Loading...
24C-013 Fire Narrative Report 11-02-10 NARRATIVE REPORT FOR FIRE PROTECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS AT NORTHAMPTON SURVIVAL CENTER 265 Prospect Street Northampton, Massachusetts PREPARED BY: LINDGREN & SHARPLES, P.C. CONSULTING ENGINEERS 435 COTTAGE STREET, SUITE 1 SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104-4005 TEL. 413-732-4336 October 28, 2010 L&S 1862 Page 2 NORTHAMPTON SURVIVAL CENTER NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS FIRE PROTECTION AND ALARM SYSTEM BASIS OF DESIGN NARRATIVE October 28, 2010 Information required pursuant to the Massachusetts State Building Code 780 CMR, 903.0. Owner: Trustees of the Northampton Survival Center Designers of Record: Lindgren & Sharples, P.C. Consulting Engineers Date of Submittal: October 28, 2010 SECTION 1 – BUILDING DESCRIPTION PROJECT SCOPE: This project consists of additions and renovations to the existing Northampton Survival Center located at 265 Prospect Street. The primary scope of this project will include the addition of a new office/administration area. This project will also include the installation of a new automatic sprinkler system and a new addressable fire alarm system to serve the entire building. The Building is Non-separated Mixed Use Group Type B (Business), M (Mercantile) and S-1 (Storage) and is Construction Type 2B, Unprotected/ Combustible as defined by the Massachusetts State Building Code. The building consists of approximately 1,280 square feet of business occupancy and 1,225 square feet of storage all located on one level with a total aggregate area of approximately 4,600 square feet. The building height is 40’-7” to the mid-point of the sloped roof. All spaces will be designed for light hazard and all storage and mechanical spaces designed for ordinary hazard. L&S 1862 Page 3 SECTION 2 - APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS Systems were designed in compliance with the following: 1. 780 CMR: Massachusetts State building Code –7th Edition, Chapter 9: Fire Protection Systems. 2. NFPA 13 – 2007 Edition: Installation of Sprinkler Systems. 3. NFPA 72 – 2007 Edition: National Fire Alarm Code. 4. 521 CMR: Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Regulations. 5. 527 CMR: Massachusetts Fire Prevention Regulations 6. 527 CMR 12.00: Massachusetts Electrical Code 7. 527 CMR 24 8. NFPA 24 – 2007 Edition 9. NFPA 54, chapter 10 10. NFPA 720 – 2005 Edition SECTION 2 – BUILDING AND SITE ACCESS (903.1.1.(2)) Site access for vehicles is from the West at the parking area. Main entrance is at the West Façade, on floor level 1. A Knox (key) box for the building with Fire Department access shall be provided to the right of the entrance door. Master key inside the key box provides entry to building, and also access through any locked doors within. SECTION 3 - DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY Lindgren & Sharples, P.C. Consulting Engineers 435 Cottage Street Springfield, MA 01104-4005 Phone: 413-732-4336 SECTION 4 – DESIGN METHODOLOGY 1.0 The project consists of renovations the existing Northampton Survival Center. The existing building will be retrofitted with new wet pipe and dry pipe, automatic sprinkler systems where appropriate and will be installed in all spaces. A new addressable fire alarm system will be installed throughout the entire building. L&S 1862 Page 4 SECTION 5 - FIRE PROTECTION 1.0 Basis of Design The building will be served by a new wet pipe and dry pipe automatic pipe fire protection system consisting of sprinklers located in all occupied spaces of the existing building. These sprinklers shall be connected to a new sprinkler riser and alarm valves located in the existing building and connected to the new water service. A new wet pipe sprinkler system will be installed to serve all areas except the attic and existing DPW building. A dry pipe sprinkler system will be installed to serve the attic space. The dry system is being installed in the Attic because the Attic is not heated. This system will be fed by an alarm valve located in the mechanical room. All spaces will be designed for light hazard and all storage and mechanical spaces designed for ordinary hazard. 2.0 Installation A. The fire sprinkler system is designed in accordance with NFPA 13, 2007. B. All spaces are provided with sprinklers specifically listed for the specific applications in accordance with NFPA 13, 2007, all per NFPA 13-07 paragraph 8.15.1.2.1 and paragraph 8.15.2.2-1. 3.0 Equipment A. Pipe is to be schedule 40 black steel pipes for 1” through 3”. B. A main flow switch is provided in the main sprinkler line and service is fitted with an approved backflow preventer. C. Stand pipe risers schedule 10 black steel with mechanical joints. 4.0 Design Criteria A. All general spaces are designed for light hazard occupancy. The density is .10/1500 square feet with a 100 gpm hose allowance. B. The storage and mechanical areas throughout the building that are ordinary hazard, the system will be designed to ordinary hazard group, density with 250 gpm added for hose stream. L&S 1862 Page 5 5.0 Test Criteria A. All sprinklers and standpipe systems shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 13 and NFPA 25. Complete system flow test will be conducted and test and flow certificates issued. 1. (WET & DRY PIPE SYSTEM) An alarm test connection not less than 1 in. in diameter, terminating in a smooth bore corrosion-resistant orifice, giving a flow equivalent to one sprinkler of a type having the smallest orifice installed on the particular system, shall be provided to test each water flow alarm device for each system . 2. (WET & DRY PIPE SYSTEM) The test connection valve shall be readily accessible. 3. (WET & DRY PIPE SYSTEM) The discharge shall be to the outside, to drain connection capable of accepting full flow under system pressure, or to another location where water damage will not result. B. Hydrostatic Test 1. Hydrostatically test the entire interior piping system at not less than 200 psi (13.6 bars) for 2 hours and provide a test certificate for said test. C. Flow Test 1. A system flow test shall be performed and the operation of all flow switches, tamper switches, and alarm devices verified. A test certificate shall be issued verifying said test. SECTION 6- FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS 1.0 Basis of Design A. Fire Alarm Control Panel 1. The fire alarm system shall be an addressable Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). The FACP shall be located in the building main entry vestibule. The Fire Department primary response point is the main entry vestibule of the building accessible from the parking lot off of Prospect Street. The secondary power supply for the fire alarm system shall be batteries located that will provide at least 24 hours of monitoring and a minimum of 15 minutes of alarm and shall be located at the FACP. L&S 1862 Page 6 B. Remote Alarm Reporting 1. Signaling to the Northampton Fire Department shall be performed indirectly using a DACT via two dedicated phone lines reporting to a 24 hour manned central station and sequentially to the Northampton Fire Department. C. Code Modifications 1. This project does not include any special design considerations or anticipated modifications to the code requirements. D. System Alarm Initiation Devices shall be installed as follows: 1. Manual pull stations shall be located within 5 feet of each exit door and at each entry point leading to an egress stairway. The manual pull stations shall be dual action. Activation of any manual pull station will initiate the fire alarm system sequence of events. 2. System connected smoke detector will be installed at the fire alarm control panel. Activation of the system smoke detector will initiate the fire alarm system sequence of events for the building alarm. 3. Fire protection flow switches shall be installed as part of the new sprinkler system. Flow switches are located in the sprinkler service room. Flow switches shall be monitored by the fire alarm system using addressable interface modules. Activation of flow switch shall initiate the fire alarm system sequence of events. 4. Pressure switches shall be installed as part of the sprinkler dry pipe system. Pressure switches are located in the sprinkler service room. Pressure switches shall be monitored by the fire alarm system using addressable interface modules. Activation of Pressure switch caused by water flow shall initiate the fire alarm system sequence of events. 5. Carbon monoxide detection is not required to be installed at this building. E. System Supervisory Monitoring Devices shall be installed as follows: 1. Fire protection tamper switches shall be installed as part of the new sprinkler system. Tamper switches are located in the sprinkler service room. Tamper switches shall be monitored by the fire alarm system using addressable interface modules. Activation of tamper switch shall initiate a supervisory signal sequence of events. L&S 1862 Page 7 2. Pressure switches shall be installed as part of the sprinkler dry pipe system. Pressure switches are located in the sprinkler service room. Pressure switches shall be monitored by the fire alarm system using addressable interface modules. Activation of Pressure switch caused by los of air pressure shall initiate a supervisory signal sequence of events. F. A fire protective signaling system shall be installed in accordance with 780 CMR and NFPA 72. Fire protection signaling devices in the renovated spaces within the building will include the following features 1. Audio notification devices shall be wall mounted horn/strobe units located where shown on plans. It is the intent of this design that audible notification devices achieve sound pressure levels of 15dB above the average ambient sound levels for the business occupancy or 5dB above the maximum sound pressure levels having a continued duration of at least 1 minute. 2. Visual notification devices shall be wall mounted horn/strobes or strobe/only units located as shown on the plans. Visual devices shall be located at least 80” above finished floor but not more than 96” above the finished floor. It is the intent of this design that all spaces (excluding storage closets and private offices) have ADA compliant strobe coverage. Visual notification devices shall be synchronized throughout the building. 3. Red exterior Beacon and key box shall be located outside the main entryway of the building. The Exterior Beacon is interlocked with the fire alarm system notification appliances and indicates the Fire department primary response point. G. Addressable loop wiring for initiation devices shall support all devices shown and allow for a minimum of 25% spare capacity, and be wired in a Class B, Style 4 fashion. H. As a minimum, power supplies, amplifiers and visual notification appliance circuits shall operate all devices shown plus 25% spare capacity. Audible and visual alarm circuits shall be wired in a Class B fashion 2.0. Sequence of Operation: A. The activation of a fire alarm initiating device shall send a signal to a 24 hour manned central station and sequentially to the Northampton Fire Department. The system fire alarm sequence of events shall be activated manually through the use of manual pull stations. The system fire alarm sequence of events shall be activated automatically via smoke detector, dry pipe system water flow pressure switch, or wet pip flow switch. L&S 1862 Page 8 Initiation of the fire alarm sequence of events will immediately and simultaneously activate all audible and visual alarm notification devices throughout the building to notify occupants of alarm for building evacuation, cause the red exterior strobe to flash at the fire department primary response point, notify the central station and consequently the Northampton Fire Department, and display alarm condition at the fire alarm control panel. The Fire Alarm System reset button returns the system to its normal state after all alarm conditions have been cleared. Display messages shall provide operator assurance of the sequential steps as they occur. The Fire Alarm Control Panel is equipped with visible and audible signals to indicate alarm, supervisory and trouble conditions. 3.0 Test Criteria: A. All features, devices, components, and modes of operation shall be tested for acceptance in accordance with the code and NFPA 72. B. Testing personnel shall be qualified and experienced in the arrangement and operation of interface equipment and fire safety functions. C. Before to proceeding with testing, all persons and facilities receiving alarm, supervisory or trouble signals and all occupants shall be notified of the testing to prevent unnecessary response. The same shall be notified when the testing is complete. D. Prior to Fire Department Testing, the fire alarm system shall undergo a complete engineer’s test to ensure proper operation. The Engineer’s test shall include the following: 1. Prior to operational testing, the system components and devices shall be visually inspected. 2. The fire alarm control panel LCD display and LED indicators shall be tested to verify that the alarm, trouble and supervisory signals are properly displayed. Output function of opening damper at the top of the elevator shaft and illumination of the fire fighter hat signal in the elevator cab shall be tested. Detection of open circuits, ground faults, and power supply supervision for detection of loss of ac power and disconnection of secondary batteries. The primary power shall be disconnected and associated trouble signal produced. The primary power shall continue to be disconnected and general alarm operated for a minimum of 5 minutes and primary power restored after completion of the test. L&S 1862 Page 9 3. Conductors shall be tested for stray voltages between conductors and between conductors and ground, for ground faults, for short circuits, for loop resistance and for supervision. 4. Smoke detector shall be tested using smoke or listed aerosol. 5. Manual pull stations shall be tested by initiating an alarm in accordance with the manufacturer’s published instructions. 6. Tamper switches shall be tested to ensure that a supervisory signal is initiated within the first two revolutions. 7. Water flow devices shall be tested by flowing water through an inspector’s test connection. 8. Notification audible devices shall be tested by measuring sound pressure levels with sound level meter meeting ANSI SI.4a, Type 2 requirements. 9. Notification visual devices shall be tested by observing strobe operation and verifying field settable candela setting. E. The testing personnel shall complete an inspection and testing record per NFPA 72. F. After the Engineer’s inspection and testing is complete, the Contractor shall schedule testing with the Northampton Fire Department. *** End of Basis of Design Narrative ***