Robert J. Knoedler, P.E., CxA Principal – Energy / Commissioning ServicesHanson Professional Services Inc.

Fire Protection and Life Safety Cx -Challenges and Case Studies

AIA Quality Assurance

The Building Commissioning Association is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program 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 program 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.

A brief discussion regarding the specific challenges met in commissioning various life safety systems, including the difference between commissioning and acceptance testing by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Reference is made to the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 3, Recommended Practice on Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, which was adopted in May 2011.

Case studies of typical commissioning projects involving life safety systems will be presented.

Course Description

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

1. Recognize the importance of identifying all related systems and their required responses as a part of integrated life safety system testing; (fire alarm, fire suppression, smoke control, stair (egress) pressurization, HVAC shutdown, elevator recall / control, emergency lighting, emergency power, emergency (firefighter) communication, etc.)

2. Recognize the importance in aligning commissioning functional performance test protocols (scripts) with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) acceptance test criteria.

3. Discuss Life Safety Design Intent – Recognizing ‘Rational Analysis’ as a part of ‘Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)’ and ‘Basis of Design (BoD)’.

4. Identify types of smoke control systems, their applications and challenges during commissioning and testing.

Learning Objectives

Why Commission - Last Minute Scramble“O.K., so that fan doesn’t turn off. Does it really

matter? Do we have to do that?”

“If the Code doesn’t require it, why are we doing it?”

“We don’t have to worry about that, because it didn’t work on the last job either and nobody said anything.”

Out of time and money, the project becomes a build / design project. Whatever was built must become the design and everyone has a good reason why it needs to be that way.

Definition

Smoke Control - “A combination of architectural, electrical & mechanical system design approach that utilized air flow and/or pressure to contain or remove smoke during a fire event”

Smoke Control System Concepts

• “Passive” vs. “Active” Smoke Control

• Smoke Barriers, Zone Boundaries and Opening Protection

• Stairwell Pressurization –“Smokeproof” Enclosures”

• Types of Mechanical Smoke Control Systems

Definitions

Types of Smoke Control:Active:An active smoke control system utilizes mechanical air handlingequipment, i.e. supply fans, relief fans or smoke exhaust fans tocontain or remove smoke in the zone of origin.

Passive:A passive smoke control system utilizes construction barriers to maintain the smoke in the zone of origin. (Typical passive smoke control systems would be found in equipment rooms, hotel rooms.)

Smoke Control

Required Smoke Control• High Rise Exit Enclosures –

(Stairs and Elevator Shafts)• Atriums• Covered Malls• Assembly Buildings• Underground Building

Definitions

Dedicated System: Dedicated systems are simply those that don't perform any other functions. The fans and dampers are not used for everyday ventilation, only for smoke-control events.

Non-dedicated Systems: Non-dedicated systems are those that provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in the building every day, but are captured by the smoke-control system in the event of a fire.

F.A. system or BAS, the system processing the smoke-control logic must be UL listed under ANSI/UL 864, "Standard for Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems"

Acceptance Testing vs. Integrated Testing

3.3.21.1 Acceptance TestingTests performed at the completion of installation to confirm compliance with applicable manufacturers’ installation specifications, applicable codes and standards, and the project BOD and OPR.

3.3.21.2 Integrated TestingAn assessment of fire protection and life safety systems function and operation using direct observation or other monitoring methods to verify the correct interaction and coordination of multiple systems in conformance with the fire protection and life safety objectives.

Rational Analysis

Smoke Control Strategy for the building, including:

• Sequence of operation• Detailing the action

caused by the various fire-alarm initiating devices

• Positive feedback of the smoke-control operations

The IBC requires the Rational Analysis to include at a minimum:• An explanation of the

types of systems to be used.

• The methods of operation.• The systems supporting

them.• The methods of

construction to be used.

The Rational Analysis should include• A description of each zone, including the zone

designation.• The type or method of smoke control.• The method to activate the system.• A description of how the system will configure.• A description of whether the system will be

dedicated or non-dedicated.• The pass/fail criteria for each system.• What devices and equipment will be monitored

and in what position.

Rational Analysis

• Include smoke detector for activation at each floor level at the entrance to the “Smokeproof” Enclosure

• Vestibules not required in fully sprinklered buildings

• Ventilation system to be separate from building systems

• Stair Shaft Pressurization –• +0.15”w.c. (37 Pa) minimum up to

+0.35”w.c. (87 Pa) maximum to all vestibules.• Standby power required.

Stair Pressurization

Major Considerations:• Beware of door opening force limitations!• Consider maximum stack effect pressures,

temperature gradients.• Tested with all doors closed; then one or

two open.• No relief vent required at top of shaft, but

may enhance system operation and balance system operation.

• Difficult to achieve in tall buildings with a single zone in stairway.

Stair Pressurization

Operational Testing vs. Performance Testing

Operational• Manual control of

components• Manual and automatic

system activation• Visual confirmation that

components have assumed the correct operating condition

• Confirmation of correct alarms and annunciation

Performance• Performance measured

through airflow or smoke tests

• Required pressure differentials maintained

• Maximum door opening forces demonstrated

• Related system verification, i.e. elevator recall, etc.

Plan for Testing

Agree on performance goals.• Contained in approved Rational Analysis.• If not, develop a test plan before testing

begins.Confirm testing criteria and schedule with:

• Owner’s Representative• Design Engineer/Architect• Authorities Having Jurisdiction (Building / Fire)• General Contractor• All Subcontractors

Need to Phase Inspection and Testing Scenarios (build on one another)

• Component level testing• Subsystem operation

tests• Integrated Life Safety

systems’ operational tests

• All-systems performance tests

Inspection / Testing Sequence

• Review Duct Leakage and TAB reports, confirm representative readings

• Confirm equipment (Fans, AHUs, etc.), by model numbers and tags

• Confirm door labels, ratings and operation• Confirm damper locations and operation• Confirm location and type of detection,

actuation and alarm devices

Component Level Testing

Subsystem Operation Tests & Measurements

Systems• Fire Alarm• Fire Pump / Sprinkler• Smoke Control • Stair Pressurization• Elevator recall• Emergency Power• Emergency

Communications• Firefighter Control

Panel

Measurements• Airflow• Pump pressure / Flow• Differential Pressure• Door Opening Forces• Sound (for audible

alarms)

Integrated Life Safety Systems’ Testing

• Proper sequence of events• Activation by various means (detectors,

flow switches, pull stations, etc.)• Control Priorities — Automatic and

Manual Overrides, FFCP• Operability of other system components

in alarm conditions• Operation under Emergency power.

All Systems Performance Tests

• Monitor performance of all M/E systems (not just Life safety) during an event• Air handling units and Fans• Special occupancies – Data centers, Labs

• Prescribed operation of other systems’ components under alarm conditions

• Operation under Emergency power; multiple ATS’• Priorities for emergency power

Test Methods - Reflect Design

• Systems are designed to manage where smoke goes.

• Systems are not designed to provide tenable conditions in the area of fire origin.

• Smoke tests, if used, should demonstrate air flow direction of the system considering the buoyant nature of smoke.

Chemical smoke, tracer gas and real fire tests.• Limited value in evaluating certain system

performance.• Validity as methods of testing a smoke-

control system is questionable.• Detailed discussion in NFPA 92A, Section

A.5.3.3.6 and NFPA 92B, Section 5.3.6.2.Some jurisdictions will still require it.

Other Test Methods

Documentation

Complete Cx and test records are essential.

• Maintain Master Issues Log

• Component Verification Checklists

• Final TAB reports• Functional Test reports• Acceptance Test reports

Case Study # 1

High Rise County Courthouse• Fire alarm upgrade

○Challenges○Lessons Learned

• Smoke Control System Upgrade○Challenges○Lessons Learned

Case Study # 2

Retail Mall – South Florida• Second largest mall in

Miami area – 1.4 million SF • Smoke Control System

○Challenges○Lessons Learned

Case Study # 3

Hotel / Condo – Ft. Lauderdale, FL• Condo / Hotel on the ocean with

three story entry lobby • Smoke Control System

○Challenges○Lessons Learned

Case Study # 4

High Rise Office Tower• 17 story – 420,000 SF• Upgrade of mechanical and

fire protection systems• Upgrade of elevators • Smoke Control System

○Challenges○Lessons Learned

Case Study # 5

High Rise Condominiums• Two condominium towers –

each 26 stories • Smoke Control System

○Challenges○Lessons Learned

Thank You

Robert J. Knoedler, P.E., CxARKnoedler@hanson-inc.com

Engineering | Architecture | Planning | Allied Services