Fire and Life Safety: Notification and Emergency Communication Systems

Fire and Life Safety: Notification and Emergency

Communication Systems

1. The audience will understand applicable sections of the 2013 edition of NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.

2. Attendees will learn the design criteria for emergency communications systems (ECS).

3. Viewers will understand the factors required to be considered when designing mass notification systems (MNS), a subset of emergency notification.

4. Viewers will learn how to apply (and subsequently specify) available notification technologies in ECS and MNS applications.

Learning Objectives

Ray Grill, PE, FSFPE, LEED AP, Arup, Washington, D.C.

Moderator: Jack Smith, Consulting-Specifying Engineer and CFE Media, LLC

Presenters:

Sponsored by:



Ray Grill, PE, FSFPE, LEED APPrincipal

Arup

Agenda

• ECS in the context of NFPA 72• Overview of NFPA 72 requirement for

designing ECS and risk analysis required• Key considerations for the analysis• Design features driven by the risk analysis• NFPA 72 requirements for notification

appliances

Chapter 24 – Emergency Communications

Systems Addressed

• 24.4 One-way ECS– 24.4.2 In-building Fire EVACS– 24.4.3 In-building MNS– 24.4.4 Wide-area MNS– 24.4.5 Distributed Recipient MNS

• 24.5 Two-way ECS– 24.5.1 Two-way in-building wired– 24.5.2 Two-way radio enhancement– 24.5.3 Area of refuge ECS– 24.5.4 Elevator ECS

Why Risk Analysis in NFPA 72?

• Incorporated into the Scope for ECS TC• Recognizes that emergency

communications need to be designed to be:– Specific to the facilities and hazards– Coordinated with the emergency response plan

• Prescriptive requirements can not address all situations

What is a risk analysis?

• In the context of NFPA 72:

– 3.3.246 Risk Analysis. A process to characterize the likelihood, vulnerability, and magnitude of incidents associated with natural, technological, and manmade disasters and other emergencies that address scenarios of concern, their probability, and their potential consequences.

Risk Analysis vs. Emergency Response Plan

NFPA 72 Definition

• 3.3.93 Emergency Response Plan. A documented set of actions to address response to natural, technological, and man-made disasters and other emergencies prepared by the stakeholders from information obtained during the risk analysis.

New to the 2013 Edition

When is a Risk Analysis Required?

• When other signals need to take priority over fire


• Determination of pathway survivability for ECS circuits when not specifically defined in NFPA 72– MNS circuits may have a different level of survivability

than circuits required for fire emergencies

24.3 ECS – General Requirements

2016 Proposed Change to Survivability for Fire EVAC

• Two new exceptions– Level 1 survivability shall be permitted if

the building construction is less than 2 hour rated

– Circuits required to be survivable are Class X and the runs are separated by at least 1/3 the diagonal of the notification zone through which they are passing


• When providing a mass notification system (MNS)

2016 Proposed Changes

• 24.3.11.2 The detail and complexity of the risk analysis shall be commensurate with the complexity of the facility for which the mass notification system is designed.

• 24.3.11.3 The risk analysis shall be permitted to be limited in scope to address the communication requirements of an existing emergency response plan.


• 24.4.3 In-Building Mass Notification Systems



• 24.4.4 Wide-Area Mass Notification


• 24.6 Information, Command and Control

Tools for the Risk Analysis

• A.24.3.11.1

Emergency Response Plan

• Emergency response team structure• Emergency response procedures

– Related to building system emergencies,– Personnel/occupant emergencies– Terrorism– Events of nature

• Emergency response equipment• Notification/communication

– Message content – Authority to communicate– Initiation procedure

• Emergency response training and drills

Design Considerations

• Management/staff capabilities

• Extent of notification

• Coordination with the emergency response plan

MNS Design Features driven by Risk Analysis

• Capability for remote operation• Definition of notification zones• Survivability of speaker circuits• Priority of signals and messages

(MNS versus fire)


• Inclusion of devices to automatically activate MNS notification (i.e. CBRN)

• Type, location and security of control and interface equipment

• Control of other building systems (i.e., elevators, HVAC, security, process, etc.)

• Need for wide area MNS


Framework for Risk Analysis

I. Project description

II. Goals and purpose of MNS (user driven)

III. Expected characteristics of the occupants and management

IV. Occupancy/use characteristics

V. Anticipated events presenting a risk

VI. Design features required to address events presenting a risk

Chapter 18 – Notification Appliances

• 18.4.1.4.1 – Designer required to identify rooms and spaces requiring audible notification

• 18.4.1.4.2 – Only requires audible devices in occupiable areas

• 18.4.1.4.3 – Requires the designer to document the sound pressure levels required to be produced

• 18.5.2 – Requires documentation of visual appliances


• Designing for Intelligibility

• Designing for Intelligibility


• 18.4.10.2.1 – Specifically states that intelligibility is not required in every ADS (Acoustically Distinguishable Space)

• 2010 Edition of 72 incorporated the requirement that the designer identify ADSs

ADS Example


• Table 18.5.5.4.1 (a) – Revised to delete the column for installations using two lights per room on opposite walls

Sponsored by:

Thank you!

Ray Grill, PE, FSFPE, LEED APPrincipal

Arup1120 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 200

Washington, DC [email protected]

Ray Grill, PE, FSFPE, LEED AP, Arup, Washington, D.C.

Moderator: Jack Smith, Consulting-Specifying Engineer and CFE Media, LLC

Presenters:



Education

Fire and Life Safety: Notification and Emergency Communication Systems