Clearing the Confusion: Life Safety, Fire and Smoke Barriers

NOVEMBER 20, 2014

Oklahoma Association

of Healthcare Engineers



November 20, 2014 * Page 2

COURSE TITLE

CLEARING THE CONFUSION

PURPOSE: To provide the attendees with a

clear and concise summary of the uses and

requirements for smoke partitions, fire barriers,

and smoke barriers, as well as basic fire door /

frame and hardware requirements.




Introduction

Smoke Partitions

- Defined, Illustrated & their Utilization

Fire Barriers

– Defined, Illustrated, & their Utilization

Smoke Barriers

– Defined, Illustrated & their Utilization

Fire Door, Frame, and Hardware– Defined, Illustrated & their Utilization

Conclusion

Question / Answer Session

AGENDA

COURSE OUTLINE




Marsha Whitt

RID, AAHID, EDAC

Principal, Regional VP, Southwest Region

Project Manager, Project Planner

& Construction Administrator

Marsha and Shane have an extensive

working history spanning over the past 20

years. Their project experience

encompasses many types of healthcare

facilities ranging from small Clinical Suites

to Greenfield Hospitals in excess of a

million square feet.

PRESENTERS

Shane Williams

AIA, ACHA, NCARB, LGB

Principal, Practice Area Leader - Design

Project Executive, Project Designer

& Project Planner




FIRM PROFILE

Array Architects is a 30-year

old healthcare-only design firm

with a nation-wide presence.

Array offers a full complement

of knowledge-based services

founded in a Lean process led

approach including planning,

architecture, interior design,

and advisory services in all

types of healthcare facilities.




SOUTHWEST REGION

Having a local presence

provides strategic partnerships

and ensures we are available

whenever needed.

Marsha Whitt, AAHID, EDAC, NCIDQ

Principal, Regional VP, Southwest Region

1910 Pacific Avenue

Suite 11100

Dallas, TX 75201

o 214-939-7565 (x1602)

c 817-925-9983

FIRM LOCAL PRESENCE




LIFE SAFETY DRAWINGS




SMOKE PARTITIONS,

FIRE BARRIERS,

SMOKE BARRIERS

AS SHOWN IN

ARCHITECTURAL PLAN

– PARTITION TYPES SHEET




SMOKE PARTITIONS, FIRE BARRIERS, SMOKE BARRIERS

AS SHOWN IN ARCHITECTURAL PLAN – GRAPHIC DESIGNATION




DEFINITION* / ILLUSTRATED:

A smoke partition is a continuous membrane

designed to form a barrier to limit the

transfer of smoke.

(A smoke partition should be thought of as a

barrier that reasonably limits, but does not

necessarily prevent, smoke transfer).

710.4 Continuity

Smoke partitions shall extend from the floor

to the underside of the floor or roof deck

above or to the underside of the ceiling

above where the ceiling membrane is

constructed to limit the transfer of smoke.

SMOKE PARTITIONS




PURPOSE / USES:

Corridor Walls in Group I-2

SMOKE PARTITIONS




DEFINITION*:

A fire barrier is a vertical or horizontal

assembly that is fire-resistance rated and is

designed to restrict the spread of fire, confine

it to limited areas, and/or afford safe passage

for protected egress.

The code specifies the fire-resistance ratings

of these barriers in hours (ie., 1/2

hour, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours).

Fire barriers can help restrict the passage of

smoke; however, they do not necessarily

make an effective smoke barrier.

Just because a wall is fire rated does not

mean it will automatically resist smoke.

FIRE BARRIERS




ILLUSTRATED:

FIRE BARRIERS




PURPOSE:

Separating Occupancies

Isolating Hazardous Areas

Creating a Horizontal Exit

Enclosing an Exit

Creating a Shaft

FIRE BARRIERS




PURPOSE:




Enclosing an Exit

Creating a Shaft

FIRE BARRIERS




PURPOSE:




Enclosing an Exit

Creating a Shaft

FIRE BARRIERS




PURPOSE:




Enclosing an Exit

Creating a Shaft

FIRE BARRIERS




PURPOSE:




Enclosing an Exit

Creating a Shaft

FIRE BARRIERS




DEFINITION* / ILLUSTRATED:

Smoke barriers are a prevention

system designed to restrict the

movement of smoke and fire

gases.

A smoke barrier can either consist

of a wall assembly or a full

enclosure. (The full enclosure

consists of walls, ceilings, and

floor assemblies that create a

continuous smokeproof

compartment).

*Per the NFPA 1 Fire Code Handbook, 2012

Edition

SMOKE BARRIERS




PURPOSE / USES:

Wall Assemblies: a wall used as

a smoke barrier must be

continuous from outside wall to

outside wall and from floor slab to

floor slab. It is used mostly in

Institutional occupancies between

areas of refuge.

Vertical Shafts: Vertical shaft

enclosures for stairs, elevators,

and waste and linen chutes must

be smokeproof.

Vestibule: any vestibule used

adjacent to a smokeproof stairwell

or elevator hoistway, between the

shaft and the exterior exit door,

must also be smokeproof.

SMOKE BARRIERS




PURPOSE / USES:

Wall Assemblies: a wall used as

a smoke barrier must be

continuous from outside wall to

outside wall and from floor slab to

floor slab. It is used mostly in

Institutional occupancies between

areas of refuge.

Vertical Shafts: Vertical shaft

enclosures for stairs, elevators,

and waste and linen chutes must

be smokeproof.

Vestibule: any vestibule used

adjacent to a smokeproof stairwell

or elevator hoistway, between the

shaft and the exterior exit door,

must also be smokeproof.

SMOKE BARRIERS




PURPOSE / USES:

Allow open treatment plan

without corridor doors, and

latching.

Inpatient Sleeping Suite more

than 1,000 square feet require two

exits remote from each other.

Non Sleeping Suite more than

2,500 square feet require two exits

remote from each other.

100’ to exit from suite and 200’ to

an exit. 50’ if there is an

intervening room.

SUITES




COMPARISON CHART

FIRE BARRIER SMOKE BARRIER SMOKE PARTITION

Shall have 1/2 to 3 hour fire resistant construction – enclosures for shafts, exit access

stairways, exit access ramps, interior exit ramps, exit passageway walls, isolating

hazardous areas, and separating occupancies

Shall be one hour fire resistant construction (with the exception of some atrium separation

walls) – wall assemblies, vertical shafts, and vestibules; constructed in the same manner as

the equivalent fire barriers

Does not need to be one hour fire resistant construction – corridor walls in I-2 occupancies

(IBC only)

Smoke Barriers form compartments (areas of refuge); can be comprised of both walls &

ceiling/floor assemblies

Smoke Partitions form corridors

Shall be continuous to the floor / roof deckabove

Shall be continuous from outside wall to outside wall; must continue to the floor / roof

deck above

Shall extend from the floor to the underside of the floor or roof deck above; can stop at a

ceiling that limits the transfer of smoke

Fire protection rated dampers are required in ducts that penetrate fire barriers with a fire

resistance greater than one hour

Requires smoke (not fire/smoke) dampers for ducted and unducted openings, unless the

ducted opening only serves one smoke compartment

Only requires smoke dampers for unducted air transfer openings

Do not necessarily make an effective smoke barrier

Restricts the movement of smoke Limits the transfer of smoke (are not as substantial as smoke barriers)




DEFINITION* / KEY INFO:

FIRE DOOR ASSEMBLY

3.3.50 - Any combination of a fire

door, a frame, hardware, and

other accessories that together

provide a specific degree of fire

protection to the opening.

5.2.1 – Fire door assemblies

shall be inspected and tested not

less than annually, and a written

record shall be signed and kept

for inspection by the AHJ.

703.2 - Fire door assemblies

shall not be modified.




ANNUAL INSPECTION:

FIRE DOOR ASSEMBLY

5.2.4.2 – As a minimum, the following items shall be

verified:

No open holes or breaks exist in surface

Glazing, vision light frames & glazing beads are

intact

The door, frame, hinges, hardware &

noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned, and

in working order

No parts are missing or broken

The self-closing devise is operational

If a coordinator is installed, the inactive leaf closes

before active leaf.

Latching hardware operates & secures the door

when it is in the closed position

Auxiliary hardware items that interfere or prohibit

operation are not installed

No parts are missing or broken

No field modifications to the door have been

performed

Gasketing and edge seals are inspected




DEFINED* / KEY INFO:

FIRE DOORS

3.3.49 - The door component of a fire

door assembly.

4.1.1 – Fire doors shall be classified

by designating a required fire

protection rating expressed in hours

or fractions thereof.

703.2 – Fire doors and smoke barrier

doors shall not be blocked or

obstructed or otherwise made

inoperable.

703.2.3 – Swinging fire doors shall

close from the full-open position and

latch automatically. The door closer

shall exert enough force to close &

latch the door from any partially open

position.

9.3 – Clearances at the lintel, jambs,

& meeting stiles shall not exceed 1/8

inch.




DEFINED* / KEY INFORMATION:

FIRE DOOR FRAMES

3.3.51 - A component forming the

perimeter of an opening in a fire door

assembly that is supplied welded or

knocked down and anchored to the

surrounding structure.

All fire-rated door assemblies must

have a frame that is labeled as a fire-

rated frame.

Unlike fire-rated doors, there are no

specific hourly ratings called out on a

basic fire door frame as they are

rated for 3 hours. If the frame is rated

for something less than 3 hours, then

the frame labeling must specifically

state the rated hours.




COMPONENTS / KEY INFO:

Hinges

Latching Devices

Fire Exit Hardware

Closing Devices

Hold Open Devices

Note: Fire door assemblies are

rated;

fire hardware is listed.

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE





Hinges

- a labeled fire door must be

hung on steel bearing-type

hinges or spring hinges;

(6.4.3.1.1.2 - where spring

hinges are used, at least two

shall be provided)

- Bearing type knuckles on

hinges provide smooth

operation and minimize wear

throughout the lifetime of the

opening

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE





Latching Devices

3.3.84 – A spring-loaded latch bolt

or a gravity-operated steel bar

that, after release by physical

action, returns to its operating

position and automatically

engages the strike plate when it is

returned to the closed position.

-Every swinging fire door must

have a labeled automatic latching

device to engage the strike

-The minimum latch bolt length is

indicated on the fire door label

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE





Fire Exit Hardware

3.3.55 – Labeled devices for

swinging fire doors installed to

facilitate safe egress of persons and

generally consisting of a crossbar &

various types of latch mechanisms

that cannot hold the latch in a

retracted locked position.

-Exit devices may only be used on

doors that are specifically labeled

“Fire Door To Be Used with Fire Exit

Hardware.” (Door must be properly

reinforced for fire exit devices).

- Exit devices have size and hourly

rating restrictions, and must be

properly labeled and identified as fire

exit hardware.

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE





Closing Devices

3.3.26 – A means of closing

a door from the partially or

fully opened position.

-Must be properly sized

-Either spring hinges or a

listed door closer is required

8.4.1.1 – Doors shall be

equipped with self-closing or

automatic-closing devices to

ensure that they shall close

or be closed at the time of a

fire.

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE





Hold Open Devices

-Electromagnetic release

devices will close quickly

enough to prevent the

passage of toxic gases and

smoke

-Devices are activated by

electronic detectors that

sense smoke and/or the

products of combustion.

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE




Summary

In Healthcare, we defend in place. Patients are typically not ambulatory. They

can be placed on ventilators and other equipment that hinders quick movement

of beds. This also places caregivers at risk. Care must be taken in ensuring

that healthcare facilities meet life safety standards.

CONCLUSION




International Building Code, 2009 Edition

International Fire Code, 2009 Edition

NFPA 80, 2013 Edition

NFPA 1 Fire Code Handbook, 2012 Edition

SDI Technical Data Series – SDI 118-1

REFERENCES




QUESTIONS

ANSWERS

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Category:	Health & Medicine
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Clearing the Confusion: Life Safety, Fire and Smoke Barriers

Health & Medicine