1. Designing Building Fire Safety EKU

2. What is Building Fire Safety Limiting Damage to the Building Preventing Damage to Occupants Reducing Fire Spread within the Structure

3. History of Buildings In ancient times people lived in fields. Animals ate people Things got ugly

4. People moved to Caves Caves offered shelter Caves gave residents protection from rain and wind They were cold Reptiles like caves too!

5. Fire safety was not a concern in caves! Caves are inherently fire resistive –Noncombustible construction –Inherent sprinkler system Decorations were limited –Drawings on the walls made with sticks –Animal skins on the floor Caves are cold – most didn’t like that

6. Some moved to the beach It was warmer there. They couldn’t take their caves with them. People needed roofs to keep the rain off of them. They built thatched roofs. Life was good.

7. Someone decided to make walls –They wanted to keep the wind out –Maybe someone got modest… Walls were made of thatch too. Still there weren’t many decorations – –Except the occasional shrunk skull…. Fire became a problem –Huts burned –People had to be careful with fire now.

8. Research did not reveal the number of fire injuries or fatalities when thatch huts burned. Huts had a short life-span – the thatch rotted and had to be replaced routinely. Sometimes one could catch thatch from an neighbor’s hut when winds blew hard!

9. Stick built walls were replaced with mud and stone This was a movable cave (as far as rocks are movable) Roofs were still thatch but at least the walls wouldn’t burn

10. Castles Someone learned how to stack lots of rocks together They learned to put poles in the walls to make floors –Now they had multi level caves What were castle roofs made of?

11. Fire could be a problem but not too bad – Castles were cold – just like caves so fire was important there. Motes provided water to fight fire with bucket brigades.

12. Castles started the process of living in cities Kings ruled everything in the castle – People had choices in normal cities When the neighbor’s house burned, flames could quickly spread

13. Ordinary Construction Masonry walls – wooden joists Prevalent construction method for centuries

14. Wooden structure could burn Masonry walls were designed to limit fire spread between buildings Combustible contents were present Lesser fuel load than we are now accustomed to

15. Wood frame structures Remember the huts? Heavier structure than huts but combustible Still limited contents First log construction

16. Followed by Balloon Frame construction Dimensioned lumber used Arranged in frame

17. Wooden structures burned – (heavy huts) Contents and structure burn Nothing to prevent fire spread structure to structure Interior flame spread now an issue

18. Building Codes Sometime around 1700s BC (that is a long time ago….) Code of Hammurabi included Building Codes Could include the death penalty

19. More modern codes Rome England United States

20. Affluence brings fire problems Affluence – define Stuff comes with affluence Stuff burns Stuff spreads flames Stuff is why we need bigger buildings Often egress is blocked by? –STUFF

21. Principles of Building Fire Safety Save the structure Prevent fire from spreading between compartments Prevent fire spread building to building

22. Principles of Life Safety in Buildings Provide egress –Access –Time Limit smoke spread Limit flame spread Prevent flames extending beyond compartment of origin

23. Methods of Protecting Buildings Use of non-combustible materials Construction that resists fire Install interior finishes with limited flame spread Furnishings with limited combustion potential –Heat Release Rate –Smoke Generation

24. The History of Plastics, American Plastics Council (2006) History of Plastics

25. The History of Plastics, American Plastics Council (2006) Since 1976, plastic is the most used material in the World

26. Life Protection Maintain egress Assure products of combustion do not reach egress Limited flame spread Limit smoke generation

27. Building Classifications Type I – Fire Resistive Type II – Non-combustible Type III – Ordinary (masonry – wood joist) Type IV – Heavy Timber (mill) Type V – Wood Frame

28. Fire resistance ratings Indicated in three numbers –111, 222, 244, etc 111111

29. Hourly Ratings First Digit- Hourly requirements for exterior bearing wall fronting on a street lot line. Second Digit- Hourly requirement for structural frame or columns and girders supporting loads from more than one floor. Third Digit- Hourly requirements for floor construction.

30. Test for Building Fire Ratings Standard Time Temperature Curve –Developed in 1928 –Referenced in ASTM 119 and NFPA____ tests Examines the ability of structural assemblies to resist specific criteria.

32. http://www.promat-tunnel.com/idprt004.htm#

33. Flame Spread Steiner Tunnel Test –Developed in 1944 –Referenced by ASTM E-84, NFPA 255, UL 723 –Flame spread ratings Class A Class B Class C

34. Steiner Test Tunnel

36. Smoke Generation NFPA 258

37. Our Priority Protect residents –Detect fire –Limit spread –Provide Egress Protect the building –Resist fire affects on structure –Confine fire

38. Concerns - Masonry walls with high flame spread finish may allow a rapidly developing, short lived fire. Thin low flame spread materials may allow flame penetration to other combustibles.

39. Concerns for people Adequate egress –Travel Distance –Accessibility –Identifiable –Operability –Flame spread during egress –Smoke conditions during egress

40. Concerns for building How can fire reach the structure? How will the structure react? What is in place to limit damage?

41. We will discuss Fire protection systems –Active –Passive Fire department operations Occupant responsibilities