CONCLUSIONES PARCIALES

Section 10.6.7.2 of NFPA 72-2013 provides the power requirements for secondary power capacity.

Specifically, “The secondary power supply shall have sufficient capacity to operate the system under quiescent load (system operating in a nonalarm condition) for a minimum of 24 hours and, at the end of that period, shall be capable of operating all alarm notification appliances used for evacuation or to direct aid to the location of an emergency for 5 minutes, unless other permitted or required by the following…”

RMSEL does not have an ECS and, with one exception, the additional requirements do not apply.

The one exception is the batter calculations shall include a 20 percent safety margin to the calculated amp-hour rating.

A battery capacity calculation is provided below. This analysis has been limited to the devices powered by the FACP. Four notification appliance circuits (NACs) are utilized to power the appliances. Notification appliances are provided power using Copper Wheelock PowerPath PS-8 power limited 8-ampere power supply/charger with batteries that serve as secondary power. The Building 895 FACP Panel Schedule (Ref. 10) is the primary source for determining which devices rely on the FACP for power. The analysis is provided on the next page.

The calculated battery capacity is 8.04 hours. The EST Quickstart QS4 FACP has a 40 amp-hour capacity per the cut sheet, implying it is sufficient.

Chapter 4 – Fire Detection and Alarm 4-11

Table 4-2. Evaluation of RMSEL against the requirements of NFPA 72-2013

No. Code Requirement Disposition

1 18.4.1.1 – An average ambient sound level greater than 105 dBA shall require the sue of a visible notification appliance(s) in accordance with section 18.5 where the application is public mode.

Meets the requirement

Strobes are provided near machine shops and labs, in addition to the combo

horn/strobes that are located throughout the facility.

2 18.4.1.2 - The total sound pressure level produced by combing the ambient sound pressure level with all audible notification appliances operating shall not exceed 110 dBA at the minimum hearing distance.

Meets the requirement.

Sound pressure levels (SPLs) were measured throughout the facility during the acceptance testing. SPLs did not exceed the requirement.

3 18.4.1.3 – Sound from normal or permanent sources, having duration greater than 60 seconds, shall be included when measuring maximum ambient sound level. Sound from temporary or abnormal sources shall not be required to be included when measuring maximum ambient sound level.

Meets the requirement.

Several equipment rooms and laboratories required measuring 60 seconds worth of data.

4 18.4.3.1 – To ensure that audible public mode signals are clearly heard, unless otherwise permitted by 18.4.3.2 through 18.4.3.5, they shall have sound level at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound level or 5 DB above the maximum sound level having a duration of at least 60 seconds, whichever is greater, measured 5 ft above the floor in the area required to be served by the system using the A-weighted scale (dBA).

Meets the requirement

Acceptance test shows that SPLs to be 15 dBA higher than commonly accepted values of ambient noise for office space, restrooms, etc.

5 18.4.8.1 – If ceiling heights allow, and unless otherwise permitted by 18.4.8.2 through 18.4.8.5, wall-mounted appliances shall have their tops above the finished floors at heights of not less than 6 in.

Unable to verify

The majority of devices are horn/strobe combos that have separate requirements.

6 18.5.5.1 – Wall mounted appliances shall be mounted such that the entire lens is not less than 80 in. and not greater than 96 in. above the finished floor or at the mounting height specified using he performance-based alternative of 18.5.5.

Meets the requirement

A fire protection assessment performed in 2006 did not identify any findings with respect to this requirement.

7 18.5.5.2 – Where low ceiling heights do not permit wall mounting at a minimum of 80 in., wall mounted visible appliances shall be mounted within 6 in. of the ceiling. The room size covered by a strobe of a given value shall be reduced by twice the difference between the minimum mounting height of 80 in. and the actual lower mounting height.

Meets the requirement.

See disposition to number 6.

4-2. Evaluation of RMSEL against the requirement of NFPA 72-2013 (continued)

Chapter 4 – Fire Detection and Alarm 4-12

No. Code Requirement Disposition

8 18.5.5.4 – Spacing shall be in accordance with either Table 18.5.5.4.1(a) and Figure 18.5.5.4.1 or Table 18.5.5.4.1(b).

Meets the requirement

The large conference has two devices with adjustable candela settings, which exceeds the requirement for the type of room it is.

The large super lab has 8 horn/strobe devices and also exceeds the requirements.

9 18.5.5.5.1 – The installation of visible notification appliances in corridors 20 ft or less in width shall be in accordance with requirements of 18.5.5.4 or 18.5.5.5.

Noted.

10 18.5.5.5.3 – In a corridor application, visible appliances shall be rated not less than 15 cd. Meets the requirement

Sandia does purchase equipment with less than 15 cd.

11 18.5.5.5.5 – Visible notification appliances shall be located not more than 15 ft from the end of the corridor with a separation not great than 100 ft between appliances.

Meets the requirement

A review of the fire alarm system upgrade project drawings show that the strobes are approximately 75 ft with more in areas where the corridor are curved. Devices are located near the end of the corridors.

12 18.5.5.5.6 – If there is an interruption of the concentrated viewing path, such as a fire door, an elevation change or any other obstruction, the area shall be treated as a separate corridor.

Meets the requirement.

See disposition to number 11.

13 18.5.5.7 - In corridors where more than two visible notification appliances are in any field of view, they shall flash in synchronization.

Not verified

The power supplies have the ability to support this feature.

Conclusions – The fire alarm and detection system in RMSEL generally meets the requirements of the 2013 version of the code.

Chapter 4 – Fire Detection and Alarm 4-13 4.11 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

Sandia has implemented an Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) program for fire alarm systems. The types of devices associated with 895 undergo an annual ITM. This frequency is based on Chapter 14 of NFPA 72.

A fire alarm database is maintained by the fire protection staff that identifies all the devices associated with each building FACP. The Panel Schedule provides a complete listing of this data, along with the logic and output functions. A “maintenance” query of the report will produce a checklist and instructions for testing all the devices. Some of the fields are automatically populated, such as battery age. The checklist is filled out by the maintenance staff, and then is scanned and placed into a document management system.

Item Description

C Pull Station 0.00025 x 35 = 0.00875 0.0004 x 35 = 0.014

D Smoke Detector 0.000045 x 54 = 0.00243 0.018 x 54 = 0.972

E Control Modules 0.001 x 28 = 0.028 0.001 x 28 = 0.028

F Isolator Modules 0.000045 x 4 = 0.00018 0.000045 x 4 = 0.00018

G Sprinkler Modules 0.000396 x 22 = 0.008712 0.00068 x 22 = 0.01496

H Horn/strobe 0.033 x 1 = 0.033 0.96 x 1 = 0.96

I FACP - Power Card 0.072 1 0.072 0.096 x 1 = 0.096

J FACP - CPU/LCD 0.117 1 = 0.117 0.135 x 1 = 0.135

0.270612 2.43614

Required Operating Time of Secondary Power Source From NFPA 72, Section 10.6.7.2.1

Standby 24 Hourse Alarm 5 Minutes/60 0.083333333

Required 24 x 0.270612 = 6.494688 0.083333333 x 2.43614 = 0.203011667 Required

6.494688 + 0.20301167 = x 1.2 = 8.0372396

Total System Standy Current

(AMPS) Total Sytem Alarm Current (AMPS)

Total Required Capacity (Amp-Hours)

6.697699667 Table 4-3. Required battery capacity

Chapter 4 – Fire Detection and Alarm 4-14 Before work begins, the FACP is put into No Action Mode, implying the system will not activate the alarm. The devices are then inspected and tested per the manufacturer’s instructions or the requirements of NFPA 72. For example, smoke detectors are typically tested with an aerosol that results in an alarm and signal to activate the NACs. These signals are verified at the central station as objective evidence of performing the work. Commissioning the system is similar to the annual tests.

If maintenance observes any issues with the system, they notify the fire protection staff. Fire protection will investigate and will resolve issues, typically with maintenance help.

Chapter 5 – Means of Egress 5-1