38B-006 (85) ' PHILIP R. SHERMAN, P. E.
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FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING AND BUILDING CODE CONSULTING
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P.O. Box 216
444 WILMOT CENTER ROAD
ELKINS, NH 03233-0216
PHONE: 603-526-6190
FAX: 603-526-4979
EMAIL: PSHERMAN@PRSHERMAN.COM
October 20, 2006
Proj: 1094.01
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van Zelm Heywood& Shadford, Inc.
29 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107
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Attention: Mr. David Chiovoloni
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Re: Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts
Cogeneration Facility
Code Summary ,
' Revision Three
Dear Mr. Chiovoloni:
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This letter will set forth my code summary of the above project, based on floor plans dated September
15, 2006. The project consists of renovations to the existing steam plant, in order to house a
cogeneration system.
Applicable Codes
The following codes apply to this project. While the codes in Massachusetts are in the process of being
updated, no date has been set, nor are reliable drafts of the proposed codes available. Any changes to the
codes will need to be tracked. Massachusetts normally updates their codes on January first, and allows a
six month grace period.
• 780 CMR, Massachusetts State Building Code, sixth edition
• 527 CMR, Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code
• 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act\ADAAG
• 248 CMR Massachusetts Plumbing Code
• 1993 BOCA Mechanical Code
0 2002 National Electrical Code
Other codes and standards as referenced by the above documents
Use Groups
• The steam plant is considered Use Group F-L' No change of use is planned.
• The exterior ammonia tank is considered Use Group H-4.2
Hazardous Materials
The following hazardous materials will be present at the site.
• #6 fuel oil for boilers, exempt from Use Group H regulations per 780 CMR 307.8 exception 7.
• #2 fuel oil for boilers, exempt from Use Group H regulations per 780 CMR 307.8 exception 7.
• Natural gas for boilers, exempt from Use Group H regulations per 780 CMR 307.8 exception 7.
• Lubricating oil system, exempt from Use Group H regulations per 780 CMR 307.8 exception 7
• Boiler water treatment, caustics, amine, sulfite. Specific MSDS sheets will be provided, and total
quantities within the building, existing and proposed, will be below threshold quantities indicated
in 780 CMR Table 307.8(1) and Table 307.8(2) ,
• 8000 gallon exterior tank of aqueous 19% ammonia and related interior piping and equipment.
This material is considered a corrosive, irritant and toxic, per 780 CMR 307. Specific MSDS
sheet will be provided, and the total quantity inside the building will be below threshold
quantities indicated in 780 CMR Table 307.8(1) and Table 307.8(2). The exterior tank will
comply with 780 CMR 417.6.
Application of the Codes
• Building Code
— Use Group F-1 has a hazard index of 3, therefore work is required to comply with780
CMR 3404.3
— New building systems must be in accordance with requirements for new construction.
— Alterations or repairs may be made with like materials.
— The building official has agreed that the infilling of existing floor openings, currently )
occupied by fixed equipment to be demolished, is not deemed an addition.
The design team has proposed that this project does not constitute a substantial alteration,
as the changes to the building are minimal. Most of the expense is related to the
equipment, not the building. The building inspector has agreed with this approach,
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provided that the fire alarm is upgraded throughout the building, and sprinklers are
installed in accordance with NFPA 850, as discussed below.
The structural engineer should review 780 CMR 3408 to determine structural
requirements based on the extent of the proposed work.
Work involving energy compliance is to comply with 780 CMR 3407.
• Fire Safety Code
The work is to comply with 527 CMR.
• Regulations of the Architectural Access Board
There are no public areas within the buildings, therefore 521 CMR does not apply.
• Americans with Disabilities Act
All areas are employee work areas, therefore the spaces must be designed to be
approached, entered and exited, but the work area itself is not required to be accessible.
Up to 20% of the project budget affecting usability must be spent on making the path of
travel to the employee work area accessible, including restrooms, drinking fountains and
public telephones serving the space.
General
• Footprint area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . approximately 7,200 sf
•
Height . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . two stories, approximately 52 feet
•
Open perimeter to 30 foot space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ignore
•
Sprinklers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . no
•
Construction type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2C
•
Height and area limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . not applicable, no additions or change of use
Structural Fire Resistance
• Structural ratings are not required, except that structure supporting newly rated members must be
rated to the same level as the member supported, for one bay outside the member, Including
columns.
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,arriers to Fire Spread
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• Egress stairwells:'
Existing stairs in the steam plant are required to be enclosed. Existing partitions and
doors have no required rating. New construction is required to be one hour rated with one
hour doors.
Missing doors will be replaced and the existing enclosures will be made whole.
The building inspector has agree that the existing separation to the basement is
satisfactory.
• Mechanical shafts and penetrations:
No requirements for existing shafts and penetrations.
— New shafts and penetrations are required to be one hour rated if connecting two or three
floors. Note that there is no blanket exemption for steam plants. See the code for
exceptions where fire dampers are located at the floor line.'
See 780 CMR Sections 713.4.3 for requirements for penetration protection of non-rated
floors. ,
• Building separations
— No requirements apply to exterior walls, as the work should not be deemed to increase the
hazard to adjacent buildings.
Outside Storage of Hazardous Materials
• The exterior ammonia tank will comply with 780 CMR 417.6.
• 780 CMR requires the installation to comply with 527 CMR, but 527 CMR has no requirements
for this installation.
• Protection from vehicle damage is required.
• Fire lanes are to extend to within 150 feet of all portions of the tank.
• A fire hydrant is to be located within 150 feet of the tank. A wall hydrant is proposed on the face
of the building, located within 150 feet of the tank.
• A six foot fence is required, or the arrangement is to be otherwise secured from public access.
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✓leans of Egress
• Occupant loads are calculated at one person per 100 gross square feet.6
• Exit capacity'
Based on 0.3 inches per person for stairs and 0.2 inches per person for doors, sufficient
exit capacity is provided.
• The following areas require at least two exits:`
Each floor
Use Group F-1 spaces with more than 50 persons or a common path of travel of more
than 75 feet.
Two means of access are required to high voltage switchgear per 527 CMR 12/NEC 110.
• Travel distance is not regulated.9
• Dead ends are not regulated."
• Remoteness of multiple exits is not regulated."
• Accessible means of egress are not required for existing exits.12
• Existing and new doors are required to be a minimum of 32" clear.13
• Existing and new stairs are required to be a minimum of 44" wide.14
• Existing stairs are required to be acceptable to the building official.
• Exit signs, standard and emergency lighting are required for common spaces and rooms requiring
more than one exit.15
Alarm, Suppression and Emergency Systems
• A fire alarm system is not required by code but are recommended by NFPA 850.'6
By agreement with the building and fire officials, the existing fire alarm system will be
modified to satisfy current code requirements, throughout the building.
• Portable fire extinguishers are not required by code but are recommended by NFPA 850 and will
be provided,"
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Sprinklers
By agreement with the building and fire officials, full building sprinklers are not required
by code, as the project is not deemed a substantial alteration." This is based on an
agreement that sprinklers will be installed in accordance with NFPA 850, a nationally
recognized standard for fire protection in power plants.
NFPA 850 requires sprinklers in the following areas. This list was developed based on
drawing M-0.50.
— Indoor fuel Oil Pumping or heating facilities
— Burner front oil hazard
— Boiler feed pumps including oil lubrication lines, bearings, and oil reservoirs
— Hydraulic and lubricating oil systems , unless listed fire resistant fluid is used
— All areas below operating floor that are subject to oil flow, oil spray or oil
accumulation
— Bearing housings
— Clean and dirty oil storage areas
— Interior emergency generators
— Storage rooms, offices, shops, locker rooms etc.
The designers should review the code to be sure that other devices requiring protection
are not also present.
NFPA 850 also has recommendations for indoor and outdoor transformers, which should
be reviewed.
• A standpipe system is not required."
Plumbing Fixture Counts
• The actual occupant load is not being materially changed, therefore changes to the plumbing
fixtures are not contemplated. This requires the approval of the plumbing inspector.
Accessibility
• ADA requires up to 20% of the budget which affects the usability of the building to be spent on
the path of travel to the altered area, including entrance, rest rooms and drinking fountains.
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,ase let me know if there are areas where further information is required.
Yours truly: ,tH OP
PHILIP y
SHE u'
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Philip R. Sherman, P.E. No. P y
C:IAaProj 1109411094001 revision three.wpd
SS�OFdAL 4
Endnotes v��
1. 780 CMR 306.2
2. 780 CMR 307.6
3. 780 CMR 3403
4. 780 CMR 3404.13
5. 780 CMR 713.4.3.2
6. 780 CMR 1008.1.2
7. 780 CMR 3404.6
8. 780 CMR 3404.5
9. 780 CMR 3404 '
10. 780 CMR 3404
11. 780 CMR 3404
12. 780 CMR 3404,ADA 4.1.6(1)(g)
13, 780 CMR 3404.6
14. 780 CMR 3404.6
15. 780 CMR 3404.7 and 3404.8
16. 780 CMR 917.4
17. 780 CMR 920.2
18. 780 CMR 3404.12, 904.2
19. 780 CMR 3404.12, 914.2.4
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