Date
6-2016
Degree Name
MS in Fire Protection Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Frederick Mowrer and Christopher Pascual
Abstract
The purpose of this analysis is to assess how the Customer Delivery Center (CDC) satisfies prescriptive design requirements of the 2012 International Building Code (IBC) for fire exiting, structural design, smoke detection, alarm notification and communication and water-based fire suppression. A performance-based analysis is then performed using hand calculations and computer-based models to determine if the available safe egress time exceeds the required safe egress time from the building. In order to complete this analysis, the issued-for-construction design and the contractor submittals were made accessible by the owner’s fire protection engineer and the project management group overseeing construction. These documents were reviewed and a thorough study was performed using the 2012 IBC, the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (LSC) and other NFPA standards. All design elements that have been analyzed meet the IBC 2012 code requirements for safe egress. Occupants of this multi-use facility have been characterized and literature has been used to identify model parameters to determine total evacuation time for the building. The estimated total required evacuation time ranges from 6.5 to 9.9 minutes after alarm notification. The structural design satisfies all prescriptive requirements. The construction and building elements are designed to meet Type I-A per the IBC Section 503. The alarm system satisfies all prescriptive requirements. The current NFPA National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (2013) and handbooks for fire alarm and signaling and system commissioning were consulted. Although a couple of omissions in the drawings were found during this analysis, only one recommendation for improving the design is made. Visual inspection of the ceiling mounted strobes in the warehouse should be performed to ensure that all areas have visibility of the signal. The water supply is sufficient in capacity and pressure to meet the system demand. The current NFPA standards for automatic sprinkler systems, private fire service mains, rack storage and system commissioning were consulted. The water suppression system design exceeds the minimum requirements in the code for water protection. No recommendations for improving the design have been made. Several performance based analyses are considered based on a hazard assessment and criteria from the Life Safety Code. The results of the performance based analysis of an open office workstation fire are included. A design fire in the third floor open office area results in tenable conditions of visibility, temperature and toxicity for allowing occupants to safely leave the third floor and all occupants to safely exit the building. Finally, a prescriptive analysis and a performance based analysis of an exterior exposure fire involving an aircraft fuel spill is included. Background on the NFPA 415 “Standard for Airport Terminal Buildings, Fueling Ramp Drainage, and Loading Walkways” (2016) is provided. Life safety and asset protection objectives are met by a combination of building features.
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fpe_rpt/52
Final Presentation
DOI
10.15368/fperpt.2016.1