Proposed Fire Alarm System with Combination Smoke ... - BC Housing

SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION CONTINUED:OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE VANCOUVER BUILDING BY-LAW REQUIREMENT(S):The requirement described in the By-Law isbased on specific objectives that are intended to allow the building or its elements to perform certain functions. The objectivestatements and associated functional statements for Sentence 3.2.4.20.(1) is as follows:Objective Statements:OS1 Fire SafetyAn objective of this By-Law is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or construction of the building, a person in oradjacent to the building will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of injury due to fire. The risks of injury due to fire addressed in thisBy-Law are those caused by:OS1.5 - Persons being delayed in or impeded from moving to a safe place during a fire emergency.Functional Statements:F11 -F81 -To notify persons, in a timely manner, of the need to take action in an emergency.To minimize the risk of malfunction, interference, damage, tampering, lack of use or misuse.SUMMARY OF MITIGATING FEATURES:1. A combination photo-electric smoke detector/rate-of-rise heat detector (ie. Notifier FSP-851A) will be installed in eachresidential suite. Note that the “high sensitivity level” setting cannot be used in the suites as it is unlikely that the residentialsuites can be considered smoke-free environmentally controlled environments as discussed in the manufacturer’s specificationsheet.2. The combination photo-electric smoke detector/rate-of-rise heat detector will incorporate a “tamper-resistant” capability thatwill prevent removal of the detector from the base without a special tool.3. The sound pressure level of the audible signal devices in the public corridors and other public areas conform with Article3.2.4.18., such that the sound pressure level in a sleeping room from fire alarm audible signal device will not be less than 75dBA in a building of residential occupancy when any intervening doors between the device and the sleeping room are closed.4. Building is provided with fast response residential sprinklers throughout the residential occupancy in accordance withSubsection 3.2.5.5. Fire alarm system will be installed in accordance with Subsection 3.2.4., including the installation of a separate dedicated firealarm annunciator within the manager’s office that indicates the location of the smoke detector component of the combinedsmoke/heat detector within each residential suite and provides audible and visual supervisory condition of the smoke detectorcomponent.ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION TO VALIDATE ACCEPTANCE:It was reported to CFT Engineering Inc., that smoke alarms withinthe BC Housing SRO residential suites (suites consisting of a single room) of the building are frequently disconnected, damaged orobstructed in such a manner that they are inoperative. The owner is concerned that the reliability of smoke alarm operation (detectionand audibility) cannot be reasonably guaranteed through the regular inspection, maintenance and testing procedures required by theVancouver Fire By-Law.The proposed in-suite detectors connected to a fire alarm system will provide additional notification to supervisory personnel in a timelymanner of the need to take action in an emergency and minimize the risk of malfunction, interference, damage, tampering, lack of useor misuse caused by false alarms. The in-suite detectors will be installed in every sleeping room in the SRO/SRA hotels and areconstantly attended by supervisory staff via the secondary LCD annunciator located in manager’s office. This will amount to a moreeffective life safety system than the existing system.We understand that a similar change has been proposed by the National Building Code that would permit the substitution of smokedetectors in lieu of smoke alarms.The building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system. In accordance with the current Vancouver Building By-Law, the sprinklerswithin the residential occupancies of the building would be required to be fast response (residential) sprinklers. In general, fastresponse sprinklers as defined in NFPA 13 “Installation of Sprinkler Systems” are expected to activate faster than standard responsesprinklers, and as such, life safety within each residential suite will be improved considerably.