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2013/SCSC/WKSP1/005
Fire and Seismic Elements of Codes
Submitted by: Armstrong World Industries, Inc
Workshop on Sharing Experiences in the Design and Implementation of Green
Building Codes Lima, Peru
5-7 March 2013
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Fire and Seismic Elements of Codes
APEC – ASEAN Sharing Experiences in the Design and Implementation of Green Building Codes
March 5 – 7th, 2013Miraflores Hilton HotelLima, Peru
Paul HoughArmstrong World Industries, IncUSA
Fire and Seismic
Critical Life Safety Issues◦ Overall building structure◦ Interior spaces, linings and finishes
◦ Protection of occupantsSafe place of refuge
◦ Survivability of occupantsProvide the ability to escape safely
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Main Fire Concerns
Fire Resistance – Keeping the building up during and after the fire
Reaction to Fire – Keeping fire from spreading or moving within a building
Smoke / Toxicity – Create the ability to escape
Fire Resistance
Concerns all building elements – Floors, roofs, beams, ceilings all interior compartments
ISO 834 / ASTM E119 / UL 263 / NFPA 251 / EN 1365-2
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Typical Time Temperature Curve for Fire Resistance
Fire Resistance Furnaces
View inside a horizontal furnace
Hydraulic loading to the top of the furnace
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Related IssuesOverlaps with non combustibility
Some economies focus on non combustibility. If it doesn’t burn, don’t worry about it.
Need some focus on contents
Major concern as we move to Green Codes and Green Construction.
Reaction to Fire
Deals with ◦ Flame spread◦ Heat release (peak and total)◦ Smoke (average, peak and total)◦ Toxicity of the smoke
Good Reaction to Fire creates time to escape!
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Three Main Tests
North American – Focuses on flame spread & smoke
Europe & China – Focuses on HRR, SRR & flame spread.
Small-scale - Cone Calorimeter –Focuses on Heat Release – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Canada
It is not always the fire that kills.
Kiss Nightclub, Brazil
Matralaya, India
Shanghai Apartment Fire
Station Nightclub, U.S.
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Concern with Green Codes
Selection of materials◦ Increasing flammability
Restrictions on fire retardantsNeed to balance properties & performance
Fire performance should be part of every Green Building Code!
Seismic Provisions
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Two Types of Earthquake Damage
Structural (developing economies)◦ Type of building◦ Preventative measures◦ Ground motion
Nonstructural (more developed economies)◦ System & components within the building
“Standard” Structural Performance Levels in Earthquakes
Joe’sBeer!Food!
Beer!Food!
Operational LifeSafety
CollapsePrevention
Beer!Food!
Joe’s
ImmediateOccupancy
Damage or Loss0% 99%
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Collapse• Complete structural collapse
•Significant injury and major lose of life
•Complete permanent loss of use
•Rebuild is only option
•Loss = 100%
Collapse Prevention Level
Extensive (near complete) structural and non-structural damageSignificant potential for injury but not wide scale loss of lifeExtended loss of useRepair may not be practicalLoss >> 30%
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Life Safety Level
Significant structural damageSome injuries may occurExtensive non-structural damageBuilding not safe for reoccupancy until repairedLosses < 30%
Beer!Beer!Food!Food!
Joe’s
Immediate Occupancy LevelNegligible structural damageOccupants safe during eventMinor nonstructural damageBuilding is safe to occupy but may not functionLimited interruption of operationsLosses < 15%
Beer!Beer!Food!Food!
Joe’s
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Operational Level
Negligible structural and nonstructural damageOccupants are safe during eventUtilities are availableFacility is available for immediate re-use (some cleanup required)Loss < 5% of replacement value
Joe’sBeer!Beer!Food!Food!
Typical Investment in Building Construction
0%20%40%60%80%
100%
Office
Hotel
Hospita
l
Type of Construction
% o
f Con
stru
ctio
n C
ost Contents
NonstructuralStructural
Why Nonstructural Focus?
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Nonstructural Damage
From economies that had seismic requirements for nonstructural components
Green Code Development
All economies in potentially active seismic areas should have some seismic provisions, both structural and nonstructural.
The goal is to protect occupants, allow escape and get building to operational state quickly.
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Experiences of a Global Company
Initial focus to identify◦ Building codes & regulations◦ Fire codes◦ Seismic codes◦ Green efforts & codes
Initial focus on well established, mature economies
ProblemsCustomized codes & regulationsCustomized local testsLanguage barriers◦ Terminology◦ Actual language
4 to 5 year effort – 40 economies covered. How can you help?