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2013/SCSC/WKSP1/005

Fire and Seismic Elements of Codes

Submitted by: Armstrong World Industries, Inc

Workshop on Sharing Experiences in the Design and Implementation of Green

Building Codes Lima, Peru

5-7 March 2013

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Fire and Seismic Elements of Codes

APEC – ASEAN Sharing Experiences in the Design and Implementation of Green Building Codes

March 5 – 7th, 2013Miraflores Hilton HotelLima, Peru

Paul HoughArmstrong World Industries, IncUSA

Fire and Seismic

Critical Life Safety Issues◦ Overall building structure◦ Interior spaces, linings and finishes

◦ Protection of occupantsSafe place of refuge

◦ Survivability of occupantsProvide the ability to escape safely

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Main Fire Concerns

Fire Resistance – Keeping the building up during and after the fire

Reaction to Fire – Keeping fire from spreading or moving within a building

Smoke / Toxicity – Create the ability to escape

Fire Resistance

Concerns all building elements – Floors, roofs, beams, ceilings all interior compartments

ISO 834 / ASTM E119 / UL 263 / NFPA 251 / EN 1365-2

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Typical Time Temperature Curve for Fire Resistance

Fire Resistance Furnaces

View inside a horizontal furnace

Hydraulic loading to the top of the furnace

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Related IssuesOverlaps with non combustibility

Some economies focus on non combustibility. If it doesn’t burn, don’t worry about it.

Need some focus on contents

Major concern as we move to Green Codes and Green Construction.

Reaction to Fire

Deals with ◦ Flame spread◦ Heat release (peak and total)◦ Smoke (average, peak and total)◦ Toxicity of the smoke

Good Reaction to Fire creates time to escape!

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Three Main Tests

North American – Focuses on flame spread & smoke

Europe & China – Focuses on HRR, SRR & flame spread.

Small-scale - Cone Calorimeter –Focuses on Heat Release – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Canada

It is not always the fire that kills.

Kiss Nightclub, Brazil

Matralaya, India

Shanghai Apartment Fire

Station Nightclub, U.S.

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Concern with Green Codes

Selection of materials◦ Increasing flammability

Restrictions on fire retardantsNeed to balance properties & performance

Fire performance should be part of every Green Building Code!

Seismic Provisions

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Pacific Ring of Fire

Earthquakes in a 30 day period

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Two Types of Earthquake Damage

Structural (developing economies)◦ Type of building◦ Preventative measures◦ Ground motion

Nonstructural (more developed economies)◦ System & components within the building

“Standard” Structural Performance Levels in Earthquakes

Joe’sBeer!Food!

Beer!Food!

Operational LifeSafety

CollapsePrevention

Beer!Food!

Joe’s

ImmediateOccupancy

Damage or Loss0% 99%

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Collapse• Complete structural collapse

•Significant injury and major lose of life

•Complete permanent loss of use

•Rebuild is only option

•Loss = 100%

Collapse Prevention Level

Extensive (near complete) structural and non-structural damageSignificant potential for injury but not wide scale loss of lifeExtended loss of useRepair may not be practicalLoss >> 30%

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Life Safety Level

Significant structural damageSome injuries may occurExtensive non-structural damageBuilding not safe for reoccupancy until repairedLosses < 30%

Beer!Beer!Food!Food!

Joe’s

Immediate Occupancy LevelNegligible structural damageOccupants safe during eventMinor nonstructural damageBuilding is safe to occupy but may not functionLimited interruption of operationsLosses < 15%

Beer!Beer!Food!Food!

Joe’s

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Operational Level

Negligible structural and nonstructural damageOccupants are safe during eventUtilities are availableFacility is available for immediate re-use (some cleanup required)Loss < 5% of replacement value

Joe’sBeer!Beer!Food!Food!

Typical Investment in Building Construction

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Office

Hotel

Hospita

l

Type of Construction

% o

f Con

stru

ctio

n C

ost Contents

NonstructuralStructural

Why Nonstructural Focus?

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Nonstructural Damage

From economies that had seismic requirements for nonstructural components

Green Code Development

All economies in potentially active seismic areas should have some seismic provisions, both structural and nonstructural.

The goal is to protect occupants, allow escape and get building to operational state quickly.

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Experiences of a Global Company

Initial focus to identify◦ Building codes & regulations◦ Fire codes◦ Seismic codes◦ Green efforts & codes

Initial focus on well established, mature economies

ProblemsCustomized codes & regulationsCustomized local testsLanguage barriers◦ Terminology◦ Actual language

4 to 5 year effort – 40 economies covered. How can you help?

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Thank you for your attention.

Questions?