Date

3-2015

Degree Name

MS in Fire Protection Engineering

College

College of Engineering

Advisor

Frederick Mowrer and Christopher Pascual

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to analyze Building 310 with regards to fire and life safety. Analysis was done both prescriptively and from a performance based design standpoint. The prescriptive based analysis includes review of the building’s design with regards to egress, fire alarm systems, suppression systems, and structural fire protection. The building was reviewed against current NFPA codes and the International Building Code to examine compliance. The performance-based analysis consists of two different fire scenarios that were examined. The goal was to show that the building met safety criteria and does not pose undue risk to occupants. This method employs alternate criteria and strategies to prove safety in ways other than the prescriptive based codes. The fire scenarios consist of a fire originating in a small office, and another fire originating in the kitchen of a restaurant area. The building was designed in compliance with all applicable codes, with one exception. A mezzanine located in one of the restaurant areas is under designed and requires another exit. This is shown using both prescriptive codes and performance-based analysis. Other areas of the overall fire protection system of the building are over designed. The sprinkler system has at least one unnecessary branch line. The separating walls of the building have a higher fire rating than is required as well. This report recommends adding one more exit to the mezzanine.

DOI

10.15368/fperpt.2015.4

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