Engineering Design Project - Report Example

NAME: xxxxxxxxxx TUTOR: xxxxxxxxx DATE: xxxxxxxxxx ©2015 1. Introduction and summary of the building General Description of Premises The building is a student hub. Occupancy: approx.328 Times the premises are in use: 12 hours in a day. Total number of persons employed to work: 34 Total Capacity of Hub: Approx.386 Size: (metres x metres) Number of Floors: 1 Number of Stairs: 5 2. Detection and warning systems i. Detectors Place heat alarms in the system information area with a maximum spacing of covering a maximum area of. Install visual smoke alarm in the self-service issue area with a maximum spacing of covering an area of ii. Manual call points. Locate break glass call point on exit routes and stairwell landings, mounted above the floor in easily accessible points. Call points should get located at a maximum spacing of. The recommended positions to place manual call points in the student hub: Hallway leading to stair 1. POST GRAD IT hall next to stair 3. Hallway close to stair 4. Noise close to stair 5. On all staircase landings. Washrooms hallway iii. Sounders Multiple small Sounders with optimum sound levels of not than 64dBA ought to be installed. Checks on the level of noise should get performed periodically to ensure that minimum levels are maintained. Recommended positions to install Sounders in the student hub: On all staircase landings. Self-service issue hall. Information systems hall. POST GRAD IT Hall. Quiet study hall. Group study area. Washrooms hallway. 3. Means of escape A. Fire hazards present in the Student Hub include; a) Ignition sources The Self Service Issue is susceptible to result in the outbreak of fire due to the presence of open flames, portable heaters, and the likes The Information Systems Department poses a risk if the servers overheat b) Sources of fuel The fuel used in the Self Service Issue The Library at the back of the house could provide fuel for a fire due to the presence of plenty of books and paper (newspapers and journals) At the Information Systems Department is plastic could serve as fuel for a fire c) Work processes Excessive use of the photocopiers and personal computers (PC’s) without proper maintenance poses a slight risk of a fire breakout d) Structural characteristics of the building that promote fire spread Openings to the hallway leading to Stair 1 (SF04) Openings between the Self Service Issue area and the Information Systems Department will facilitate the spread of fire between the buildings The fire hazards noted above can be reduced by; Self- closing doors are recommended to be installed to prevent the spread of fire in openings. Proper and regular maintenance of electrical equipment to prevent any overheating that may result in a fire outbreak Vigilance and alertness in areas where there are open flames to prevent any accidental spread of fire B. People at risk of fire 1. The Self Service Issue staff and customers They are the closest to the most potent potential source of fire and should be prioritized in the case of an outbreak. In the case where the fire outbreak occurs during break hours, when there is a high population of people at the Self Service Issue, they will also be at significant risk due to their proximity. 2. The Information Systems Department staff They are at significant risk in the case of an outbreak due to enclosed nature of the Information Systems department area 3. The students in the Study Halls The risk they are exposed to is comparatively small due to the large distance to the sources of fire, as well as, their proximity to areas of escape, namely the staircases. C. Horizontal Evacuation Alternative escape routes ought to be installed at all possible exits in the building, to avoid the possibility of stampedes and occupants being trapped by fire or smoke (Clause 3.5). The building design provides different routes for escape in the case of an outbreak through the various sets of staircases. The staircases are spaced in directions greater than 45° from each other (Clause 3.9). It should be noted, however, that the distance between occupied area and some points of escape exceeds the maximum length stated (Table 2). The building also lacks ramps for physically challenged occupants, and that could lead to loss of life. D. Vertical Evacuation The staircases form the central part of vertical evacuation to lower floors. There are five available staircases for escape, with a width of approximately 3m, which is adequate. The stairs need to be fireproof, providing at least 3 hours fire resistance. It allows all occupants to get safely evacuated, as well as, rescue services to be conducted for trapped individuals. All doors opening to stairs and the landings should be self-closing, as well as smoke screens. Staircase 1 is the only staircase that does not have a door installed. The lifts should not be used in the case of an outbreak, and should open automatically to allow residents trapped inside to vacate the premises. 4. Internal fire spread surfacing One should ensure that internal wall linings and that of ceiling need to meet the standards for classification as below; (Building regulations 2006, Appendix A, A6.) i. European Class D - s3, d2 or National class3. It is applied to rooms with an area not more than 30m2 such as bathrooms and toilets. Materials or products in this class are to be tested per I.S. EN 13501-1. The materials that achieve this category includes: Mineral fibre. Wood with a density more than 400 kg/m3, Hardboards made of timber, (treated/painted). Standard glass reinforced polyesters. The following rooms of the student hub should be lined using one of the above-listed materials: Tea point & meeting room. Male & female W/C. SHWR, DIS WC & CLNR. ii. European class C-s3, d2 or National class3. It should get adhered to on circulation spaces within dwellings. When those materials that achieve this standards get tested as per I.S. EN 13501 includes: Earth bricks, concrete blocks and structural concrete Plasterboards (painted/unpainted) Wood-wool concrete slabs. The walls and ceiling enclosing the following areas in the student hub should be lined using one of the above-listed materials: On all staircase landings Self-service issue hall. Information systems hall. POST GRAD IT Hall. Quiet study hall. Group study area. Washrooms hallway The walls and ceilings of the compartments formed and hallways leading to them should also be lined by one of the above-listed materials. 5. Internal fire spread structure The building's design and construction should be such that, its strength should hold for a reasonably long duration of time in the case of fire, (Clause B3.1). For the areas used primarily for escape (i.e. corridors and staircases), measures ought to be put in place to curb the spread of fire within the building, usually by partitioning the building with materials resistant to fire. Such areas should resist collapse, fire penetration and transfer of excess heat in the case of an outbreak. The structure supporting the roof should also be considered since the roof partially acts as a floor, as well as, a means of escape Compartmentation To mitigate against fire spreads within a building, the structure should be partitioned using materials that can resist fire i.e. fire retarders. It can then prevent rapid fire spread and reduce chances of the fire becoming significant (Clause 8.1) Some areas that need compartmentation include; The glazed link to the Economics building (Clause 8.10) The Self Service Issue area to curtail the fire (Clause 8.12) The floor should be completely compartmentalized (Clause 8.15) The walls surrounding all the staircases and their landings and fire resistant access doors, for safety of occupants The lift shafts should also be compartmentalized The junctions between the compartment walls and the roof to prevent fire from penetrating the roof and spreading to the adjoining compartment (Clause 8.29) Openings (doors) to the areas mentioned above, and such areas, are only allowed if they are considered as escape routes, and they ought to possess the same fire resistance as the walls (Clause 8.32a) 6. External fire spread External walls External structural elements of the building ought to possess sufficient resistance to fire as per building regulations of 2010: Table A1. A relevant boundary wall is to be set up between the student hub and the Economic Building. The external walls opposite to the Economic Building at a distance more than 1m from the relevant boundary needs no provision for external fire spread. The materials to be used for cladding in this class includes; Brickwork, blockwork, concrete and ceramic tiles, Plasterboard, and Wood-wool cement slabs. 7. Fire- fighting access Engineers and architects ought to design the building putting into consideration the need to provide reasonable facilities to firefighters and enable fire appliances to access the structure for the protection of life (Clauses B5.1&2) Firefighter can access the building via; The atrium open to the ground is centrally located and can allow access to a large part of the building The compartmentation done to the staircases provides the firefighters with adequate time to battle the inferno before collapse The building’s shape and structure allow the use of ladders and other appliances on its perimeter by the firefighters (Clause B5.ii.b) Installation of vents to remove the products of combustion to improve visibility and reduce temperatures, improving access (Clause B5.ii.e) Facilities for the firefighting service Fire-fighting mains equipped with control valves should also be put in place at strategic points within the building. The equipment should be located in protected (compartmentation) staircases for easy access to the firefighters (Clause 15.1) For buildings whose distance from existing fire hydrants exceed 100m, new and improved hydrants ought to be put in place within 90m of mains inlets or the entry to the building (Clause 15.7 a & b). Visibility of the main inlet connection point is paramount and should be 18m from the pumping appliance. If the water pressure in the building is insufficient, other water sources may be used, as appropriate to the fire and rescue authority (Clause 15.8 a, b & c) Vehicle access should be provided to the atrium open to the ground, with pumping appliances located at a point within 45m of the plan area. Main entrances to the building should be adjacent vehicle access points, not less than 750mm wide (Clause 16.2b & 16.5) 8. Regulatory Reform Order and Fire Safety Management A risk assessment on fire safety should be carried out by the management. It should identify fire hazards, people at risk, evaluate & reduce fire hazards, protect people from risk and review the risk assessment procedure. A maintenance schedule that covers all the appliances that aid in life protection is to be made. Personnel responsible for carrying out maintenance and where it will be recorded should be specified. An emergency plan entails procedures to be followed in the event of fire. Its contents include all foreseeable events, warning systems, actions of occupants, fire- fighting equipment, life protection procedures and liaison with fire service on arrival. A training program that specifies who receives training, what training is given, how often it is given and where it is recorded should be prepared. Any deficiencies should be recorded and remedial measures to be taken noted. Significant hazards in the student hub that may require special procedures for rescue work and firefighting should be noted and reported by the management to the fire authority. References Read More

2. The Information Systems Department staff They are at significant risk in the case of an outbreak due to enclosed nature of the Information Systems department area 3. The students in the Study Halls The risk they are exposed to is comparatively small due to the large distance to the sources of fire, as well as, their proximity to areas of escape, namely the staircases. C. Horizontal Evacuation Alternative escape routes ought to be installed at all possible exits in the building, to avoid the possibility of stampedes and occupants being trapped by fire or smoke (Clause 3.5). The building design provides different routes for escape in the case of an outbreak through the various sets of staircases.

The staircases are spaced in directions greater than 45° from each other (Clause 3.9). It should be noted, however, that the distance between occupied area and some points of escape exceeds the maximum length stated (Table 2). The building also lacks ramps for physically challenged occupants, and that could lead to loss of life. D. Vertical Evacuation The staircases form the central part of vertical evacuation to lower floors. There are five available staircases for escape, with a width of approximately 3m, which is adequate.

The stairs need to be fireproof, providing at least 3 hours fire resistance. It allows all occupants to get safely evacuated, as well as, rescue services to be conducted for trapped individuals. All doors opening to stairs and the landings should be self-closing, as well as smoke screens. Staircase 1 is the only staircase that does not have a door installed. The lifts should not be used in the case of an outbreak, and should open automatically to allow residents trapped inside to vacate the premises. 4. Internal fire spread surfacing One should ensure that internal wall linings and that of ceiling need to meet the standards for classification as below; (Building regulations 2006, Appendix A, A6.) i. European Class D - s3, d2 or National class3.

It is applied to rooms with an area not more than 30m2 such as bathrooms and toilets. Materials or products in this class are to be tested per I.S. EN 13501-1. The materials that achieve this category includes: Mineral fibre. Wood with a density more than 400 kg/m3, Hardboards made of timber, (treated/painted). Standard glass reinforced polyesters. The following rooms of the student hub should be lined using one of the above-listed materials: Tea point & meeting room. Male & female W/C.

SHWR, DIS WC & CLNR. ii. European class C-s3, d2 or National class3. It should get adhered to on circulation spaces within dwellings. When those materials that achieve this standards get tested as per I.S. EN 13501 includes: Earth bricks, concrete blocks and structural concrete Plasterboards (painted/unpainted) Wood-wool concrete slabs. The walls and ceiling enclosing the following areas in the student hub should be lined using one of the above-listed materials: On all staircase landings Self-service issue hall.

Information systems hall. POST GRAD IT Hall. Quiet study hall. Group study area. Washrooms hallway The walls and ceilings of the compartments formed and hallways leading to them should also be lined by one of the above-listed materials. 5. Internal fire spread structure The building's design and construction should be such that, its strength should hold for a reasonably long duration of time in the case of fire, (Clause B3.1). For the areas used primarily for escape (i.e. corridors and staircases), measures ought to be put in place to curb the spread of fire within the building, usually by partitioning the building with materials resistant to fire.

Such areas should resist collapse, fire penetration and transfer of excess heat in the case of an outbreak. The structure supporting the roof should also be considered since the roof partially acts as a floor, as well as, a means of escape Compartmentation To mitigate against fire spreads within a building, the structure should be partitioned using materials that can resist fire i.e.

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