(a) An automatic fire suppression system (automatic sprinkler system) shall be installed throughout the building. The system shall be designed using the parameters set forth in the applicable standards of the Building Code and National Fire Protection Association Standard 13 including shutoff valves and a water flow device provided for each floor.
(b) Areas of refuge (compartmentation) shall be provided as follows:
(1) Each floor and every story shall be divided into a minimum of two areas of approximately the same size with no such area exceeding 15,000 square feet, unless otherwise approved by the Building Official and the Chief Fire Official. The wall and doors between the areas of refuge shall be constructed as required for a horizontal exit in the Building Code.
(2) Each area of refuge (compartment) shall have direct access to a smoke proof enclosure. Each area of refuge (compartment) shall have direct access to an elevator as required by the Building Code. When elevators are directly accessible to more than one compartment, the elevator lobby shall be separated from the compartments by not less than two-hour fire-resistance rated construction with tight fitting opening protectives having fire-resistance ratings of not less than one and one-half hours.
(3) Walls used for compartmenting a building shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than two hours. Duct penetrations of this wall shall not be permitted unless smoke and fire dampers are provided as required in accordance with the 1981 National Fire Protection Association standard 90A, and which are actuated by an automatic smoke detector located in the duct work, and by an automatic smoke detector located within each compartment space separated by the compartmentation wall. Such dampers shall be equal to Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association Inc. standards and Underwriters' Laboratory standard 555. All such dampers shall bear the proper Underwriters' Laboratory label. Ferrous or copper piping and conduit may penetrate or pass through the wall only if the openings around such piping and conduit are sealed with impervious noncombustible materials sufficiently tight to prevent the transfer of smoke or combustible gases from one side of the wall to the other and are so maintained. The fire door serving as the horizontal exit between compartments shall be so installed, fitted and gasketed that it will provide a substantial barrier to the passage of smoke. These fire doors shall be self-closing and be activated by smoke detector(s) located on both sides of the fire door.
(4) The fire-resistive floor or the floor/ceiling construction shall extend to and be tight against the exterior wall so that the fire-resistive integrity between stories is maintained. No penetrations or other installations which will impair the fire-resistive integrity of the floor or floor/ceiling assembly shall be permitted in conformance with 1981 National Fire Protection Association standard 90A, and as required by the Building Code.
(5) Walls required to have a one hour fire-resistive rating may be penetrated by ducts without dampers if such ducts are constructed of galvanized sheet metal of at least twenty-six gauge thickness.
(c) An approved smoke detection system suitable for the intended use as provided by the Building Code shall be installed in:
(1) Every mechanical equipment, electrical, transformer, telephone equipment, elevator machine, storage or similar room.
(2) Each connection to a vertical duct or riser serving two or more stories from return air ducts or plenums of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
(3) In corridors of all buildings.
The actuation of any detector required by this section shall operate the required voice alarm system and shall place into operation all equipment necessary to prevent the recirculation of smoke.
(d) Alarm and communication systems shall be provided. The alarm and communication system shall be so designed and installed that damage to any terminal unit or speaker will not render more than one zone of the system inoperative. A single communication system may be designed to serve the voice alarm, public address and Fire Department communication system as follows:
(1) The operation of any smoke detection, sprinkler waterflow device or manual fire alarm station shall automatically activate a voice alarm system. Activation of the system shall automatically sound an alert signal to the desired areas. The voice alarm system shall provide a predetermined message approved by the Fire Department on a selective basis to the area where the alarm originated and shall provide information and give direction to the occupants. The alarm shall be designed to be heard clearly by all occupants within the building or designated portions thereof as is required for the public address system. The central control station shall contain controls for the voice alarm system so that a selective or general voice alarm may be manually initiated. The system shall be continuously electrically supervised against component failure of the audiopath including amplifiers, speaker wiring, switches and electrical contacts and shall detect opens, shorts and grounds which might impair the function of the system.
(2) A public address communication system designed to be clearly heard by all occupants of the building shall operate from the central control station. It shall be established on a selective or general basis to the following terminal areas:
A. Elevators;
B. Elevator lobbies;
C. Corridors;
D. Exitway stairways;
E. Rooms and tenant spaces exceeding 1,000 square feet in area and to each compartmented space;
F. All roof exits.
(3) A two-way Fire Department communication system shall be provided for Fire Department use in any building more than four stories in height. It shall operate between the central control station and every elevator, elevator lobby and entry to every enclosed exitway stairway.
(4) The operation of any alarm system shall automatically notify the Fire Department of the name and address of the building.
(e) A central control station for Fire Department operations shall be provided in a location approved by the Fire Department in any building more than four stories in height. It shall contain:
(1) The voice alarm and public address system panels;
(2) The Fire Department communications panel for two-way Fire Department communications;
(3) Fire detection and alarm system annunciator panels;
(4) Status indicator for elevators;
(5) Status indicators and controls for air handling systems;
(6) Controls for unlocking all stairway doors simultaneously;
(7) Sprinkler valve and waterflow detector display panels;
(8) Emergency power, light and emergency system controls and status indicators;
(9) A telephone for Fire Department use with controlled access to the public telephone system.
(f) Natural and/or mechanical ventilation for the removal of products of combustion (smoke) shall be provided in every story and shall consist of:
(1) Panels or windows in the exterior walls which can be opened automatically or manually from within the fire floor. Such venting facilities shall be provided at the rate of twenty square feet per fifty lineal feet of exterior wall in each story and shall be distributed around the perimeter at not more than fifty-foot intervals. Such windows or panels and their controls shall be clearly identified.
(2) Mechanical air handling equipment shall be designed to accomplish smoke removal. Under fire conditions the return and exhaust air shall be moved directly to the outside without recirculation to other sections of the building, and normal rate of air exchange shall be maintained.
(g) Elevator operation and installation shall be in accordance with the Building Code and National Fire Protection Association standards and the following:
(1) In any building which has an elevator or elevators at least one elevator shall be provided for Fire Department emergency access to all floors. The elevator shall be located in a smokeproof enclosure; or shall open into a lobby, which may serve additional elevators, separated from the remainder of the building by two-hour fire-resistance rated construction. Exitway stairways, chutes, janitor closets, guest or tenant rooms and service rooms shall not open into the elevator lobby. The elevator cab shall be of such size to easily accommodate an ambulance cot twenty-four inches by seventy-six inches in its horizontal open position.
(2) Each elevator call station shall have an illuminated sign which flashes on and off to show the words "EMERGENCY-USE THE EXIT STAIRS" when any elevator lobby smoke detector is activated. The words shall be not less than one-inch block letters.
(h) In any building more than four stories in height, emergency power, light and emergency systems shall comply with the following:
(1) A permanently installed on-site power generation system shall be provided. All power, lighting, signal and communication facilities provided under the requirements of this chapter, including an independent ventilation system for the emergency power generator room, shall be transferable to the emergency power source.
A. The electrical power requirements for sizing the emergency power generation systems shall include but not be limited to the following:
1. Fire protection equipment, including fire pumps;
2. Mechanical ventilation equipment required by this chapter including power-operated windows;
3. Elevator cars required by elevator section;
4. Emergency lighting;
5. The normal loads of all other facilities classed as emergency. The regular light and power circuits supplying such facilities are classified as emergency systems and shall be automatically transferable to the emergency power generation system.
(2) Emergency lighting shall include but not be limited to the following:
A. Separate lighting circuits and facilities sufficient to provide light with an intensity not less than one foot-candle measured at floor level in all exitway access corridors, stairways, smokeproof enclosures, elevators, elevator lobbies and other areas which are clearly part of the means of egress;
B. All circuits supplying lighting for the central control station, the emergency power generator rooms, and other rooms housing control equipment for mechanical systems required by this chapter shall be transferable to the emergency power system.
(3) All electrical systems and facilities required by this chapter and classified as emergency shall be installed in an approved manner. The following systems and lighting loads are classified as emergency facilities and shall operate within ten seconds of primary power failure:
A. Required lighted exit signs and exit pathway illumination;
B. Fire alarm and sprinkler alarm systems;
C. Fire and smoke detection systems;
D. Elevator car lighting and flashing "EMERGENCY-USE THE EXIT STAIRS" signs;
E. Stairway door control systems;
F. Voice communication systems.
(i) Exits shall comply with other requirements of the Building Code and the following:
(1) All stairway doors which are to be locked from the stairway side shall have the capability of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the central control station.
(2) A telephone or other two-way communications system connected to an approved emergency service which operates continuously shall be provided at the top floor and at not less than every fifth floor in each required stairway where other provisions of the Building Code permit the doors to be locked.
(j) Manual fire alarm systems (pull stations) shall be required in all buildings, The manual fire alarm systems shall meet the requirements of the Building Code.
(k) Wet standpipe systems shall be required in all buildings. Standpipe systems shall meet the requirements of the Building Code and the following:
(1) One standpipe connection of two and one-half inches shall be required at the top of each stairway to be used on the roof.
(l) Smokeproof enclosure consisting of a continuous stairway, enclosed from the highest point to the lowest point shall be required in all buildings. Smokeproof enclosure shall meet the requirements of the Building Code and the following:
(1) Every stairway shall extend on to the roof level in the same manner as the rest of the stairway.
(2) Smokeproof enclosures shall be ventilated with natural or mechanical ventilation meeting the requirements of the Building Code.
(m) Hand-operated manual fire extinguishing appliances shall be required in all buildings. Hand-operated manual fire extinguishing appliances shall meet the requirements of the Building Code and Fire Code and National Fire Protection Association standard 10.
(n) No requirement of the Building Code or Fire Code shall reduce any requirement of this chapter.
(o) All fire protection systems shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and shall be periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the Fire Code, All inspections shall be logged in a journal kept available for inspection by the Fire Department. Any fire protection system not specifically covered by the Fire Code shall be inspected quarterly and shall include all of the following:
(1) Automatic sprinkler system,
(2) Automatic venting systems,
(3) Standpipe systems,
(4) Alarm and communication systems,
(5) Public address systems,
(6) Two-way Fire Department communication systems,
(7) Central communication systems,
(8) Emergency power generators,
(9) Emergency lighting,
(10) Manual fire alarm systems,
(11) Hand-operated manual fire extinguishing appliances.
The Fire Department may use any time period listed in any National Fire Protection Association standard in lieu of the quarterly inspection for those systems not covered by the Fire Code.
(p) The following design concepts of the building shall be included in the fire safety plan as listed in the Fire Code. This fire safety plan must be approved by the Fire Chief and shall be explained to all tenants and their employees of any building covered by this chapter.
(1) Compartmentation.
(2) Sprinkler system.
(3) Smokeproof enclosure.
(4) Communications systems.
(q) Clear, printed instructions approved by the Fire Chief shall be posted for all emergency systems listed in this chapter.
(Ord 81-87. Passed 12-15-81.)