Life Safety Assessing life safety of a building is a process of estimating the quality of security against fire and its effects. Life safety implies avoiding exposure to harmful levels of products of combustion. This goal is usually achieved by: controlling the fire process separating endangered individuals from the harmful effects

Characteristics of Occupants: Age is the most easily identifiable characteristic on an exposed occupant. Very young and very old are more likely to die in a fire. Mobility Can be a function of age but also handicapped individuals, purpose of the occupancy (IE: hospitals, prisons, mental institutions) Awareness Are occupants awake and alert? Drugs and alcohol play an important role in awareness as well as age Knowledge Familiarity with the premises, use of drills increase a persons 'self- preservation knowledge.

Density Density is measured as the number of persons in a given area. The greater the number of people in a given area the greater the potential loss of life. Relationship between density and speed of movement of the occupants.

Life Safety Strategies Fire prevention, fire management, occupant management Fire Prevention Prevent the fire from beginning. Attack the fire pyramid components

Fire Management Control the rate of production of smoke and heat through altering fuel and/or environment, control the combustion process through manual or automatic fire suppression, control products of combustion through venting

Occupant Management Alerting occupants of a fire Emergency egress system development and implementation. Emergency signs. lighting, protected egress routes, etc.

Behaviors Panic Behavior Fires resulting in multiple fatalities identify a panic behavior. Panic is a flight or fleeing type of behavior that is not limited to one person but transmitted and adopted to a group of people.

Re-entry behavior Studies have found that people are often injured re-entering a building. Re-entry creates 2 way movement. Re-entry most often occurs to rescue or assist children and people.

Fire fighting behavior People want to put out the fire when there is an economic or emotional tie to the fire (Homes, assigned role as a result of training).

Life Safety Codes Life Safety Codes actually began as early as 1913 in the U.S. In 1921, they compiled the information into the Building Exits Code.

NFPA 101 Life Safety Codes The predominant overall guides to life safety from fire in buildings in the US. They are considered the minimum acceptable guidelines for Life Safety. The 2009 Edition of the Life Safety Codes is broken down into 43 Chapters.

Chapter Summary 1.0 Administration - scope, purpose, application (new & existing buildings). 2.0 Fundamental Requirements 3.0 Definitions 4.0 General 5.0 Performance Based Options

Chapter Summary 6.0 Classification of Occupancy 7.0 Means of Egress 8.0 Features of Fire Protection 9.0 Building service & Fire Protection Equipment 10.0 Interior Finishes 11.0 Special Structures and High-rises Occupancy Classifications 43.0 Building Rehabilitation

Occupancy Determination The most important first step in using the Life Safety Codes is to make the correct determination about the occupancy classification. Using the definitions of the occupancies, one will be able to follow the specific codes properly.

Mixed Occupancies In some situations, occupancies can be classified as a mixed occupancy. When the exits, means of egress, construction, etc, are so intermixed, the building can be classified as mixed. In this situation, the most stringent classification codes must be followed.

Operating Features Focuses on how individuals can augment the fixed life safety systems and other building features. In the codes, an asterisk may follow the code number. Presented at the end of each occupancy chapter.

Life Safety Codes Life Safety Codes actually began as early as 1913 in the U.S. In 1921, they compiled the information into the Building Exits Code.

NFPA 101 Life Safety Codes The predominant overall guides to life safety from fire in buildings in the US. They are considered the minimum acceptable guidelines for Life Safety.

Chapter Summary 1.0 Administration - scope, purpose, application (new & existing buildings). 2.0 Fundamental Requirements 3.0 Definitions 4.0 General 5.0 Performance Based Options

Chapter Summary 6.0 Classification of Occupancy 7.0 Means of Egress 8.0 Features of Fire Protection 9.0 Building service & Fire Protection Equipment 10.0 Interior Finishes 11.0 Special Structures and Highrises Occupancy Classifications

Occupancy Determination The most important first step in using the Life Safety Codes is to make the correct determination about the occupancy classification. Using the definitions of the occupancies, one will be able to follow the specific codes properly.

Mixed Occupancies In some situations, occupancies can be classified as a mixed occupancy. When the exits, means of egress, construction, etc, are so intermixed, the building can be classified as mixed. In this situation, the most stringent classification codes must be followed.

Operating Features Focuses on how individuals can augment the fixed life safety systems and other building features. In the codes, an asterisk may follow the code number. Presented at the end of each occupancy chapter.

NFPA Chapter 7: Means of Egress When applying Chapter 7, first address means of egress issues in the appropriate Occupancy Classification chapter In many instances, the Occupancy chapter will send you to Chapter 7 for the Means of Egress requirements

NFPA Chapter 7: Means of Egress Major parts to Chapter General Requirements 7.2 Means of Egress Components 7.3 Capacity of Means of Egress 7.4 Number of Means of Egress 7.5 Arrangement of Means of Egress

NFPA Chapter 7: Means of Egress 7.6 Measurement of Travel Distance to Exits 7.7 Discharge from Exits 7.8 Illumination of Means of Egress 7.9 Emergency Lighting 7.10 Marking of Means of Egress

NFPA Chapter 7: Means of Egress 7.11 Special Provisions for Occupancies with High Hazard Contents Mechanical Equipment Rooms, Boiler Rooms, and Furnace Rooms.