Fire/life safety: Specifying fire and life safety systems in building retrofits
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024
This general overview of fire and life safety systems in commercial building retrofits is vital for anyone who must consider detection, notification or suppression systems as part of an existing building design.
Active and passive fire protection systems are specified to ensure the safety and well-being of building occupants in case of a fire or other incident. Protecting the occupants of the building from the effects of fire is the primary objective in most cases; engineers should be aware of the contents and intent of the building when specifying fire detection, notification and suppression systems.
By ensuring fire detection, notification appliances and suppression systems all interface correctly with mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, an integrated specification will be done correctly.
Learning objectives:
- Explain the minimum building codes that govern fire detection, notification and suppression systems, such as the International Building Code and a variety of NFPA codes and standards.
- Assess the various active fire protection and suppression systems available and which ones are appropriate to specify in a retrofit.
- Learn about mass notification systems to alert the occupants and first responders, including a review of nonfire event notification practices.
- Apply this knowledge by reviewing recent fire/life safety integrated design examples.