FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN MANUAL Eighth Edition – June 1, 2021 Veterans Health Administration Office of Occupational Safety Health (19HEF) FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN MANUAL June 1, 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 1. GENERAL ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 APPLICATION ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 FIRE PROTECTION CODES AND STANDARDS ............................................................................................. 2 1.4 FIRE PROTECTION DURING CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................................. 3 1.5 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) ............................................................................................. 4 2. BUILDING FEATURES.................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 BUILDING SEPARATION ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.3 VA HOSPITAL BUILDING SYSTEM (INTERSTITIAL) ....................................................................................... 6 2.4 INTERIOR FINISH ................................................................................................................................. 8 2.5 SITE CONSIDERATIONS – EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS ............................................................................. 8 2.6 INSULATION, INCLUDING FOAM PLASTIC .................................................................................................. 8 2.7 ROOF COVERINGS AND ROOF DECK ASSEMBLIES ...................................................................................... 8 2.8 ROOF ACCESS ..................................................................................................................................... 8 2.9 SEPARATION DISTANCE FOR SHELTERS, PAVILIONS, OR SIMILAR STRUCTURES.................................................. 8 2.10 FIRE AND SMOKE BARRIERS: ............................................................................................................ 10 2.11 PROTECTION OF OPENINGS THROUGH FIRE BARRIERS: ......................................................................... 10 2.12 SUITES ......................................................................................................................................... 11 2.13 EXIT SIGNS ................................................................................................................................... 11 2.14 DOOR LOCKING REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................... 11 3. SPECIAL PROTECTION ................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 STORAGE ......................................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID STORAGE .................................................................................. 14 3.3 FOOD PREPARATION FACILITIES ........................................................................................................... 14 3.4 COMPRESSED GAS/CRYOGENIC LIQUID STORAGE ................................................................................... 14 3.5 LABORATORIES ................................................................................................................................. 14 3.6 CASEWORK (INCLUDING NON-MOVEABLE, BUILT-IN CABINETRY, WARDROBE, ETC.) ...................................... 15 3.7 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPACES .......................................................................................................... 15 3.8 PAINT SPRAY AREAS .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.9 ATRIUM SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS ..................................................................................................... 16 3.10 VA CANTEEN RETAIL STORES ........................................................................................................... 16 3.11 PHARMACIES ................................................................................................................................ 16 3.12 CHUTES ....................................................................................................................................... 16 3.13 PARKING GARAGES ........................................................................................................................ 17 3.14 ANIMAL RESEARCH FACILITIES – VIVARIUMS. ..................................................................................... 17 4. OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES ................................................................................. 18 4.1 GENERAL ......................................................................................................................................... 18 4.2 MULTIPLE OCCUPANCIES .................................................................................................................... 19 Table of Contents i FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN MANUAL June 1, 2021 5. WATER SUPPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION ...................................................................................... 21 5.1 ADEQUACY OF WATER SUPPLY ............................................................................................................ 21 5.2 CAPACITY ......................................................................................................................................... 21 5.3 FIRE PUMPS ..................................................................................................................................... 22 5.4 DURATION ....................................................................................................................................... 23 5.5 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ....................................................................................................................... 24 5.6 HYDRANTS ....................................................................................................................................... 24 6. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS .................................................................................................. 25 6.1 SPRINKLER SYSTEMS .......................................................................................................................... 25 6.2 STANDPIPES AND FIRE HOSE CONNECTIONS ........................................................................................... 31 6.3 GASEOUS EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS (CLEAN AGENT, CARBON DIOXIDE, ETC.) ............................................. 32 6.4 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER CABINETS .............................................................................................. 33 6.5 EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS FOR COOKING FACILITIES/EQUIPMENT ............................................................... 33 7. FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................... 34 7.1 PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................................... 34 7.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................... 34 7.3 TYPICAL OPERATION .......................................................................................................................... 35 TABLE 7.3 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM INPUT OUTPUT MATRIX .................................................................................... 36 7.4 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................... 43 TABLE 7.4 - ELEVATOR PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY ......................................................................... 45 7.5 COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN BUILDINGS .............................................................................................. 51 7.6 CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION ......................................................................................................... 51 APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................................... 52 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DESIGN MANUAL ............................................................................................... 52 APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................................... 54 MANDATORY REFERENCES............................................................................................................................. 54 ADDITIONAL REFERENCES