Ajay Gulati, P.E. Smithsonian Institution Contact: FIRE&LIFE SAFETY Zoological Parks

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 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 Indy Zoo Fire - Several Indianapolis Zoo animals were killed this weekend when a fire began in one of the facility's holding rooms Safari Joe Exotic Wildlife Refuge - 80 to 100 animals (several monkeys, reptiles and birds) Oklahoma Wildlife Refuge horses 2006 Tri-State Zoological Park – 102 animals (turtles, parrots, iguanas, monkeys, etc 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 Engineer (office)