Effective Use of Two Stage Alarms & Voice Communication Systems - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Effective Use of Two Stage Alarms & Voice Communication Systems

Approving These in Fire Safety Plans Sean Tracey, P.Eng., MIFireE Canadian Regional Director NFPA

Outline of the Presentation

• Background
• Overview of Fire Alarm Provisions
• Code provisions for voice systems
• Code provisions for voice systems
• Advantages
• Hurdles
• Fire Safety Plan Considerations
• Resources

Background

• Why begin to look at this?
• National Capital Region issues
• National Capital Region issues
• The selection and effective use of alarm and

comms systems has an impact on fire ground operations

World Trade Center Disaster September 11th, 2001

• NFPA only Standards

Developer on initial BPAT

• Recommended

changes from NIST studies being forwarded through TCs

• NFPA forms High

Rise Advisory Council

Chicago Fire October 17th, 2003

• Around 5 pm
• Storage closet on the 12th floor
• 6 fatalities
• 6 fatalities
• Major recommendations

regarding sprinklering, employee training, and fire department

• perations

Fire Alarm Systems

• Purpose of a fire alarm system

– Notify occupants of a fire – Signal indicating an emergency – Signal indicating an emergency – Occupants to start required evacuation – On activating give sufficient time for evacuation.

Code Requirements

• Note: NFPA has different terminology

including general evacuation alarm, private mode and pre-signal mode

Fire Alarm Systems

One Stage vs. Two Stage

• Single stage: upon the operation of any

manual station, waterflow detecting device,

• r fire detector, cause an alarm signal to
• r fire detector, cause an alarm signal to

sound on all audible signal devices in the system

Fire Alarm Systems

One Stage vs. Two Stage

Two stage: a) alert signal upon the operation of any manual station, waterflow detecting device,

• r fire detector,

b) Automatic alarm if not acknowledged within 5 min of its initiation, and c) have manual stations, that causes an alarm signal to sound

Allows supervisory staff to investigate as well can allow for zoning

3.2.4.3. Types of Fire Alarm Systems

A single-stage system in a Group F, Division 1 occupancy, A 2-stage system in a Group B occupancy, A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B, A single- or 2-stage system in a Group B, Division 3 occupancy where the building is 3 storeys or less, and A single- or 2-stage system in all other cases.

Technically you can have a single stage fire alarm system in a high-rise office tower or hotel. Should this impact the design of means of egress and fire safety plans?

• Two-stage alarm systems are normally used

if programmed evacuation is required or if a general alarm would cause undue distress to

Fire Alarm Systems

One Stage vs. Two Stage

general alarm would cause undue distress to the occupants, for example in health care facilities.

– Reduces the potential for false alarms – In high buildings this can facilitate the staged evacuation and thus reduce the impact of the evacuation on the means of egress

Voice Communications Systems

NBC 3.2.6.8. High Buildings

A voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.22. shall be provided in a building if building if

a) the floor of the top storey is more than 36 m above grade, or b) a floor area or part of a floor area located above the third storey is designed or intended for use as a Group B, Division 2 or 3

• ccupancy.

Voice Communications Systems

• NBC also requires those with more than

1000 occupants and having a two stage alarm system to have voice communication alarm system to have voice communication systems to facilitate in the evacuation and messaging to the occupants.

• To operate the alarm system the facility is

required to establish a control facility [3.2.6.7]

Comms Centre Requirements

• a) a two-way means of communication with

the central alarm and control facility and to the mechanical control centre from each floor area, and

• b) intelligible loudspeakers operated from

the central alarm and control facility

The Problem

• Code may require a two stage alarm system

but the NFC does not mandate that this be used used

• This can result in inconsistent application

within a jurisdiction – impacts operations!

• The best solution is to have consistent

requirements when approving fire safety plans

Supervisory Staff and Voice Comms

Elements in the FSP

• The training of supervisory staff in the use
• f the voice communication system,
• The the action to be taken by supervisory
• The the action to be taken by supervisory

staff in initiating any fire emergency systems until the fire department arrives,

• Instructions to the supervisory staff and fire

department for the operation of the systems referred to in Clause (c), and

Problem with Supervisory Staff Training, and Availability

• The problem is that supervisory staff may

not be adequately trained on how to use the system and may not be confident in its use. system and may not be confident in its use.

– Property Owners let these go to alarm – Impacts the credibility of the alarm system

• What happens when supervisory staff are

not available or after hours?

– System goes to alarm

Fire Safety Messaging by Supervisory Staff

• Intelligible pre-recorded, synthesized, or

live messages

• shall be designed so that the alarm signal in
• shall be designed so that the alarm signal in

a 2-stage fire alarm system can be selectively transmitted to any zone or zones while maintaining an alert signal or selectively transmitting voice instructions to any other zone or zones in the building

Human Behaviour During Fire

• Confidence in Emergency Procedures -

clear concise messaging by supervisory staff ensures that the building occupants staff ensures that the building occupants have confidence in the overall alarm system

• Voice Communications – are proven

reinforcing queues* -- reduces alarm recognition time

Evacuating People with Disabilities

• Fire Safety Plan should identify if this is an

issue and the procedures to follow

• Are there adequate features to allow

defence in areas of refuge? defence in areas of refuge?

Types of Evacuations

• Total
• Total –staged
• Partial
• Relocation

–Horizontal –Vertical

Total Evacuation

ALARM ALARM

Single stage evacuation of a building

Staged Evacuation

ALARM ALARM

Found with 2 stage alarms – alarm sent to the fire floor and remaining floors in alert notification.

Horizontal Relocation

Relocation

ALARM ALARM

Relocation Area Relocation Area

Two stage alarm - notification of fire floor remainder of building in alert stage.

USFA Special Report Operational Considerations for Highrise Firefighting, April 1996,

In some cases, occupants may be safest if they remain in place or evacuate to a floor beneath the fire floor instead of exiting the building. Firefighters should determine as quickly as possible in a fire incident whether a full, partial, or no evacuation is necessary, and communicate their evacuation plan to occupants by using a public address system or other means. Experience shows that occupants will need guidance with evacuation.

Waiting until the incident to determine the evacuation plan is too late. Needs to be part of the pre-incident plan and therefore Fire Safety Plan.

Which Type of Evacuation?

• Occupancy type
• Risks present

Determined in the FSP for the facility by the property owner – but this selection impacts FD Ops.

• Occupant issues
• Building size (both height and footprint)
• Building layout – presence of zones
• Building construction
• Protective features & alarm systems

Means of Egress Capacity & Occupancy Load

Module 3-28

Module 3-28

An example of queuing. Photo taken by John Labriola during WTC evacuations.

An example of cross flow. Photo taken by John Labriola during WTC evacuations.

FD Operations

• Impact on operations

– Cross flow – Can’t commence stairwell attack – Staging of apparatus

• Fire service is expected to take over voice

comms on arrival

• SOPs needed when two stage alarm systems

are present with voice comms

FD Operations

• No consistent standards or procedures

adopted for this

• Need procedures on how they will direct
• ccupants to evacuate.
• ccupants to evacuate.
• Has a direct impact on FD considerations
• Pre-Incident plans reflect what expectations

are of building owners

• SOPs needed to clarify this so building
• wners will understand their responsibilities

Advantages of Effective Alarm System to Tenants/Occupants

• Greater confidence in systems
• Potential for injury is reduced
• Lessens the impact of false alarms on
• Lessens the impact of false alarms on

workplace productivity

Advantages of an Effective Alarm System to Fire Services

• Proven better managed evacuations
• More effective fire ground operations

– Reduces the potential for cross flow – Reduces the potential for cross flow – Quicker setup in stairwell

• Smoother transition to take over of facility

communications

Advantages of an Effective Alarm System to Property Owner

• Enhanced trust in reliability of voice

systems

• Less lost time due to false alarms
• Less lost time due to false alarms
• Lessens potential liability for injuries during

false alarm evacuations

• Disadvantage – need a greater emphasis on

supervisory staff training on use of the system and messaging (technically required by the code)

Fire Safety Plans

• Opportunity to effect change – must be

approved by the local AHJ

• Consider an SOP for when two stage alarms
• Consider an SOP for when two stage alarms

with voice comms are present

– They must use the voice system – Training & exercises for Supervisory Staff

• Examples of community fire safety plan

templates can be downloaded on the web

Additional Requirements for FSP/Supervisory Staff Training

• Outline expectations for maintenance and

testing of the system

• Clearly identify expectations of employees
• Clearly identify expectations of employees

during alert and alarm stages and evacuation type required

• FD should consider a standardized FSP for

all fire safety plans with 2 stage alarms and voice systems

– Example provided with the presentation

• Have a working knowledge of the building

fire and life safety systems.

• Ensure the building fire and life safety

Additional Requirements for FSP/Supervisory Staff Training

• Ensure the building fire and life safety

systems are in operating condition.

• Arrange for a substitute in their absence.
• Daily, monthly and yearly checks of voice

and alarm systems as required by the Fire Code

• Consider having standardized messaging or

scripts for staff to follow

• Should have staff training using realistic

Additional Requirements for FSP/Supervisory Staff Training

• Should have staff training using realistic

scenarios to walk through the scripts

Resources

• NFPA Guide to Introduction to Employee

Fire and Life Safety 2001

• USFA Special Report: Operational

Considerations for Highrise Firefighting - USFA-TR-082/April 1996

• 10 of the 29 scholarships to attend went to

Canadians

– Including 4 from BC – Including 4 from BC

• Continue to work to improve fire safety

messaging

• EMAC Approved Messages - as a downloadable

resource

• Fire Prevention Week Theme 2012

– Fire Prevention Week - Have 2 Ways Out

PTSC-Online

• NFPA became a gold

level sponsor in 2011

• Dedicated NFPA

section on the site section on the site

• Use for policy

development and sharing materials

Presentation and an opportunity to participate in a discussion forum available at: www.PTSC-Online.ca

Conclusion

• The effective use of voice comms with 2

stage alarm systems have been proven to enhance confidence in the alarm system enhance confidence in the alarm system

• Fire department operations are directly

impacted by facilities use of these systems

• Standardize practice that uses the benefits
• f these systems and effective staff trainig

benefits all

CONTACTING US

• Canadian Regional Manager:

(bilingual service)

Sean A. Tracey (613) 830 - 9102 (W) (613) 841 - 1929 (F) stracey@nfpa.org

• Web sites:

www.nfpa.org Presentation and an opportunity to participate in a discussion forum available at: www.PTSC-Online.ca