COMMISSIONING FIRE-LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS 2008 ACG Annual Meeting

COMMISSIONING FIRE-LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS 2008 ACG Annual Meeting Presenter: Mark Leafstedt, PE, Cx. A Best Practices for Total Building Commissioning!

Agenda § ¡ Viva Las Vegas ! § Fire Life Safety Building Codes § Means & Methods of Fire Life Safety Commissioning § Conclusion

Viva Las Vegas Statistics According to 2005 statistics published by Insider Viewpoint Las Vegas: 80+ major casinos 133, 000 hotel rooms w/ 89. 2% occupancy (20, 000+ more open by 2010) 38. 6 million tourists • >25 billion $ in current construction • 7 out of the top 10 world’s largest hotels reside within a five-mile radius of each other in Las Vegas • The largest hotel has approximately 5500 guest rooms

Viva Las Vegas Relationship to Commissioning § 100% growth each year since 1950 = More construction § Schedule = Liquidated damages of up to $7 million a day § Dependency on tourism = Occupant comfort is paramount § Reputation = Need for safety and strictest codes in the country § High occupancy = Little to no time for maintenance

Viva Las Vegas Life Safety Cx vs Building Cx n Building Commissioning is an owner-driven requirements. n Smoke Control/ Life Safety Commissioning is a Code driven requirement.

Viva Las Vegas The MGM Grand Fire WHAT? § 1980 fire swept through the 26 -story hotel, killing 84 and injuring 679. § There were about 5, 000 people in the hotel at the time. § This was the second largest hotel fire in history. § It started in the first floor restaurant and spread at a rate of 19 feet per second. § A massive fireball traveled through the and blew through the glass entrance injuring people and destroying cars. casino doors,

Viva Las Vegas The MGM Grand Fire WHY? A wire was not properly grounded. A compressor was not properly installed. …all of which “could have been found had the area been inspected. ” A piece of copper was not insulated correctly. A supposedly smoke-free stairwell that was a crucial escape route filled with smoke. The laundry chutes failed to seal, and defects existed in the HVAC system -- all contributing to the spread of smoke. ” A fire alarm never sounded. The Hotel had refused to pay for the $192, 000 sprinkler system. Source: Sunday, November 19, 2000, Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal “MGM GRAND FIRE: THE DEADLIEST DAY” by Glenn Puit

MGM GRAND FIRE OF 1980 Just one bad Building? Just 3 months later, there was a fire in the Las Vegas Hilton that resulted in 8 dead and 198 injured.

Viva Las Vegas Results of the MGM Fire Globally • $223 million in legal settlements • Extensive Changes in NFPA Including fire protection for seismic joints, elevator standards, smoke-proof enclosures, active/passive fire protection systems • Evolution of the following building codes for high-rise buildings 1994 UBC, section 905 1997 UBC, section 905 2003 IBC, section 909

Agenda Fire Life Safety Building Codes • • History of the Building Codes Smoke Control Requirements Fundamentals of Smoke Control Systems Section 909 of 2003 IBC

Code Overview Building regulations date back to the beginning of recorded history. The Code of Hammurabi (2200 B. C) included simple but effective building code provision. “If any architect built a house so negligently that it fell down and killed the owner’s son, then the architect’s son was put to death. ” In 1630, the City of Boston mandated that “no man shall build his chimney with wood nor cover his roof with thatch”. The enforcement authority is derived from the 10 th Amendment of the US Constitution which gives states the right to legislate for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.

Code Overview History n Prior to the issuance of the IBC, there were three organizations of building officials who were responsible for developing and enforcing building codes in the United States: Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) in the Northeast and Midwest n International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) in the West n Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) in the Southeast n

Code Overview Definition “A combination of architectural, electrical & mechanical system design approach that utilized air flow and/or pressure to contain or remove smoke during a fire event”

Code Overview Requirements n High Rise Exit Enclosures n Atriums n Covered Malls n Underground Building

Code Overview Fundamentals Types of Smoke Control: Active: An active smoke control system utilizes mechanical air handling equipment, i. e. supply fans, relief fans or smoke exhaust fans to contain or remove smoke in the zone of origin. Passive: A passive smoke control system utilizes construction barriers to maintain the smoke in the zone of origin. (Typical passive smoke control systems would be found in equipment rooms, motel rooms. )

Code Overview Section 909 of 2003 IBC Section 909. 18: This section discusses: Acceptance Testing Individual Device Testing Detection Devices Duct Traverses Dampers Inlet/Outlet Air Quantities Fans Smoke Barriers Special Inspection Reports

Agenda Means & Methods of Fire Life Safety Systems Commissioning • How Hard Can it Be? • Roles & Responsibilities • Commissioning Phases

Means & Methods How Hard Can it Be? n Introduction n Detail n Timing n Intensity

Means & Methods How Hard Can it Be? n Introduction n Similar Process to Mechanical Cx n Failures Critical n Special Inspector

Means & Methods How Hard Can it Be? n Detail n Simplistic in Concept n Complexity in Detail & Quantity n Requirements Code Prescribed n 100% Testing

Means & Methods How Hard Can it Be? n Timing n “DONE” Done prior to Certificate of Occupancy n Testing Concurrent w/ Construction n No Post-Occupancy Deficiencies & Issues

Means & Methods How Hard Can it Be? n Intensity n Critical Construction Sequencing n C 3 Syndrome (Construction Completion Conjestion) n Panic

Means & Methods Roles & Responsibilities n Prime Contractor n Subcontractors n Designer n Owner n Commissioning Provider

Means & Methods Roles & Responsibilities n Prime Contractor n Construction of the Envelope n Coordination n Communication n Scheduling n Advocate!

Means & Methods Roles & Responsibilities n Subcontractor(s) n Provide Input into the schedule n Attend meetings n Provide realistic completion information n Avoid defensive posturing n Assist in finding resolutions n Proactively & quickly respond to deficiencies

Means & Methods Roles & Responsibilities n Designer n Provide detailed smoke control diagrams n Respond timely to to questions, issues, & changes

Means & Methods Roles & Responsibilities n Owner n Hire the Commissioning Provider (req’d by code) n Remain calm amidst the chaos n Provide Contractor direction (if necessary) to respond to Cx issues & deficiencies

Means & Methods Roles & Responsibilities n Commissioning Provider - General n Part coach, task-master, expert, judge & mediator n Build a Team!! n Coordinate & Manage Cx Activities n Obtain, assemble, create & submit Cx documentation n Meet & coordinate with the AHJ

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Life Safety System Commissioning Phases n Design & Construction Document Review n Document Development n Pre-Functional Testing n Commissioning Completion

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Life Safety System Design Review n Fire Protection Report provided? n Equivalent to Design Intent (Referred to as a “Rational Analysis”

Means & Methods

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Life Safety System Design Review n Are the smoke control diagrams complete? n Are all fire/smoke dampers shown? n Do the sprinkler zones & smoke boundaries match?

Means & Methods DESIGN DOCUMENTATION Smoke Control Diagrams - Floor Plans

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Design & Submittal Review n Are all smoke control devices included? n Is the equipment compliant with the code? n Does the smoke control system contractor’s design-build design meet the Engineer’s design, codes & AHJ criteria?

Means & Methods Smoke Control Diagrams - Functional Matrix

Means & Methods Passive Zone Leakage Calculations

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Document Development n Develop the commissioning plan n Detailed roadmap of expectations n Develop functional testing scenarios n Must include an individual check-off for EVERY piece of equipment n Submit Cx plan to the AHJ

Means & Methods DOCUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT

Means & Methods DOCUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases Section Life Safety System Outline HVAC System Outline 1 Acceptance Letter Executive Summary 2 Executive Summary Commissioning Team 3 Commissioning Team Mechanical System Overview 4 Overview of Acceptance Testing Procedures Overview of Commissioning Procedures 5 Fire Protection Report Record Document - Sequences of Operation 6 Smoke Management Sequences/Matrix Pre-Functional Testing Checklists 7 Component Testing Forms Functional Testing Procedures 8 Functional Testing Scenarios & Results Deficiencies & Issues Log 9 Test & Balance Report Daily Logs 10 Product Data Sheets Miscellaneous Data 11 Deficiencies & Issues Log 12 Daily Inspection Reports 13 Non-Compliance Reports 14 Miscellaneous Data

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Pre-Functional n Assist in component pre-testing before functional n Individually confirm F/S Damper commands and status feedback. n Confirm fan command & status n Review FAS software “rules”

Means & Methods COMPONENT INSPECTION Pressurization Fan

Means & Methods COMPONENT INSPECTION Fire Smoke Damper

Means & Methods COMPONENT INSPECTION Fire Command

Means & Methods COMPONENT INSPECTION Fire Fighter’s Smoke Control Panel

Means & Methods COMPONENT INSPECTION Fire Protection Flow Station

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Pre-Functional n Provide site observations & barrier inspection

Means & Methods BOUNDARY INSPECTION Conduit Penetrations

Means & Methods BOUNDARY INSPECTION Floor Slab Penetrations

Means & Methods BOUNDARY INSPECTION Duct Penetrations

Means & Methods BOUNDARY INSPECTION Elevator Shaft Enclosure

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Functional Testing n When does FT begin? n Does construction have to be complete? n How can FT be phased? n How can multiple tests be avoided?

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Functional Testing n Assist in or define testing teams n Witness functionality testing of the system n Include component interaction n Track deficiencies

Means & Methods PASSIVE ZONE TESTING

Means & Methods DUCT DETECTOR TESTING

Means & Methods Commissioning Phases n Commissioning Completion n Submit final report to AHJ n Correct report deficiencies n Assist in coordination & scheduling of AHJ n Assist during the AHJ inspection n ALL SYSTEMS TESTING!

Conclusion Summary n Discussed Critical Nature of Life Safety Systems n Reviewed Code Requirements n Discussed Life Safety System Commissioning Means & Methods n Encourage Life Safety System Commissioning in other Cities

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