RESPONSES_-_RFI_Groups__7_and__10_-_Construction_Design_Criteria_6.6.13.pdf

Fort Meade Fire & Emergency Services Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement Division

Construction Design Criteria

1. In accordance with DoDI 6055.06, “The plans for all military construction projects, facility modernization, rehabilitation programs, or self-help projects shall be reviewed by a certified fire inspector to ensure that all construction contains the fire protection and life safety features required by Reference (f) [Unified Facilities Criteria] and applicable NFPA codes.” Therefore, all design submittals must be reviewed by this office prior to approval. The Directorate of Public Works will be the coordinating entity for all projects; therefore, plans shall be submitted to DPW for distribution and all comments from this office will be returned to DPW. The Prevention Division requires one full size set of plans per submittal in order to calculate occupancy loads and verify travel distances.

2. All design plans shall conform to relevant UFC and NFPA standards, to include UFC 3-600-01 and NFPA 101.

3. A fire protection design analysis shall be included with the initial design submission which summarizes the following provisions (where applicable):

a. Building code analysis (construction type, height and area limitations, and building separation or exposure protection);

b. Classification of occupancy;

c. Compliance with UFC 3-600-01 and National Fire Codes;

d. Requirements for fire-rated walls, fire-rated doors, fire dampers with their fire-resistive ratings, smoke compartmentation, and smoke barriers;

e. NFPA 101, Life Safety Code;

f. Analysis of automatic sprinkler systems and suppression systems and protected areas, including hydraulic analysis of required water demand and location of fire department connection;

g. Water supplies, water distribution, and location of hydrants;

h. Smoke control methods and smoke control systems;

i. Fire alarm system (the type of alarm system and location of the fire alarm equipment);

j. Fire detection system (the type of detection system and location of detectors);

k. Standpipe system and fire extinguishers;

l. Interior finish rating;

m. Connection to and description of base fire alarm reporting system;

n. Identify the various occupancies and hazardous areas associated with the facility;

o. Coordination with security and antiterrorism requirements; and

p. Fire department access

4. The following installation-specific requirements shall be addressed in the design criteria and specifications:

a. All hydrants shall have National Standard threads. Baltimore threads or Anne Arundel threads are not acceptable. At least one hydrant shall be located within 150 feet of the building’s fire department connection. The fire department connection shall consist of one 4-inch Stortz fitting with cap.

b. Fire alarm systems shall be non-proprietary, open architecture systems and must be fully field-programmable by hand or laptop. The system also must be fully addressable. All new systems shall have an annunciator panel or main fire alarm panel located near the main entrance. If an annunciator panel is installed, the main panel of all new systems shall be located in the mechanical room or electrical room with exterior access, if available. The annunciator panel shall indicate the location of the alerting device and shall be capable of silencing and resetting the system. The system shall have a wireless transmitter compatible with the current system monitored by the installation fire department. The Department of Public Works can provide additional information regarding the wireless transmitter. All keys for the fire alarm system, to include the main fire alarm panel, annunciator panel, and pull stations will be keyed with a CAT45, 17021, 17003, or C415A key.

c. Conduit for fire alarm components shall be red or red-banded. Conduit for the mass notification system components shall be blue or blue-banded.

d. Fire alarms shall be programmed to the D-21 Monaco transmitter so that Zone 1 is utilized for general fire alarm signals, Zone 2 is uses for supervisory codes, Zone 3 is for trouble codes, and Zone 4 is for the mass notification system.

e. The activation of a duct detector will send a fire alarm signal to the fire department. A running fire pump will send a supervisory signal to the fire department. The activation of the fire alarm’s “Silence” feature will silence the audible notification devices, but will not reset the visual notification devices.

f. Elevator emergency phones shall be programmed to dial 301-677-2117 in the event of an emergency and shall contain instructions for direct communications between the occupant and the dispatcher. In addition, any prerecorded message will include the building number and elevator number, if applicable.

g. Emergency lights shall be of such a design that the test button and indicator light will be visible and accessible without opening the fixture or entering the ceiling space.

h. The installation of Knox Boxes specified by the Fort Meade Fire Department is required. Order forms with the fire department access code preprinted on them are available. Exception to this requirement may be granted if the occupant provides reliable on-site security with key access 24/7.

i. Ensure sprinkler calculations are based on a 3,000 ft2 design area unless Section 4-2.3.3 applies.

j. For buildings requiring fire pumps, the pump rooms shall be fire rated and shall have direct access to the exterior, in accordance with UFC 3-600-01. In addition, the valves for the test header shall be located inside the building.

k. The floor containing the main front entrance of a building will be designated as the first floor. If labeled, rooms on that floor will start with a “1”. Any floors below that level will be denoted appropriately, and rooms will be labeled with numbers approved by the fire department, such as “0”, “B”, “LL”, etc.

l. All Fire Department connections to standpipes, automatic sprinkler systems, fire suppression water supplies, and other fire protection equipment shall be marked in accordance with NFPA 170, Standard for Fire Safety Symbols, latest edition, in such a manner that the signs or other approved markings are readily visible by approaching fire apparatus.

m. Mass notification devices shall be installed in accordance with UFC 4-021-01 and local A/T requirements. This system shall be capable of interfacing with the FGGM wide area mass notification system. Exterior speakers will be equipped with white strobes tied to the fire alarm system. Remote mass notification panels shall be keyed differently than the fire alarm system.

5. The 100% design submission shall be reviewed by a certified Fire Protection Engineer, who shall certify in writing that the design is in compliance with UFC 3-600-01 and all applicable criteria. This certification letter shall be submitted with the 100% design submission.

6. During the construction phase, the following provisions shall apply:

a. This office shall approve the location of any construction trailers, fuel storage facilities, or other temporary structures required during the construction period prior to their placement on site.

b. The fire department shall be notified of any changes to the work site entrance and access to the building.

c. Operations during construction shall follow the requirements of NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding

Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations and this office.

d. Any confined space entries shall be reported to the fire department by calling (301) 677-3805.

e. No testing will be scheduled without this office conducting a comprehensive review of the plans at a minimum of 14 days prior. This includes fire alarms, sprinklers, fire pumps and all life safety systems.

f. This office must receive a minimum of 72 hours advanced notice of any testing of fire alarms, sprinklers or fire pump and related devices. Tests must begin within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time.

g. Any hot work performed outside of an established shop must have a permit prior to starting. Permits may be obtained through the fire department by calling 301-677-3805. Personnel performing the hot work will be required to have two (2) 10 pound ABC extinguishers on hand prior to starting the work. The building’s extinguishers shall not be used. Each separate site and operation will require its own permit.

Existing buildings undergoing renovation that have been released to a contractor, or new buildings that have not been accepted from a contractor, are exempt from this permit requirement.

7. Any questions regarding these requirements may be directed to Captain John Trottman at (301) 677-6670 or by e-mailing them to john.p.trottman.civ@mail.mil.