Fonte (Source): Consulting – Specifying Engineer

Por (By): William E. Koffel, PE, FSFPE; M. Steven Welsh, PE; and Kristin Steranka

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Critical facilities, such as health care buildings and hospitals, require fire alarm and detection specifications at a higher level than in other buildings.

Learning objectives

• Know the codes and standards that dictate fire alarm and detection.
• Understand fire alarm and detection requirements as specifically related to health care occupancies.
• Learn about fire alarm and detection in ambulatory health care facilities and assisted-living facilities.

Critical facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, require protection using an increased level of fire alarm and detection compared to many other types of facilities. Most of the fire alarm requirements are directly related to patient care or emergency procedures; however, some requirements are related to the unique nature and large areas in critical-care facilities. Health care occupancies are the portions health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, where occupants are incapable of self-preservation and are treated on an inpatient basis. The term “health care facilities” also includes ambulatory health care facilities, clinics, doctors’ offices, and portions of assisted-living facilities.

This article will reference the following codes and standards and how they relate to health care facilities:

• NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2013 edition
• NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code, 2015 edition
• NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, 2015 edition.

Note that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the various accrediting organizations that certify and accredit health care organizations currently use the 2000 edition of NFPA 101. There are some differences between the 2000 and 2015 editions of NFPA 101 with respect to fire alarm and detection requirements, with increasing requirements for such systems in more recent editions of NFPA 101.

Zoning

Zoning of fire alarm systems is critical in health care occupancies. It helps facility personnel determine where a potential fire incident is occurring, and assists the fire department in finding a fire. The best design practice for these facilities is to match the fire alarm zones to the smoke compartments. Smoke compartments are created in health care occupancies to establish temporary areas of refuge involving the horizontal relocation of patients/residents by dividing most stories into compartments of 22,500 sq ft or less. The zoning of sprinkler systems should also be consistent with smoke compartment and fire alarm zones. Further zoning of the fire alarm zone is also possible depending on the nature of departments in a smoke zone. For example, the smoke zone could be broken down into two different fire alarm zones if there are two unique departments in that smoke zone (see Figure 1).

Fire alarm zoning is permitted to be coordinated with sprinkler zones (NFPA 101, Paragraph 9.6.7.4.2) for all occupancies. In health care occupancies, fire alarm zones are permitted to coincide with smoke compartments (NFPA 101, Paragraph 18.3.4.3.3.2). In addition, NFPA 99 (Paragraph 15.7.4.3.1) specifically requires that all smoke zones and fire alarm zones be coordinated. As such, emergency control functions can be programed to coincide with the emergency plans that are based upon the smoke compartmentation within the facility.

Most modern fire alarm systems for large health care occupancies use addressable fire alarm initiating devices. As such, the programming of control functions by smoke compartments is a relatively simple activity. Zoning notification appliances per zone can be more difficult, but is often desired if notification occurs by zones, e.g., when selective notification concepts are to be used. If notification appliances are to be zoned, the devices must be wired independently by zone or more recent technology involving addressable notification devices must be used.

Notification

Fire alarm notification appliances have evolved drastically over the years. Older fire alarm systems only used electronic bells or chimes, and older health care occupancies typically used a coded notification signal to identify the zone or device in alarm. Strobes are also necessary to make the building compliant with accessibility requirements. NFPA 72 also requires strobes in all public spaces, assembly areas, and as needed in other parts of a health care facility.

Most modern fire alarm systems in health care occupancies are equipped with speakers that can multitask by providing both automated emergency communication messages and live messaging. Such technology also is easier to use in conjunction with coded messages such as “Code Red, Floor 3, East Wing” to provide increased information to facility staff without alerting patients, residents, and visitors.

Speakers for emergency communication systems are required where zoned or delayed egress procedures are desired (NFPA 72, Paragraph 24.4.2.8.2,). In addition, emergency voice/alarm communications systems are required for all high-rise buildings (NFPA 101, Paragraph 11.8.4.1).

Fire alarm speakers also can be used as a mass notification system (MNS). These systems are designed to broadcast more information than just a standard fire alarm system. Their capabilities include automated and live messages for weather emergencies, shooter events, bomb threats, or other events where communication to buildings occupants is desired.

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