This presentation explains the code requirements for active and passive building systems used to protect buildings and their occupants and contents from fire.
This presentation is part of a series of lunch time seminars designed to assist in the professional development of junior and intermediate level architects who are preparing to take the architectural licensing exam.
The International Building Code (IBC) has been adopted by all 50 States, District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The State of California uses the IBC as its model code, and modifies it with California amendments to create the California Building Code (CBC). The International Code Council (ICC) was founded in 1994 dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The ICC was founded by the merger of three organizations: Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). Since the early part of the last century, these organizations developed three separate sets of model codes used in separate regions of the United States. The nation’s three model code groups formed the ICC with the intent of developing codes without regional limitations; i.e., the International Codes.
Code enforcement officials throughout the U.S. recognize fire-rated assemblies that are tested by third party testing agencies and laboratories, and certified to comply with the standards developed by ASTM, UL and NFPA. Underwriters Laboratories The UL Fire-Resistant Directory is the most commonly used building products directory in the U.S. due to the large variety of materials and combinations used in the tested assemblies. Listings in the other directories by other testing agencies are also readily accepted by Building Officials. NFPA Codes & Standards NFPA develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. Virtually every building, process, service, design, and installation in society today is affected by NFPA documents. Gypsum Association The Gypsum Association is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1930, and dedicated to promote the use of gypsum while advancing the development growth, and general welfare of the gypsum industry in the United States and Canada on behalf of its member companies. The Gypsum Association maintains evaluation reports issued by code bodies or jurisdictions, specifically the International Code Council (ICC Evaluation Service, Inc.), and the City of Los Angeles. These reports demonstrate code compliance and acceptance of specific gypsum materials and systems.
Building products bearing the WH Mark or FM Approved Mark indicate compliance to the relevant building codes and performance standards. Nearly 80% of North America's wood fire-rated doors bear Intertek’s Warnock Hersey (WH) Mark. It can also be found on more than 6,500 building products including builders’ hardware. These Marks also signify that the product’s manufacturing site(s) undergo periodic follow-up inspections to ensure ongoing compliance of the originally certified product.
Occupancy Separations Where a building has more than one occupancy, Section 508 requires that a fire barrier separate the two occupancies. Table 508.4 establishes the required hourly rating of the separation. For example, a department store (M occupancy) with a restaurant seating 50 or more (A-2 occupancy) requires a 1-hour fire separation, if the space is fully sprinklered; 2-hour fire separation if no sprinkler system is installed. Building Elements The fire-resistance rating of each component of the building is based on the Type of Construction. For example, a Type II-A building requires: Structural frame: 1-hour Bearing walls: 1-hour Interior partitions: No rating Floor construction: 1-hour Roof construction: 1-hour Fire Separation Distance Exterior walls may require fire-rated assemblies based on its distance measured from the building face to one of the following: The closest interior lot line; The centerline of a street, alley or public way; or An imaginary line between two buildings on the property The distance is measured at right angles from the face of the wall Fire Doors, Fire Shutters and Fire Windows Openings in fire barriers, where permitted, may be protected with fire doors, fire shutters, or fire windows in accordance with the requirements of Section 715.
Non-combustible construction; components include: Structural steel beam, W8x17 minimum size Light weight concrete topping Welded wire fabric, 6x6, slab reinforcement Galvanized corrugated metal decking Joint cover – 2 inch wide cloth tape (not shown) Shear stud connectors, headed type welded to top flange of beam Header duct for electrified raceways (may be omitted) Access openings Spray applied fireproofing
Non-combustible construction; components include: Floor and ceiling runners – channel shaped (not shown) C-shaped metal studs with 3-5/8” minimum depth Optional plywood or OSB sheathing (not shown) Optional acoustical or thermal batt insulation - glass fiber or mineral wool 5/8” thick gypsum wallboard Fasteners, Type-S (not shown) Optional furring channels installed perpendicular to studs (not shown) Joint tape and compound at wallboard panel joints
Non-combustible construction; components include: J-shaped runners with unequal legs - at floor, ceiling, and sides CH-shaped metal studs with 2-1/2” minimum depth 1” thick gypsum wallboard liner panel 1/2” or 5/8” thick gypsum wallboard – 2 layers Optional acoustical batt insulation - mineral wool or glass fiber batts partially or completely filling stud cavity
Shaft enclosures are required to protect openings in fire-rated floor assemblies; IBC Section 708.
Spray applied fireproofing is a passive in-place system with no mechanical or moving parts to fail. When properly applied, it will protect the integrity of the structural steel framing for the required time interval.
ASTME E119 is the widely accepted test standard. Mock up of the entire assembly is built against the gas furnace and burned. Note the elapsed time on the digital readout. Assembly must prevent the passage of open flames and heated gases into the protected side for the predetermined time.
ASTME E119 is the widely accepted test standard. Mock up of the entire assembly is built against the furnace and burned. Recent technological innovations and improvements allow larger sizes of fire-rated glazing in these assemblies.
Following the fire endurance test, the assembly is subjected to the Hose Stream Test to ensure that the assembly maintains its integrity while fire fighting efforts are underway.
Plans examiners, plan checkers, building inspectors, fire marshals, and other building officials rely on the published Listings and Certifications, plus the permanent labels fastened to the building products, which bear the Mark of the testing agency. The Mark readily identifies the installed products are fire-rated assemblies and comply with the governing codes and standards.
Requirements for opening protection systems are noted under Section 715.
Swing type fire doors are suitable for protecting openings in a fire-rated means of egress. Fire doors must be self-closing and self latching. Magnetic hold-open devices may be used, provided they are automatically deactivated by a fire alarm, smoke detector, or power failure.
Overhead coiling fire doors are not suitable for openings in a means of egress since the door cannot be reopened without special knowledge or skills.
Won-Door is the original manufacturer of wide span, accordion folding, fire-rated doors/partitions suitable for protecting elevator lobbies, atrium separations, horizontal exits, etc., while allowing unimpeded flow of pedestrian traffic as well as open plan designs.
Industrial horizontal fire doors are not suitable for openings in a means of egress as the door cannot be easily reopened for exiting. Horizontal sliding fire doors may be activated by fire alarm, smoke detector, power failure, or fusible link. Prior to motorized designs becoming the norm, the overhead track was mounted at an angle using the force of gravity to roll the door into the closed position. The door was held in the open position with a chain and fusible link. In the event of a fire, the fusible link would melt at a predetermined temperature allowing the door to close automatically.
Notice the large mullions and large door stiles and rails that are necessary to keep the glazing from falling out of the frame under high stress. When glazing is used in corridors, operable doors, sidelights, panels adjacent to doors, or below 30” in height, it must be classified as safety glazing in compliance with ANSI Z97.1; which governs how glazing materials must be designed to prevent or minimize injuries in the event that glazing materials are broken by human contact.
Fire and smoke dampers are activated by smoke duct detector, fire alarm, power failure, or fusible link. Can be connected to both round and rectangular ductwork.
Firestopping products maintain the integrity of the fire-rated assembly by preventing the passage of flame and heated gasses into the protected space. Under fire, the intumescent sealant expands quickly closing off the entire opening.
Firestopping products maintain the integrity of the fire-rated assembly by preventing the passage of flame and heated gasses into the protected space. Under fire, the intumescent sealant expands quickly closing off the entire opening. Intumescent sealants and caulks are used to fill the annular space (the gap) between the pipe penetration and the fire-rated assembly. Note the ICC code required stencilled identification markings for the fire-rated partition (Section 703.6)
The gap between the top of the partition and the underside of the floor above needs to be protected against the passage of flame and heated gasses. Mineral wool fiber blankets are stuffed into the flutes of the metal decking for the depth of the partition, then sealed with ½” thick layer of spray applied intumescent caulking.
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