Fire Protection Design for

Healthcare Facilities:
Beyond Building Code
Compliance
Scott Voelkerding, PE, CFPS
Fire Protection Engineer
September 16, 2010

Overview
Fire Protection: The Holistic Approach
Applicable Codes and Standards
Engaging Authorities in Design
Accreditation Requirements
Example Citations
Existing Facilities

Scott Voelkerding, PE, CFPS

Registered Fire Protection Engineer

13

states
NJ Pending

NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist

8 years with URS
Lead Fire Protection Engineer for University
Medical Center (New Orleans, LA)
Lead Author Cleveland Clinic Fire Protection
Life Safety Standards & Specifications

Fire Protection: The Holistic

Approach

Active and passive systems working

together to prevent or minimize the effects
of fire
Design

of fire suppression and fire alarm

systems
Design of egress & smoke control systems
Fire resistive construction, including
firestopping of penetrations, spray
fireproofing
Comprehensive Code Compliance

Applicable Codes and

Standards

NFPA 101: Life Safety Code

2009: Most recent edition

2000: Edition adopted by Joint Commission & CMS

International Building and Fire Codes

2009: Most recent edition

Some jurisdictions adopt older editions, amendments
to these codes, or adopt their own codes altogether

Occupancy Classifications

No one to one correlation between codes,

each have different thresholds
NFPA 101 (2000)
Assembly
Educational
Day-Care
Health Care
Ambulatory Health Care
Detention and Correctional
One and Two Family Dwellings
Lodging of Rooming Houses
Hotels and Dormitories
Apartment Buildings
Residential Board and Care
Mercantile
Business
Industrial
Storage

IBC (2009)
Assembly Group A
Business Group B
Educational Group E
Factory Group F
High-Hazard Group H
Institutional Group I
Mercantile Group M
Residential Group R
Storage Group S
Utility and Miscellaneous Group U

Ambulatory Care Buildings

IBC 2009 added a section for

ambulatory health care facilities
Still

classified as Group B if
occupancy is less than 24 hours
Specific requirements for sprinklers,
fire alarms and smoke compartments

Life Safety Code has separate

occupancy chapter for ambulatory
care

Egress Capacity Widths

NFPA 101 and the IBC differ regarding egress capacity

requirements
IBC 2009 standardized egress capacity widths for all
occupancies and removed sprinkler exceptions

Required Egress Stairway Width per Occupant Comparison

NFPA 101
(2000)

IBC 2006

Occupancies other than those listed below

0.3

0.2

High Hazard (NFPA 101) or

Hazardous: H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 (IBC)

0.7

0.3

Health Care (NFPA 101) or

Institutional: I-2 (IBC)

0.3 (AS)
0.6 (NS)

0.3 (AS)
NA (NS)

Board and Care (NFPA 101)

0.4

0.2

IBC 2009

0.3 for all

occupancies

Duct-Type Smoke Detectors

NFPA 90A: Standard for the
Installation of Air-Conditioning and
Ventilating Systems

International Mechanical Code

NFPA 101 referenced standard

IBC referenced standard

Air supply systems greater than

2,000 cfm and return air systems
greater than 15,000 cfm
Exception: If all portions of the
building served by air distribution
system have area smoke detectors

Return air systems greater than

2,000 cfm
Exception: If all portions of the
building served by air distribution
system have area smoke detectors

Engaging Authorities

Engage Authorities Having

Jurisdiction (AHJ) early and often in
the design process:
Local

Fire Marshal
State Fire Marshal
Building Department
Government Fire Protection Engineer

Discussion Items for Local

Fire Marshal During Design

Fire Hydrant Locations

Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Locations
Fire

hydrant within 50-100 feet of FDC

Fire Command Center location and layout

Annunciator Locations
Vehicle Access
Knox Box Locations
Evacuation Strategy

Other Sources to Consider

Underwriter Requirements
FM

Data Sheets

Published AHJ Memorandums

NFPA Healthcare Interpretation Task
Force (HITF)
Accreditation Documents

Joint

Commission Statement of
Conditions
Center for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS)

Accreditation Requirements

Requirements vary by occupancy:

Ambulatory

Care, Behavioral Health,

Hospitals, Laboratories, etc.

New vs. Existing Facilities

Life Safety Chapter covers fire
protection requirements

Accreditation Requirements

Joint Commission Statement of

Conditions (SOC)
Basic

Building Information (BBI)

Life Safety Assessment (LSA)
Plan for Improvement (PFI)

HITF Interpretation
Examples

Exit Access from Suites

Stairwell

Corridor

is NOT equivalent to an Exit Access

Storage Bins > 32 gallons

Hazardous

Exit Discharge
Non-paved

surfaces to public way

Sprinkler Obstructions
Patient

Area

Lift Equipment - Rails

Portable Equipment in Corridors

<30

minutes

Hazardous Area Examples

Boiler/fuel fired heater rooms
Laundry Rooms >100 sf
Flammable Storage Rooms
Laboratories
Maintenance Repair Shops
Soiled Linen Rooms
Combustible Storage Rooms
Trash Collection Rooms

Example Citations
Following are several examples of
common citations
Even the best designed systems are
subject to oversights or differing field
conditions

Pull Station Mounting

Incorrect mounting
height
Operable part of
manual fire alarm box
shall be not less than
42 inches and not
more than 48 inches
above the floor level.
NFPA 72 (2010)
17.14.4

Smoke Detector Spacing

Smoke detectors next

to air diffusers
Smoke detectors
should not be located
in a direct airflow or
closer than 36 inches
from an air supply
diffuser or return air
opening.
NFPA 72 (2010)
A17.7.4.1

Notification Appliance
Mounting

Incorrect mounting of
devices
Equipment installed
shall be listed for the
purpose for which it is
used.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.3.1

Synchronization

Visible notification
devices not synchronized
High flash rates of
strobes may pose a risk
of seizure to people with
photosensitive epilepsy.
Visible appliances in the
same field of view should
be synchronized.
NFPA 72 (2010)
A.18.5.4.3.2(3)

Storage

Obstructions to
equipment
Manual fire alarm
boxes shall be
installed so that
they are
conspicuous,
unobstructed, and
accessible.
NFPA 72 (2010)
17.14.5

Fire Alarm Control Panel

Smoke detectors above

FACP
Where not continuously
occupied, smoke detectors
shall be provided at the
location of each FACP,
NAC power extender, and
supervising station
transmitting equipment.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.15

Device Maintenance

System components
shall be installed,
tested, and maintained
in accordance with
manufacturers
published instructions
and the Code.
NFPA 72 (2010) 10.3.2

Site Maintenance

Fire department
connections shall be
maintained without
obstruction by fences,
bushes, trees, walls, or
any other fixed or
moveable object.
IFC (2009) 912.3

Dry Pipe Systems

Dry pipe systems

should ONLY be
installed where heat is
not adequate to prevent
freezing and they
should be converted to
wet systems when heat
is provided.
NFPA 13 (2007) A.7.2

Sprinkler Response

Where quick
response sprinklers
are installed, all
sprinklers within a
compartment shall
be quick-response
unless otherwise
permitted
NFPA 13 (2007)
8.3.3.2

Obstructions

Obstructions to sprinkler
discharge
Install sprinklers under
fixed obstructions over 4
feet wide
Examples: ducts, decks,
open deck flooring,
overhead doors
NFPA 13 2007 8.5.5.3.1

Sprinkler Maintenance

System should be
properly
maintained at all
times to ensure
reliability
Obvious
impairments should
be repaired
immediately and
will fail inspections

Spare Sprinkler Cabinet

At least six spare

sprinklers, a
sprinkler wrench,
and list of
sprinklers installed
shall be maintained
on the premises
NFPA 13 2007
6.2.9

Firestopping

Through penetrations of
fire resistance rated
construction shall be
protected by a firestop
system in accordance
with ASTM E 814 or UL
1479
Polyurethane
expanding foam NOT
acceptable
IBC (2009) 713.3.1.2

What about my existing

facility: Is it grandfathered?

NFPA 101
New

vs. Existing
Building Rehabilitation

IBC
Chapter

34
Compliance Alternatives Evaluation

NFPA 101A
Fire

Safety Evaluation System (FSES)

Summary
Involve fire protection engineer in
design process
Establish (editions of) applicable
codes and standards early in design
Engage Authorities Having
Jurisdiction early and often
Consult accreditation documents,
underwriter standards, HITF
Interpretations
Consider FSES for existing facilities

Questions?