BALANCED FIRE PROTECTION:

1
BALANCED FIRE PROTECTION ARE SMOKE/HEAT VENTS
NECESSARY FOR OCCUPANT AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY IN
ONE-STORY INDUSTRIAL AND STORAGE BUILDINGS
PROTECTED BY STANDARD SPRAY SPRINKLERS?

• Presented to
•  
• ICC Code Technology Committee
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• June 20, 2007

2
CODE CHANGE F124-06/07FIRE CODE COMMITTEE
DISAPPROVAL REASON

• There was no definitive information presented
  that smoke and heat vents do not contribute to
  fire control.
• In cases where the sprinkler system does not
  suppress the fire but, rather, controls it, smoke
  continues to be generated.
•  
• The discussions have focused on everything but
  the safety of the occupants, including
  firefighters.

3
CODE CHANGE F124-06/07FIRE CODE COMMITTEE
DISAPPROVAL REASON

• Smoke and heat vents provide the fire
  department with an important tool to remove the
  smoke for occupant safety and enhanced fire
  attack access, especially in very large area
  buildings where access from the exterior is
  limited at best.
• Firefighter safety is also improved by
  providing a faster, safer method of fire
  ventilation than cutting one or more holes in the
  roof.
•  
• The current text presents a balanced approach
  between firefighter safety and building safety.

4
ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF SMOKE/HEAT VENT PROVISIONS

• What was the original intended purpose for
  requiring automatic smoke/heat vents and draft
  curtains in one story industrial and storage
  buildings (including buildings containing high-
  piled storage) protected by a sprinkler system as
  required by the UBC/UFC?
• Assist with manual interior firefighting (in
  both sprinkler control and sprinkler failure fire
  scenarios).
•  
• Reduce property damage (building and contents).

5
EXPECTED PERFORMANCE OF SMOKE/HEAT VENTS

• What was/is the expected performance of
  automatic smoke/heat vent installations complying
  with the UBC/UFC and IBC/IFC provisions for
  smoke/heat vents and draft curtains?
• Unknown. Neither the UBC/UFC or IBC/IFC contain
  any performance criteria for smoke/heat vent
  installations. (UBC/UFC IBC/IFC)
•  
• A fire in a bulk retail building in Tempe,
  Arizona suggests the UBC/UFC roof vent/draft
  curtain provisions are inadequate where the
  sprinkler system is operational, but inadequate
  for the hazard. (NFPA Fire Investigation)

6
INTERACTION OF STANDARD SPRAY SPRINKLERS AND
DRAFT CURTAINS

• Do draft curtains interfere with the operation
  of standard spray sprinklers?
• Draft curtains may increase the number of
  sprinklers which operate. FMRC Research 1994
  NFPRF Research 1997/1998
•  
• Draft curtains may cause a distortion in the
  sprinklers which operate. NFPRF Research
  1997/1998
•  
• Draft curtains may interfere with pre-wetting
  of combustibles. FMRC Research 1994 NFPRF
  Research 1997/1998

7
DELETION OF DRAFT CURTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE
IBC/IFC 

• Was the expected performance of automatic
  smoke/heat vent installations adversely affected
  when the requirement for draft curtains was
  removed from the UBC/UFC provisions for
  smoke/heat vents during the drafting of the
  IBC/IFC?
• Smoke/heat vents and draft curtains are a team
  the rate of venting through open vents is
  dependent upon the temperature and the depth of
  smoke layer. NFPA 204
•  
• Not providing draft curtains (per the UBC/UFC)
  will reduce both the temperature and depth of the
  smoke layer.
•  
• There is a movement to use smoke vents without
  draft curtains There is no RD basis for this
  approach Dr. Craig Beyler, Hughes Associates,
  Inc.

8
OPERATION OF VENTS IN SPRINKLERED BUILDINGS

• How many smoke/heat vents will automatically
  open in buildings protected by standard spray
  sprinklers if the sprinkler system operates and
  controls the fire (as expected by NFPA 13)?
• . . . . .current design practices are likely to
  limit the number of vents operated to one and
  vents may in fact not operate at all in very
  successful sprinkler operations. Dr. Craig
  Beyler, Hughes Associates, Inc.
•  
• Not only is the fear of early operation not
  founded, current design practice will likely lead
  to 0-1 vents operating Dr. Craig Beyler,
  Hughes Associates, Inc.

9
PROTECTION OF BUILDING STRUCTUREBY STANDARD
SPRAY SPRINKLERS

• Will standard spray sprinklers protect the
  building structure from damage without smoke/heat
  vents (assuming that the sprinkler system is
  operational and adequate for the hazard being
  protected)?
• The listing criteria for standard (spray)
  sprinklers specifically tests the ability of
  sprinklers to protect the building structure. UL
  199
•  
• Fires that occur in rack storage occupancies
  are likely to be controlled within the limits
  outlined in B-1.1, since no significant building
  damage is expected. NFPA 13

10
PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF STANDARD SPRAY
SPRINKLERS

• Will standard spray sprinklers control and
  extinguish a fire without intervention by
  firefighters (assuming the sprinkler system is
  operational and adequate for the hazard being
  protected)?
• Sprinkler protection installed as required in
  this standard is expected to protect the building
  occupancy without supplemental fire department
  activity. NFPA 13

11
PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF STANDARD SPRAY
SPRINKLERS

• Will standard spray sprinklers reduce the
  temperature within the building without
  intervention by firefighters (assuming the
  sprinkler system is operational and adequate for
  the hazard)?
• During the testing program, the installed
  automatic extinguishing system was capable of
  controlling the fire and reducing all
  temperatures to ambient within 30 minutes of
  ignition. NFPA 13

12
IMPACT OF SPRINKLER OPERATION ON VENTING

• Will the operation of standard spray sprinklers
  adversely impact the venting rate of smoke/heat
  vents?
•  
• The operation of standard spray sprinklers
  rapidly reduces ceiling temperatures. UL 199
  NFPRF Research 1997/1998
•  
• A reduction in the ceiling temperature caused by
  the operation of sprinklers will reduce the
  venting rate through open vents. NFPA 204

13
ALTERNATIVES TO ROOF VENTS

• Is it essential for firefighting operations to
  open smoke/heat vents (provided per the IBC/IFC
  in buildings protected by standard spray
  sprinklers) if the sprinkler system operates and
  controls the fire or can the venting of smoke be
  accomplished in some other manner (i.e. opening
  large exterior doors)?
• Sprinkler protection installed as required in
  this standard is expected to protect the building
  occupancy without supplemental fire department
  activity. NFPA 13
•  
• During the testing program, the installed
  automatic extinguishing system was capable of
  controlling the fire and reducing all
  temperatures to ambient within 30 minutes of
  ignition. NFPA 13

14
ROOF VENT OPERATION IN THE EVENT OF SPRINKLER
SYSTEM FAILURE TO CONTROL FIRE

• Will automatic smoke/heat vents provided per the
  IBC/IFC automatically open in buildings protected
  by standard spray sprinklers if the sprinkler
  system operates, but fails to control the fire?
• Bulk Retail Facility Fire, Tempe, Arizona, March
  19, 1998
•  
• Sprinkler design based on a maximum of 29
  sprinklers operating 66 sprinklers actually
  operated. 29 smoke/heat vents provided in
  building 3 smoke/heat vents actually operated.
•   
• Building filled with smoke from floor to ceiling
  when Phoenix Fire Department arrived.
• NFPA Fire Investigation Report

15
MANUAL OPENING OF ROOF VENTS IN THE EVENT OF
SPRINKLER SYSTEM FAILURE TO CONTROL FIRE

• Should firefighters manually open smoke/heat
  vents which do not open in buildings protected by
  standard spray sprinklers if the sprinkler system
  operates, but fails to control the fire?
•  
• Steel trusses are also prone to failure under
  fire conditions and may fail in less time than a
  wooden truss under the same conditions.
•  
• Lives will continue to be lost unless fire
  departments make appropriate fundamental changes
  in firefighting tactics involving trusses.
• NIOSH recommends that fire departments, fire
  fighters, building owners and managers take steps
  to minimize the risk of injury and death to fire
  fighters during fire fighting operations
  involving structures with truss roof and floor
  systems.
• NIOSH 2005-132

16
ROOF VENT OPERATION IN THE EVENT OF SPRINKLER
SYSTEM FAILURE TO DISCHARGE WATER

• Will automatic smoke/heat vents provided per the
  IBC/IFC automatically open in buildings protected
  by standard spray sprinklers if the sprinkler
  system fails to operate (i.e. closed water supply
  valve, broken supply piping or pump failure)?
•  
• Yes.

17
FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

• From a firefighter safety standpoint, should
  firefighters conduct interior manual firefighting
  operations in the event the sprinkler system
  operates, but fails to control the fire?
• Steel trusses are also prone to failure under
  fire conditions and may fail in less time than a
  wooden truss under the same conditions
•  
• Fire fighters should be discouraged from
  risking their lives solely for property
  protection activities.
•  
• "Use defensive strategies whenever trusses have
  been exposed to fire or whenever structural
  integrity cannot be verified. Unless life-saving
  operations are under way, evacuate fire fighters
  and use an exterior attack Brannigan 1999 Dunn
  2001.
• NIOSH 2005-132

18
FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

• From a firefighter safety standpoint, should
  firefighters conduct interior manual firefighting
  operations in the event the sprinkler system
  fails to operate (i.e. closed water supply valve,
  broken supply piping or pump failure)?
• Steel trusses are also prone to failure under
  fire conditions and may fail in less time than a
  wooden truss under the same conditions
•  
• Fire fighters should be discouraged from
  risking their lives solely for property
  protection activities.
•  
• "Use defensive strategies whenever trusses have
  been exposed to fire or whenever structural
  integrity cannot be verified. Unless life-saving
  operations are under way, evacuate fire fighters
  and use an exterior attack Brannigan 1999 Dunn
  2001.
• NIOSH 2005-132

19
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CAPABILITIES

• Do most volunteer fire departments have
  sufficient personnel capabilities to conduct
  interior manual firefighting operations in large
  industrial or storage buildings in the event the
  sprinkler system operates, but fails to control
  the fire, or when the system fails to operate?
• In communities with less than 2,500 population,
  21 of fire departments, nearly all of them
  all-or mostly-volunteer departments, deliver an
  average of 4 or fewer volunteer firefighters to a
  mid-day house fire. . . it is likely that most of
  these departments often fail to deliver the
  minimum of 4 firefighters recognized by national
  standards as the necessary minimum for interior
  fire attack
•  
• An estimated 128,000 firefighters, most of them
  volunteers serving in communities with less than
  2,500 population, serve in departments that are
  involved in structural firefighting but have not
  certified any firefighters to Firefighter Level I
  or II.
• USFA- 303, October 2006

20
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CAPABILITIES

• Do most career (paid) fire departments have
  sufficient personnel capabilities to conduct
  interior manual firefighting operations in large
  industrial or storage buildings with the first
  arriving engine company in the event the
  sprinkler system operates, but fails to control
  the fire, or when the system fails to operate?
•  
• Sufficient resources required to provide safe
  manual fire suppression activities are not
  currently available in most municipalities
  defended by full time firefighting personnel.
  IRC Code Change RB4-06/07
•  
• An estimated 79,000 firefighters serve in fire
  departments that protect communities of at least
  50,000 population and have fewer than 4 career
  firefighters assigned to first-due engine
  companies. It is likely that, for many of these
  departments, the first arriving complement of
  firefighters often falls short of the minimum of
  4 firefighters needed to initiate an interior
  attack on a structure fire, thereby requiring the
  first-arriving firefighters to wait until the
  rest of the first-alarm responders arrive.
  USFA-303, October 2006

21
OCCUPANT FIRE SAFETY RISK-INDUSTRIAL AND STORAGE
BUILDINGS

• Are large single-story industrial or storage
  buildings protected by a sprinkler system
  (standard spray sprinklers) without roof vents a
  high risk occupancy from an occupant fire safety
  standpoint?
• The NFPA estimates that 50 fire fatalities
  occurred in U.S. commercial (non-residential)
  occupancies in 2005. NFPA fire statistics-2005
•  
• Commercial occupancies include assembly,
  business, educational, institutional and
  mercantile occupancies, as well as industrial and
  storage buildings.

22
FIRE INSURANCE CARRIER REQUIREMENTS FOR ROOF
VENTS IN SPRINKLERED BUILDINGS

• Do any fire insurers mandate the installation of
  smoke/heat vents in buildings protected by a
  sprinkler system?
• No.
• Reduces Heat and Smoke Damage? Unknown Dr.
  Craig Beyler, Hughes Associates, Inc.

23
FIRE INSURANCE PREMIUM CREDITS FOR ROOF VENTS IN
SPRINKLERED BUILDINGS

• Do any fire insurers offer premium reductions
  for the installation of smoke/heat vents in
  industrial or storage buildings protected by a
  sprinkler system?
• No.
•  
• Reduces Heat and Smoke Damage? Unknown Dr.
  Craig Beyler, Hughes Associates, Inc.

24
RESEARCH ON PROPERTY PROTECTION CAPABILITIES OF
ROOF VENTS IN SPRINKLERED BUILDINGS

• Is there any research that indicates that
  smoke/heat vents actually reduce property damage
  in buildings protected by a sprinkler system when
  the sprinkler system operates or when the
  sprinkler protection is impaired?
• Reduces Heat and Smoke Damage? Unknown Dr.
  Craig Beyler, Hughes Associates, Inc.

25
CODE CHANGE F124-06/07FIRE CODE COMMITTEE
DISAPPROVAL REASON

• There was no definitive information presented
  that smoke and heat vents do not contribute to
  fire control. NFPRF Research-1997/1998 Bulk
  Retail Facility Fire, Tempe, Arizona-1998
• In cases where the sprinkler system does not
  suppress the fire but, rather, controls it, smoke
  continues to be generated. NFPRF
  Research-1997/1998 Bulk Retail Facility Fire,
  Tempe, Arizona-1998 NFPA 204
•  
• The discussions have focused on everything but
  the safety of the occupants, including
  firefighters. NFPA Fire Statistics-2005 NIOSH
  2005-132

26
CODE CHANGE F124-06/07FIRE CODE COMMITTEE
DISAPPROVAL REASON

• Smoke and heat vents provide the fire
  department with an important tool to remove the
  smoke for occupant safety and enhanced fire
  attack access, especially in very large area
  buildings where access from the exterior is
  limited at best. NIOSH 2005-132 USFA-303
  (2006)
• Firefighter safety is also improved by
  providing a faster, safer method of fire
  ventilation than cutting one or more holes in the
  roof. NIOSH 2005-132 USFA-303 (2006)
•  
• The current text presents a balanced approach
  between firefighter safety and building safety.
  NFPA 13 NIOSH 2005-132

27
CONCLUSIONS

• Sprinkler protection is the primary means of
  protecting large one-story industrial and storage
  buildings.
• Draft curtains may have an adverse impact on the
  ability of standard sprinklers to control a fire.
  (NFPRF Research-1997/1998 FMRC Research-1994)
•  
• No building feature which has been shown to
  potentially interfere with the successful
  operation of the sprinkler system should be
  required by the IBC/IFC (i.e. draft curtains).

28
CONCLUSIONS(CONTINUED)

• The use of roof vents without draft curtains
  will adversely affect the venting capability of
  smoke/heat vents which open. (NFPA 204 Dr.
  Craig Beyler)
• The activation of standard sprinklers will
  adversely affect the venting capability of any
  smoke/heat vents which open. (NFPA 204)
•  
• The NFPRF research clearly demonstrated that the
  maximum number of smoke/heat vents which will
  automatically open in a building protected by
  standard (spray) sprinklers (if the sprinkler
  system is operational and adequate for the hazard
  protected) is one. (NFPRF Research-1997/1998
  Dr. Craig Beyler)

29
CONCLUSIONS(CONTINUED)

• If the sprinkler protection is adequate for the
  hazard protected and is functional, the use of
  interior manual firefighting in large single
  industrial and storage story buildings is
  unnecessary. (NFPA 13)
• If the sprinkler protection is operational, but
  inadequate for the hazard protected, or is not
  functional, interior manual firefighting should
  not be utilized. (NIOSH 2005-132)

30
CONCLUSIONS(CONTINUED)

• The occupant fire safety risk presented by large
  one-story industrial or storage occupancies
  protected by a sprinkler system is minimal.
  (NFPA Fire Statistics-2005)
•  
• Providing automatic smoke/heat vents in large
  one-story industrial or storage occupancies
  protected by a sprinkler system will provide
  little or no additional occupant fire safety
  since the occupant fire safety risk is already
  minimal and since it has been demonstrated that
  smoke/heat vents may not operate in buildings
  protected by standard (spray) sprinklers. (NFPA
  Fire Statistics-2005 NFPRF Research 1997/1998)

31
CONCLUSIONS(CONTINUED)

• From the above, it can be concluded that
  automatic smoke/heat vents provide no significant
  increase in the level of fire protection and fire
  safety, including firefighter safety, provided
  for large single-story buildings containing
  industrial or storage occupancies protected by
  standard (spray) sprinklers.

32
RECOMMENDED CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL ACTION

• A code change proposal which eliminates the
  mandatory requirements for smoke/heat vents in
  single-story industrial and storage buildings
  protected by standard spray sprinklers should be
  developed.
• The code change proposal should include
  mandatory requirements for some means of
  ventilating the building. Several design
  alternatives for providing venting (including
  manual smoke/heat vents) should be included in
  this proposal.
•  
• The purpose of providing some means of
  ventilating the building should be to assist
  firefighters in removing smoke from the building
  after the fire has been controlled and
  extinguished by the sprinkler system.

33

• END OF STORY