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Common Code Approaches and What’s New for 2018Course Number: 6002

Eric Montiplaisir, PEPrincipal Fire Protection Engineer09 May 2018

Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA

CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not

include content that may be

deemed or construed to be an

approval or endorsement by the

AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of

handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product._______________________________________

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written

permission of the speaker is prohibited.

© TERPconsulting 2018

Copyright Materials

The presentation focuses on generally accepted code interpretations. The framework of the presentation is loosely based on the adoption of the 9th Edition of 780 CMR as well as various hot topics of interest industry-wide. The presentation covers issues affecting all portions of projects from plans examination to field inspections during construction. Topics range from sprinkler requirements and smoke control to firestopping and NFPA 285.

CourseDescription

LearningObjectives

1. Understand which code interpretation approaches proposed by design teams

are commonplace and generally accepted practice.

2. Identify deficiencies in a project design that are the typical result from

improper specification.

3. Identify the key Massachusetts 9th Edition code amendments changes

impacting several areas of fire and life safety.

4. Understand what’s new in the fire and life safety industry and which topics of

interest will affect projects.

At the end of the this course, participants will be able to:

o A walk through the code (8th vs. 9th)

o Code concepts

o Special inspections

o NFPA 285

o NFPA 241

Agenda

a note on our role

o Fire Protection Engineers

o Code interpreters

o Liaison between design team and AHJ

o Eric Montplaisir, P.E.• Principal Fire Protection Engineer

• Registered Professional Fire Protection Engineer in Massachusetts

• Certified Plans Examiner (ICC)

• Certified Special Inspector (ICC)

• Certified Firestop Special Inspector (IFC)

• Member, National Fire Protection Association

• Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers

• 13+ years of fire and life safety experience

• Nuclear experience with rigorous technical reviews

Who are we?

o Code compliance

o Fire and life safety review

o Fire and smoke modeling

o Structural fire resistance

o Engineering judgments

o Construction support

o Special inspections

o Third party reviews • M.G.L. Ch. 44, Sec. 53G:

Jurisdictions that provide for the “imposition of reasonable fees for employment of outside consultants may deposit such fees in a special account.”

What do we do?

walk through chapters

o Concurrency Ended 1/1/2018!

Chapter 1

o 406.5.2 Openings the MA amendment to increase the required opening percentage from 20% to 25% has been removed.

o DON’T BE FOOLED:

• MGL Ch 148 Sec 26G defines open parking as 25% exterior openings

o 406.5.2.1 Openings below grade now requires a horizontal clearance for below grade openings used for natural ventilation in open parking garages. Horizontal clearance must be 1.5 the depth of the opening. Width of horizontal clearance must be maintained from grade down to the bottom of lowest required opening.

Chapter 4

EGRESS

Chapter 4: Open Parking Garage

o Exit enclosures not required (406.5.7) – even high rise

o Lobbies not required (elevators)

o Travel distance

• Measured to first tread of open stair (Ch. 10)

SECTION 420.2

Chapter 4: Separation Walls

o 1-hour (Type IIIA/VA)

o 1/2-hour (Type IIIB/VB)

o Stepped Roof

Height and Area

Chapter 5: Building Height

Height and Area


NO TECHNICAL CHANGES

STATUS OF HIGH-RISE


o Signed letter on site indicating high-rise status (Boston)

o Reminder:

• 780 CMR:

• 2015 IBC:

o 505.2.3 Openness, Exception 2allows a mezzanine having two or more means of egress to be enclosed to the room in which it is located. Direct access to an exit is no longer required.

• This essentially renders Exception 5 unnecessary, which allowed mezzanines having two or more means of egress to be enclosed if the building was sprinklered, not more than 2 stories, and did not contain Group H or Group I.

ENCLOSED MEZZANINES

Chapter 5: General Building Heights & Areas

Podium Concept - Stacking


Chapter 6: Types of Construction

CONSTRUCTION CLASSIFICATION & FIRE-RESISTANCE RATINGS

o Table 601 Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements for Building Elements no longer contains the footnote allowing for a sprinkler system to be substituted for 1-hour fire-rated construction.

o Table 602 Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements for Exterior Walls Based on Fire Separation Distance now contains a footnote allowing nonbearing exterior walls with unlimited area of unprotected openings to have a fire-resistance rating of 0 hours.

o 602.4 Type IV now permits Cross-laminated timber (CLT) in exterior walls and floors in Type IV construction.

Chapter 6: Types of Construction

CONSTRUCTION CLASSIFICATION & FIRE-RESISTANCE RATINGS

Fire Walls

Chapter 7: Fire Walls – NFPA 221

o 706.2 Structural Stability now directly references NFPA 221 (Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls; 2015 Edition) and permits fire walls designed and constructed in accordance with the standard

LOW-RISE BUILDINGS

Chapter 7: Elevator Lobbies

o Elevator lobbies not required

• Elevator doors not required to comply with smoke and draft control requirements like other corridor doors

• Requirements apply to smoke barrier walls and not fire barriers (elevator shaft walls)

WHERE REQUIRED

Chapter 7: Parapets

o Can be omitted:

• 25% unprotected openings are permitted

• Fire separation distance is 5 feet or more

o 8th Edition: 708 Shaft Enclosures contained requirements and exceptions for shaft enclosures.

o 9th Edition: 713 Shaft Enclosures contains requirements for shaft enclosures and 712 Vertical Openings contains exceptions to shaft enclosures.

o The protection of stair and escalator openings using sprinklers and draft curtains are is still permitted. Escalator provisions are found in 712.1.3 Escalator Openings and stair provisions are found in 1019 Exit Access Stairways and Ramps.

VERTICAL OPENINGS

Chapter 7: Fire and Smoke Protection Features

o 712 Vertical Openings:

• Two-story openings:

▪ Connects no more than 2 stories

▪ Does not penetrate a smoke compartment

▪ Not concealed within construction

▪ Not open to corridor in Use Group I or R

▪ Separate from other floor openings

VERTICAL OPENINGS


o Table 716.5 Opening Fire Protection Assemblies, Ratings and Markings has been expanded to include:

• Type of assembly

• Required wall assembly rating

• Minimum fire door and fire shutter assembly rating

• Door vision panel size

• Fire-rated glazing marking door vision panel

• Minimum sidelight/transom assembly rating

• Fire-rated glazing marking sidelight/transom panel

OPENING PROTECTIVES


o 717.1.1 Ducts and air transfer openings permits ducts transitioning horizontally between shafts to not require a shaft enclosure provided the duct penetration into each vertical shaft is protected with dampers.

DUCT AND AIR TRANSFER OPENINGS


o Fireblocking (in some cases)

o Membrane penetrations

o Thermal barrier (attic)

ASTM E 136 is Important

Chapter 7: Cellulose Insulation

Floor/Ceiling Assemblies

Chapter 7: Engineering Judgments

MATERIALS IN ADDITION TO CH. 14

Chapter 7: Balconies

o Type III Construction

• Within 5’ FSD:

▪ 1-hour

• >5’ FSD:

• Approved materials

▪ FRT

OR

▪ Sprinkled and non-FRT

• Untreated pickets/rails are permitted

DRY SIDEWALLS


o Carbon monoxide requirements now located in the base code (2015 IBC)

o Use Groups I-1, I-2, I-4, R, and E

Chapter 9: Fire Protection Systems

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION

SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

o Elevator pressurization alternative to elevator lobbies moved to Section 909.21 and 20’ separation requirement removed.

o Duration of operation, 2015 IBC, Section 909.4.6. System must be active for a period of not less than either 20 minutes or 1.5 times the calculated egress time, whichever is greater.

o The 9th Edition no longer amends the occupant load threshold that triggers the installation of EVACS.

• Section 907.2.1.1 requires EVACS in Group A occupancies where the occupant load is ≥1,000.

• The 8th Edition reduced this threshold to 300 persons.

o 780 CMR Table 903.2 Occupancy Automatic Sprinkler Requirements now requires an automatic sprinkler system protecting all floors between the occupied roof and the level of exit discharge if the rooftop occupant load exceeds:

• 100 persons for Group A-2

• 300 persons for other Group A

Chapter 9: Systems

SPRINKERS

EVACS

o Concealed spaces not requiring sprinkler protection:

• Noncombustible spaces :

▪ Lined w/ GBW if combustible framing

▪ Filled with noncombustible insulation (ASTM E 136)

▪ Filled with rigid materials with special ASTM E 84 tests


SPRINKERS IN CONCEALED SPACES


SPRINKERS IN CONCEALED SPACES

o Concealed spaces not requiring sprinkler protection (others):


SPRINKLERS IN CONCEALED SPACES


SPRINKLERS IN CONCEALED SPACES (OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS)

CITY OF BOSTON ONLY!

Chapter 10: Assembly Permits

o BEWARE!

INTERVENING SPACES

Chapter 10: Corridor Continuity

o Other exit must be directly to stair

o No rating required to office, game room, etc.

o Door at end of corridor.

o 1005.3 Required capacity based on occupant load the allowable decrease in exit capacity factors for sprinklered buildings with EVAC systems is now included in the base code text by exception 1 (no MA amendment necessary).

o 1013.2 Floor-level exit signs in Group R-1 where exit signs are required, low-level exit signs are now required in Group R-1 occupancies in all areas serving guest rooms.

o 1017.2.2 Group F-1 and S-1 increase there are now provisions to increase the allowable travel distance to 400 feet.

▪ Third party review for North Haven, CT for largest internet retailer for this issue.

Chapter 10: Means of Egress

o 1007.1.1.1 Measurement point specific measurement points are now provided for measuring separation distance of means of egress:

• To any point along the width of the doorway for exit or exit access doorways.

• To the closest riser for exit access stairways.

• To the start of the ramp run for exit access ramps.

o 1007.1.3 Remoteness of exit access stairways and ramps the separation distance must be maintained for all portions of exit access stairways or ramps where two of such components provide the required means of egress.


REMOTENESS SEPARATION

o 1019 Exit Access Stairways and Ramps a separate section has been created to provide requirements for exit access stairways and ramps. The provisions allowing unenclosed exit access stairways and ramps have been moved to this section.

o 1019.3 Occupancies other than Groups I-1 and I-3 contains the requirements for unenclosed stairways and ramps.

• Item 4: Unenclosed stairways and ramps protected with draft curtains and closely spaced sprinklers can now serve as means of egress (all other previous provisions still apply).

DOES NOT PROHIBIT STAIR IN USE GROUP R


EXIT ACCESS STAIRWAYS AND


TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTSM


o Street level retail beneath Use Group R

o 9th Edition updated to occupant loading factor:

• 60 gross sf pp on all floors

Retail Occupant Load

o Removed and replaced with reference to 521 CMR: Architectural Access Board

o Still on 2006 MAAB – new version not yet approved

o Group 1 sinks (6.5 inches)

o Outlet clearance on balconies (18”)

o T-turn on balconies

Chapter 11: Accessibility

521 CMR & IBC 2015

Chapter 12: Vapor Barriers - Attics

o Consider the building envelope

o Remove vapor barrier at roof deck OR vent the attic

o If both – VENT

OR

Chapter 26: Use of Foam Plastic

780 CMR AMENDMENT

o Exterior walls discussed later

o Thermal barrier requirements

• Not always required, check technical data.

Chapter 31: Swimming Pools

780 CMR

o Patio cover guidelines in Appendix I

• Recommended practice

• Provided with openings

o Stockade fence vs. chain link

• EOHHS states: chain link 6’ tall, stockade fence exactly 5’ tall, or a combination of either and a building at least 5’ tall (CAUTION)

o Accessibility to pool

• 48” clear width around pool

• Two points of entry – one must be sloped entry OR pool lift

▪ Other can be transfer wall or stairs

code concepts

o STORY – Portion of the building between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.

o Occupied roof decks that are open to sky are not considered stories

o Chapter 5 height and area provisions do not apply

o Other requirements still do apply:

• Two separate and remote MOE

• Accessibility

• Standpipe (if triggered)

• Occupant notification

Occupied Roof Decks (New Bldg)

o Variance – one MOE but occupant load limited to 49 persons

o Travel distance to stair limited to 75 feet

Occupied Roof Decks (Existing Bldg)

o Introduces the concept of non-simultaneous use.

o Conference rooms in office space

o Community spaces in multi-family

o Basis:

• Site access is controlled

• Used by many occupants already accounted for in the egress analysis

• Furniture/seating layouts agree with posted occupant load

Posting of Occupant Load

Posting of Occupant Load

o Penetrations of exterior wall

Type III Construction

65

Table 601 Footnotes:

a. The primary structural frame shall be considered to be the columns and the girders, beams, trusses and spandrels having direct connections to the columns and bracing members designed to carry gravity loads.

b. Fire-resistance ratings of structural frame and bearing walls are permitted to be reduced by 1 hour where supporting a roof only.

c. Fire protection of structural members shall not be required where every part of the roof construction is 20 feet or more above any floor immediately below.

I I I

I I I

Footnote a

(plan view)

Column

(structural frame)

Beam to Column

(structural frame)

Secondary Beam

(floor/roof construction)

I I I

Roof construction

Column supporting roof

only (Str Frame)

I I I

I I I

Footnote b

(elevation view)

Structural Frame

Footnote c

(elevation view)

U

P=Protected

U=Unprotected

UUU PPPPPPP

Misunderstanding the 20’ Rule

Misunderstanding the 20’ Rule

o IEBC – 780 CMR Chapter 34

o Existing vertical openings

• 1-hour FRR with approved opening protectives

• Many exceptions

Existing Building Floor Opening Protection

o Sprinklers required in combustible shafts. Option:

• Install shaftwall liner

• Replace with exposed metal studs

• Fill with noncombustible insulation

▪ 2” air gap is permitted within the space

o Sprinkler protected glass

• Limit window treatment and mullions

• Basis – doors are self-closing

• Allowances

▪ Atrium (as-of-right)

▪ Occupancy separation A -> R

Sprinklers Situations

Rating below Slab

Corridor Construction


o 780 CMR Section 1007.2.1, Exception 1

o Horizontal Exits per 780 CMR Section 1025

HORIZONTAL EXITS

Dead End Corridors

Stair Construction

TYPE III

TYPE I

STAIR

specification issues

Load Calculations

o Load restricted v. non-load restricted designs (greater than 1-hour restrained)

Load Restricted Designs

Choosing Appropriate Designs

Reduction in load of 10%Composite Beam loaded to 90% of its strength


o Talk to structural engineer and ask what design method was used

o If LRFD was used, ask if composite beams are loaded less than 90%

o If composite steel beams are loaded greater than 90% and LRFD was used, make sure non-load restricted UL designs were used

special inspections

o Added requirement for SI of fire-resistant penetrations and joints (1705.17) for:

• High-rise buildings (alteration)

• Class III or IV, reminder:

▪ Class III: Primary assembly occupancies > 300 people, Group E, I-2, I-3, power generation, etc.

▪ Class IV: Fire/police stations, designated emergency shelters, highly toxic material storage, etc.

▪ More description available in Table 1604.5

Chapter 17: Special Inspections

780 CMR & IBC 2012

o Common issues

• No listed system

• Red is right

• Depth of fill

• Annular space

• Percent fill (cables)

• Tape/Joint compound

• Mineral wool alignment/installation

• Compression/expansion capabilities

• ISSUES WITH THE MEMBER BEING PENETRATED

• Two hour firestop penetration detail in one hour wall???

Chapter 17: Firestopping

o What’s wrong with this system?

o Steel part of rated wall assembly


o ASTM E 119 has different acceptance criteria for walls and beams


Beam – Less than

1100°F Average,

1300°F at any TC

Wall – Less than

250°F Average &

325°F at any TC above

initial temperature

o ASTM E2174 –Penetrations

o ASTM E2393 – Joint Systems

o Statement of special inspections should be provided with permit set along with:

• Smoke control

• Spray-applied materials

o Credentials

• International Firestop Council (IFC) accreditation



o 780 CMR, Section 909.18 and Chapter 17

o ALSO – Significant change in 527 CMR effective 1/1/2015

• Based on NFPA 1, Fire Code

NFPA 285

NFPA 285 - Grenfell Tower

NFPA 285

o What is it?

• Full scale test of assembly as a whole

• Simulates burning of wall assembly

• Vertical and lateral fire propagation requirements

NFPA 285

o Combustible When is it applicable? • Exterior wall assemblies

• water barriers in walls greater than 40 ft in height above GRADE PLANE – Section 1403.5

• Exceptions:

• Water barrier is ONLY combustible component and wall covering restrictions

• Heavy material restrictions (e.g. ASTM E1354 and ASTM E84)

o Metal Composite Materials (MCMs) – Section 1407

o The use of foam plastic in exterior wall assembly – 2603.5.5o Exceptions:

o One story buildings

o Total encasement with masonry – unless flame spread index of 25 or less (1” air gap permitted)

NFPA 285

o Define exterior wall assembly

NFPA 285

o What does this all mean?

• Plan review concerns

• Installation concerns

• Has this been tested to NFPA 285?

o Engineering judgment

• Often used in NFPA 285 compliance cases

• Type III construction – FRT studs vs. metal studs in exterior wall assembly

NFPA 285

NFPA 241

NFPA 241 – Safeguarding Construction

NFPA 241

o What is it?

• Safeguarding construction, alteration, and demo operations

• Requirements for:

• Accountability – Fire Protection Program Manager(s)

• Combustible control

• Separation of construction area

• Fire extinguishers

• Communication

• Site security

• Installation of FP systems

• Pre-fire plans during construction

• Hotwork

NFPA 241

o When is it applicable? • 527 CMR, 1.00 – projects are not exempt. Formal plan requirements are up to the

AHJ.

• Section 16.1.2 – A fire protection plan must be established

o NFPA 241

• Section 1.3.4 – A fire safety program must be included in all construction, alteration, or demolition contracts, and the right of the owner to administer and enforce the program must be established, even if the building is entirely under the jurisdiction of the contractor

• Interpretation:

• The owner is responsible for building (i.e. NFPA 241 PROGRAM)

• The contractor is responsible for job site (i.e. NFPA 241 PROJECT-LEVEL PLAN)

NFPA 241

NFPA 241

o NFPA 241 plans are a living document

o Plan and/or program general layout:

• Responsible personnel (qualifications should be vetted)

• Building information – pre-fire plans

• Project information and milestones – STANDPIPES AND STAIR CONSTRUCTION

• Fuel storage plan

• Supplemental inspections in addition to surprise by FD

• Trash accumulation

• Fire extinguishers

• Etc.

o On file with BFD (or other jurisdiction)

o Also kept on site in FD repository box

Questions?

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course

Contact Information

Eric Montplaisir, PE / [email protected] / +1.603.289.8708

TERPconsulting.com

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