HighRise Fire Alarm System Operation in the City of Chicago

1
High-Rise Fire Alarm System Operation in the City
of Chicago

• Presented by
• Morrie Mastrangeli
• Pete Van Dorpe
• Adam Tappen

2
Agenda

• Classification of Building Types
• System Classification
• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
• High-Rise Requirements/Preparation
• Utilizing the System in an Emergency
• Issues
• Questions

3
Building Classification

• Occupancy Classification
• Age
• Height
• ......Allows for System Classification

4
System Classification

• Class I - System Overview
• General Alarm
• Automatic Evacuation
• Auxiliary Valve Supervisory CP
• Auxiliary Duct Detection CP
• City Tie Box
• Trouble Bell
• Back-Lit Alarm Annunciator
• Typically School and Daycare Occupancies

5
System Classification

• Class II System Overview
• Automatic Pre-Signal Coded Alarms
• Auxiliary Valve Supervisory CP
• Auxiliary Duct Detection CP
• City Tie Box
• Trouble Bell
• Back-Lit Annunciator
• Typically Hospital, Nursing Home and Jail
  Occupancies

6
High-Rise Fire Detection and Alarm Systems in
Chicago

• Fire Command Center Requirements
• Fire Detection Components
• Supervisory Signal Components
• One-Way Voice Communications
• Two-Way Voice Communications

7
High-Rise Fire Detection and Alarm Systems in
Chicago

• Smoke Control
• Annunciation
• Monitoring
• Elevator Recall
• Stair Door Unlocking
• Status Monitoring

8
High-Rise Building Categories

• Category 1 Over 750 ft.
• Category 2 Over 540 ft. and Including 780 ft.
• Category 3 Over 275ft. and Including 540 ft.
• Category 4 Over 80 ft. and Including 275 ft.

9
Fire Department Deployment

• Fire Investigation Team
• Must be 1 Engine/1 Truck
• Truck must dedicate 1FF to Lobby and 1 FF to
  Elevator
• Lobby FF begins Lobby Control process
• Assess systems and Establish Priorities!!!
• Make announcements
• as directed

10
Fire Department Deployment

• 3rd Arriving Engine becomes Lobby Control Company
• Confer with I.C. and Lobby Firefighter
• Man the Communications Panel
• Complete Checklist

11
Communications Panel Template

• Communications protocol must be part of SOPs
• Template mounted in panel
• Template carried by FD
• personnel

12
Tracking and Documentation

• Stairwell phones
• Elevators
• Stair door locks
• Phone numbers
• Building personnel
• PA announcements

13
High-Rise Fire Operation

• Requirements/Preparation
• Who is on scene to assist during a fire
• Commercial vs. Residential
• Evaluation and Prioritization of Signals
• Utilization of System Features
• Annunciation, Voice Communication, Elevator
  Controls
• Reading the LCD Annunciator
• Evacuation Philosophies and Planning

14
Issues to Consider

• Post Incident Actions
• Resetting, repairing, restoring..
• False Alarm Issues
• Environmental concerns, applications mistakes,
  reoccurring issues

15
Questions?

• Thank You from Siemens Building Technologies,
  Inc. and the Chicago Fire Department