a local fire department should automatically respond to campus community fire alarms. In some cases, campus community public safety responds first to conduct an investigation. This would reduce the number of responses by the local (or in some cases, the campus community) fire department.
Questions
1. Should there be a local fire department response all the time and, if so, why?
2. Does your local fire service have a nuisance alarm ordinance with associated fines? If so, what are the examples?
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3. For campus communities with their own fire departments: Should they allow the local fire department to assist on fire alarms? If so, why?
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II. NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION
NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION
• CFLSP need to develop partnerships with departments and people involved in facility and campus community property management before a facility is built or renovated.
Slide 2-34
A. CFLSP need to develop partnerships with those departments and people who are involved in facility and campus property management before a facility is built or renovated.
1. These partnerships will allow for fire and life safety systems to be given a thorough evaluation and priority in the project.
2. Having relationships with campus engineers and architects is extremely important so that they know what systems you want and what is expected of them.
3. Many campuses develop a document or checklist of fire and life safety systems that are to be part of any new construction.
4. Spelling out what brand and model of fire protection equipment saves time and many operational problems.
NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION
(cont’d)
• CFLSP must be involved in every step of a construction project: – Planning design. – Bid process. – Selection of general contractor. – Final inspection acceptance process.
Slide 2-35
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5. CFLSP need to be involved in every step of a construction project, including planning design, bid process, selection of general contractor, and final inspection acceptance process.
NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION
(cont’d)
• CFLSP need to establish relationships with: – General contractor. – Subcontractors (installing the fire protection systems). – Local building inspector.
Slide 2-36
6. They need to establish relationships with the general contractor and the subcontractors that are installing the fire protection systems.
7. Also, having a relationship with the local building inspector is helpful.
8. If you have campus standards on fire and life safety equipment, share these with inspectors.
NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
RENOVATIONS
• Sprinkler system testing. – Governed by NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. – Testing includes: -- Aboveground hydrostatic test. -- Underground hydrostatic test.
Slide 2-37
B. Testing and inspection of new construction and renovations.
1. Sprinkler system testing falls under NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.
a. Aboveground hydrostatic test.
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- Once a sprinkler system has been installed, it needs to be filled with water and pressurized.
- NFPA 13 requires 200 pounds per square inch (psi) or 50 psi above normal working pressure for two hours.
b. Underground hydrostatic test.
- All underground piping from the water supply source to the sprinkler control value needs to be pressure-tested to 200 psi or 50 psi above operative pressure.
- This test is to be performed before underground pipes are covered with ground.
NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
RENOVATIONS (cont’d)
• Fire pump. – Flow test. – Pressure. • Standpipe systems. – Flow test. – Pressure.
Slide 2-38
2. A fire pump is normally needed to increase water pressure in larger buildings with lower city water pressure.
a. A flow test is needed to ensure that required gallons per minute (gpm) meets the engineering requirements at each sprinkler head.
b. Pressure measurements are required to ensure that each sprinkler head has the required pressure to deliver the required flow.
3. Standpipe systems provide the fire department with a quicker way to deliver water to the fire. Firefighters connect their hoses to a charged standpipe in a stairwell before entering that floor to extinguish a fire.
a. A flow test is needed to ensure that required gpm meets the engineering requirements to supply a fire department 2 1/2-inch fire hose.
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b. Pressure measurements are required to ensure that there is pressure to deliver the water through the fire department hose to make an effective fire stream.
NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
RENOVATIONS (cont’d)
• Fire alarm test. – Construction plan review. – Training on new systems.
Slide 2-39
4. Fire alarms.
a. Test fire alarm systems to ensure compliance.
b. Check all audio and visual devices to ensure that they operate correctly.
c. Conduct a pillow test in all sleeping areas for audio requirements of 75 decibels.
d. Check every device to ensure that it is identified correctly and the digital display is correct.
5. Conducting inspections.
a. CFLSP should establish from the beginning the expectations of the contractors involved with the project.
b. Contractors should be coordinating all inspections through the CFLSP as well as the local building inspector.
c. Being present to witness all tests and inspections of this new equipment is important.
d. The CFLSP learns how the system was built and designed and how to operate it.
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e. Collecting all documentation of these tests and inspections of these new systems are extremely important.
f. Retain these records for as long as the system is in operation.
g. Spare detectors should be left for replacements.
6. Construction plan review.
a. CFLSP should establish a procedure where the engineer of the project provides required plans for electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.
b. These plans need to have an established plan review and comments made for the engineer to clarify or correct any comments that the CFLSP has on the plans.
c. A plan review can eliminate many issues typically discovered after the building is built and problems arise with fire protection systems.
d. Here is a list of items that a plan review should consider:
- Location of fire department connection.
- Ensure that HVAC vents are three feet away from smoke detectors.
- Check to see if kitchens have heat detectors or smoke detectors.
- Ensure that the inspector’s test results are on the sprinkler system.
- Check locations of fire alarm panel and annunciators for compliance.
- Ensure that there is adequate life safety equipment, such as exit signs and emergency lights.
C. Training on new systems.
1. All new system installations must have at least two hours of training for personnel included on the contract, even if this is not a new type of system in the campus community.
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2. There are always new emergency responders and maintenance personnel who need system operation training, so take advantage of this benefit.
3. Schedule a two-hour training or meeting and invite public safety and local fire departments to attend the system training and a building tour.
4. This will provide a stronger partnership with the local fire department as well as provide them with better knowledge of your facility.
SYSTEM INTEGRATION
• Ensure that new systems work as designed before accepting the facility or project from the general contractor. Damper • Identify heating, Access ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system detectors and dampers with signage.
Slide 2-40
D. System integration.
1. Modern buildings have many integrated systems that work in support of a fire alarm system.
2. When accepting a new system, the CFLSP needs to ensure that these systems work as designed before accepting the building/project from the general contractor.
3. Once a new system is accepted, the responsibility normally falls to the owner; any problems in the future will cause safety concerns that will need to be addressed.
a. HVAC damper valves, duct detectors, HVAC detectors and dampers are often hard to find. Be sure to specify that all dampers and detectors are identified with signage so that they can be recognized. Many hours have been spent searching for an HVAC detector.
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SYSTEM INTEGRATION
(cont’d)
• Smoke management systems are part of the fire alarm system. Pivoting louver • They have a mechanical, operational side. • Ensure that all the functioning parts perform as designed. Smoke gasket
Slide 2-41
b. Smoke management systems work in conjunction with the fire alarm system. They have a mechanical, operational side. Ensure that all the functioning parts perform as designed.
SYSTEM INTEGRATION
(cont’d)
• Carbon monoxide detectors are part of a fire detection system in areas with carbon monoxide appliances. – Boiler rooms. – Laundry facilities. – Hot water heaters. – Day care facilities require carbon monoxide detection and yearly testing.
Slide 2-42
c. Carbon monoxide detectors are commonly part of a fire detection system in areas that have carbon monoxide appliances, such as boiler rooms, laundry facilities and hot water heaters. Day care facilities will require carbon monoxide detection and yearly testing.
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SYSTEM INTEGRATION
(cont’d)
• Access control systems control exterior doors. – Integrate with the fire alarm system. – Doors should open for egress upon alarm. • Closed Circuit Television (CCTV). • Security panic alarms can be connected to a fire alarm system to report silent alarms.
Slide 2-43
d. Access control systems control exterior and interior doors and need to integrate with the fire alarm system so that when an alarm is sounded, the access control allows doors to open for egress.
e. CCTV has capabilities to identify fire conditions or can be viewed by a CCTV operator to report fire conditions.
f. Security panic alarms can be connected to a fire alarm system to report a silent alarm to police/public safety at front desk or VIP locations on campus to alert security/police to respond to an incident. These systems need to be part of your inspection program to ensure that the devices are in working order.
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ACTIVITY 2.2
Coordination of Installation of New Fire and Life Safety Systems
Purpose
To identify the many different relationships and partnerships that are needed for new installation of fire and life safety protection systems that will ensure code and testing compliance.
Directions
1. In your assigned small groups, develop a test and inspection program to ensure compliance and acceptance of all newly installed fire protection and life safety systems for an institution. This should include flow and pressure tests, fire alarm system testing, and any other systems.
2. Identify relationships and partnerships that are needed to ensure reliability, quality and integration of all systems.
3. You may select one campus from those represented at your table to use as the example, or your group may choose to consolidate your answers from all of the campus communities represented at your table.
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III. EXISTING SYSTEMS
EXISTING SYSTEMS
• Campus communities may have many
buildings and a variety of facilities. • Significant commitment of resources. – Frequent inspections. – Regular testing.
Slide 2-45
A. Many campuses have a large number of buildings and a variety of facilities. Consequently, the maintenance, frequent inspections and regular testing of existing fire and life safety systems requires a significant commitment of resources. This is often true, even on a small campus.
EXISTING SYSTEMS (cont’d)
• Challenging to determine who conducts tests. • CFLSP conduct cost-benefit analyses of resource plans for their campus community. • Vendors may conduct TMIs, but they require management by the institution.
Slide 2-46
1. Determining who will conduct these tests, maintenance and inspections (TMIs) is also another resource nightmare.
2. CFLSP need to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of which resource plan will work for their campus community.
3. In some cases, vendors may be able to conduct much of the TMI, but it will require management of the program by the institution.
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TMI PROGRAM
• Sprinkler systems. – Standpipe system. – Fire pumps. – Fire department connections. – Fire detection systems. – Kitchen fire suppression.
Slide 2-47
B. TMI program.
1. NFPA 25.
a. Sprinkler systems.
- Gauges monthly visual inspection.
- Water flow and supervisor quarterly.
- Can be a trained employee.
- Annual TMI is required.
-- This must be an outside contractor/vendor who is qualified to perform said test.
-- This must be documented for each system tested.
b. Standpipe system.
- Visually inspected annually.
-- This can be a trained employee.
-- Theft of end caps is common.
- Flow and hydrostatic tests every five years.
-- This must be an outside vendor.
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c. Electric fire pumps.
- Inspection of fire pumps is monthly.
- Testing of diesel motors must be exercised weekly for 30 minutes.
- Testing of electrical motors must be exercised monthly for 10 minutes.
- This can be a trained employee.
- An annual flow test of each pump by a qualified person under minimum rated flows of the pump. This must be done by an outside vendor who is trained to do such testing.
d. Fire department connections.
- Fire department connections shall be inspected quarterly to verify that connections are visible and accessible.
- Plugs or caps are in place and undamaged, gaskets are in place and in good condition, identification signs are in place, and the check valve is not leaking.
2. Fire detection systems: NFPA 72 provides test standards for fire alarms.
a. Yearly test of all annunciating devices, such as visual and audible horns.
b. Yearly test of initiating devices, such as smoke detectors, duct detectors, carbon monoxide and other devices.
c. Yearly test of signal transmissions.
d. Owner can conduct these with trained employees.
e. Documentation of annual fire alarm testing is required.
3. Kitchen fire suppression systems are governed by NFPA 96 and 17A.
a. Biannual inspections are required.
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b. NFPA 96 requires that a biannual inspection be performed by a qualified person, fusible links be replaced yearly to include the damper, sprinkler heads be replaced, and the hood be inspected for grease buildup.
c. A portable Class K fire extinguisher needs to be provided for hazards where there is a potential for fire involving combustible cooking vegetable or animal oils and fats.
d. The maximum travel distance cannot exceed 30 feet from the hazard to the extinguishers.
INSPECTION PROGRAMS
• Resources. – Existing employees (full and part time). – Employees trained to perform required TMIs, except if code requires an outside/third party. • Competent, trained people. • Tactical tasks. • Vendor options.
Slide 2-48
C. Inspection programs.
1. Resources.
a. Some campuses hire or use existing employees, both full and part time, to perform TMI tasks and other fire and life safety tasks.
b. These employees are trained to perform required TMIs except when required by code to be done by an outside/third party.
c. This will require management and coordination to have employees conduct certain TMI tasks.
d Some campuses have a dedicated department perform these tasks, while others use existing employees, such as housekeepers, security officers, plumbers and electricians.
e. When TMI tasks are broken out to a variety of different employees with different skill sets and job tasks, it becomes harder to have an effective life and fire safety program.
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2. Competent, trained people.
a. A housekeeper may not be a competent person to be inspecting fire extinguishers every month.
b. Having a dedicated, trained department of fire and life safety professionals is perhaps the better model for a campus community to have an effective fire and life safety program.
c. In this model, employees in this position may be called building inspectors, fire marshals or safety officers.
d. They would be assigned geographical areas of responsibilities and then given specific inspection tasks to perform.
3. Inspection tasks.
a. Facility inspections will be conducted monthly by trained inspectors, trained and supervised by a CFLSP.
b. Facility inspections will include:
- Fire extinguishers.
- Emergency lighting units.
- Exit signs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access points.
- Emergency egress maps.
- Eye wash stations.
- Emergency phones.
- Panic buttons.
- Hazardous conditions.
- Improper storage.
- Blocked means of egress.
- Poor lighting conditions.
c. This is known as a 360 degree inspection program.
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d. Inspectors will also assist with conducting:
- Fire prevention activities.
- Emergency evacuation drills.
- Yearly fire alarm tests and inspections.
- Monthly fraternity inspections.
- Quarterly sprinkler inspections.
e. Conduct room inspections for all residential facilities, including Greek housing during academic breaks.
f. Maintain a monthly Greek housing inspection, as well as preparty and post-party inspections.
- Preparty or event inspection is where an inspector conducts a walkthrough of a Greek facility or other assembly area and ensures that exits are open, exit signs are lit, and there are no fire hazards present.
- Post-party or event inspection is where an inspector conducts a walkthrough of the Greek facility or other assembly area and checks for fire safety hazards that may have resulted from the event, for example, trash, cigarette butts and covered detectors.
4. TMI vendor options.
a. One option is to hire vendors to do all TMI activities.
b. Hiring vendors to do all of the TMIs in the campus community can be expensive but may be easier to manage.
c. Vendors will do TMIs for the fire and life safety systems, but they may not be capable of doing other related activities, such as emergency evacuation drills or fire prevention activities.
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INSPECTION DOCUMENTATION
• Documentation. – Documentation is time-consuming but important. – If TMIs are not documented effectively, then they can be a waste of time or cause civil liability.
Slide 2-49
D. Documentation.
1. Documentation is one huge resource problem that needs to be constantly reviewed to streamline the process.
2. Documentation is time-consuming but the most important part. If you do not document TMIs effectively, then they can be a waste of time or cause civil liability.
3. Owners must prove that they have maintained their systems in accordance with all rules and regulations or else they are liable should they fail in an emergency.
INSPECTION AUDIT
• Auditing. – CFLSP should perform a yearly audit of all inspections for the previous year. – Ensure that TMI personnel perform their tasks. – Ensure that records are in order — legibility and accountability are maintained.
Slide 2-50
E. Auditing.
1. The CFLSP should perform a yearly audit of all inspections for the previous year to ensure that those charged with TMI responsibilities are in fact performing their tasks and documenting their work and that the records are legible and reflect accountability.
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2. Ensure that records are in order or scattered in many different reporting methods, some electronic, some hard copies, or perhaps some stored on location.
3. Centralizing all TMIs is critical for a high-quality CFLS program.
4. It reflects credibility and confidence to auditors and administration.
5. After an incident is not the time to begin to start a central filing system.
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ACTIVITY 2.3
Creating a Testing, Maintenance and Inspection Program
Purpose
To create a TMI program requiring planning and resources. This exercise allows you to apply a method for that planning by identifying all the TMIs that are needed and then determining what resources are needed to complete the TMI program.
Directions
1. In your table group, build a year-round TMI program for a campus community.
2. Your table group is a fire and life safety inspection team, so divide the TMIs up.
3. You will have 45 minutes for analysis and to determine the number of devices that must be inspected annually.
4. Select a representative to present your table’s findings during the last 15 minutes.
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ACTIVITY 2.3 (cont’d)
Creating a Testing, Maintenance and Inspection Program
The campus community that you have been assigned to inspect has:
• Fifty-seven sprinkler systems with two electric fire pumps — 46 of which are residential or Greek.
• Sixty-two addressable fire alarm systems with 15,000 devices.
• Eight nonaddressable systems with 400 devices.
• Four hundred battery-operated smoke detectors in bedrooms and buildings without a fire alarm system.
• Two dining facilities with seven hood systems.
• Two private food vendor spaces.
• One thousand two hundred fire extinguishers.
• Five thousand five hundred exit signs.
• Four thousand four hundred and forty-three emergency battery-operated light units.
• Eighteen emergency generators with 2,230 light devices.
• Total student population of 5,750.
• Three room-to-room inspections per calendar year during three academic breaks.
• Traditional housing: two students per room with 2,600 students or 1,300 rooms.
• Apartment style: four students per apartment (with single bedrooms, 1,300 students or 325 bedrooms).
• Greek housing: two students per room with 900 students or 450 bedrooms.
• Off-campus community: 950 students.
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IV. SUMMARY
SUMMARY
• Testing and maintenance code requirements. • New system installation. • Existing systems.
Slide 2-52
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APPENDIX
THE FIRE SPRINKLER SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES
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The Fire Sprinkler Situation in the United States
By Russell P. Fleming, P.E. Executive Vice President National Fire Sprinkler Association
More automatic fire sprinklers are installed annually in the United States than in any other country in the world. Originally installed to reduce property insurance premiums, fire sprinkler systems are now installed mainly to meet the requirements of building codes for new construction. Retrofit of existing buildings has also been significant. Although performance statistics are difficult to obtain, it is generally accepted that the widespread use of fire sprinklers has been a significant factor in reducing fire losses. Recent publicized recall and replacement programs have actually affirmed the commitment to product quality and performance.
Market Development
Between 35 and 40 million fire sprinklers are now installed each year in the United States, estimated to be four to five times as many sprinklers per capita as are installed annually in Europe (Fleming, 2002). This level of sprinkler usage represents a four-fold increase in the use of sprinklers in the past 25 years, and shows the results of a widespread acceptance of built-in fire suppression systems in both new and existing construction.
The traditional use of fire sprinkler systems in the United States, as in other parts of the world, was for property protection and the resulting insurance savings. However, it was found that sprinkler systems provided a life safety benefit as well. By the 1940s it began to be apparent that fires with large losses of life were taking place only in buildings without sprinkler protection. In the 1960s an organized effort was begun by the fire sprinkler industry itself to bring this fact to the attention of governmental building regulatory authorities. Efforts were initiated to amend building codes to not only include requirements for sprinkler systems in high-risk occupancies, but also to create incentives in the form of construction alternatives, variously called “trade-offs” or “trade-ups”. These construction alternatives were an early form of performance-based building criteria, by which the provision of automatic sprinklers could allow longer exit travel distances, less passive protection for comparably sized buildings, and a wider choice of interior finish materials. Even where sprinklers were not required, architects and engineers began to see motivation for choosing the additional protection provided by built-in fire suppression systems.
The growth of the market has also been enhanced by changes to the sprinklers themselves. Widespread acceptance of sprinkler protection in office and residential environments would not have been possible without the development of more aesthetically appealing sprinklers. The changes in appearance have been accompanied by changes in system installation criteria and acceptable materials that have contributed to more economical system installation, lowering the resistance to system installation.
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Building Code Requirements
Building regulation in the United States is not a federal activity, but takes place at the state and city level. The difficulty and expense of writing and maintaining a building code has led state and city governments to adopt “model” building codes, sometimes making local amendments. While the first model building code in the United States was written by an insurance association in 1905, the model building codes with wide adoptions have been written mainly by associations of building officials. Today there are two model building codes available for adoption in the United States. The International Building Code is written by the International Code Council (ICC), a joint effort of three longstanding building official associations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), internationally known for the development of codes and standards through a consensus process, has also recently developed a model building code, known as NFPA 5000. Working with partners, NFPA has developed a complete package of codes for the built environment, now called the C3 code set (Comprehensive Consensus Codes).
With regard to sprinkler system requirements and incentives, the two codes are very similar. Typical thresholds above which sprinkler systems are required in the IBC include:
• Mercantile: Over 12,000 ft2 (1115 m2) in one fire area, or over 24,000 ft2 (2230 m2) in combined fire area on all floors, or more than 3 stories in height
• High-Rise: All buildings over 55 ft (16.8 m) in height
• Residential Apartments: All buildings except townhouses built as attached single-family dwellings
Typical thresholds above which sprinkler systems are required in NFPA 5000 include:
• Mercantile: Over 12,000 ft2 (1115 m2) in gross fire area or three or more stories in height
• High-Rise: All buildings over 75 ft (22.9 m) in height
• Residential Apartments: All buildings except those in which each unit has individual exit discharge to the street
Reductions in fire resistance ratings and other incentives given in consideration of sprinkler protection represent a basic form of performance based fire protection engineering built into the prescriptive code itself in the form of alternatives. In the aftermath of the September 2001 collapse of the World Trade Center buildings, some have questioned whether automatic fire suppression should be given credit against the passive protection of structural fireproofing. But it should be pointed out that the World Trade Center was not originally built with sprinkler protection, and therefore no reduction in fire resistance was granted on the basis of the sprinkler protection. Built in the early 1970s, the World Trade Center towers were retrofitted with sprinkler protection in the 1980’s. The Federal Emergency Management Agency report on the World Trade Center collapse indicates that both the automatic sprinkler system and the ability to
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conduct manual firefighting activities with the use of the standpipe system were disabled by the initial impacts of the hijacked commercial aircraft.
The complete set of sprinkler requirements, as well as the incentives, for one of the two available U.S. model building codes, the NFPA 5000 Code, can be viewed free of charge on the internet at www.nfpa.org.
Retrofit Programs
Along with sprinkler system installation in new construction, there have been several types of occupancies for which retrofit of sprinklers in existing buildings has been accomplished either voluntarily or by legislative mandate. As might be expected, relatively high-risk occupancies have experienced the most retrofit activity.
Nursing homes were the first major group of facilities to see requirements for sprinklers in existing facilities, back in the 1970’s. Due to federal standards for safety based on the provisions of the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, almost all licensed nursing homes in the United States are provided with sprinkler protection today.
Hotels were the major retrofit market in the 1980’s. Large chains like the Marriott, Sheraton and Hilton not only embraced sprinkler protection for new construction, but also set corporate standards that called for sprinkler protection of almost all their existing facilities. This effort was enhanced by the development of new technology for the sprinkler industry, like sidewall sprinklers that could protect guest rooms without the need for piping in the floor-ceiling slab, and the permissible use of cleaner piping materials, in many cases allowing a guest room to be retrofitted with sprinklers and rented that same evening. By 1988, a survey conducted by the American Hotel and Motel Association (AHMA, 1988) revealed that guest rooms were sprinklered in 45 percent of all hotels and motels. Fire statistics, which tend to under-report sprinkler usage due to the number of small fires successfully extinguished, indicated in 1998 (Rohr, 2001) that only 40 percent of the fires in hotel and motels took place in sprinklered facilities, even after 10 additional years of sprinkler retrofits and the construction of thousands of fully sprinklered new hotels. The fact that the 1998 statistics indicated that 77 percent of the fires reported in high-rise hotels and motels were in sprinklered properties, makes it likely that well over 90 percent of such properties are now protected with sprinklers.
In the 1990’s several cities and states enacted legislation to require retrofit of high-rise office buildings. The City of Philadelphia led the way, based on its experience with the One Meridian Plaza fire in 1991, in which firefighters were told to leave the building. The fire burned through 5 stories until it encountered a floor that had been equipped with fire sprinkler protection, and where 7 sprinklers activated to stop the spread of the fire upward. Similar high-rise retrofit laws have been enacted in New York City, Boston, Massachusetts, and Louisville, Kentucky.
As we move into the 21st century, university housing has become the focal point for sprinkler retrofit. Dormitories as well as fraternity and sorority houses have been equipped during summer breaks by hundreds of the leading colleges and universities. In most cases this has been
SM 2-65 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY done voluntarily; in some the threat of state action has been motivating factor. Several states have enacted low-interest loan programs to assist the universities with financing the cost of system installation.
Information on more than 50 individual retrofit programs affecting various occupancies in cities and states in the United States can be found on the website of the National Fire Sprinkler Association at www.nfsa.org.
Effect of Sprinkler Usage
As mentioned above, because U.S. fire statistics capture only the sprinkler usage in fires reported to the fire department, it is likely that the actual usage of sprinklers, and therefore the reduction in losses due to sprinklers, is greater than those reported. Many small fires extinguished by the sprinkler system go unreported.
Nevertheless, based on information from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for the period of 1989 through 1998, the Fire Analysis and Research Division of the NFPA reports an ability of sprinkler systems to reduce fire deaths and property loss by a factor of one- half to two-thirds (Rohr, 2001).
For specific types of occupancies, the reduction in the average number of civilian deaths due to the presence of sprinkler protection is reported to be 60 percent for manufacturing properties, 74 percent for stores and offices, 75 percent for selected health care occupancies, and 91 percent for hotels and motels. Property loss reductions average 53 percent for stores and offices, 64 percent for manufacturing properties, 66 percent for selected health care occupancies, and 70 percent for public assembly occupancies.
In general, NFPA estimates the ability of sprinklers to reduce fire deaths per thousand in residential occupancies to be on the order of 74 percent. This is significant since 85 percent of the fire deaths in the U.S. take place in residential occupancies, and residential occupancies are the least likely to have sprinkler protection. Fire statistics for 1998 indicate only 7.9 percent of apartment fires were in sprinklered occupancies, and only 0.7 percent of fires in one and two- family dwellings. So in spite of the well-publicized successes of the residential sprinkler programs of communities like Scottsdale, Arizona (Ford, 1997) and Prince George’s County, Maryland (Siarnicki, 2001), there is much work still to be done.
Product Recalls and Replacement Programs
There has also been a great deal of publicity in the past few years in the United States relative to the performance of the sprinkler devices themselves. As discussed earlier, statistics relative to sprinkler system reliability traditionally focused on the performance of the systems, and the possibility of inadequate design discharge or closed valves. Little attention was given to the possibility that individual sprinklers would not operate as intended because it was considered almost impossible due to the simple nature of fusing of a solder link or expansion of the liquid to
SM 2-66 BUILDING FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY shatter a glass bulb. Sprinkler devices gained such a reputation of reliability that in 1977 the NFPA document for system maintenance, then NFPA 13A, was changed to eliminate the suggestion that sprinklers be replaced after 50 years of service. Instead, a sampling program was initiated to check that sprinklers were still capable of proper operation after 50 years of service. Mandatory replacement was only suggested for sprinklers manufactured prior to 1920.
This changed in the 1990s, beginning with an announcement in 1990 by Star Sprinkler that certain models of dry sprinklers produced between 1961 and 1981 might not operate properly at low pressures due to an internal corrosion problem. The company recommended replacement of those models. In 1995 two incidents of non-operation of sprinklers in fires took place, one in a government medical center in New York, and the other in a Marriott hotel property in Michigan. This led to an investigation of the Central “Omega” sprinklers that ultimately involved a 1998 recall of up to 9 million sprinklers in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
It was recognized that the Omega had been a “breakthrough” sprinkler, combining new fast response technology with the new aesthetics needed to address new markets. In retrospect, the product issues associated with the Omega may well be the natural consequence of a major shift in technology. The Omega incident either directly or indirectly led to a number of initiatives aimed at ensuring sprinklers would retain their historical reliability while also meeting the new demands of performance and aesthetics. These included a number of new tests applied by Underwriters Laboratories:
• Materials compatibility check for residual hydrocarbons and antifreeze solutions (effective 8 October, 1998) • Ban on use of dynamic o-rings (effective 9 January, 2003) • Internal deposit loading test for dry sprinklers (effective 9 January, 2003) • Direct impact tests for glass bulb sprinklers while in protective packaging (tentatively effective July 2004) • Waterway clearance verification for dry sprinklers (tentatively effective January 2004) • Sealed atmosphere test for dry sprinklers (tentatively effective July 2004) • Dezincification test for copper alloy sprinkler parts normally exposed to system water with high (over 15 percent) zinc content (effective 9 January, 2003)
Perhaps the most notable result of the new scrutiny applied to sprinkler performance was the announcement by Tyco Fire Products in 2001 of a “voluntary replacement program” involving up to 35 million Central, Gem and Star sprinklers manufactured using o-rings. This included up to 2 million dry sprinklers manufactured from the 1970’s through 2001 and 33 million “wet” sprinklers manufactured between 1989 and 2000 (information available at www.sprinklerreplacement.com).
To some, these announcements and the involvement of the CPSC in the sprinkler industry has been viewed as an unfortunate state of affairs. However, these events can also be viewed as the ultimate affirmation of the important role automatic sprinklers now play in fire protection, and the commitment of the United States government to preserve that role. CPSC effectively established a standard of performance to which no other fire safety device has ever been held,
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and has given notice that it will continue to demand the full (99+ percent) reliability that has been established by sprinklers over the past century. The Tyco voluntary replacement program is a dramatic example of a company, and an industry, standing behind its products.
The new scrutiny applied to sprinklers can also be credited with some other significant changes in the industry. We have seen the introduction of the Sprinkler Identification Number, by which a one or two-character manufacturer code and three or four-digit number allows every model with a difference in orifice, sensitivity or distribution characteristics to be readily identified (effective 1 January, 2001). We have also had a major recalibration of the room fire test used to evaluate residential sprinklers, to ensure consistency and therefore to ensure performance in residential fires (effective 12 July, 2002). The new residential sprinkler listings can be viewed at www.ul.com in the category of “regulators” and subcategory of “sprinklers”.
The record of automatic fire sprinklers is still remarkable. It remains a simple fact that there has never been a multiple death of building occupants from a fire developing in a building protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system properly designed, installed, and maintained in accordance with recognized standards. This is clear evidence that the fire sprinkler concept works.
The Future
It is likely that the use of fire sprinklers will continue to grow in the United States. As the new model building codes are implemented, sprinklers will be used to a greater extent than ever before. The biggest potential for growth remains in the residential market, with 1.5 million new homes constructed every year. Just last month the International Association of Fire Chiefs released its new strategic plan for 2003-2004 (IAFC, 2002). Part of that plan calls for fire chiefs to “actively support the use of residential fire sprinklers and smoke alarms.”
We are hopeful that other parts of the world will join the United States in the movement toward widespread acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept. The International Fire Sprinkler Association has this as its goal (refer to www.sprinklerworld.org), and progress is being made toward that goal through the formation of national and regional organizations focused on promoting the fully sprinklered community. For example, the newly-formed European Fire Sprinkler Network, in which the sprinkler industry and the fire service can work together to promote fire sprinkler protection, has an enormous potential to increase the use of automatic fire sprinkler systems on the European continent, saving countless lives and protecting property with a proven technology.
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References:
AHMA, “Fire Protection in the Lodging Industry,” American Hotel and Motel Association, Washington, DC, June, 1988.
Fleming, Russell P., “World Sprinkler Market Tops 70 Million”, International SprinklerScene, International Fire Sprinkler Association, April 2002.
Ford, Jim, “Automatic Sprinklers – a 10 Year Study – A detailed history of the effects of the automatic sprinkler code in Scottsdale, Arizona,” Published by the Home Figure Sprinkler Coalition, NFPA, Quincy, MA, 1997.
Rohr, Kimberly D., “U.S. Experience With Sprinklers,” National Fire Protection Association, September 2001.
Siarnicki, Ronald J., “Residential Sprinklers: One community’s experience twelve years after mandatory implementation”, report submitted to National Fire Academy, January 2001.
IAFC, “A Time to Lead - 2003-2004 Strategic Plan,” International Association of Fire Chiefs, Washington, DC, November 5, 2002
International Building Code, 2003 Edition, International Code Council, Inc., International Conference of Building Officials, Inc., Whittier, CA, 2003.
NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 2003.
© National Fire Sprinkler Association, 2002. All rights reserved.
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CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
UNIT 3: FACILITIES
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
The learners will be able to:
3.1 Describe important elements of an effective fire and life safety inspection program.
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
The learners will be able to:
3.1 Describe at least three common prohibited items found during inspections.
3.2 Identify at least three reasons why off-campus housing is more prone to fire risks than campus-managed housing.
3.3 Identify at least five stakeholders that assist in maintaining the off-campus housing unit in a safe condition.
3.4 Indicate the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) that may be able to require improvements to fire and life safety in an off-campus house.
3.5 Explain at least three factors that can contribute to making it more challenging to achieve compliance in Greek housing when compared to other types of college housing.
3.6 Describe at least three common factors that were present in significant fatal fires in Greek housing.
3.7 Explain how activities in Greek housing buildings may change the permitted use/occupancy of the building and compromise fire and life safety systems.
3.8 Identify at least four stakeholders that may help to maintain the fire and life safety components in Greek housing.
3.9 Identify at least three special concern facilities and explain what considerations are required.
FACILITIES
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SM 3-2 FACILITIES
UNIT 3: FACILITIES
Slide 3-1
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
Describe important elements of an effective fire and life safety inspection program.
Slide 3-2
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
• Describe at least three common prohibited items found during inspections. • Identify at least three reasons why off- campus housing is more prone to fire risks than campus-managed housing. • Identify at least five stakeholders that assist in maintaining the off-campus housing unit in a safe condition.
Slide 3-3
SM 3-3 FACILITIES
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
(cont’d)
• Indicate the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) that may be able to require improvements to fire and life safety in an off-campus house. • Explain at least three factors that can contribute to making it more challenging to achieve compliance in Greek housing when compared to other types of college housing.
Slide 3-4
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
(cont’d)
• Describe at least three common factors that were present in significant fatal fires in Greek housing. • Explain how activities in Greek housing buildings may change the permitted use/ occupancy of the building and compromise fire and life safety systems.
Slide 3-5
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
(cont’d)
• Identify at least four stakeholders that may help to maintain the fire and life safety components in Greek housing. • Identify at least three special concern facilities and explain what considerations are required.
Slide 3-6
SM 3-4 FACILITIES
I. FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTION PROGRAM (HOUSEKEEPING)
FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTION
PROGRAM (HOUSEKEEPING)
• Risk assessment. – Identify and address risks. – Discover if a group of people or a facility is vulnerable. – Document mitigating actions.
Slide 3-7
A. Risk assessment.
1. Campus Fire and Life Safety Professional(s) (CFLSP) need to develop a fire and life safety fire prevention inspection program of every facility on campus, including residential living areas.
2. Risk assessment is identifying, analyzing and weighing all the potential risks, threats and hazards to a campus internal and external environment.
3. A fire prevention inspection program will address many of those risks and discover if a group of people or a facility is vulnerable to a fire event or life safety hazard.
4. It allows the campus or local community to document what mitigating actions have been taken to manage these risks.
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES,
OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS
• SWOT will help develop a good inspection program. – Strengths. – Weaknesses (or limitations). – Opportunities. – Threats.
Slide 3-8
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5. Using the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis will help develop a good inspection program.
6. Any risk assessment must include a SWOT analysis.
a. Strengths are characteristics of the campus and or community that give it an advantage over others.
b. Weaknesses (or limitations) are characteristics that place the team at a disadvantage relative to others.
c. Opportunities are external chances to improve performance (i.e., make greater profits) in the environment.
d. Threats are external elements in the environment that could cause risk for the campus or community.
FREQUENCY OF
INSPECTIONS
• Inspections: – Monthly for all public accessible spaces. – Periodically for private living areas (e.g., resident halls). – Inspections need the resources to reduce the fire risks and protect building occupants.
Slide 3-9
B. Frequency of inspections.
1. Inspections should be monthly for all public accessible spaces and periodically for private living areas, such as residential facilities.
2. Some campuses do monthly private area inspections. There is no set standard, and frequency may vary from one state to another.
3. A monthly inspection of a facility should include a systematic approach of fire and life safety concerns.
4. These inspections need to have the resources to effectively reduce the risks of a fire and protect building occupants during an emergency.
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5. Resources such as adequate trained personnel to cover each facility each month, electronic data recording of each inspection, and financial support to make needed repairs when deficiencies are found.
6. Gaining support from the campus administration is vital so that every department and division understands that these inspections are critical to saving lives and property, as well as ensuring business continuity by mitigating problems before they arise.
7. The CFLSP needs to have buy-in from the administration so that they can build an effective program with appropriate resources.
8. A poorly funded program will result in an ineffective program.
9. An ineffective program creates liability to the campus that might be greater than if no program exists in the first place.
10. A good quality program builds trust amongst the students and employees, ensuring that their facilities are safe and that there is someone out there looking over their safety.
INSPECTOR QUALITIES
• Trained. • Experienced. • Positive attitude. • Communication skills. • Understand campus environment. • Professional.
Slide 3-10
C. Inspector qualities.
1. People who are conducting the inspections need to be trained to understand what hazards they are looking for, why those hazards are of concern, what is needed to correct those hazards, and how to document those hazards and the correction process.
2. Hiring full-time or part-time people with a firefighting background who have a working knowledge of fire codes may benefit the program.
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3. They need to have a positive attitude and cannot complain about underfunding or poor support from the administration.
4. Communications to the campus is vital in day-to-day contact by building inspectors.
5. Inspectors need to understand the campus environment and what behavior expectations are required while conducting an inspection.
6. A good inspection program includes a professional image from the inspectors and good communications.
7. Inspectors can be very effective communicators by educating people they come in contact with while conducting their inspections.
8. Inspectors should be encouraged to engage the campus community in conversation when appropriate.
9. An inspector who is negative, sarcastic, loud, overly opinionated and unprofessional will project a negative image onto the fire and life safety program and department.
10. Inspectors need to understand the effect that they have and that their purpose is to educate, not punish. In an academic setting, learning is always a priority over punishment.
11. Selecting inspectors and training them is a major component of the program.
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
PROCESS
• Use inspection forms. • Electronic media and devices help manage large data.
Slide 3-11
D. Hazard identification process.
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1. Inspection forms should be created in either electronic or carbon copy and be provided to the inspector who is conducting the inspections.
2. Having an electronic data recording system will increase the inspector’s ability to conduct inspections, thus requiring fewer inspectors.
3. These inspections create huge amounts of data, and having a manual paper system is very cumbersome and ineffective.
4. An electronic process will certainly enhance the program.
a. Here is a basic list of items that should be a minimum inspection for a facility:
- Fire extinguishers, visual check each month.
EGRESS HAZARD
Door obstruction
Slide 3-12
- Means of egress (slide shows fire door blocked open).
-- Fire doors.
-- Exit signs.
-- Emergency lighting units (battery operated).
-- Exit access.
-- Exit door.
-- Exit discharge.
- Fire sprinkler visual inspection of gauges.
- Fire pump exercise and inspection, weekly.
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- Poor housekeeping.
- Flammable and combustible liquid storage.
b. An advanced inspection might include the following:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.
- Emergency phones.
- Panic alarms at front desk locations.
- Public Automated External Defibrillator System (AEDS).
- Eye wash stations.
- Emergency showers.
- Ladders.
- Machine guarding in shops.
- Visual inspection of employees wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
MEANS OF EGRESS
• A continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way consisting of three separate and distinct parts: – The exit access. – The exit. – The exit discharge.
Slide 3-13
E. Means of egress.
1. A continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way consisting of three separate and distinct parts.
a. The exit access.
b. The exit.
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c. The exit discharge.
MEANS OF EGRESS (cont’d)
• Must be practiced by building occupants, facilities services and public safety personnel. • These employees are critical in maintaining a safe means of egress. • The exit sign, door opening, exit way, areas of rescue and stairwells should be thoroughly reviewed during inspection.
Slide 3-14
2. Means of egress needs to be much more than a monthly inspection by an inspector. It needs to be practiced by building occupants as well as facilities services and public safety personnel.
3. Typically, every building is regularly serviced by a housekeeper and is patrolled by public safety or police officers.
4. These employees become critical in maintaining a means of egress of the building, as they are frequently in and around the building every day and night.
5. The need to train these individuals in recognizing a means of egress is an issue, and addressing it immediately is vital to ensuring a safe means of egress.
6. Exterior doors that cannot be secured at night because of a malfunction.
a. Using chains and locks is not the answer.
b. There needs to be an after-hours policy for repairs of means of egress.
c. In many cases, facilities services have maintenance on-duty 24 hours a day or on-call for door repairs.
7. During the monthly inspection, means of egress should be particularly important to the inspector.
8. The exit sign, door opening, exit way, areas of rescue and stairwells should be thoroughly reviewed.
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9. Areas of rescue are oftentimes places where bikes, chairs or other items are being stored.
10. The inspector should be concerned with removing those items, but educating building occupants about why this is such an issue is a key to preventing repeat violations.
11. During winter months, inspectors should be alert to snow and ice hazards. For example, overhanging ice on a building entrance, snow blocking doors, and sidewalks open to the parking lot or street are all things that the inspector should be looking for and addressing with the ground crews who do this work.
HOUSEKEEPING
• Not limited to the custodial staff. • It relates to all employees and students. • Faculty must be a part of this program, especially those in areas that generate waste or housekeeping issues, such as chemistry laboratories, visual arts and theater departments.
Slide 3-15
F. Housekeeping.
1. Housekeeping, in general, does not specifically refer only to the custodial staff.
2. It relates to all employees and students who either work or live in that facility.
3. Faculty must be part of this program, especially those in areas that generate waste or housekeeping issues, such as chemistry laboratories, visual arts and theater departments.
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HOUSEKEEPING (cont’d)
• A good fire prevention program educates building occupants about necessary housekeeping practices. • Inspectors should seek to educate occupants.
Slide 3-16
4. A good fire prevention program will educate building occupants about what housekeeping practices are expected of them.
5. Occupants need to know where the trash is to be disposed of and who to contact for special housekeeping needs.
6. Inspectors should seek to educate these occupants.
HOUSEKEEPING (cont’d)
• Residential life staff is critical in enforcing housekeeping concerns with the student residents. • Understanding fire and life safety importance.
Slide 3-17
7. In student living areas, residential life staff is critical in enforcing housekeeping concerns with the student residents.
8. If the student staff members are knowledgeable of the importance of a fire prevention program and how housekeeping practices can affect building evacuation, and therefore address it with their student residents, then the student residents will understand that fire and life safety is important and will respect housekeeping expectations.
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9. Otherwise, the students will see that it is not a priority of the student life staff, so therefore, they will also not see it is as a priority.
10. CFLSP need to incorporate training of residential student staff-in-training before student residents move in at the beginning of each academic year.
a. This training is paramount for a residential facility.
b. Contacting student staff members throughout the year about their building can significantly improve residential hall hazards.
ELECTRICAL AND
MECHANICAL ROOMS
• Improper storage. • Access.
Slide 3-18
G. Electrical and mechanical rooms.
1. Improper storage.
a. A good facility fire prevention inspection program needs to address areas not accessible to the public.
b. Spaces like electrical, mechanical, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system areas are common places for hidden fire and life safety issues.
c. Oftentimes, these areas are not kept cleaned and are a safe haven for unused paints, filters, bulbs, ceiling tiles, and other serviceable building items.
2. Access.
a. Facilities service personnel and contractors have access to these spaces and typically convert these spaces into trash rooms and miniworkshops.
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b. In other cases, building occupants have access to these spaces and convert them into department storage areas.
c. If allowed to continue, access to important areas such as electrical panels is limited or blocked.
d. This is a huge issue and requires good communication and hard work to change past practices.
BASEMENTS AND ATTICS
• Access to these spaces needs to be limited to facilities services personnel and public safety officials. • Allowing departments or students access can create storage and behavior problems.
Slide 3-19
H. Basements and attics.
1. Basements and attic spaces can be a challenge, as they typically become storage spaces for building occupants.
2. Access to these spaces needs to be limited to facilities services and public safety officials.
3. Allowing departments or students access will only create storage and behavior problems.
4. Many residential facilities may have laundry facilities in the basement.
5. These areas should be isolated if access to the entire basement is not possible.
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REPORTING PEOPLE
• Building occupants are present every day and see what is going on. – If trained to identify potential fire hazards, then they can correct or report them. • Building service staff. • Student staff and leaders. • Faculty.
Slide 3-20
I. Reporting people.
1. Training building occupants is extremely important to any fire prevention program.
2. Building occupants are present every day and see what is going on.
3. If they are not trained to identify potential fire hazards, then they will not correct or report them.
4. The CFLSP needs to develop a yearly contact or training with building occupants to educate them on fire hazards and emergency procedures.
a. Building services.
- Building service staff, such as custodians, can be very effective in identifying fire hazards and correcting them upon discovery.
- In fact, the CFLSP will never know the hazard even existed.
- Custodians can also report conditions that they cannot correct, like emergency exit signs being out or other situations that need attention, such as missing fire extinguishers.
- Some campuses have custodians do their monthly fire extinguisher inspection program and thus conduct a monthly facility inspection.
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- These campuses then typically have an annual inspection by a safety committee or the CFLSP.
- Inspection responsibilities depend on the size and resources of the campus. b. Student staff and leaders.
- Student staff in residential halls plays a huge part in a fire prevention program.
- These students typically receive training by residential hall directors on housing regulations, and many campuses allow the CFLSP to be a part of this training.
- Student residential hall assistants can report unsafe conditions and missing extinguishers. They can also help with students moving into the resident hall with prohibited items.
- Educating students on residential hall emergency procedures, such as evacuation and acceptable behavior.
- On-campus Greek housing leaders should also be educated on how to report issues for repairs.
- In some cases, these houses have a risk manager already in place. It is ideal for the CFLSP to adopt and begin working on a relationship with those risk managers.
- Student staff and leader training is always revolving because students are always changing.
- This requires regularly scheduled training throughout the year to keep up with the rotation of students.
- This can be frustrating, but there are benefits from having regular contact with students.
- This is a great way for the CFLSP to interact with students and understand their beliefs and knowledge of fire safety.
- If seen as a positive process, this will allow CFLSP to keep their programs fresh and socially acceptable by students.
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c. Faculty.
- Faculty can play a huge role in fire prevention in laboratories and shop areas that commonly have hazardous materials and combustible materials.
- The faculty are leaders and need to set the example on housekeeping of these areas as well as set expectations on proper storage and handling of those materials.
J. Student living and sleeping spaces.
PROHIBITED ITEMS AND
CONDUCT
• Residential life offices maintain prohibited items and conduct lists. • Booklet sent to students living in a campus-owned or leased property. • Signed housing contract clearly explains expectations and regulations.
Slide 3-21
1. Prohibited items and conduct.
a. Most residential life officials and offices maintain lists of prohibited items and prohibited conduct. These lists or rules are published in the student housing regulations booklet each year.
b. This booklet is sent to all students who are assigned to live in a campus-owned or leased property.
c. Typically, there is even a signed housing contract with the student to clearly explain expectations and regulations regarding housing.
d. CFLSP should review those lists each year and advise changes to them for the upcoming editions or years.
e. As student living styles change, so does the need to amend these lists.
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ENFORCEMENT
• By resident hall staff. • By public safety officials. • Anytime there are infractions encountered. • Fines and penalties reinforce the importance to the students. • This program also benefits students when they begin living on their own.
Slide 3-22
2. Enforcement.
a. Enforcement of these regulations should be done by resident hall staff as well as public safety officials anytime they are encountered.
b. Fines and penalties should be established to reinforce the importance to the student(s).
c. Resident life and CFLSP should incorporate room inspections during the academic year.
d. Some campuses inspect rooms on a monthly basis and others do these periodically, such as during winter and spring breaks.
e. These room inspections with penalties signal to the student body that these items and conduct is not tolerated and is nonnegotiable.
f. When it comes to on-campus student fire safety, perhaps the enforcement of prohibited items and conduct could be the best method of preventing fires.
g. Typically, candles, tapestries, flags or banners, and smoking are part of the prohibited list, and the message is loud and clear: no open flames allowed.
h. Cooking appliances are prohibited, except a microfridge unit.
i. This program can also benefit students when they move off campus and begin living on their own.
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j. It is extremely important to emphasize why these items are prohibited in a campus residential hall.
k. Students want to know why these items are prohibited. CFLSP should think of ways to expand their fire prevention efforts around student living.
COMPLIANCE AND RISK
MITIGATION STRATEGIES
• Expected repairs. – A system needs to ensure that repairs of fire and life safety equipment and safety hazards are quickly and efficiently corrected. • Unexpected repairs. – The hardest areas to mitigate are behaviors by employees and students.
Slide 3-23
K. Compliance and risk mitigation strategies: A fire prevention program needs to develop compliance and risk mitigation strategies as a major part of the fire prevention program.
1. Expected repairs.
a. An inspector can inspect a facility every day, but if the violations or behavior are not corrected, then the inspection has little value.
b. A tracking system needs to be developed to ensure that normal repairs of fire and life safety equipment and safety hazards are quickly and efficiently corrected.
c. CFLSP needs to have a close relationship with facilities services to make those repairs in a timely manner.
d. There has to be an understanding that these items take priority over other repairs.
e. This may require training on the part of the CFLSP to educate facilities staff on why it is important to complete quickly.
f. Once the issue has been corrected, the CFLSP needs to document that repair with the inspection or report that identified deficiency.
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g. In most cases, these nuts and bolts repairs happen quickly because of institutional infrastructure.
2. Unexpected.
a. The areas that are hard to mitigate are behaviors by employees and students.
b. If labs are full of open bottles of chemicals and dirty glassware, then that is a direct reflection on the faculty who are responsible for that area.
c. On-campus student resident halls that are full of trash every week and have a high rate of vandalism could be a result of student staff not enforcing the regulations and not being present enough to make a difference.
d. Perhaps public safety officials or police are not patrolling enough to prevent these types of situations.
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
• These programs work well in student resident halls and Greek housing. • May include: – Fire prevention decoration contests. – Emergency evacuation competitions. – Achieving a certain rating during the month. • Advance coordination with student affairs. • Funding can be a challenge.
Slide 3-24
3. Incentive programs.
a. Creating incentive programs for building occupants is a great way to improve fire and life safety conditions in a building, as well as a way to educate occupants on why it is important to maintain a safe building.
b. These work particularly well in student residential halls and Greek housing.
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c. Other incentive programs may be fire prevention decoration contests, emergency evacuation competitions, and achieving a successful life safety rating during a particular month.
d. If a residential hall has a successful evacuation drill, no fire extinguisher damages, no false alarms from cooking, or whatever the measurable fire hazards you identify, then that residential hall receives a pizza party or maybe a new large-screen TV.
e. If managed correctly, students will buy into the competition and challenge of working together as a team to achieve a common goal.
f. Coordinating these with student affairs is important before implementation. Seeking funding can also be challenging, but be creative.
g. Look at what your campus has to offer. Maybe you own a theater and can give out free show tickets if achieving a rating, or perhaps just a free drink at the local coffee shop.
h. Local businesses and vendors may be more willing to help, if you ask. They get advertisement and positive community interaction.
GREEK SOCIAL EVENTS
• Typically, no staff personnel. • Facility maintenance is by either residents or alumni living out of the area. • Many campuses have Greek organizations but no on-campus Greek facilities.
• Off-campus Greek housing is a local jurisdiction issue not controlled by the campus.
Slide 3-25
4. Greek social events.
a. Typically, there are no staff personnel, and maintenance of the facility is up to either the student residents or alumni representatives who do not live in the area.
b. There is a huge disconnect between maintaining facilities and having a safe environment.
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c. Many campuses recognize Greek organizations but do not have on- campus facilities.
d. Off-campus Greek housing that is not campus-owned is a local jurisdiction issue and not under the control of the campus.
GREEK SOCIAL EVENTS
(cont’d)
• Some campuses have on-campus Greek housing. • On-campus Greek housing is better at maintaining a safer environment. • A few campuses conduct inspections of off-campus Greek housing. • Off-campus properties should be maintained with on-campus standards.
Slide 3-26
e. Some campuses have on-campus Greek housing and provide maintenance and housekeeping support.
f. On-campus Greek housing is typically better at maintaining a safer environment because there is some daily oversight of the property.
g. A few campuses conduct inspections of their Greek housing even if it is off-campus. They base the inspection on a principle that these houses are recognized by the campus and, consequently, there is some control and liability with the relationship.
h. Thus, the campus has a responsibility to ensure that even off- campus properties are maintained with the same on-campus standards.
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GREEK SOCIAL EVENTS
(cont’d)
• Connecting fire safety to programming of Greek social events can be successful. • These programs teach Greek leaders about ensuring a safe social experience. • If a Greek house fails inspection, it is prohibited from social events until it passes. • Pre-event and post-event inspections are a great way to change behavior.
Slide 3-27
i. In fact, connecting fire safety to the programming of Greek social events can be a significant success.
j. These programs teach Greek leaders that as social hosts, they have responsibilities to their guests to ensure a safe social experience.
k. If a Greek house fails its monthly inspection, then it is prohibited from holding a social event until it passes the inspection.
l. Having a pre-event and post-event inspection is a great way to change behavior at any student-run event.
RESIDENT HALLS
• Fire prevention program needs to develop compliance and risk mitigation strategies. • Inspections have little value if violations or behavior is not corrected. • System should be developed to ensure that repairs and hazards are quickly corrected.
Slide 3-28
5. Residential hall competition.
a. A fire prevention program needs to develop compliance and risk mitigation strategies as a major part of the fire prevention program.
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b. An inspector can inspect a facility every day, but if the violations or behavior is not corrected, then the inspection has little value.
c. A system needs to be developed to ensure that normal repairs of fire and life safety equipment and safety hazards are quickly and efficiently corrected.
RESIDENT HALLS (cont’d)
• Campus Fire and Life Safety
Professional(s) (CFLSP) should work closely with facilities department to ensure that repairs are timely. • There should be an understanding that these items take priority over other repairs. • May require training from CFLSP to educate facilities staff. • Once the issue has been corrected, the CFLSP needs to document that repair. Slide 3-29
d. The CFLSP needs to have a close relationship with the facilities and services department(s) to ensure that they are making those repairs in a timely manner.
e. There has to be an understanding that these items take priority over other repairs.
f. This may require training on the part of the CFLSP to educate facilities staff on why it is important to complete quickly.
g. Once the issue has been corrected, the CFLSP needs to document that repair with the inspection or report that the deficiency was identified.
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RESIDENT HALLS (cont’d)
• Usually, these nuts and bolts repairs happen quickly because of campus infrastructure. • A pre-event inspection tells students that preparation is needed before hosting, and actions are needed when the event is over. • Human behavior is hard to change, but programs that have a positive result will effect change.
Slide 3-30
h. In most cases, these nuts and bolts repairs happen quickly because of campus infrastructure.
i. Doing a pre-event inspection tells students that there is preparation needed before hosting, and when the event is over, there are things that need to be checked before ending the night.
j. Human behavior is hard to change, but programs that reflect a positive result and benefit to them will effect change.
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ACTIVITY 3.1
Creating a Fire Prevention Hazard Inspection Program
Purpose
To create a fire prevention hazard inspection program and to develop an understanding of the benefits of a hazard inspection program. The learners will identify resources needed to support a program and enhance safety in residential facilities by reducing risks.
Directions
1. Using the model campus from Activity 2.3, identify the total number of fire prevention hazard inspections that would be required for one year.
2. Create a list of at least five benefits that a fire prevention hazard inspection program would bring to the campus.
3. Identify at least four resources that would be needed to support this inspection program.
4. What compliance strategies would you use to mitigate hazards?
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ACTIVITY 3.1 NOTES
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II. HOUSING
HOUSING
• Campus-managed housing. • On-campus community private housing. • Campus-approved housing. • Off-campus housing.
Slide 3-32
A. Campus-managed housing.
1. Resident halls are one form of the variety of residential living found in campus communities.
2. The typical student resident facility is a large structure that houses students either in dorm (communal restrooms) style or apartment style.
3. Also, smaller houses are often used for theme houses where a smaller group of students with a common interest live.
4. These facilities have regular custodial services, regular maintenance programs and security patrols.
B. On-campus community private housing.
1. On-campus community private housing typically consists of faculty and administrators who live in campus-owned properties.
2. These on-campus facilities do not have custodial services but are on regular maintenance.
3. These houses are typically not sprinkler-equipped and do not have a fire alarm detection system.
4. There should be a monthly inspection of the fire extinguisher. Batteries in smoke alarms should be replaced twice a year. The replacement is recommended to occur when the time changes to or from daylight savings time to standard time. An exception is if the batteries are 10-year battery units.
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C. Campus-approved housing.
1. Campus community-approved housing often consists of leased properties that the campus has prearranged with a building owner.
2. The campus will schedule students to live in these facilities, but the facilities are managed and serviced by noncampus personnel.
3. They are often required to meet the safety standards of the campus.
4. These may require CFLSP to conduct life safety inspections as part of the agreement, or they may require local jurisdiction to conduct safety inspections.
DVD PRESENTATION
“9 FIRES: ON-CAMPUS”
Slide 3-33
D. Off-campus housing.
1. When a fire occurs in an off-campus property, many people will ask, “When was the last inspection of the dwelling?” This implies that the inspection frequency may have had an impact on the fire’s severity.
2. This section will look at some of the hazards that are inherent with all types of student housing, as well as those that are specific to a use group.
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COMMON HAZARDS
• There are three considerations for occupancy: – Number of people permitted to live in the dwelling unit. – Number of people who actually live in the dwelling unit. – Number of people who are present during parties or after parties.
Slide 3-34
3. Common hazards.
a. There are three considerations for occupancy.
- The number of people permitted to live in the dwelling unit. This limit may be established by one of the following methods:
-- Based on the minimum square feet requirements.
-- Municipal laws, such as zoning limitations (such as three-unrelated).
-- Based on the number of bedrooms.
- The number of people who actually live in the dwelling unit. The legal limits are often exceeded for a number of reasons.
-- Tenants are unaware of the limit.
-- Cost of rent may encourage tenants to allow roommates to share the costs.
-- Landlords may rent to more tenants than are allowed.
- The number of people who are present during parties or after parties. This is especially important for the fires that occur in the early morning hours.
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-- If a fire occurs during a party, there could be 50 or more occupants in a place that does not have the proper egress capacity.
-- After the party, this number decreases, but there could still easily be 10 or more occupants who stay the night and are not familiar with their surroundings.
-- It is difficult to account for those present and to determine whether or not they live there.
HEATING SYSTEMS
• Primary and supplemental appliances. • Proximity to combustibles.
Slide 3-35
b. Heating systems.
- Primary and supplemental appliances.
-- Heating systems need to be properly installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer.
-- Vented systems must be inspected from intake to exhaust.
-- The appliance must be designed and sized for the application.
-- Primary heat sources may be electric or fuel fired.
-- Electric appliances must be provided with the proper dedicated electrical circuit.
-- Fuel fired systems must have the proper air supply and venting.
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- Proximity to combustibles.
-- Beds and bedding frequently ignite due to close proximity to the heating appliance.
-- Furnace rooms are not to be used for storage.
-- Maintain at least three feet of clearance between the furnace and anything that can burn.
-- Too much storage can also prohibit the furnace from operating properly due to the lack of airflow.
ELECTRICAL
• The electrical service must be properly sized for the demand and load. • Branch circuits. • Extension cords. • Appliances.
Slide 3-36
c. Electrical.
- The electrical service must be properly sized for the demand and load.
-- Many older houses still have the original service entrance, and it may be deteriorated.
-- Make sure all circuits are properly identified at the panel directory.
- Branch circuits.
-- Branch circuits may be knob and tube, Romex™, or even aluminum.
-- Make sure any alterations to the existing circuits are made in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, National Electrical Code®.
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-- Circuits must be designed for the anticipated load of the appliance(s).
-- Older systems will not support modern demands.
-- Consider what may be in each bedroom, per student in some cases: TV, DVD player, game system, computer, air conditioner, fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee pot, hair dryer or curling iron, and chargers for phones and tablets.
- Extension cords.
-- When extension cords are used, ensure that the wire size is proper for the appliance being used.
-- Make sure the cord is the proper length so that only one needs to be used but there is not a coil of excess cord under the bed.
-- Use power strips or surge protectors that have an internal overload protection.
-- Do not link extension cords to other extension cords.
-- Have the cords placed so that the cord is not under a rug, across a walking path, or in another location where it can be damaged.
- Appliances.
-- Appliances must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
-- Appliances must be sized accordingly to the room.
-- Heating or cooling: Turn off when not in use, especially heat-producing appliances, including chargers.
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EGRESS
• Basement emergency escape. • Upper floors, especially third floor or higher.
Slide 3-37
d. Egress.
- Basement emergency escape is critical.
-- Basement bedrooms must have an approved means of egress.
-- Approved egress windows provide the best access since they ensure a direct opening to the exterior.
-- Existing codes may permit two independent exits.
-- Make sure the exit path is clear and not blocked by furniture, the air conditioner or security devices.
-- The window and sill opening need to meet minimum dimensions to make the window accessible.
- Upper floors, especially the third floor or higher, require special planning.
-- Consider how someone would escape from the third floor.
-- Jumping from the window may be an acceptable option.
-- The exit path should not pass through other bedrooms or rooms that may be locked.
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SMOKE ALARMS
• Smoke alarms are required near all sleeping areas. • Power supply (electrical or battery). • Proper installation. • Age. • Type. • Tampering.
Slide 3-38
e. Smoke alarms.
- Should be installed:
-- Inside every sleeping room.
-- Adjacent to the sleeping rooms.
-- On every additional story, including basements.
- Smoke alarm power supply could be:
-- Battery powered.
-- Electric.
-- Electric with battery backup.
-- Interconnected.
- Properly installed, in accordance with the manufacturer or NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
-- Proximity to the wall or ceiling, keeping the device out of the dead air space.
-- Keep the alarm at least three feet away from air ducts or ceiling fans.
- Smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years, in accordance with NFPA 72.
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-- Combination alarms, such as smoke/carbon monoxide, would need to be in accordance with the most restrictive requirement. Most carbon monoxide alarms must be replaced after five or seven years.
-- Smoke detectors are part of the fire alarm system that is not subject to the 10-year replacement, but they must be maintained in accordance with NFPA 72 and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Frequently, alarms are disabled or removed from the wall or ceiling.
- Others are tampered with by covering with bags, foil, clothing, tapestries or paint.
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS
• Carbon monoxide alarms are required near all sleeping areas. • Power supply (electrical or battery). • Proper installation. • Age. • Type. • Tampering.
Slide 3-39
f. Carbon monoxide alarms.
- Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in the vicinity of all sleeping rooms.
- Power supply.
-- Battery powered. Batteries must be changed semiannually.
-- Electric alarms require consideration of power interruptions.
-- Electric alarms with battery backups are a good idea. The batteries must still be replaced regularly.
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- Interconnected alarms can provide greater coverage.
- Proper installation in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions is essential, otherwise the good intentions of fire safety could be negated.
-- Keep at least three feet away from air ducts or ceiling fans.
-- Carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer (NFPA 72).
-- Smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years, in accordance with NFPA 72.
-- Most manufacturers recommend this replacement within five or seven years.
-- Combination alarms, such as smoke/carbon monoxide, would need requirement in accordance with the most restrictive requirement. Most carbon monoxide alarms must be replaced after five or seven years.
-- Smoke detectors are part of the fire alarm system that is not subject to the 10-year replacement, but they must be maintained in accordance with NFPA 72 and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Frequently, alarms are disabled or removed from the wall or ceiling.
- Others are tampered with by covering with bags, foil, clothing, tapestries or paint.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
• Fire alarm systems must be designed, installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. • Existing systems still need to be maintained per NFPA 72.
Slide 3-40
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g. Fire alarm systems.
- Fire alarm systems need to be designed, installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 72.
- Existing systems may not be designed properly, but still need to be maintained.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
(cont’d)
• A system not serving its intended function must be updated or replaced. • Local alarm or monitored. • False or nuisance alarms. • Tampering.
Slide 3-41
- If the system does not serve its original intended function, it must be updated or replaced.
- These systems may supplement the existing smoke alarms in a dwelling or be a complete fire detection system.
- Local alarm or monitors.
-- A local alarm does not connect to the monitoring station and only rings in the building.
-- If the system is a local alarm, signs need to be posted to instruct occupants to call 911 to report a fire.
-- If the alarm system is monitored, it is important to know how the alarm notification process is set up. For example, does the alarm company notify the fire department or maintenance first?
- False or nuisance alarms.
-- Many nuisance activations are caused due to poor design and installation.
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-- Detectors are installed too close to the bathroom or kitchen.
-- Others are caused by the lack of maintenance (e.g., dirty detectors or dead batteries).
- Tampering with fire alarms.
-- Alarm activations are often caused intentionally.
-- Horns or horn/strobes may be disconnected or covered to minimize the noise.
-- Others are damaged, covered with foil or painted.
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
• Sprinkler systems must be designed and
installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, or NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies, depending on the use of the building. Slide 3-42
h. Sprinkler systems.
- Sprinkler systems need to be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, or NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low- Rise Residential Occupancies, depending on the use of the building.
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SPRINKLER SYSTEMS (cont’d)
• Systems need to be maintained in accordance with NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. • Tampering. • Damage.
Slide 3-43
- Systems need to be maintained in accordance with NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.
- Existing systems may not be designed properly, but they still need to be maintained. If the system does not serve its original intended function, it must be updated or replaced.
- Some systems are found with the water supply turned off.
- Sprinkler systems may be tampered with or damaged. Sometimes this causes a flow of water.
- Sprinklers are frequently damaged by furniture, painting, or hit by balls, baseball bats or golf clubs.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
• Extinguishers need to be placed to match the risk. • Positioned in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers or the local code requirements. • Extinguishers also need regular inspections and maintenance.
Slide 3-44
i. Fire extinguishers.
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- Extinguishers need to be placed to match the risk in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers or the local code requirements.
- Extinguishers also need to be inspected and maintained on a regular basis.
-- Monthly inspections to verify the presence of the extinguisher and that the unit is ready for use.
-- Annual, six-year and 12-year intervals.
- Inspections are conducted to ensure that the units are not damaged, painted or obstructed and that it will operate properly.
- Have spares available and replace units that are out of service.
TENANT ISSUES
• Cooking. • Housekeeping issues. • Party loading.
Slide 3-45
4. Tenant issues.
a. Cooking.
- Many students are learning to cook for the first time and may not understand the hazards.
- Some cook while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Unattended cooking is a frequent fire cause, especially in the early morning hours.
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- Students need to be familiar with the cooking appliance, different fuel sources and cooking with grease.
b. Housekeeping issues.
- Storage of combustibles too close to ignition sources. Another problem is large quantities of storage in egress paths.
- Loft beds are often used, especially in Greek housing. These rooms require special consideration by the fire department during search operations.
- Illegal bedrooms are often found in basements or attics. Tenants often look for privacy or to allow more tenants in a dwelling to share the rent.
- Smoking materials are often discarded carelessly.
- Candles may be left burning while unattended.
- Couches or sofas on the porch create a large fuel load that can block the main egress path.
c. Party loading.
- Floor or porch or decks are overloaded.
- Egress paths are not adequate for the number of attendees.
- Structural damage is frequent with failure potential.
RISKS BY USE GROUP
• One- and two-family home. – Fire separations. – Basement bedrooms. – Attic occupancy. – Over occupancy.
Slide 3-46
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5. Specific risks by use group.
a. Single- and dual-family home.
- Fire separations — garage or dwelling unit.
-- Protection of the dwelling from a garage fire or an adjoining dwelling is important.
-- The age of construction may determine if fire separations are present.
- Basement bedrooms — egress/emergency escape. Providing an approved egress path from a basement bedroom is necessary to give a tenant the opportunity to escape.
- Attic occupancy or other uninhabitable area.
-- Occupancy of these spaces needs to be prohibited.
-- Work with owners and tenants to educate them on the risks.
- Over occupancy.
-- Many times the house is occupied by more than the legal municipal limit.
-- The areas occupied may be the basements, attics or other spaces.
RISKS BY USE GROUP
(cont’d)
• Apartment or rooming house. – Fire-rated construction varies by age. – Presence or absence of features. -- Fire doors. -- Penetrations in fire-rated features.
Slide 3-47
SM 3-44 FACILITIES b. Apartment or rooming house.
- Fire-rated construction varies between buildings based on the time of construction.
- Features that may be present in resident halls may not be in the off-campus setting — or at least not to the same level.
- These features make a difference in how fast smoke or fire spreads from the room of origin and make a difference in one’s ability to escape in a timely fashion.
- Fire doors.
-- Maintenance of the doors is essential, as the door must be in working order at the time of the fire.
-- Doors cannot be propped open with wooden wedges, kick stops or other means.
-- Doors must self-close and self-latch (depending on age of construction) to be effective.
-- Damage must be recognized promptly, and the door must be repaired or replaced.
-- Maintenance and repairs should be in accordance with NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.
- Penetrations in fire-rated features — vertical and horizontal.
-- Any holes that are made in fire-rated features must be repaired with an equivalent product.
-- Penetrations may be caused by damage, new wiring for electric security cameras, or computer cables.
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DVD PRESENTATION
“9 FIRES: OFF-CAMPUS”
Slide 3-48
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ACTIVITY 3.2
Develop an Off-campus Fire Safety Inspection Program
Purpose
To identify those who have an interest in fire safety in the off-campus environment and to identify tools to help them improve the safety of these properties.
Directions
1. You will form small groups as directed by the instructor.
2. Use the “Off-campus Fire Safety Checklist” in your small group, and add other items to be checked during an inspection. Consider all stakeholders that have an interest in off- campus housing. Add items that can be addressed by each group in the event that this form is used by more than one stakeholder.
3. This form could be used to conduct a voluntary inspection where the stakeholders may have some influence to make the corrections. It could also be used as a monthly checklist or move-in checklist for maintaining this level of safety.
4. Select a member to report for your group.
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ACTIVITY 3.2 (cont’d)
Off-campus Fire Safety Checklist
Use this guide when moving in to your off-campus home, and again at least monthly to ensure that your home remains safe. Report any deficiencies to your landlord.
1. Is there a working smoke alarm in every bedroom and on every floor? Yes No
2. Is there a working carbon monoxide alarm near all bedrooms? Yes No
3. Have you tested the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarms? Yes No
4. Is there a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen? Yes No
5. Do you know how to use the cooking appliances in your kitchen? Yes No
6. Has the furnace been inspected within the last year? Yes No
7. If you have a fireplace, do you know how to use it? Yes No
8. Do you know two ways out of every room in the event of a fire? Yes No
9. Do all of your bedroom windows open easily and stay open? Yes No
10. Do you know your street address? Yes No
11. Do you know your landlord’s phone number in the event of an emergency? Yes No
If you answered “No” to any question, you should report this to your landlord immediately.
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II. HOUSING (cont’d)
GREEK HOUSING
• Some or all of the following features may make these buildings unique as Greek houses: – Lack of on-site maintenance or property manager. – Residents in charge of basic maintenance. – High concentrations of people.
Slide 3-50
E. Greek housing.
Beyond the similarities of rooming houses, some or all of the following features may make these buildings unique as Greek houses:
1. Lack of on-site maintenance or property manager.
2. Many times, the residents of the house are in charge of basic maintenance, such as cleaning and repairs.
3. High concentrations of people.
GREEK HOUSING (cont’d)
• The occupant load for social events or parties may exceed legal limits. • High occupancy causes structural abuse and wear. • False fire alarms. • Rooming units become dwellings. • Loft beds.
Slide 3-51
4. Beyond the number of people that live in the house, the occupant load for social events or parties may far exceed the legal limits.
5. Building system abuse due to the high occupant loads.
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6. All building features will wear out faster due to the wear and tear on systems such as doors, windows, floor coverings, furniture, plumbing fixtures, etc.
7. False fire alarms.
a. Many false fire alarms occur in Greek housing.
b. Many of these are caused maliciously or intentionally.
c. Others are caused by the lack of maintenance, smoking, smoke machines, water leaks and steam.
d. When these activations are determined to be false, the system needs to be reset properly.
e. If the alarm does not automatically notify the fire department and only rings locally, the system may not be reset.
8. Rooming units become dwelling units.
a. Most sleeping rooms within the buildings become miniature apartments.
b. Sleeping rooms become equipped with cooking appliances, sofas and electronics and overcrowded with furniture.
9. Loft beds.
a. To gain additional living space, many houses contain loft beds that range in size from a twin bunk bed to queen size or even the creation of an entire floor level within the existing room.
b. Many loft beds are enclosed to provide privacy for the occupant, but the hazard created by the lack of egress is not recognized.
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GREEK HOUSING (cont’d)
• Damaged fire doors. • Maintenance of damaged fire protection systems. • Theme parties. • Other parties. • Smoking.
Slide 3-52
10. Damaged fire doors.
a. A bedroom door or a door that enters a stairway or exit enclosure may be required to be fire-rated, self-closing and/or self-latching.
b. No matter the type of installation, these doors are frequently damaged because the normal position of these doors is closed.
c. These doors may be opened and closed hundreds of times per day.
d. Many times, doors are kicked in as a prank or because someone was locked out.
e. Fire doors are frequently propped open to allow easier movement but then create a hazard in the event of a fire.
f. Once a fire-rated door is damaged, the repairs can be expensive, if even possible. Many doors cannot be repaired and need to be replaced, sometimes at great expense.
g. The lack of regular inspection or building maintenance can leave these doors in the damaged condition, and they will not serve the intended function in the event of a fire.
h. Existing installations may include solid wood or metal doors that lack a rating, but were at one time an equivalent and approved. These doors need to be maintained in a functioning condition.
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11. Maintenance of damaged fire protection systems.
a. Like many buildings, the fire protection systems are the key to protecting the occupants from a fire.
b. Leaving the maintenance of fire alarms to undergrads who lack a regard for safety places everyone in the building at risk.
c. When a fire alarm sounds, it is unlikely that an evacuation will occur.
d. Part of this is due to the frequency of alarms at these buildings.
e. Many systems are damaged, either accidentally while trying to silence a system or intentionally.
f. Systems may be tampered with by covering the horns or strobes to muffle the sound or cover the flash.
g. Smoke alarms may be covered to prevent activations, many times due to smoking.
h. Sprinklers are targets of golf clubs, baseball bats or footballs. Accidental or intentional activations can lead to significant damage from water damage, plus the costs to repair the system.
i. Some municipalities will require the house to be vacated if the sprinkler system is not functional.
j. If the sprinkler is electronically supervised, the fire department or maintenance crews will be able to promptly have the system restored.
k. Those that lack supervision may be turned off and left in this condition for long periods of time.
l. Fire extinguishers are also a frequent choice for vandalism or pranks.
m. Placing discharged extinguishers back on the brackets provides a false sense of security.
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n. Extinguishers also cause false fire alarms and can be expensive to clean up.
12. Theme parties.
a. It is common in Greek housing to host annual or traditional parties that have specific themes.
b. This may be for a holiday, celebrating the end of the semester or even following the initiation of new members.
c. Once again, the consideration for maintaining a safe environment is not even a thought.
d. Straw, mulch, confetti, sand, pomp, and any other decoration you can imagine. Simple or elaborate decorations are brought to these houses, often to one or more floors, to create the theme of the evening.
e. Fires have happened during these events, and some have had disastrous results, including injuries and death.
f. On almost every occasion when these events are discovered, it is realized that these are annual events and may have been occurring for 20 or more years.
g. It is hard to imagine that no one ever questioned the safety of the occupants during these events.
13. Other parties.
a. Almost weekly, or even more frequently, the Greek houses may turn from a rooming house to a place of assembly, inviting 50, 100, or 500 people inside for parties.
b. Many times, the buildings are not equipped to handle this amount of people, including the number of exits, remoteness of exits, door swing, door hardware, emergency lighting and exit signs.
c. Blocked exits or locked exits are common, especially in an effort to control entry points to the house.
d. A fire tragedy similar to the Station Night Club is a very real possibility in these houses.
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14. Smoking.
a. Most insurance companies that specialize in Greek housing prohibit smoking in the houses.
b. It is next to impossible to enforce this ban, especially during parties.
c. Post-party duties should include the removal of all trash from the building and checking all furniture cushions for carelessly discarded smoking materials.
15. Greek housing summary.
a. This section only highlights some of the typical hazards found in Greek housing, and more typically of the fraternity house. Municipalities that do not conduct inspections of this housing have a much greater risk of a significant fire due to the actions of the occupants and the conditions of the housing.
b. Even with an inspection program, the risk is still great. Regular inspections, education and continuous improvements to these buildings are necessary. The retrofit of modern fire protection equipment is the only way to reduce the risk in these buildings, knowing that the risk will never be eliminated.
c. By involving the stakeholders of Greek housing, efforts to improve these buildings can begin. The students, alumni, campus community, fire department, police department, fire protection contractors and parents all have an interest and should be involved in the process. These programs will never end, and they need to be improved and started again for the next year’s residents.
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ACTIVITY 3.3
Greek Housing Theme Party
Purpose
To develop a fire safety plan for a special event held at the local fraternity house. The house may not have the fire and life safety systems that would be required in a place of assembly, but you know that the event will occur with or without your approval. Using fire safety and inspection knowledge, identify tips or minor alterations that would make the event safer for the attendees.
Directions
1. In small groups, you will use the “Fire Safety Checklist for Social Events” and the floor plan to identify any hazards that may be present should a large party take place.
2. Offer suggestions to make the property code compliant at the time of the party.
3. Select a representative to present your group’s findings.
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ACTIVITY 3.3 (cont’d)
Greek Housing Theme Party
Event Scenario
A fraternity member has contacted you to request approval to hold a themed fundraising party in their property, but the house is not designed for this type of use. They wish to sell tickets for 200 people to attend from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. The house has exit signs and emergency lighting installed, but the doors do not meet the hardware or door swing requirement.
The plan calls for the “Away Bar” to be set up as a beach party complete with sand, paper palm trees, straw huts and a goldfish pond. The dining room will be the dance floor with a band on the stage.
The Interfraternity Council requires that the doors be monitored to prevent unauthorized entry by people who are underage or not on the guest list. The fraternity will post their new members at all entry doors to control entry.
Question
Determine what additional risks will be created by the theme decorations or props.
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ACTIVITY 3.3 (cont’d)
Floor Plan
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ACTIVITY 3.3 (cont’d)
Fire Safety Checklist for Social Events
To be completed before and after each event. Keep this and all previous reports in a safe place.
Type of event: Number of people anticipated:
Person in charge: Title:
Phone number: Email:
Preinspection
1. Are all exits unlocked and not blocked? ...... Yes No
2. Are all exit signs and emergency lighting functional?...... Yes No
3. Are all fire doors closed (not propped open)? ...... Yes No
4. Are the window coverings in place and approved as flame resistant? (Newspaper, plastic, paper-faced insulations and mattresses are prohibited on windows.) ...... Yes No
5. Is the fire alarm system in “normal” mode (no alarm or trouble conditions indicated)? ...... Yes No
6. Is the sprinkler system valve chained open and pressurized? ...... Yes No
7. Are all fire extinguishers in place and charged? ...... Yes No
8. Are all hallways, corridors and stairways illuminated at all times? ..... Yes No
9. Are the hallways and stairways free from storage, trash or furniture? Yes No
Pre-event check completed by: Date:
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Post-event Inspection
1. Have all smoking materials been thoroughly examined? ...... Yes No
2. Have all trash cans been removed from the building to the exterior? ... Yes No
3. Have all sofa and chair cushions been checked for discarded cigarettes? ...... Yes No
4. Are all exits unlocked and not blocked? ...... Yes No
5. Is the fire alarm system in “normal” mode? ...... Yes No
Post-event check completed by: Date:
List any violations discovered during this inspection on the back of this page, as well as the appropriate corrective action that was taken. Any “No” answer requires an explanation.
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III. SPECIAL CONCERNS
SPECIAL CONCERNS
• Special codes. – Every campus has special facilities or concerns, requiring special fire and life safety codes. – Laboratories are guided by NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laboratory Standard 1910-1450.
Slide 3-54
A. Special codes — every campus has special facilities or concerns that require special fire and life safety code requirements based on building and hazard classifications as well as occupancy type.
B. NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals sets the fire safety standards within a laboratory, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laboratory Standard 1910-1450 regulates handling, storage and employee training for hazardous chemicals.
DVD PRESENTATION
“9 FIRES: LABORATORY”
Slide 3-55
SM 3-65 FACILITIES
LABORATORY SPECIAL
CONCERNS
• Different labs have specific concerns. – Chemical. – Radiological. – Biological. – Medical.
Slide 3-56
C. Laboratories.
1. Chemical.
a. Chemical use, storage and waste disposal are also huge special hazards. The campus community needs to identify who is responsible for inventories, reporting requirements, storage and handling regulations, training and PPE, and the waste disposal process.
b. Typically, a chemical industrial hygienist is responsible for these areas.
c. There should be a partnership between the chemical hygienist and the CFLSP.
d. Tier II federal reporting requirements.
2. Radiological.
a. Campus community is required to have a radiological safety officer appointed to oversee this hazard.
b. A written plan is required.
c. Regulatory reporting is also required.
3. Biological.
a. Chemicals such as formaldehyde are commonly used.
b. Formaldehyde requires ventilation to prevent overexposure.
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c. Involves dead animals, such as cats, fetal pigs and frogs.
4. Medical.
a. Bloodborne pathogens program.
b. Use of PPE.
FACILITY MAINTENANCE
AREAS
• Pesticide use and storage. • Chemical storage areas. • Flammable and combustible liquids.
Slide 3-57
D. Facility maintenance areas.
1. Pesticide use and storage.
a. Requires license to use in most states.
b. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) should be reviewed once a year.
2. Chemical storage areas.
a. Tier II reporting is a federal requirement for certain chemicals and flammable liquids to be reported to the state and local fire department. It also requires an emergency plan to be in place.
b. PPE and training.
3. Flammable and combustible liquids.
a. Tier II reporting.
b. Use and training.
c. Storage locations.
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d. Spill prevention and control measures required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PARKING FACILITIES
• Parking facilities underground and aboveground in structures are hazards. • Require special fire suppression equipment and smoke evacuation systems. • NFPA 88A, Standard for Parking Structures governs parking structures.
Slide 3-58
E. Parking facilities.
1. Parking facilities underground and aboveground in structures are hazards that many campus communities have on their campuses. These structures require special fire suppression equipment and smoke evacuation systems.
2. NFPA 88A, Standard for Parking Structures covers parking structures.
3. These should be inspected every month to identify possible safety issues.
4. Typically, these structures have standpipe systems that need a monthly visual inspection.
ATHLETIC FACILITIES
• Large events and high occupancy are special concerns at athletic facilities. • Emergency evacuation plans and on-duty CFLSP ensure that egress areas are open. • CFLSP or event staff instruct and assist guests’ evacuation.
Slide 3-59
F. Athletic facilities.
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1. Large events at athletic facilities, such as stadiums, create a special hazard based on the large events that this facility creates throughout the year.
2. High occupancies require emergency evacuation plans and on-duty CFLSP to ensure that means of egress areas are open and instructed, as well as assisting with evacuation of guests in the facility.
3. Typically, trained ushers will be a key factor on the evacuation process, and CFLSP should be training those ushers on evacuation procedures.
OTHER SPECIAL CONCERN
FACILITIES
• Theaters. • Libraries. • Chapels. • Museums. • Other challenges at an institution that are unique to its environment.
Slide 3-60
G. Others (dependent on facilities at location of course offered).
1. Theaters, libraries, chapels and museums may present other challenges at an institution that are unique to its environment.
2. CFLSP needs to conduct a risk assessment of these facilities and understand how they differ from other building classifications.
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ACTIVITY 3.4
Special Concern Facilities
Purpose
To understand and list at least three elements of special concern facilities and why they are a challenge.
Directions
1. Identify any special concern facilities on your campus.
2. Address the challenges of fire and life safety systems in those facilities by citing at least three challenges.
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IV. SUMMARY
SUMMARY • Fire prevention inspection program (housekeeping). • Housing. • Special concerns.
Slide 3-62
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APPENDIX A
PROHIBITED ITEMS LIST
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Prohibited Items List
The following items are prohibited in residence halls:
• Guns, firearms, knives or weapons of any type, including BB and pellet guns, which are all cause for suspension.
• Candles and/or incense (lit or unlit).
• Tapestries, banners and flags. These items cannot be hung on walls or ceilings. Use of flags, tapestries or nonrated fabric is also prohibited from being used as a window treatment. Window treatments, such as curtains, must be made of a fabric that resists or retards the spreading of flames and either has an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) fire rating 723 or follows National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 225, Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard.
• Room-heating devices, including all space heaters, kerosene or oil lamps, alcohol burners, and candles.
• Gasoline-powered items, such as motorcycles, mopeds or parts thereof.
• Pressurized tanks (e.g., helium tanks).
• Flammable and/or combustible liquids and/or chemicals, including gasoline and charcoal.
• Grills of any type (except Foreman-style countertop grills in kitchens, which must be UL Listed).
• Fireworks, smoke bombs, sparklers, etc.
• Drug paraphernalia and illegal drugs.
• Loose plywood, tables longer than 3 feet.
• Animals or pets of any kind.
• Light “dimmers,” ceiling fans, or any other device that replaces, adds to or interferes with any room/apartment/building apparatus.
• Cinder blocks.
• Excessive furniture that blocks or restricts egress from sleeping areas.
• Barbells or physical training equipment.
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• Three-section couches.
• Waterbeds and beds other than twin size.
• Dartboards/Darts.
• Nails, hooks, double-faced adhesive tape, or other items that will damage walls (use white poster putty/stick tack instead).
• Live trees (pine/Christmas).
• Personal lofts.
• Halogen lamps.
• Electrical appliances including, but not limited to, candle warmers, broilers, toasters and toaster ovens, electrical skillets, hot plates, electric woks/frying pans, crock pots, pressure cookers, microwave ovens, hotdog and hamburger cookers, panini presses/sandwich- makers, waffle irons, and heating/immersion coils are prohibited in bedrooms.
• Overloaded electrical receptacles (more than three appliances connected to one outlet and multiple-plug adapters with more than two cords attached).
• Faulty or old extension cords.
• Portable washers, dryers and dishwashers.
• Personal room refrigerators (unless you live in an apartment). Some campuses provide a microfridge unit for each room not in an apartment.
• Air conditioners, unless approved for special needs housing accommodations. Documentation is required for approval. The required forms can be found on Residence Life’s website. Accommodations are limited to people with a need due to a disability.
• Microwaves other than a microfridge (microwaves are permitted in apartments, limit one).
• All 2.4 gigahertz cordless phones (due to interference with campus wireless network).
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APPENDIX B
IN DEFENSE OF: FIRE SAFETY
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SM 3-82 CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
UNIT 4: EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
The learners will be able to:
4.1 Evaluate a Campus Fire and Life Safety (CFLS) inspection and prevention program that is measureable.
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
The learners will be able to:
4.1 Evaluate a new fire protection system process.
4.2 Evaluate existing fire protection systems for effectiveness and reliability.
4.3 Evaluate fire prevention programs by conducting assessments and surveys.
EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
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SM 4-2 EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
UNIT 4:
EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
Slide 4-1
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE Evaluate a Campus Fire and Life Safety (CFLS) inspection and prevention program that is measurable.
Slide 4-2
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
• Evaluate a new fire protection system process. • Evaluate existing fire protection systems for effectiveness and reliability. • Evaluate fire prevention programs by conducting assessments and surveys.
Slide 4-3
SM 4-3 EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
I. EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY PROGRAM
EVALUATING NEW SYSTEMS
• Monitor the installation process. • Detailed notes of positive and negative issues. • Evaluate the technology. • Assess the occupants’ behavioral trends. • Track new safety aspects for effectiveness. • Lessons learned for next installation event.
Slide 4-4
A. New systems.
1. During the installation process, the Campus Fire and Life Safety Professional(s) (CFLSP) need to take comprehensive notes and document the good things as well as areas that need to be improved in the process.
2. When evaluating new fire protection systems, the CFLSP needs to keep up with technology, system options, and current trends with building occupants’ behaviors.
3. Once a new system(s) is installed in a new building or renovation project, a good practice is to determine what features enhance safety in that building and measure its effectiveness over the course of the first year or two.
4. Build a template based on the lessons learned from that project, and apply it to the next project.
EVALUATING EXISTING
SYSTEMS • Collect statistics on false alarms, fires, others. • Analyze the root causes (design, maintenance, behavior, etc.). • Monitor technology and education for mitigation measures.
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SM 4-4 EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
B. Existing systems.
1. False alarms are a key component in evaluation.
2. A high number of false alarms caused by dirty detectors indicate that additional maintenance is needed.
3. A high frequency of false alarms from contractor or vendor work indicates that educating and enforcing work practices is needed.
4. If cooking is a high cause of alarms, then maybe the smoke detectors need to be replaced with heat detectors or the stoves need cleaning.
5. The CFLSP needs to be always looking to reduce false alarms by using engineering or educational methods.
6. Each year, statistics should be produced, as well as a report indicating what efforts were made to reduce alarms by providing good quality assurance measures.
EVALUATING FIRE
PREVENTION • Surveys. • Collect statistics on fires and related safety incidents and their causes. • Also, statistics on context or trends (e.g., campus demographics, events, etc.).
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C. Fire prevention program.
1. A student or employee survey is always a great way to get feedback from building occupants.
2. Compiling statistical information of inspection violations over a period of time is a good way to measure success and areas needing attention.
a. Also, review the fires that have been reported over the past few years.
b. What were the causes?
SM 4-5 EVALUATING A CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM
c. Have those hazards been eliminated, or are they still being reported during inspections?
EVALUATE IN ALL STAGES
• Evaluation is continuous through life cycle. – Planning stage. – Implementation stage. – Application/Effects stage.
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D. Evaluation questions that should be answered during the planning stage of a program include:
1. Has a risk assessment been conducted on fire prevention efforts?
2. Has a test, maintenance and inspection (TMI) program been identified?
3. Has a fire prevention program been developed?
4. Do we have support and engagement from the campus administrators and stakeholders?
5. Have we identified and secured adequate resources to develop a program?
6. Have focus groups been used to conduct gap analysis and help determine appropriate program strategies?
7. Did we create something (plan or program) that seems logical?
8. Have we recruited and properly trained those who will deliver the program?
9. Did we conduct a pilot test for the program and make appropriate adjustments prior to implementation?
E. Evaluation questions that should be answered during the implementation stage of a program include:
1. How are the target groups responding to our program?
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2. Does our delivery staff have adequate resources?
3. What is working, and what is not working?
4. What modifications do we need to make before we invest additional resources into the program?
F. Evaluation questions that should be answered during the application or effects stage of a program include:
1. Are we reaching our intended audiences?
2. How are our staff members performing?
3. How many programs have been delivered?
4. How many people have we reached?
5. What changes are occurring among the target populations (e.g., knowledge levels and attitudes, behaviors)?
6. Long term — what impact is our program having on the risk issue being targeted?
II. SUMMARY
SUMMARY
• Evaluating a CFLS program.
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CAMPUS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY III: CODES AND SYSTEMS
GLOSSARY/ACRONYMS
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GLOSSARY
Addressable fire alarm Provides precise point-to-point identity of every device systems connected to the system.
Alarm In the context of Campus Fire and Life Safety (CFLS), an alarm is a stand-alone warning device. See “smoke alarm.” Also, contrast to “detector.”
Behavioral messaging Communicating procedural information with the intent of modifying the recipient’s behavior.
Campus Fire Safety Part of Higher Education Reauthorization Act. This legislation Right-to-Know Act is to provide parents and students with information about the school’s fire safety.
Clery Act Requires every Title IV campus community, without exception, to have and disclose emergency response and evacuation procedures in response to a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of students or employees occurring in the campus community.
Code A code is a law or regulation that was adopted or enacted by a jurisdiction at the municipal or state level and broadly describes the desired level of protection or system that is required.
Detector In the context of CFLS, a detector is connected to an alarm system. See “smoke detector.”
Fire Log The Fire Log is defined as the recording of fires that occur in on-campus student housing facilities.
Fire Safety Act of 1990 Also known as the Hotel/Motel Fire Safety Act.
Halon A clean agent (i.e., an electrically nonconducting, volatile or gaseous fire extinguishant) that does not leave a residue upon evaporation. Halon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC).
Higher Education Legislation that includes the Campus Fire Safety Right-to- Reauthorization Act Know Act.
Nonaddressable fire Devices that are arranged in a zoned-style wiring arrangement. alarm systems Typically, zones are by floor but do not give exact location.
Procedural information Communicating procedural information with the intent of modifying the recipient’s behavior. See also “behavioral messaging.”
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Resident Assistant A Resident Assistant (also variously known as a resident advisor, community assistant, resident mentor, peer advisor, community advisor or senior resident), commonly shortened to RA or CA. A trained peer leader who supervises those living in a resident hall or group housing facility. The majority of RAs work at colleges, universities, or residential mental health and substance abuse facilities.
Risk assessment A risk assessment is the process of identifying, analyzing and weighing the potential fire and safety risks, threats and hazards to a community.
Smoke alarm A smoke alarm is a stand-alone unit that does not report to a central monitoring station, although it may be connected to other smoke alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound.
Smoke detector A smoke detector is connected to a fire alarm control panel with many other devices, such as pull stations and visual and audible alarms that report to a central monitoring station.
Standard A standard is a set of guidelines that are developed to establish minimum requirements and will specify how a system or product is to be installed.
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ACRONYMS
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
AEDS Automated External Defibrillator System
AHJ authority having jurisdiction
CCTV Closed Circuit Television
CEO chief executive officer
CFC chlorofluorocarbon
CFLS Campus Fire and Life Safety
CFLSP Campus Fire and Life Safety Professional(s)
CFLS I: RA Campus Fire and Life Safety I: Risk Analysis
CFLS II: PE Campus Fire and Life Safety II: Public Education
CFLS III: CS Campus Fire and Life Safety III: Codes and Systems
EMNS emergency mass notification system
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency gpm gallons per minute
HMIS Hazardous Materials Identification System
HVAC heating, ventilating and air conditioning
IBC International Building Code
ICC International Code Council
IG Instructor Guide
NFA National Fire Academy
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
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PPE personal protective equipment
psi pounds per square inch
RA Resident Assistant
SDS Safety Data Sheets
SM Student Manual
SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timeframed
SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
TKE Tau Kappa Epsilon
TMI test, maintenance and inspection
UL Underwriters Laboratories
USFA U.S. Fire Administration
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