dmfpfire.pdf

Department of Veterans Affairs

FIRE PROTECTION

DESIGN MANUAL

Fifth Edition, Revised April 2009

VACO Network Program Support (10NS)

April-2009

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FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN MANUAL

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE

1.2 APPLICATION

1.3 FIRE PROTECTION CODES AND STANDARDS

1.4 FIRE PROTECTION DURING CONSTRUCTION

1.5 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

2. BUILDING FEATURES

2.1 TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

2.2 VA HOSPITAL BUILDING SYSTEM (INTERSTITIAL)

2.3 INTERIOR FINISH

2.4 LOCATION ON PROPERTY

2.5 SITE CONSIDERATIONS

2.6 INSULATION, INCLUDING FOAM PLASTIC

2.7 ROOF COVERINGS AND ROOF DECK ASSEMBLIES

2.8 ROOF ACCESS

2.9 SHELTERS, PAVILIONS, CONNECTING CORRIDORS OR SIMILAR STRUCTURES LOCATED NEAR

HEALTH CARE BUILDINGS

2.10 FIRE AND SMOKE BARRIERS:

2.11 PROTECTION OF OPENINGS:

2.12 SUITES:

2.13 EXIT SIGNS:

2.14 DOOR LOCKING REQUIREMENTS:

3. SPECIAL PROTECTION

3.1 STORAGE

3.2 FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID STORAGE

3.3 FOOD PREPARATION FACILITIES

3.4 COMPRESSED GAS/CRYOGENIC LIQUID STORAGE

3.5 LABORATORIES

3.6 CASEWORK (INCLUDING NON-MOVEABLE, BUILT-IN CABINETRY, WARDROBE, ETC.)

3.7 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATION, AND HIGH COST EQUIPMENT ROOMS:

3.8 PAINT SPRAY AREAS

3.9 ATRIUM SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS:

3.10 VA CANTEEN RETAIL STORES:

3.11 PHARMACIES:

3.12 CHUTES:

4. OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION

4.1 GENERAL

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4.2 MIXED OCCUPANCIES

5. WATER SUPPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION

5.1 ADEQUACY OF WATER SUPPLY

5.2 CAPACITY

5.3 FIRE PUMPS:

5.4 DURATION

5.5 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

5.6 HYDRANTS

5.7 SIGNAGE:

6. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS

6.1 SPRINKLER SYSTEMS:

6.2 STANDPIPES AND FIRE HOSE CONNECTIONS

6.3 GASEOUS SYSTEMS (CLEAN AGENT, CARBON DIOXIDE, ETC.):

6.4 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

6.5 EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS FOR COOKING FACILITIES/EQUIPMENT:

7. FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

7.1 PURPOSE

7.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

7.3 TYPICAL OPERATION

TABLE 7.3 Fire Alarm System Input Output Matrix

7.4 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

7.5 COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN BUILDINGS

APPENDIX A

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DESIGN MANUAL

APPENDIX B

MANDATORY REFERENCES

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

APPENDIX C

APPLICABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CRITERIA

Master Specifications (PG-18-1) Design and Construction Procedures (PG-18-03) Standard Details (PG-18-04) Other VA Criteria

APPENDIX D

VA DESIGN MANUALS

VA DESIGN GUIDES

INDEX

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FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN MANUAL

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

INTRODUCTION

The primary goal of this manual is to provide an environment for occupants that is reasonably safe from fire and products of combustion. To achieve this goal, the objectives are to protect occupants who are not intimate with initial fire development for the time needed to take appropriate action, and to improve the survivability of occupants who are intimate with initial fire development.

The secondary goals of this manual are to provide a reasonable level of building usability and property protection from the effects of fire and products of combustion. To achieve these goals, the objectives are to increase the likelihood that, in the event of a fire, critical operational functions are not interrupted for longer than 24 hours and the loss of real or personal property does not exceed $250,000.00.

The criteria in this manual are based on the assumption of a single fire source.

1. GENERAL

1.1 Scope:

A. This manual contains fire protection engineering design criteria to meet the goals identified above, by protecting patients, visitors, and staff; maintaining the continuity of important clinical and administrative activities; and protecting VA property. This generally will require the installation of automatic sprinkler protection in VA owned buildings. In VA occupied buildings, sprinkler protection may be required to protect VA property or for compliance with the Life Safety Code or the Federal Fire Safety Act PL-102-522. See Section 6.1. (Note: Protection will not be required to limit the loss of non-VA property.)

B. This manual applies to all categories of VA construction and renovation projects, station level projects, and acquisition of all VA property (including leases).

C. This manual supersedes new construction criteria contained in VA Circulars, Information Letters, and Directives, which are dated prior to the publication date of this manual.

D. This manual is intended to apply to new construction. It can be used as guidance with respect to existing features.

1.2 Application:

A. Use this manual in conjunction with the Scope of Work paragraph in the Architect/Engineer (A/E) Package and PG-18-15, Minimum Requirements for A/E Submissions, which defines the information to be shown on drawings and work to be completed at each stage of design.

In addition, coordinate with requirements from other applicable VA criteria listed in Appendices C and D.

B. The facility shall solicit the services of a third party with knowledge of applicable fire protection criteria such as the respective Network Safety Manager, Network Safety and Fire Protection Engineer (SFPE), or other qualified fire protection engineering consultant during design in order to insure the project as designed by the A/E complies with such criteria.

Obtaining these third party services early in the design process is strongly recommended.

The third party entity shall be involved in reviewing the design, but may also be involved with reviewing contractor’s submissions, conducting pre-occupancy life safety inspections, and/or witnessing final fire protection acceptance testing.

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C. For code interpretation and enforcement, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for all VA projects is ultimately the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management (10N), with the Safety and Fire Protection Engineer (10NS) acting as the VA Fire Marshal.

At the Medical Center and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) level, the respective Network Safety Manager or Network Safety and Fire Protection Engineer (SFPE) acts as the AHJ representative on behalf of 10NS.

1.3 Fire Protection Codes and Standards:

A. The Public Buildings Amendment Act (PL 100-678) requires all federal agencies to follow the latest editions of nationally recognized fire and life safety codes. It also requires federal agencies to give local fire protection officials the opportunity to review and comment on projects for compliance with local regulations and compatibility with local fire fighting practices. All reviews by local fire protection officials are to be at no cost to the Government. Designers should meet with local fire authorities during early stages of design to incorporate local requirements to the extent practical; however, recommendations made by local officials should be reviewed for adequacy, cost, and nationally accepted practice before being incorporated into project design.

B. VA has adopted the National Fire Codes (NFC) published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which establish a minimum acceptable level of life safety and property protection. Life safety requirements are specifically addressed in the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101. Where conflicts exist between codes, the designer shall follow the code specified in the text under the subject section of this manual. Fire Protection design shall be based on the latest editions of the NFC at the Date of Award of the contract to the Architectural/Engineering (A/E) firm (or Design/Build firm). Under special circumstances, the VA will require compliance with a more recent code edition when significant changes to the code have occurred between the Date of Award to the A/E and the Date of Award to the prime contractor for construction.

Note: Special circumstances would include a situation where a designed project sat “on the shelf” for an extended period of time, or where a significant change to the code was made and where incorporating that change would improve safety in the opinion of the AHJ.

C. Fire protection features not addressed by the NFC shall be designed to comply with the requirements of the latest edition of the International Building Code (IBC) or as otherwise addressed in this manual. Other references are listed in Appendix B.

D. For design features that are addressed by both the IBC as well as by NFPA 101 or a document referenced by NFPA 101, the requirements of NFPA 101 or the document referenced by NFPA 101 shall be used exclusively (this applies even if the IBC requirements are different).

Note: VA buildings must meet the requirements of NFPA 101 and documents referenced by NFPA 101 in order to comply with the accreditation requirements of the Joint Commission.

It is intended that life safety and fire protection features will be designed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101 and documents referenced by NFPA 101. Other building features (including, but not limited to, structural strength, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, and energy conservation) will be designed in accordance with the IBC and documents referenced by the IBC or as identified in VHA Program Guide PG-18-3, Topic 1 – Codes, Standards, and Executive Orders.

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E. Strict compliance to codes and standards is mandatory for new construction. If equivalent protection is proposed by the designer for renovations, submit requests and supporting rationale through the respective Network Safety Manager or SFPE to the Safety and Fire Protection Engineer (10NS) in VA Central Office.

1.4 Fire Protection During Construction:

A. Coordinate with the facility prior to and concurrent with design.

B. Fire protection during construction shall comply with VA Master Construction Specification (VAMCS) 01 00 00, General Requirements. (Note: VAMCS 01 00 00, General Requirements, addresses NFPA 241, Joint Commission Interim Life Safety Measures, Hot Work Permits, etc. This specification section was formerly section 01010.)

C. Separate all occupied areas from demolition, renovation, or construction activities by temporary smoke-tight construction partitions of gypsum board or other approved non-combustible or limited-combustible material. Partitions shall be full height, extending through suspended ceilings to the floor slab or roof deck above and shall be one-hour fire rated, unless sprinklers are installed and are operational on both sides of the temporary partition whereupon the partition may be permitted to terminate at the ceiling in accordance with NFPA 241. Where the ceiling on one side of the temporary construction barrier has been removed, the temporary wall would need to go to the deck above.

Note: This requirement is due to the inherently greater potential for fire or hazardous materials incidents associated with the combustibles and operations of demolition/construction. This risk is made worse by the likelihood of compromised fire protection systems and fire/smoke resistant construction. This does not obviate the need to provide other protective measures to contain dust and debris as specified by VAMCS 01 00 00 section 1.8(D)(2). Sprinklers are considered to be operational when they are installed in accordance with NFPA 13 (spacing, protection, distance from the ceiling, etc.) and there is a sufficient automatic water supply. If the ceiling was removed and the sprinklers remain at the original ceiling level, they would likely not be considered operational.

D. Phase construction as necessary to ensure that obstruction of exits is minimized or avoided.

If exits are obstructed during construction, provide alternate exit routes during each phase of construction and identify the alternate routes on the construction drawings.

E. Minimize or avoid disruptions to fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Delineate phasing of construction to ensure that installations of new systems are expedited, and where possible, maintain existing systems in service until the replacement system is operational. If fire protection systems are to be disrupted, ensure procedures are incorporated to maintain equivalent levels of fire protection and provide formal notification to the facility while systems are down.

1.5 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Fire Protection requirements of ADA do not apply to federal agencies; however, VA is required to comply with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

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2. BUILDING FEATURES

2.1 Types of Construction:

A. For each construction type, design fire resistive ratings of structural members in accordance with NFPA 220.

B. Design the type of construction to comply with requirements of NFPA 101 for the most restrictive occupancy in the building. For occupancies with no construction requirements in NFPA 101, type of construction as well as height and area restrictions shall comply with the

IBC.

2.2 VA Hospital Building System (Interstitial): Fire protection requirements for facilities designed using the VA Hospital Building System (VAHBS) shall comply with the following:

A. Design walk-on decks in accordance with the lightweight insulating concrete assembly tested and reported in NBSIR 85-3158 or NISTIR 5560, except that sprayed fire-resistive material protecting the bottom of purlins supporting walk-on decks shall be sprayed to a thickness of one-inch with fireproofing suitable for exposed applications. Wire mesh may be omitted from the bottom flange of the purlins supporting the deck.

B. Steel in interstitial space supporting functional floors shall not be fireproofed, with the exception of columns, which are sprayed throughout their entire height, and structural members supporting mechanical room floors (required to maintain continuity of the two-hour membrane separating interstitial spaces from functional floors). Clearly identify these features on design details and in specifications.

C. Two-hour fire resistance rating is required between floors; the separation runs in a horizontal plane along the mechanical equipment room floor, then vertically along the wall separating the mechanical equipment room from functional spaces, then it continues along the interstitial deck. Columns, girders, and trusses supporting more than one floor within interstitial spaces and structural members in the mechanical room shall also have two-hour fire resistance rating.

D. Interstitial space need not be subdivided horizontally into fire or smoke compartments.

Horizontal exits or smoke barrier walls located below in occupied space need not be extended up into interstitial space.

E. In interstitial space, a fire resistive rating is only required for two-hour fire rated shafts (elevators, chases, stairs, etc.) and one-hour rated mechanical equipment rooms adjacent to interstitial spaces.

F. Neither fire nor smoke dampers are required where ducts penetrate the one-hour rated partition separating the mechanical room from the interstitial space; however, smoke dampers are required at air handlers to comply with NFPA 90A. Fire dampers are not required in ducts for openings in the interstitial deck less than 150,000 sq. mm (225 sq in), including supply ducts from interstitial spaces to functional spaces, exhaust ducts, and return ducts from functional spaces into the interstitial space. Flexible duct work (UL 181, Class I) is permitted in interstitial space for connections less than 2.4 m (8 ft) long and shall be no larger than 300 mm (12 in) diameter.

G. Protect horizontal and vertical penetrations (ducts, cables, pipes, etc.) with through penetration protection systems.

H. Provide fire alarm pull stations at exit doors from interstitial spaces and sufficient notification appliances so a fire alarm signal can be received throughout the spaces.

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I. Provide exit signs at exit doors and other locations to provide clear direction toward exits from interstitial spaces. Provide emergency lighting for adequate egress illumination in the event of a power outage.

2.3 Interior Finish:

A. Wall and ceiling finishes and movable partitions shall conform to NFPA 101.

B. Interior floor finish shall conform to NFPA 101.

2.4 Location on Property: Building separation and requirements for rated exterior walls and openings for protection from exposure by adjacent buildings or hazards shall comply with the IBC where VA buildings abut non-VA buildings or property lines.

2.5 Site Considerations:

A. Provide access for emergency vehicles to new buildings and additions in accordance with

NFPA 1.

B. Design roads, fire lanes, and turn-arounds for the weight and turning radius of fire apparatus.

Consult local fire department for fire apparatus requirements. At minimum, one of the long sides of every building shall be accessible to fire department equipment.

2.6 Insulation, including foam plastic: Comply with IBC.

2.7 Roof Coverings and Roof Deck Assemblies:

A. Roof coverings shall be approved or listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory for compliance with UL standard 790 and shall be Class B minimum.

B. Roof deck assemblies shall be FM Class I approved, or shall be UL listed as Fire-Classified.

2.8 Roof Access: Comply with IBC.

2.9 Shelters, pavilions, connecting corridors, or similar structures located near health care buildings:

A. Shelters or pavilions with automatic sprinkler protection are not considered to present an exposure hazard. However, if of wood-frame construction, they may not be attached directly to a permanent building.

B. Locate non-sprinklered combustible structures or non-sprinklered structures that have combustible roof assemblies a minimum of 7.5 m (25 ft) from the exposed building. The 7.5 m (25 ft) separation may be reduced to 0 when the exposed (permanent) building has at least a two-hour fire resistive rating and has no openings (windows, doors, or roof) within 7.5 m (25 ft) of the temporary structure; to 3 m (10 ft) when the exposed wall has a two-hour fire resistive rating and all openings within 7.5 m (25 ft) of the temporary structure are protected with one-hour protection; and to 4.5 m (15 ft) when all openings in the two-hour fire resistive rated exposed wall are protected with wire glass assemblies.

C. Because it is difficult to ignite polycarbonate and aluminum (bus stop type) shelters and they are likely to collapse shortly after becoming fully involved in a fire, they are given special consideration. Polycarbonate and aluminum shelters located next to buildings with automatic sprinkler protection shall be located 3 m (10 ft) or more from any unprotected openings. Such shelters located next to buildings without automatic sprinkler protection shall be located 6 m (20 ft) or more from any unprotected openings.

D. Shelters or pavilions that are of masonry construction shall not be located within 3 m (10 ft) of any building opening.

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E. Connecting corridors to buildings shall be of non-combustible construction.

2.10 Fire and Smoke Barriers: Fire and Smoke barriers shall be provided as required by NFPA

101. In accordance with PG-18-15, fire and smoke barriers shall be shown on all drawings.

Specifically indicate the hourly rating of every barrier. Where possible, smoke barriers should not be configured to include corridor doors.

Note: Corridor walls and smoke barriers have different requirements.

2.11 Protection of Openings: Openings in fire rated barriers shall be protected according to NFPA 101, 80, and 90A. Doors in such openings shall be normally closed, unless equipped with electromagnetic door hold open devices arranged to close upon activation of the fire alarm system or smoke detector installed proximate to the door. Fire shutters shall be provided to protect openings in fire rated barriers designed to be normally open. Shutters shall be designed to close upon activation of a smoke detector proximate to the shutter. Such detectors shall close all shutters within a fire barrier served. Closing speed shall be in accordance with NFPA 80. Fire dampers shall be installed in fire rated barriers in accordance with NFPA 90A. Fire rating glazing, where used, shall meet applicable safety standards.

Note: Shutter includes rolling steel fire doors as well as service counter doors.

2.12 Suites: Corridor doors accessing suites in health care occupancies shall latch except power operated doors as identified in the Life Safety Code.

Note: The intent of this requirement is to ensure corridor doors accessing suites are equipped with latches just like other corridor doors. This would apply even if the suite doors were part of a smoke barrier, though this configuration is not advised. Often, operating room, ICU and recovery room suite doors are double leaf power operated automatic doors that do not normally latch. As of the 2009 Edition of the Life Safety Code, these doors do not have to latch provided there is 5lbf at the latch edge that will keep the door closed.

2.13 Exit Signs: Two exit signs are not required to be visible in an exit access corridor (see Healthcare Interpretations Task Force (HITF) 98-7).

2.14 Door Locking Requirements: Doors are permitted to be locked in the direction of egress travel under conditions as identified in NFPA 101 (2009) as follows:

A. Delayed Egress (7.2.1.6.1) where permitted by the occupancy chapter.

B. Access Controlled (7.2.1.6.2) where permitted by the occupancy chapter.

C. For the safety of the patients in healthcare occupancies

1) Patient room doors (18/19.2.2.2.2)

2) Means of egress (18/19.2.2.2.4)

Where the permission to lock doors in accordance with NFPA 101, 18.2.2.2.4 is used, NFPA 101, 18.2.2.2.5 requires the following:

Doors that are located in the means of egress and are permitted to be locked under other provisions of this chapter shall have provisions made for the rapid removal of occupants by means such as the follows:

Option A. Remote control of locks

Option B. Keying of all locks to keys carried by staff at all times

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Option C. Other such reliable means available to the staff at all times.

VA Clarification for Options A, B, and C above:

For Option (A): The locked doors are required to be in the line of sight of the location of the remote operator.

For Option (B): Self evident

For Option (C): Card access security systems may be used provided that a mechanical key release is provided such that when the key is operated, it will directly interrupt the power to the locking mechanism independent of the card access system electronics and staff in the area carry keys at all times.

3) Doors in non-healthcare occupancies for the safety of patients (18.1.2.6)

Note: From the NFPA 101 Handbook: Health care occupancy patients are sometimes moved to nonmedical areas — such as a chapel for religious services or an auditorium for recreation — that typically do not meet the provisions applicable to health care occupancies.

Paragraph 18/19.1.2.6 permits such areas to be regulated by the provisions applicable to the corresponding occupancy (which would be an assembly occupancy, in the case of chapels or auditoriums). This paragraph addresses a subject similar to that addressed in 18/19.1.2.7 but adds the requirement that, where the clinical needs of the occupants necessitate the locking of doors, staff must be present for the supervised unlocking of doors and release of occupants. This additional requirement ensures that procedures are in place for the ready release of occupants.

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3. SPECIAL PROTECTION

3.1 Storage:

A. Storage rooms shall be considered hazardous areas and shall comply with appropriate occupancy chapter requirements of NFPA 101.

B. Rooms containing medical records storage or moveable-aisle/mobile shelving shall be provided with automatic sprinkler protection and enclosed with a barrier having a one-hour fire resistance rating. Also see Section 6.1E.

3.2 Flammable and Combustible Liquid Storage:

A. Comply with NFPA 30.

B. Provide adequate space for flammable and combustible liquid storage cabinets.

3.3 Food Preparation Facilities: Provide fixed fire extinguishing systems for cooking operations in accordance with NFPA 96. Activation of the fire suppression system shall shut down the power/fuel source to the cooking equipment and shall be connected to the building fire alarm system. Fire protection systems shall be wet chemical type and shall comply with UL300 in accordance with NFPA 17A.

3.4 Compressed Gas/Cryogenic Liquid Storage:

A. Location, construction, and arrangement of compressed medical gas storage areas shall comply with NFPA 99.

B. Bulk oxygen supply systems or storage locations having a total capacity of more than 566 cu m (20,000 cu ft) of oxygen shall comply with NFPA 50.

C. Liquid oxygen storage tanks shall not be located on or within 4.5 m (15 ft) of asphalt or bituminous pavement. Provide non-combustible joints and crack fillers around these tanks.

3.5 Laboratories:

A. Do not locate laboratories in basements.

Note: Class I flammable liquids are not permitted in basements and are not permitted to be stored in basements, per NFPA 30, 2003 edition, sections 6.4.3.5 and 6.5.1.4. Since laboratories typically have some Class I flammable liquids, the VA Fire Protection Design Manual does not permit laboratories in basements.

B. Laboratories using flammable or combustible liquids in buildings with inpatients, or outpatients incapable of self-preservation shall comply with NFPA 99. These laboratories shall be enclosed with a barrier having a one-hour fire resistance rating.

Note: The type and quantities of flammable liquids are subject to change during the life of the laboratory. For this reason, the added protection of a one-hour fire rated enclosure has been added.

C. Other laboratories using flammable or combustible liquids shall comply with NFPA 45.

3.6 Casework (including non-moveable, built-in cabinetry, wardrobe, etc.):

A. No restrictions in buildings provided with automatic sprinkler protection.

B. Provide metal casework in non-sprinklered buildings in patient care rooms.

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3.7 Information Technology Telecommunication, and High Cost Equipment Rooms:

A. Mission-essential information technology, telecommunication, and high cost equipment rooms and infrastructure, with the potential for high dollar loss and/or business interruption, shall be provided with wet pipe automatic sprinkler protection and shall be designed to comply with NFPA 75 as described in this design manual.

B. Additional guidance is provided in PG-18-3, VA Design and Construction Procedures, Topic 10.

C. Head End Equipment Rooms as defined in the VA Electrical Design Manual shall be provided with sprinkler protection and smoke detection.

D. Telephone Equipment Rooms (TER) and Main Computer Rooms (MCR) as specified in the VA Electrical Design Manual are to be design in accordance with Section 3.7 E, Data Centers. A Telephone Equipment Room is to be considered a Tier I facility.

E. Data Centers:1. Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III data centers are defined in “Data Center Standards,” April 2004, VHA Enterprise Management Center, Office of Information. The following is extracted from that document:

Tier I Data Center Basic A Tier I data center is susceptible to disruptions from both planned and unplanned activity. It has computer power distribution and cooling, but it may or may not have a raised floor, a UPS, or an engine generator. If it does have UPS or generators, they are single-module systems and have many single points of failure. The infrastructure should be completely shut down on an annual basis to perform preventive maintenance and repair work. Urgent situations may require more frequent shutdowns. Operation errors or spontaneous failures of site infrastructure components will cause a data center disruption.

Tier II Data Center Redundant Components Tier II facilities with redundant components are slightly less susceptible to disruptions from both planned and unplanned activity than a basic data center. They have a raised floor, UPS, and engine generators, but their capacity design is “Need plus One” (N+1), which has a single-threaded distribution path throughout. Maintenance of the critical power path and other parts of the site infrastructure will require a processing shutdown.

Tier III Data Center Concurrently Maintainable Tier III level capability allows for any planned site infrastructure activity without disrupting the computer hardware operation in any way. Planned activities include preventive and programmable maintenance, repair and replacement of components, addition or removal of capacity components, testing of components and systems, and more. For large sites using chilled water, this means two independent sets of pipes.

Sufficient capacity and distribution must be available to simultaneously carry the load on one path while performing maintenance or testing on the other path. Unplanned activities such as errors in operation or spontaneous failures of facility infrastructure components will still cause a data center disruption. Tier III sites are often designed to be upgraded to Tier IV when the client’s business case justifies the cost of additional protection.

Tier IV Data Center Fault Tolerant

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Tier IV provides site infrastructure capacity and capability to permit any planned activity without disruption to the critical load. Fault-tolerant functionality also provides the ability of the site infrastructure to sustain at least one worst-case unplanned failure or event with no critical load impact. This requires simultaneously active distribution paths, typically in a System+System configuration. Electrically, this means two separate UPS systems in which each system has N+1 redundancy. Because of fire and electrical safety codes, there will still be downtime exposure due to fire alarms or people initiating an Emergency Power Off (EPO). Tier IV requires all computer hardware to have dual power inputs as defined by the Institute’s Fault-Tolerance. Tier IV site infrastructures are the most compatible with high availability IT concepts that employ CPU clustering, RAID DASD, and redundant communications to achieve reliability, availability, and serviceability.

Current Vista facility data centers would fall into the first three tiers, with some being Tier-I and very few at the Tier-III level. Ultimately, VA data center facilities should achieve an acceptable level of confidence (tier) within the VA’s infrastructure in order to support enterprise-level systems such as HealtheVet systems. In order to establish and implement a minimum level of standards for VA data centers, a base set of standards must be established and used in a survey of facility data centers.

2. Tier I data centers shall be provided with wet pipe automatic sprinkler protection and shall be designed to comply with NFPA 75. Underfloor suppression systems may be omitted if justified by a fire hazard analysis of the exposure to the rest of the building.

Note: NFPA 75 requires a fire suppression system to be installed under a raised floor, but VA does not require the raised floor spaces of Tier I data centers to be provided with this protection if the space contains low combustible contents.

3. Tier II, III, and IV data centers shall be protected with a gaseous automatic extinguishing system throughout the space (including above and below the raised floor), and wet pipe automatic sprinkler protection above the raised floor. Sprinkler protection shall be installed utilizing standard response fusible link sprinklers.

Note: Standard response fusible link sprinklers will lessen the chance of a sprinkler being accidentally broken and will still provide structure protection since a standard response head is more robust and harder to break that a typical glass bulb quick response sprinkler.

3.8 Paint Spray Areas: Comply with NFPA 33.

3.9 Atrium Smoke Control Systems: Comply with NFPA 92B. See the VA Design Manual for HVAC systems for additional design criteria.

3.10 VA Canteen Retail Stores: Retail stores located in buildings containing health care occupancies shall be considered as hazardous areas and shall therefore be separated from adjacent spaces by one-hour fire rated construction.

3.11 Pharmacies: Pharmacies located in buildings containing health care occupancies shall be considered storage areas and shall therefore be separated from adjacent spaces by one-hour fire rated construction. Fire or service counter shutters shall be provided to protect openings where medication is dispensed or other transactions occur.

3.12 Chutes: Linen chutes and waste chutes shall comply with the provisions in NFPA 82 for limited access gravity chutes.

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4. OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION

4.1 General: Occupancy classifications are defined in NFPA 101 and as follows:

See also the linked file for occupancy determination.

Decision Tool for Occupancy Classification

Health Care Chapter 18 & 20

Business Chapter 38

Residential Chapters 26, 28, 30 &

Industrial Chapter 40

Day Care Chapter 16

Hospitals Psychiatric Outpatient Clinics

Blind Rehabilitation Research Buildings

Child Day Care

Nursing Homes Alcohol/Drug Outpatient Facilities

Alcohol/Drug (4) Free Standing Laundries

Adult Day Care

Ambulatory Health Care Facilities (1)

Methadone Maintenance Clinics

Domiciliaries (5) Power Plants Day Treatment Centers

Alcohol/Drug (3) Ambulatory Health Care Facilities (2)

Quarters Buildings, Hoptels

Free Standing Shops

Domiciliaries (5) Administrative Offices

Homeless Shelters

(1) Includes surgery centers, dialysis centers, imaging centers and cardiac catheterization centers

(2) Includes buildings with occupants capable of self preservation

(3) Medical detoxification facilities for Alcohol/Substance Abuse

(4) Social detoxification facilities for Alcohol/Substance Abuse

(5) Where staffing patterns do not meet health care requirements, Domiciliaries shall be protected in accordance with the appropriate residential occupancy requirements.

Note: Domiciliaries are surveyed by Joint Commission utilizing occupancy chapters 28 and 29 (Hotel/Motel/Dormitories) of the Life Safety Code. These chapters are often less representative than the Board and Care occupancy chapters for domiciliaries in the VA. Door closers are required on corridor rooms in the chapters that the Joint Commission follows, while exceptions for the omission of closers may exist for the board and care occupancies. However, Joint Commission has granted a VA-wide equivalency for the closers when the following features are present: (1) sprinkler protection, (2) single station smoke alarms are provided for the sleeping rooms, (3) staff is present and trained to close doors,

(4) fire drills are conducted, and (5) the fire alarm system is connected to transmit a signal to the fire department. Where the board and care occupancy chapters are followed, an equivalency may have to be obtained from Joint Commission to prevent the facility from receiving a type I recommendation from Joint Commission for the lack of door closers on sleeping room doors.

http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dManual/DecisionToolForOccupancyClass.pdf�

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4.2 Multiple Occupancies: Buildings containing multiple occupancies shall be considered mixed or separated as required by NFPA 101. Buildings containing occupancies that are not incidental to the primary occupancy shall comply with the most restrictive requirement of the occupancies involved, unless separated by barriers having fire resistance ratings as required by NFPA 101.

Note: Determination of occupancy classification of Hoptels located in health care occupancies should be done on a floor or area basis when calculating occupant loads of sleeping residents.

Requirements for corridor wall construction or sleeping room door closers should be evaluated for an equivalent approach, See the following table (note 7) for guidance. Hoptels within health care occupancies may be considered part of the health care occupancy provided staff is responsible for ensuring safe relocation and/or evacuation of residents.

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Hoptels and the Life Safety Code (2003 Ed.)

Number of Occupants Sleeping 1

Life Safety Code -

Occupancy Chapter

Construction Requirements

Corridor requirements

Rated Corridor Door

Closer Required

Latching Required Smoke detection in corridor required?

Single Station Smoke Alarm Required? 2

Direct Connection to FD required?

Other 3, 4

NA Ch.19 5 without sprinklers

Yes 1/2 hour 20 minute equivalent

No Yes, or closing device to keep the door closed.

No No Yes

NA Ch. 19 5 with sprinklers

Yes Smoke resistant

20 minute equivalent

No Yes, or closing device to keep the door closed.

No No Yes

>16 Ch. 28 without sprinklers 6

>16 Ch. 28 with sprinklers 6

None 1/2 hour 7 20 minutes 8 Yes Yes No Yes No

≤16 Ch. 26 without sprinklers 9

≤16 Ch. 26 with sprinklers

None Smoke resistant

No No Yes, or closing device to keep the door closed.

No Yes No

≤ 3 Ch. 24 10 without sprinklers

None None No No No No Yes No

≤ 3 Ch. 24 with sprinklers

None None No No No No Yes No

1 This should be addressed on an area basis (i.e., if there are multiple floors in a health care building, treat each zone/floor separately). This table assumes that the Hoptel is going into an existing health care occupancy. Where separate buildings are provided, they shall comply with the appropriate chapter in the Life Safety Code. See footnote 10.

2 In guest rooms which have been specifically designed for the hearing impaired, a visible fire alarm signal shall be provided.

3 Signage including a floor plan shall be provided on the guest room doors to explain emergency egress for the floor/area. Fire safety information shall be provided to all residents to explain emergency egress actions.

4 All residents should be advised of the medical center smoking policy. For buildings with non-residential occupancies, the building fire plan must be revised to reflect that some of the occupants are residents sleeping overnight.

5 Health care chapters are provided for comparison purposes only.

6 New Hotels and Dormitories are required to be sprinklered throughout with QR heads (See NFPA 101, 28-3.5).

7 The corridor walls are required to extend from floor slab to floor slab, or, if the Hoptel is located within a sprinklered health care occupancy, the walls may terminate at a smoke resistant ceiling. Health care occupancies have minimum construction requirements as well as an automatic response from emergency forces that compensate for the wall not extending slab to slab.

8 Existing 1-3/4 inch solid bonded wood core doors are considered equivalent to 20 minute doors and are acceptable.

9 New Lodging and Rooming Homes are required to be sprinklered.

10 Chapter 24 shall not be used for Hoptels located within health care occupancies. As a minimum, the requirements in Chapter 26 shall be followed for Hoptel rooms located in health care occupancies.

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5. WATER SUPPLY FOR FIRE PROTECTION

5.1 Adequacy of Water Supply: Assess adequacy of the existing water supply. Perform water supply flow testing of fire hydrants and/or fire pumps. If data is available from the facility, the designer must verify the locations involved as well as the quality and accuracy of the data.

A Provide a secondary fire suppression water supply for areas subject to earthquakes, hurricanes, and major floods. Refer to the Office of Facilities Management “Natural Disasters Non-Structural Resistive Design (formerly CD-54) document found at http://vaww.va.gov/facmgt/standard/cpro/NatDisasterResistiveDesign.doc for locations of earthquake, hurricane and flood areas.

B. Design the secondary water supply to meet the largest fire demand (sprinkler system plus fire hose requirements) for the duration specified in paragraph 5.4.

C. Water storage tanks shall be designed in accordance with NFPA 22 “Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection.”

D. For essential high rise buildings over 22.9 m (75 ft) and for health care occupancies as defined by NFPA 101, provide a secondary on-site water supply (30 minutes for both the sprinkler demand and a 6.3 L/s (100 gpm) hose demand) in seismic zones Moderate High, High, and Very High as defined by Table 4 in H-18-8.

5.2 Capacity:

A. Non-Sprinklered Buildings: Provide minimum fire flow as shown in Table 5.0. Partially-sprinklered buildings shall be considered non-sprinklered. Typical building occupancies are shown for each NFPA 13 hazard classification. Flow demand depends primarily on the type of construction, occupancy, exposure to the building, access to the building site, and fire department response. Fires in non-sprinklered buildings require more water because application of water by fire department hose streams is less efficient and begins later than sprinklers. Use professional judgment to modify these requirements on a case-by-case basis depending on the following favorable and unfavorable conditions:

Note: It is recommended that any deviations be forwarded to the respective SFPE for review prior to incorporating the modification.

1. Favorable Conditions

a. Non-combustible construction

b. Limited exposures

c. Ready access to entire building site by fire department apparatus

d. Quick response by adequately staffed fire department

2. Unfavorable Conditions

a. Combustible construction

b. Moderate or serious exposures

c. Hindrance to fire department apparatus access to building site

d. Delayed response or inadequately staffed fire department http://vaww.va.gov/facmgt/standard/cpro/NatDisasterResistiveDesign.doc�

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Table 5.0 - Minimum Fire Flows for New Non-Sprinklered Facilities and New Underground Water Systems (at 138 kPa (20 psi)).

NFPA 13 Hazard Classification Favorable Conditions Unfavorable Conditions

Light Hazard 79 L/s (1250 gpm)(1) 95 L/s (1500 gpm)

Patient Buildings, Offices, Quarters

Ordinary Hazard 79 L/s (1250 gpm)(1) 126 L/s (2000 gpm)

Laboratory Buildings, Shops, Laundries

Extra Hazard 95 L/s (1500 gpm) 190 L/s (3000 gpm)

Warehouses

(1) Based on the minimum required by NFPA 14 and fire department pumper capacities.

B. Sprinklered Buildings: The required fire flows and pressures for buildings provided with automatic sprinkler protection shall comply with NFPA 13 and other applicable NFPA standards. Also provide a minimum hose stream allowance for total combined inside and outside fire fighting to comply with NFPA 13.

5.3 Fire Pumps:

A. When a fire pump is necessary to supplement fire flow and pressure, size it to comply with NFPA 13 and 14. Where hose is not installed or otherwise provided in the facility, the fire pump will be sized only for the sprinkler system requirements. The local responding fire department will provide the necessary flow and pressure for manual fire fighting operations.

The capability of the fire department to handle the manual fire fighting requirements shall be verified and documented.

Note: Standard operating procedures for most fire departments do not allow fire fighters to use occupant hose lines within buildings since the fire fighters are generally not aware of the condition of the hose, and use of the hose could potentially result in a dangerous situation.

Fire department procedures also generally require fire fighters to connect a pumper truck to the fire department connection to augment the pressure to the sprinklers and standpipes.

Hence it is the VA position that the building fire pump be sized only for the sprinkler system demand and to let the fire department supply the flow and pressure for manual fire fighting.

The fire pump should be sized to handle manual fire fighting requirements in NFPA 14 only where the fire department pumper truck can not provide the necessary pressure, and this is not anticipated at any VA facility. The designer must verify that the fire department can adequately supply the manual fire fighting requirements.

B. Separate fire pumps from all other areas of the building by fire resistant rated construction in accordance with NFPA 20. In new construction the fire pump shall be in a separate room from other mechanical and electrical equipment.

C. Design the fire pump installation to comply with the details in the Appendix to NFPA 20.

Provide a test header and a flow meter. The test header is to be piped to an exterior straight type header that can be tested without damaging landscaping, etc. Provide a bypass with normally open valves. All fire pump system valves shall be electrically supervised by tamper switches. However, padlocks and chains may be substituted in lieu of tamper switches for normally closed valves on a case by case basis.

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D. Pumps shall start automatically at 69 kPa (10 psi) below jockey pump start pressure. Pumps shall be manually shut down.

Note: Manual shut down of the fire pump will ensure that the pump does not shut down prematurely before controlling the fire. In addition, someone at the facility should go to the fire pump upon alarm to ensure that it is operating properly. NFPA 20 does not permit automatic shutdown where the fire pump constitutes the sole source of water for a sprinkler or standpipe system.

E. Pumps shall be electric motor driven, horizontal split case centrifugal type unless this is not feasible. Power transfer switch and fire pump controller shall be factory assembled and packaged as a unit. Separate transfer switches are not permitted. Controller shall be monitored by the fire alarm system. Protect feeder circuit to comply with NFPA 20.

F. Provide primary and emergency power to fire and jockey pumps protecting health care occupancies serving inpatients from the life safety branch of the essential electrical system as defined in NFPA 70.

G. Provide jockey pumps to supply no less than 3.8 L/s (60 gpm). This will allow the jockey pump to supply the flow equivalent of one sprinkler to permit water flow switch testing and will permit tests to be performed without shutting down the fire pump. The jockey pump shall maintain pressure as required to prevent the fire pump from operating to maintain system pressure.

Note: Assuming a pressure of 125 psi is maintained on a system, a 60 gpm jockey pump will provide enough water to handle the water flow testing of the flow switches without the need to shut down the fire pump. Some installations with fire pumps can not test water flow switches without shutting down the fire pump due to hammering open dry pipe valves or discharging water onto roads or sidewalks during the winter seasons. A larger jockey pump ensures that the fire pump will be in service when needed.

H. Design electrical feeders to the fire pump to comply with NFPA 20. Feeders shall be outside the building except in the fire pump room and electrical room of origin.

I. Relief valves, where installed, shall discharge to the atmosphere and shall not be recirculated back to the suction side of the fire pump

5.4 Duration:

A. Non-Sprinklered Buildings: Fire flows as required by Table 5.0 shall be available for a duration of 60 minutes minimum for favorable conditions and 120 minutes minimum for unfavorable conditions.

B. Sprinklered Buildings: Fire flows shall be available as required by NFPA 13 for the required occupancy classification. However, duration for health care occupancies shall not be less than 60 minutes.

5.5 Distribution System: Installation shall comply with NFPA 24 and NFPA 1141 except as follows:

A. Mains shall be 200 mm (8 in) minimum. Mains supplying only fire hydrants (laterals) shall be permitted to be 150 mm (6 in).

B. Provide valves in underground water distribution lines to isolate leaks and to allow water to supply the remainder of the loop. Locate isolation valves so that not more than four discharge points (sprinkler systems, hydrants, or standpipe systems) will be taken out of service by any one break in the line.

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C. To increase available water flow and reliability, loop water distribution piping and provide dual feeds when cost effective. Avoid dead-end mains. A second connection to the public water utility system or an elevated water tank may be needed in order to provide redundancy.

5.6 Hydrants: Design installation to comply with NFPA 24 and NFPA 1141 except as follows:

A. Contact the responding fire department for hydrant requirements.

B. Maximum spacing between hydrants shall not exceed 91 m (300 ft). Locate hydrants such that every portion of the exterior of every building shall be within 91 m (300 ft ) of a hydrant, with consideration given to accessibility and obstructions. Nominal distance between a fire hydrant and the building fire department connection shall be 15 m (50 ft).

C. Wet barrel hydrants are preferred where piping is not subject to freezing.

D. Valve all hydrant connections at the supply main.

E. Locate hydrants adjacent to paved areas, no closer than 900 mm (3 ft) and no farther than 2 m (7 ft) from roadway shoulder or curb line, accessible to fire department apparatus. Barrels shall be long enough to permit at least 460 mm (18 in) clearance between center of pumper connection and grade. Pumper connection shall be perpendicular to street to allow straight line connection to pumper.

F. Protect hydrants located adjacent to parking areas or other vehicle traffic areas by bollards.

G. Design site grading for surface drainage away from hydrant.

H. Mark hydrants to comply with NFPA 291 if local fire department has no preference.

5.7 Signage: Furnish appropriate signage for all post indicator valves, fire department connections, and sectional valves. Signage shall indicate specific building and/or zone/area served.

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6. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS

6.1 Sprinkler Systems:

A. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed for any of the following:

1. When required to meet the goals or objectives stated in the Introduction to this document including the following:

a. So that critical operational functions are not interrupted for longer than 24 hours; or

b. So that the…