effective use of two stage alarms & voice communication ... seminar/2012/speaker...
TRANSCRIPT
Effective Use of Two Stage Alarms
& Voice Communication Systems
Approving These in Fire Safety Plans
Sean Tracey, P.Eng., MIFireE
Canadian Regional Director
NFPA
Outline of the Presentation
• Background
• Overview of Fire Alarm Provisions
• Code provisions for voice systems• Code provisions for voice systems
• Advantages
• Hurdles
• Fire Safety Plan Considerations
• Resources
Background
• Why begin to look at this?
• National Capital Region issues• National Capital Region issues
• The selection and effective use of alarm and
comms systems has an impact on fire
ground operations
World Trade Center
Disaster September 11th, 2001
• NFPA only Standards Developer on initial BPAT
• Recommended changes from NIST changes from NIST studies being forwarded through TCs
• NFPA forms High Rise Advisory Council
Chicago Fire
October 17th, 2003
• Around 5 pm
• Storage closet on the 12th floor
• 6 fatalities• 6 fatalities
• Major recommendations
regarding sprinklering, employee
training, and fire department
operations
Fire Alarm Systems
• Purpose of a fire alarm system
– Notify occupants of a fire
– Signal indicating an emergency– Signal indicating an emergency
– Occupants to start required evacuation
– On activating give sufficient time for
evacuation.
Code Requirements
• Note: NFPA has different terminology
including general evacuation alarm, private
mode and pre-signal mode
Fire Alarm SystemsOne Stage vs. Two Stage
• Single stage: upon the operation of any
manual station, waterflow detecting device,
or fire detector, cause an alarm signal to or fire detector, cause an alarm signal to
sound on all audible signal devices in the
system
Fire Alarm SystemsOne Stage vs. Two Stage
Two stage:
a) alert signal upon the operation of any
manual station, waterflow detecting device,
or fire detector,or fire detector,
b) Automatic alarm if not acknowledged
within 5 min of its initiation, and
c) have manual stations, that causes an alarm
signal to sound
Allows supervisory staff to investigate as well can allow for
zoning
3.2.4.3. Types of Fire Alarm
Systems
A single-stage system in a Group F, Division
1 occupancy,
A 2-stage system in a Group B occupancy,
A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B, A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B,
Division 3 occupancy where the building is
3 storeys or less, and
A single- or 2-stage system in all other cases.
Technically you can have a single stage fire alarm system
in a high-rise office tower or hotel. Should this impact the
design of means of egress and fire safety plans?
• Two-stage alarm systems are normally used
if programmed evacuation is required or if a
general alarm would cause undue distress to
Fire Alarm SystemsOne Stage vs. Two Stage
general alarm would cause undue distress to
the occupants, for example in health care
facilities.
– Reduces the potential for false alarms
– In high buildings this can facilitate the staged
evacuation and thus reduce the impact of the
evacuation on the means of egress
Voice Communications SystemsNBC 3.2.6.8. High Buildings
A voice communication system conforming to
Article 3.2.4.22. shall be provided in a
building ifbuilding if
a) the floor of the top storey is more than 36 m
above grade, or
b) a floor area or part of a floor area located
above the third storey is designed or intended
for use as a Group B, Division 2 or 3
occupancy.
Voice Communications Systems
• NBC also requires those with more than
1000 occupants and having a two stage
alarm system to have voice communication alarm system to have voice communication
systems to facilitate in the evacuation and
messaging to the occupants.
• To operate the alarm system the facility is
required to establish a control facility
[3.2.6.7]
Comms Centre
Requirements
• a) a two-way means of communication with
the central alarm and control facility and to
the mechanical control centre from each
floor area, and
• b) intelligible loudspeakers operated from
the central alarm and control facility
The Problem
• Code may require a two stage alarm system
but the NFC does not mandate that this be
usedused
• This can result in inconsistent application
within a jurisdiction – impacts operations!
• The best solution is to have consistent
requirements when approving fire safety
plans
Supervisory Staff and Voice
CommsElements in the FSP
• The training of supervisory staff in the use
of the voice communication system,
• The the action to be taken by supervisory • The the action to be taken by supervisory
staff in initiating any fire emergency
systems until the fire department arrives,
• Instructions to the supervisory staff and fire
department for the operation of the systems
referred to in Clause (c), and
Problem with Supervisory Staff
Training, and Availability
• The problem is that supervisory staff may
not be adequately trained on how to use the
system and may not be confident in its use.system and may not be confident in its use.
– Property Owners let these go to alarm
– Impacts the credibility of the alarm system
• What happens when supervisory staff are
not available or after hours?
– System goes to alarm
Fire Safety Messaging by
Supervisory Staff
• Intelligible pre-recorded, synthesized, or
live messages
• shall be designed so that the alarm signal in • shall be designed so that the alarm signal in
a 2-stage fire alarm system can be
selectively transmitted to any zone or zones
while maintaining an alert signal or
selectively transmitting voice instructions to
any other zone or zones in the building
Human Behaviour During Fire
• Confidence in Emergency Procedures -
clear concise messaging by supervisory
staff ensures that the building occupants staff ensures that the building occupants
have confidence in the overall alarm system
• Voice Communications – are proven
reinforcing queues* -- reduces alarm
recognition time
Evacuating People with
Disabilities
• Fire Safety Plan should identify if this is an
issue and the procedures to follow
• Are there adequate features to allow
defence in areas of refuge?defence in areas of refuge?
Types of Evacuations
• Total
• Total –staged
• Partial
• Relocation
– Horizontal
– Vertical
Total Evacuation
ALARMALARM
Single stage evacuation of a
building
Staged Evacuation
ALARMALARM
Found with 2 stage alarms – alarm sent to
the fire floor and remaining floors in alert
notification.
Horizontal Relocation
Relocation
ALARMALARM
Relocation AreaRelocation Area
Two stage alarm - notification of fire floor
remainder of building in alert stage.
USFA Special Report Operational Considerations
for Highrise Firefighting, April 1996,
In some cases, occupants may be safest if they
remain in place or evacuate to a floor beneath the
fire floor instead of exiting the building.
Firefighters should determine as quickly as
possible in a fire incident whether a full, partial, or possible in a fire incident whether a full, partial, or
no evacuation is necessary, and communicate their
evacuation plan to occupants by using a public
address system or other means. Experience shows
that occupants will need guidance with evacuation.
Waiting until the incident to determine the evacuation
plan is too late. Needs to be part of the pre-incident plan
and therefore Fire Safety Plan.
Which Type of Evacuation?
• Occupancy type
• Risks present
• Occupant issues
Determined in the FSP for the
facility by the property owner
– but this selection impacts
FD Ops.
• Occupant issues
• Building size (both height and footprint)
• Building layout – presence of zones
• Building construction
• Protective features & alarm systems
Means of Egress Capacity &
Occupancy Load
Module 3-28 Module 3-28
An example of queuing. Photo taken by John
Labriola during WTC evacuations.
An example of cross flow. Photo taken by
John Labriola during WTC evacuations.
FD Operations
• Impact on operations
– Cross flow
– Can’t commence stairwell attack
– Staging of apparatus
• Fire service is expected to take over voice
comms on arrival
• SOPs needed when two stage alarm systems
are present with voice comms
FD Operations
• No consistent standards or procedures
adopted for this
• Need procedures on how they will direct
occupants to evacuate.occupants to evacuate.
• Has a direct impact on FD considerations
• Pre-Incident plans reflect what expectations
are of building owners
• SOPs needed to clarify this so building
owners will understand their responsibilities
Advantages of Effective Alarm
System to Tenants/Occupants
• Greater confidence in systems
• Potential for injury is reduced
• Lessens the impact of false alarms on • Lessens the impact of false alarms on
workplace productivity
Advantages of an Effective
Alarm System to Fire Services
• Proven better managed evacuations
• More effective fire ground operations
– Reduces the potential for cross flow– Reduces the potential for cross flow
– Quicker setup in stairwell
• Smoother transition to take over of facility
communications
Advantages of an Effective
Alarm System to Property Owner
• Enhanced trust in reliability of voice
systems
• Less lost time due to false alarms• Less lost time due to false alarms
• Lessens potential liability for injuries during
false alarm evacuations
• Disadvantage – need a greater emphasis on
supervisory staff training on use of the
system and messaging (technically required
by the code)
Fire Safety Plans
• Opportunity to effect change – must be
approved by the local AHJ
• Consider an SOP for when two stage alarms • Consider an SOP for when two stage alarms
with voice comms are present
– They must use the voice system
– Training & exercises for Supervisory Staff
• Examples of community fire safety plan
templates can be downloaded on the web
Additional Requirements for
FSP/Supervisory Staff Training
• Outline expectations for maintenance and
testing of the system
• Clearly identify expectations of employees • Clearly identify expectations of employees
during alert and alarm stages and
evacuation type required
• FD should consider a standardized FSP for
all fire safety plans with 2 stage alarms and
voice systems
– Example provided with the presentation
• Have a working knowledge of the building
fire and life safety systems.
• Ensure the building fire and life safety
Additional Requirements for
FSP/Supervisory Staff Training
• Ensure the building fire and life safety
systems are in operating condition.
• Arrange for a substitute in their absence.
• Daily, monthly and yearly checks of voice
and alarm systems as required by the Fire
Code
• Consider having standardized messaging or
scripts for staff to follow
• Should have staff training using realistic
Additional Requirements for
FSP/Supervisory Staff Training
• Should have staff training using realistic
scenarios to walk through the scripts
Resources
• NFPA Guide to Introduction to Employee
Fire and Life Safety 2001
• USFA Special Report: Operational
Considerations for Highrise Firefighting -
USFA-TR-082/April 1996
• 10 of the 29 scholarships to attend went to Canadians – Including 4 from BC– Including 4 from BC
• Continue to work to improve fire safety messaging
• EMAC Approved Messages - as a downloadable resource
• Fire Prevention Week Theme 2012– Fire Prevention Week - Have 2 Ways Out
PTSC-Online
• NFPA became a gold
level sponsor in 2011
• Dedicated NFPA
section on the sitesection on the site
• Use for policy
development and
sharing materials
Presentation and an opportunity to participate in
a discussion forum available at:
www.PTSC-Online.ca
Conclusion
• The effective use of voice comms with 2
stage alarm systems have been proven to
enhance confidence in the alarm systemenhance confidence in the alarm system
• Fire department operations are directly
impacted by facilities use of these systems
• Standardize practice that uses the benefits
of these systems and effective staff trainig
benefits all
CONTACTING US
• Canadian Regional Manager:
(bilingual service)Sean A. Tracey (613) 830 - 9102 (W)
(613) 841 - 1929 (F)[email protected]
• Web sites: www.nfpa.org
Presentation and an opportunity to participate in
a discussion forum available at:
www.PTSC-Online.ca
