Chapter 9

Approximately 75% of all codes deal with fire and life safety.

The ultimate goal of the fire codes is to confine a fire to the room of origin, and therefore limit the spread of the fires and prevent flashover.

There are approximately 3,500 deaths in the US each year due to fires, most of which are residential.

74% of structural fires are residential Causes of fires are: cooking, smoking, heating

and arson. The first 5-10 minutes of a fire are the most

critical. The products that a designer specifies can either contribute to the growth or prevent it’s spread.

All the components a designer specifies become crucial elements in the early stages of a fire.

Stage I: time of ignition and initial fire growth. A fire-suppression method should seek to extinguish the fire while it is contained.

Stage II: The growth stage. This is when the fires starts to ignite other materials in the immediate area to include the finishes, fabrics and furnishings.

Stage III: During this stage, the fire is fully developed. Extreme smoke and toxic gasses are throughout.

They place strict requirements on the materials that are used to construct a building as well as the materials used inside the building.

Fire ratings are assigned to various types of construction types. Type I is the strictest and Type V is the least restrictive. (Chapter 3)

Smoke control is a relatively new field compared to fire control.

Codes are now including smoke control because more people die from asphyxiation (carbon monoxide poisoning) due to smoke than from burns.

Toxicity of smoke is a large factorSmoke travels quicklySmoke causes obstruction of sight

One of the worst fires in American history. In the early days of WWII, on November 28th, 1942, more than 1,000 were celebrating. Fire started when a busboy lit a match to see to replace a light bulb. The flammable paper palm trees caught fire and the satin ceiling fabric help spread the fire.

Many lives could have been saved, but 492 died that night due to lack of exit lighting, locked exit doors, revolving doors and doors that opened inward. Also, the occupancy load for the club was only 460. Major steps in fire prevention followed this fire to include (Boston Fire Code): emergency lighting, placing O.L. place cards, Exit signs, banning flammable decorations, and outward swinging doors adjacent to revolving doors.

Beverly Hills Supper Club: (Kentucky, 1977) 164 die from Beverly Hills Supper Club: (Kentucky, 1977) 164 die from smoke inhalation. Smoke was carried through air ducts and smoke inhalation. Smoke was carried through air ducts and toxin killed many guests while seated at their tables.toxin killed many guests while seated at their tables.

Code Violations

Carpeting and paneling did not meet code

No sprinkler system

4th exit required in Cabaret Room

OL: of 511 was more than double

February 20, 2003 in Rhode Island

Pyrotechnics (Great White) starts fire through contact with flammable sound proofing materials.

Within 3 minutes, building was on fire with toxic smoke spreading through the building.

100 people died from this fire, had a sprinkler system been in place, the deaths would not have happened.

Many fatal fires have been attributed to the finishes and upholstery used in its interior.

Boston’s Cocoanut Grove Night Club burned in 1942 killing 492. In response to this fire, Boston created the Boston Fire Code which regulates interior finishes.

Codes give strict instruction on the selection of finishes since they often ignite and rapidly spread a fires.

Example: Using a wallcovering that is not flame resistant could spread a fires very rapidly down a long corridor.

Ceilings finishes: suspended ceilings, soffits, beams

Wall finishes: wall coverings, movable wall partitions, columns

Floor finishes: floor coverings, ramps, stair risers

Window coverings: Draperies, blinds, shutters

Furniture Finishes: exposed and unexposed surfaces (fabrics, wood veneers, laminates, foam drapery linings, etc.)

Furniture: whole pieces, mattresses, padding, assemblies

The two main sources for interior finish regulations are building codes and the LSC (Life Safety Codes-NFPA101)

Many individual cities have adopted their own regulation. Some of the most stringent are California, Boston, New York, Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Most codes are not very detailed, but rather they refer you to a number of standards that you must follow.

Remember, the codes set minimum standards.

Also known as ASTM E-84, NFPA 255, or UL 723. Develop by A.J. Steiner for the Underwriters

Laboratories after WWI. Adopted by ASTM and NFPA in 1958.

It’s purpose is to test the surface burning characteristics of wall and ceiling finishes during a stage II fire. It provides data on flame spread (the speed at which a fire may spread) and smoke density (how much visibility there is in a given access route).

Procedure: 24’ long sample x 20” wide is place on the ceiling of a long tunnel. Double gas burners are ignited for a 10 minute duration. Air is introduced into the tunnel at the other end to pull the gas flame upstream about 4’. The distance of the burn on the test sample is measured to determine the flame spread.

All materials are rated on a scale ranging from 0 to 200.

The test material is compared to two materials Glass reinforced cement board (rated 0, does not burn) Red oak flooring (rated 100, medium)

All wall and ceiling finishes will be rated into one of three classifications. Class A: Flame Spread rating of 0-25, smoke density of 0-450 Class B: Flame Spread rating of 26-75, smoke density of 0-450 Class C: Flame spread of 76-200, smoke density of 0-450.

Also known as ASTM E648. Used to rate interior floor finishes. It’s purpose deals specifically with measuring flame spread in a corridor or exit way which is under the influence of a fully developed fire in an adjacent room. The fully developed fire transmits heat and radiant energy to the ceilings and walls of the corridor, which ignite the carpet, thus blocking the means of escape. Not all spaces require this test, only exits Not all spaces require this test, only exits and access to exits are typically and access to exits are typically regulated. The higher the number, the regulated. The higher the number, the more resistant the carpet is to flame. The more resistant the carpet is to flame. The lower the number, the more likely it will lower the number, the more likely it will spread flamespread flame

Two Classifications Class I: Critical radiant flux, minimum

of .45 watts per square centimeter (Hospitals and nursing homes).

Class II: Critical radiant flux, minimum .22 watts (commercial building and hotels)

Also referred to as DOC FF 1-70 (wall to wall carpeting), DOC FF-2-70 (rugs)

All carpet manufacturers are required, since 1971, to meet these regulations.

Purpose is to prevent the use of highly flammable fibers from spreading flames in a stage I fire.

9x9 carpet sample is placed in a 1’ draft-protected square enclosed cube, which is open in the top.

Sample is held in place by a 9” metal piece with an 8” hole in the center.

A timed methylamines pill is placed in the center.

To pass, the surface flame should not burn to within 1” of the metal plate.

Must pass 7 out of 8 times If it fails, it must be labeled as

flammable. Small rugs less than 24 sq. feet do not

have to pass but must be labeled

Also known as NFPA 701 Required for all vertical treatments in

which exposed air is on both sides. Includes curtains, draperies, window

shades, and large wall hangings. Pass/Fail Test is divided into two methods

Test Method 1: small scale- lighter weight (20.5 oz. yard)

Test Method 2: Larger scale – heavier weight When vertical treatments cover a large

area, they may also be required to pass the Steiner Tunnel Test.

Must be used when napped, tufted, or looped textiles or carpets are used on walls and ceilings.

•Textile based NFPA 265

•Non-textile based NFPA 286

Determines how a material will add to fire growth (including heat and smoke), off gas and cause fire spread beyond initial fire location.

It is a pass/fail test.

CAL 116 and CAL 117 A pass-fail test used on textiles that

measures the char size left on the fabric

Test applies to fabrics, welt cords, decking materials, filling and paddings material.

Class I passes, Class II does not pass Uses a lit cigarette as the ignition

source to see if it will ignite or extinguish.

California Technical Bulletin 133 First test of its kind to test an entire piece

of furniture – mock-up Intended for furniture in public building in

any area or room that contains 10 or more pieces of seating furniture.

It is a flame resistance test that measures carbon monoxide, heat generation , smoke, temperature and weight loss of an entire piece of furniture.

Not a requirement typically in building codes.

Summary of Finish Regulations

First you must know the occupancy classifications of your building and whether it is considered new or existing.

Then you can refer to the table to determine the appropriate class rating

Table is on page 402 See example on page 404. See other restrictions on page 416.