VA TEMPLE PHASE II - DESIGN NARRATIVE_01.pdf

NOVEMBER 9, 2021

100% BID SET DESIGN NARRATIVE

UPGRADE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

CAMPUS WIDE: PHASE II

VA Project #674-22-801

PREPARED FOR:

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NETWORK

OLIN E. TEAGUE VA MEDICAL CENTER

1901 Veterans Memorial Drive.

Temple, TX 76504

PREPARED BY:

CB DESIGN GROUP, INC.

421 King St., Suite 301

Alexandria, VA 22314

A/E UPGRADE CAMPUS FIRE ALARM: PHASE II 100% CD Submission

Olin E. Teague VA Medical Center Project No. 674-22-801

November 9, 2021

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General

This is a campus-wide project to replace the existing fire alarm system at the Temple, TX VA Medical Center. With few exceptions for buildings under active separate projects for renovations or other upgrades or currently vacant buildings that require upgrades prior to occupancy, all buildings required to have a fire alarm system and all buildings with an existing fire alarm system are included in the scope to provide complete building fire alarm system replacement and new campus-wide fire alarm control units. Each building with an active fire alarm system that is not undergoing fire alarm replacement will receive a new panel that monitors and communicates the status of the existing building control panel to the new campus Fire Alarm

Control Units.

Existing system is a Simplex system. The new system must be non-proprietary and all components including but not limited to annunciators, control panels and smoke detectors must be American made and to the latest manufacturer versions.

Codes and Standards

The fire protection design for the area within the scope of work will be done in accordance with, but not limited to, the following VA design standards:

1. Veterans Affairs Fire Protection Design Manual, Seventh Edition, revised December 2015 (VAFPDM)

The fire protection codes and standards planned to be utilized are the latest editions of the National Fire Codes (NFC) published by the National

Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Where fire protection features are not addressed by the NFC, the International Building Code (IBC) or another referenced standard shall be used. NFC standards for the base code references are as follows:

1. NFPA 72 – National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

2. NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code

Should the codes from the International Code Council (ICC) need to be consulted, the following form the base code references:

1. International Building Code (IBC)

2. International Fire Code (IFC)

3. International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

4. International Mechanical Code (IMC)

5. International Plumbing Code (IPC)

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Existing Conditions

1. Fire Alarm Systems – Existing system is a Simplex system, in some buildings, an older Faraday panel is connected to a Simplex panel for monitoring. A new, fully addressable fire alarm system will be installed in each building on campus requiring a fire alarm system.

Interfaces with the existing systems such as fire suppression systems will be maintained.

2. Fire and Smoke Separation – Review and modification of the existing fire and smoke modifications are not included in this scope of work.

3. Life Safety Code Analysis – Review and analysis of life safety and code compliance in regard to Building Construction Type, Allowable Height and Area, Exit Calculations, Occupancy and Smoke Control Features are not included in this scope of work.

4. Kitchen Extinguishing Systems – Existing kitchen fire extinguishing systems shall remain as is and are not included in this scope of work though interfaces with the fire alarm system will be maintained.

5. Fire Extinguishers and Fire Extinguisher Cabinets – Existing Fire

Extinguishers and Fire Extinguisher Cabinets shall remain as is and are not included in this scope of work.

6. Fireproofing of Structural Members – Review and analysis of existing fireproofing of structural members is not included in this scope of work.

7. Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting – Review and analysis of existing exit signs and emergency lighting are not included in this scope of work.

8. Fire Resistive Ratings – Wall sections indicating fire resistive ratings are not included in this scope of work.

9. Evacuation Plan Signage – Review and analysis of Evacuation Plan signage is not included in this scope of work.

10. Door and Window Schedules – Review and analysis of door and window schedules with fire rating or glazing is not included in this scope of work.

Fire Alarm Systems

A fully addressable digital voice annunciation fire alarm system will be installed where required by NFPA 101 and will be designed to meet the requirements of NFPA 72 and the VAFPDM. The fire alarm system will be

“defend-in-place” in buildings with occupants that are incapable of self-preservation similar to the Staff Response configuration described in

§7.3.F.2 of the VAFPDM. However, audible alarms will activate on floors above and below the floor of alarm initiation while visual strobes will alarm only in the zone of the initiated device. Simultaneously, the fire alarm system will provide a voice message to the rest of the building (and other buildings as necessary and according to individual building fire plans) to announce where the fire or issue is located. In buildings where all occupants are capable of self-preservation activation of the fire alarm system will result in a “General Evacuation” signal throughout the building

5 | P a g e in accordance with §7.3.F.1 of the VAFPDM. The main fire alarm control panel in each building will be equipped with a manual voice messaging microphone and controls. Zoning of the fire alarm system will be in accordance with

NFPA 72, NFPA 101 and the VAFPDM; where possible, fire alarm zones for the new system will match existing zones.

A new campus Fire Alarm Control Unit including computer terminal with touch screen, system printer and manual voice messaging microphone and controls will be provided in Building 58. Graphics and devices will be programmed to zoom in show the location of alarm on the floor plan graphic. A secondary

Fire Alarm Control Unit including a new Digital Alarm Communication

Transmitter to a listed central station for monitoring purposes will be provided in the Police Dispatch area of Building 204. The secondary unit need not include a system printer.

Smoke, Carbon Monoxide and Heat Detection

Smoke detection will be installed only where required by National Fire Codes or the VAFPDM and will be of the photoelectric type only (§7.4.D/VAFPDM).

Heat detectors are only required in conjunction with elevator shutdown, as a substitute for smoke detectors in environments unsuitable for smoke detectors or to protect generators not equipped with automatic sprinklers

(§7.4.E/VAFPDM). Carbon monoxide detection will be provided where required by NFPA 101 and installed per NFPA 72.

Interfaces

The new fire alarm system will interface with existing equipment and systems as required by NFPA 72, NFPA 101 and the VAFPDM. Examples of existing equipment and systems include but are not limited to:

• Fire sprinkler systems

• Kitchen hood extinguishing systems

• Smoke and fire dampers

• Air handling units

• Door locks

• Fire doors

• Elevators

• Fire water storage tanks

• Fire pumps

• Emergency generators

Fire doors only on the floor of the initiating device will activate; however, a fire in a shaft will activate all fire doors.

Monitor and control modules within existing equipment will be replaced as necessary for a complete and functioning new fire alarm system.

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Buildings Included In This Project

Building 163 - Teague Tower

Fully sprinklered and 366,120 total square feet over five stories and a basement, Building 163 will be provided with a new fire alarm system with fire alarm zones to match the existing configuration. This new fire alarm system will be configured as Staff Response (defend-in-place).

Building 202 - Domiciliary, WTRC, Mental Health Clinic

Fully sprinklered and 174,686 total square feet over two stories, Building

202 will be provided with a new fire alarm system with one fire alarm zone per level. This new fire alarm system will be configured as Staff Response

(defend-in-place).

Building 204 - Teague Hospital

Fully sprinklered and 273,583 total square feet over six stories and a basement, Building 204 will be provided with a new fire alarm system with fire alarm zones to match the existing configuration. This new fire alarm system will be configured as Staff Response (defend-in-place). Existing fire alarm control panels in modular Buildings 200 and 201 are currently monitored by the control panel in Building 204. The new control panel in Building 204 will continue to monitor existing panels in these modular buildings and forward their status to the new Fire Alarm Control Units in Buildings 58 and 204.

Existing two-way phones for firefighting purposes will continue to be provided.

A new campus Fire Alarm Control Unit including computer terminal with touch screen and manual voice messaging microphone and controls will be provided in the Police Dispatch area. Graphics and devices will be programmed to zoom in show the location of alarm on the floor plan graphic. A new Digital Alarm

Communication Transmitter to a listed central station will also be provided for monitoring purposes.