Ajay Gulati, P.E.Smithsonian Institution

Contact: gulatia@si.edu, 202-633-2605 (W)

FIRE&LIFE

SAFETY

ZoologicalParks

Goals of Presentation

• Fire safety issues at zoological parks

• Standards for Fire Protection and Life Safety Animal Housing Facility

• National Zoo projects• Challenges• Conclusion• Questions

2013 Animal Losses Due to a Fire

• January – 291,000• February – 56,167• March – 71,327• April – 7• May – 1,784• June – 2,936• July – 10,372• August – 1,526• September – 168• October – 20,216• November – 20,194• December – 923

• Total 476,620 Animals• On average 1,305 animals

perish each day because of a fire in the facility housing these animals

Notable Zoo Fires• 1995 Philadelphia Zoo - 23 gorillas, orangutans, gibbons and lemurs, all

endangered species died. • 2008 South Lakes Animal Park – 30 lemurs perish• 2006 Paignton Zoo – 3 giraffes died• 2010 Reigel Nature Center fire kills most petting zoo animals - Between 30 and

40 animals died.• 2007 Indy Zoo Fire - Several Indianapolis Zoo animals were killed this weekend

when a fire began in one of the facility's holding rooms.• 2008 Safari Joe Exotic Wildlife Refuge - 80 to 100 animals (several monkeys,

reptiles and birds) • Oklahoma Wildlife Refuge - 304 horses • 2006 Tri-State Zoological Park – 102 animals (turtles, parrots, iguanas, monkeys,

etc.• 2011 Animal Kingdom Pet Store and Zoo – 3 giraffes died• 2013 San Antonio Zoo – Komodo dragon died• 2013 Five Sisters – several reptiles, 11 meerkats perish

• 650 zoo animals died between 2006 and 2013

Fire Safety Challenges in Zoos

• Animals

• Animal comforts

• Animal enclosure

• Design

Building Codes and Standards

• ICC Codes• NFPA• National Fire Protection

Association (NFPA 150) Standard for Fire Protection and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities

NFPA 150

• Purpose – Prevent the loss of animal life, human life and property from fire and other emergencies by providing minimum requirements for design, construction, operation and maintenance of facilities where animals are housed.

• Application – Barns, kennels, racetrack stables, animal shelters, animal hospitals, veterinary facilities, Zoos, special amusements, etc..• New construction – all animal housing

facilities• Existing construction –change of

occupancy,

• Retroactivity – Existing construction• AHJ decision

NFPA 150 Classification

• Classification of Facility • Class I – Building with no general public

access• Class II – Building with restricted general

public access• Class III – Building with general public

access

• Animal Categories• Category A –Any animal group that is

• A risk to the health or safety of rescuers• A risk to the general public• Cannot be removed without the risk to the health

and welfare of the animal, • Not mobile• Impractical to move.

• Category B – all other animal groups

NFPA 150 Requirements

• General Requirements for Facilities with Categories A & B Animals• Fire Rated Separation• Means of Egress

• Additional General Requirements for Facilities with Category A Animals• Sprinkler protection• Smoke control system • Fire alarm system

• Local Jurisdiction

continued

NZP PROJECTS

• Elephant Trails

• Fire Alarm Upgrade

• Automatic Sprinkler

• Smoke Control Systems

FIRE ALARM CHALLENGES

• Response Time

FIRE ALARM CHALLENGES

• Responding Emergency Personnel

FIRE ALARM CHALLENGES

• Fire Alarm Noise Stress

FIRE ALARM CHALLENGES

• Detection (Beam Detectors)

FIRE ALARM CHALLENGES

• Notification in the Yard

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER

CHALLENGES • Animals• Curiosity• Risk

SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM

• Available Data

• Keeper’s Input• Temperatures• Breathing zones• Toxicity

• Where to get the Make-up Air?

Conclusion

• Serious Matter

• NFPA 150- Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities

• Approach• Fire Prevention

QUESTIONS

Contact Information Ajay Gulati, P.E.Fire Protection Engineer202-633-2605 (office)gulatia@si.edu