#665 NLR-NIFSAB 2003-03_v3 - Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Fire Sprinkler Times December 2005 ICC Adds Residential Sprinkler Requirements to Appendix The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) is pleased to report that history was made at the 2005 International Code Council (ICC) Final Action Hearing in Detroit,Michigan,when the ICC voting membership voted to place fire sprinkler systems in all new one- and twofamily dwellings and townhouses by placing the requirement in the Appendix of the International Residential Code (IRC). The voting members had to overturn the IRC committee, that previously denied the code change. An appendix in the IRC is only enforceable if a local jurisdiction adopts the new appendix requirements. The new appendix will be included in the 2006 edition of the IRC. NFSA President John Viniello commented, “A special thanks goes out to all the organizations and those individuals who worked with NFSA for many years on this residential sprinkler requirement. It is becoming more obvious by this action that as a Nation we are now ready to require residential sprinklers where we live, work and play.” Questions on basic building code NFPA Report Finds Higher Estimated Reliability of Fire Sprinklers and Reaffirms their Life-Saving Impact, Especially in Homes The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released an updated report with new evidence on the tremendous value of automatic fire sprinkler systems. The report finds sprinklers to be even more reliable than previously estimated in reducing U.S. fire deaths. But the “U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment” report also confirms that the century-old technology remains underused, especially in the place where the risk of fire death is greatest, the American home. The report states that when sprinklers are installed, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three-fourths, compared to fires where sprinklers are not present. Sprinklers are now estimated to operate in 93 percent of fires large enough to activate them. And for the first time, it is possible to document that nearly all sprinkler failures involve errors of human judgment, including 65 percent that occurred because the systems had been shut off prior to the fire. Sprinklers appear to be present in most health care facilities, high-rise hotels and high-rise office buildings and, to a lesser extent, in department stores and manufacturing facilities. But most fires still occur in properties without sprinklers, says the report, and the systems remain especially rare in homes. NFPA estimates sprinklers are present in less than 1 percent of the reported fires that occur in one- and two-family dwellings and in less than 8 percent of reported fires in apartments.Where sprinklers are present in homes, their impact on life safety is as large as it has been in other properties where sprinklers have been long-established. With most of the small number of home sprinkler installations still occurring as a result of ordinances and other mandates rather than owner preference,NFPA has taken a lead role in raising awareness of residential sprinkler availability among homeowners. The home sprinkler installation tide may be beginning to turn. A historic floor action by NFPA’s membership in June established provisions requiring sprinklers in new oneand two-family dwellings in the 2006 editions of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code® and NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code. The codes,issued by the NFPA Standards Council in August 2005, also require fire sprinklers in all nursing homes, among other properties. Go to www.iccsafe.org/training Residential Fires and Older Adult Casualties U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Data Center June 2005 Volume 5, Issue 3 Findings • In 2002, an estimated 2,320 older adults were injured or killed in residential fires. • Smoking was the leading cause of residential structure fires (25%) that resulted in older adult fatalities. • Upholstered furniture and bedding were the primary items ignited in smoking fires with older adult fatalities. • Cooking was the leading cause of fires resulting in older adult fire injuries. • Thirty-nine percent of older adults killed in residential structure fires were asleep when the fire started; 32% of older adults were trying to escape when they died. All fire and building departments should be aware of this significant state legislation: Public Act 94-386 Conversion of Apartments. The text of which reads: Conversion of apartments. In the case of the conversion of an apartment building into condominium units, a municipality shall have the right to inspect the apartment building prior to the conversion to condominium units and may require that each new proposed condominium unit comply with the current life safety, building and zoning code of the municipality. Thus, if your code requires fire sprinklers, fire alarms for new construction, you can require their installation on an apartment to condo conversion. EXAMPLE: International Building Code 2000 Edition, Section 903.2.8 use group R-2 An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R-2 fire area where more than two stories in height, including basement or where having more than 16 dwelling units. Thus, do not pass up this opportunity to follow state law and upgrade the fire safety of your community when an apartment building goes condo for sprinklers, fire alarms, exit signs, egress, etc. BURNING ISSUES is a feature of the Fire Sprinkler Times that highlights a special legislative issue. Contact Tom Lia to submit your special issues. 6 Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB (866-264-3722) • www.firesprinklerassoc.org
RETROs e c t i o n Insurance Giant Allstate Takes Protection Advice Allstate, one of the largest insurance protectors in the United States, is protecting itself against fire. The Company recently completed a 10-year long retrofit program at its two million square foot campus in Northbrook, IL. Bernie Arends, President of the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association and Fire Prevention Director with the Glenview Fire Department, said Allstate phased in sprinklers during the decade to coincide with new construction and remodeling of its established buildings. He estimated the retrofit cost at about $25 million over the time period. Those improvement costs included not only the sprinkler systems, but also installation of a fire hydrant loop around the complex with two feeds to each building and an electric fire pump on generated power and a diesel backup fire pump. In addition, Allstate standardized all emergency exit signs, synchronized all fire horns and strobes, installed standpipes in stairwells and upgraded elevators with smoke detectors and call back features. When the 12-story buildings were first constructed, the Allstate campus was located in unincorporated Cook County during a period when commercial fire sprinklers were not mandated. Even at the time of incorporation into the municipality, an ordinance existed that exempted businesses with campuses in excess of 60 acres, leaving Allstate to decide on its own to provide sprinkler protection for its employees and buildings. Arends explained the reason for the decade-long timeframe that it took for the complete retrofit. "The cost was one factor that they wanted to amortize over a longer period of time," he said. "And because of the disruption to their employees and facilities, they took sections of buildings that were due for renovation and incorporated the sprinklers in those areas. A lot of sprinkler retrofitting was done in conjunction with interior remodeling and reconfiguration of their office spaces." "The driving force was the total life safety upgrade to include the major portion of fire sprinklers," Arends added. "They didn't just throw pipe in ceilings … they went way beyond that for fire safety." "They voluntarily decided to retrofit every single property because of the number of people there and the risk," Arends concluded. "We presented Allstate with the Illinois Fire Inspectors Fire Safety Achievement Award for outstanding corporate achievement in fire prevention and safety directly related to this project … and because of their corporate responsibility." December 2005 Why Pass this Law by Tom Lia, NIFSAB Executive Director. Fire Sprinkler Times On August 19,2005, the State of Illinois Legislature passed SB46. The law calls for a stairway door re-entry system in reaction to the fire at 69 West Washington in Chicago.It was a noble gesture,but toally unnecessary since the State Fire Marshal adopted Life Safety Code 101 2000 Edition that calls for this requirement for buildings of four stories or more. Exceptation 1. Not less that 2 levels where it is possible to leave the stairway enclosed. Exceptation 2. Not more than 4 stories intervening between levels where re-entry is allowed. Exceptation 3. Re-entry must be permitted on the top or next to the top story that allows access to another exit. Exceptation 4. Doors allowing re-entry must be identified as such on the stairway side of the door. Exceptation 5. Doors not allowing re-entry must be identified as such on the stairway side of the door. Exceptation 6. Stair enclosures serving a building permitted to have a single exit or can lock all of the doors if there is an automatic release. In addition, there was no need to pass a high-rise ordinance in Chicago. Only a timetable was needed to be assigned as again the Life Safety Code 101 2000 Edition applies to Chicago’s existing buildings. (See James Lee Witt Report) Requiring the commercial building to retrofit was appropriate with a reasonable 12 year planned deadline. But, it does not require residential high-rises to retrofit and it allows residential high-rise building owners and managers to pass a watered down “Life Safety Evaluation.”That will result in future injuries, deaths and major property damage. Why compromise when you have a statewide model code in place This Life Safety Evaluation is also unnecessary because the State Fire Marshal Life Safety Code has an existing building evaluation procedure. This is one issue that Chicago’s Law Office division, State’s Attorney Lisa Madigan, and the law firm of Robert Clifford and Associates should prepare for now so there are no surprises after the next high-rise tragedy. Chicago High-Rise retrofit deadlines: April 1, 2005: Life Safety Data Sheet due. Questions include: (1) Is your building a highrise; (2) Does the building have sprinklers; (3) Contact information and more. September 1, 2005: Commercial building compliance plan for fire sprinklers must be submitted to the Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau January 1, 2006: The Life Safety Evaluation (LSE) Report or the Life Safety Compliance Plan must be submitted to the Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau. Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB (866-264-3722) • www.firesprinklerassoc.org 7
Page 1 and 2: F O R T H E P R FIRE E S E R V A T
Page 3 and 4: December 2005 Fire Sprinkler Times
Page 5: December 2005 Fire Sprinkler Times

#665 NLR-NIFSAB 2003-03_v3 - Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?