Orfalea College of Business Fire Safety Analysis

Author

Garth Ornelas, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

Date

3-2017

Degree Name

MS in Fire Protection Engineering

College

College of Engineering

Advisor

Frederick Mowrer and Christopher Pascual

Abstract

The following report discusses the fire and life safety factors for the Orfalea College of Business Building located on the main campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The building functions are primarily administrative and academic in nature, with various lecture halls, offices, and labs located throughout the building. The Business Building was constructed in 1989 following the 1985 Uniform Building Code (UBC). For the purposes of this report, the building will be evaluated using the 2015 International Building Code, NFPA Life Safety Code Handbook (Thirteenth Edition), SFPE Handbook (4th and 5th Editions), and the NFPA handbooks relevant to each individual section. The prescriptive fire safety features that will be examined in the building will be divided into categories including egress analysis, fire detection, alarm and communication systems, water based fire suppression, structural fire protection, and tenability. The performance-based design of the building will be carried out with the goals outlined in the Life Safety Code (13th edition) including ASET >RSET with minimal loss of life and property damage. The performance criteria of the FDS model will be based on methods 1 and 2 for performance-based design outlined in the LSC Handbook (13th edition) The performance-based design will be carried out using Pathfinder and FDS to simulate a design fire that was selected to reflect a serious threat to the occupants in the building Following the performance based design criteria outlined in methods 1 and 2 of the LSC (13th edition), the proposed design fire ensures that incapacitation does not occur, however visibility is lost. This satisfies method 1 of the performance based design which states that no occupant shall be incapacitated by the effects of fire for the duration required for the required safe egress time. Method 2 of the design fails because this performance goal is to ensure that the toxic gas layer does not fall below 6 feet at any point during the simulation. In order to maintain the functionality of smoke doors and barriers, doors that are not designed to be help open should be kept closed. Hallway obstructions on the third and fourth floors should be removed to ensure a clear egress route. If complete coverage of smoke detectors is a safety goal of the building, smaller offices should install smoke detection devices. Foliage between the Business and Education should be removed to maintain a safe exterior exposure separation.