The Fire Chief's Role in Development Approvals and Community Risk Reduction

 
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Sean Tracey, FIFireE
Deputy Chief (Ret’d)
 
Development
 Approvals & Community Risk
Reduction
 
What
 Does the Building Code State?
 
Building Codes address how we 
protect individual buildings 
not
neighborhoods
NBC Division B A-3: Part 3 assumes that there is an adequate
firefighting force available. “There is no consistent defined level of
what that adequate firefighting service is.”
NBC Part 9 buildings – Only that there is adequate water supply on
the arriving apparatus
This implies that the local fire service assesses
whether it has adequate resources for the type of
building or development being proposed. Fire chiefs
therefore need to be engaged in development
approval process
.
 
A Handbook
 for Fire Chiefs
 
Compiled the best practices for design
of municipal from a fire service
perspective.
References not found in the Building
Codes but used throughout Canada
based on fire service experience and
research.
Provides an opportunity for sprinklers
to overcome design deficiencies.
 
Water Supplies for Firefighting
 
Determining needed firefighting flows
Number of hydrants and spacing
Development in non-hydrant
 areas
 
Water Supplies for Firefighting
 
Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) 
– Water Supply for Public Fire Protection
 
In the NBC, Annex A-3.2.5.7.(1) states that the intent is that there “be readily
available and sufficient volume and pressure to enable emergency response
personnel to control fire growth so as to 
enable safe evacuation of occupants
and to 
conduct search and rescue operations
, 
prevent the fire from
spreading to adjacent buildings
, and provide a 
limited measure of property
protection
.”
 
Hydrant Numbers and Spacing
 
 
From Fire
Underwriters
Survey (FUS) 
Water Supply for
Public Fire
Protection
 
Non Hydrant Services Areas
 
NFPA 1142: Standard on Water Supplies for
Suburban and Rural Firefighting
 is an
excellent resource and provides a basis for
determining water supplies needed for fire
fighting 
in non-hydrant areas
, areas “that
there is no water or inadequate water for
firefighting.” The standard provides detailed
guidance on the sizing of on-site water
supplies as well as dry hydrants for
community protection.
 
Limiting Distances
 
NBC assumption is 1
st
arriving apparatus in 10
mins from receipt of alarm
for 90% of calls
Affects the % of openings
permitted
 
Response Coverage Maps
 
 
Limiting Distances
 
If your fire department cannot guarantee its 1st apparatus can arrive
to a residential call in 
10 minutes for 90% of its calls
, then the limiting
distance is reduced by 50%.
 impacts number of window openings, construction of soffits, etc.
Response times do not consider:
-
Water supply
-
Setup and entry
-
Control of exposures
 
Access
 
Route Design
 
NFPA 1141 as a source identifies the number of access
points for a subdivision. In the absence of any other
source document or reference standard it does become
best practice for the fire service.
 
Wildland Urban Interface
 
Development in higher risk WUI areas should
require higher design standards.
These are local municipal decisions.
Can follow the published design requirements
found in the NRC National Guide For Wildland-
Urban Interface Fires
 
Identifying WUI Hazard Areas
 
Some provinces have
published detailed maps
identifying WUI risk areas
 
Safeguards
 During Construction
 
The stage of greatest risk
Do not permit the commencement of
construction unless water supplies are in
place
Limit number of “open” units
-
For townhomes, rowhouses, etc.:  A maximum length of 45 meters
without a fire break and a maximum of 7 dwelling units; and
-
For singles family homes: A maximum of six homes before a fire break
– if lots are >12.19 metres wide the fire break lot is one unit. If <12.19
metres wide, then the break is two lots.
 
 
Sample Design review template included in
the handbook
 
Incentivizing Fire Sprinklers
 
Resources on HFSC Canada website
Detailed discussion on incentivizing
in the CAFC White Paper
 
 
Conclusion
 
Get engaged in development review aspart of your CRR strategy
Know your FUS stuff
Use the handbook best practices for design of developments–
feedback on issues or changes would be appreciated
Use sprinklers to offset deficiencies
 
Contact Means/Questions
 
Handbook can be downloaded from:
www.homefiresprinklercanada.ca
My contact means are:
Sean Tracey
stracey1683@gmail.com
(613) 806-9102
@Stracey_FIFire
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Exploring the crucial role of fire chiefs in development approvals, highlighting the significance of assessing adequate firefighting resources, water supplies, and fire protection measures as outlined in building codes. Additionally, emphasis is placed on best practices compiled in a handbook for fire chiefs in designing municipal fire services and ensuring water supplies for firefighting needs.


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  1. The Fire Chiefs Role in The Fire Chief s Role in Development Approvals Development Approvals Sean Tracey, FIFireE Deputy Chief (Ret d)

  2. Development Approvals & Community Risk Reduction

  3. What Does the Building Code State? Building Codes address how we protect individual buildings not neighborhoods NBC Division B A-3: Part 3 assumes that there is an adequate firefighting force available. There is no consistent defined level of what that adequate firefighting service is. NBC Part 9 buildings Only that there is adequate water supply on the arriving apparatus This implies that the local fire service assesses whether it has adequate resources for the type of building or development being proposed. Fire chiefs therefore need to be engaged in development approval process.

  4. A Handbook for Fire Chiefs Compiled the best practices for design of municipal from a fire service perspective. References not found in the Building Codes but used throughout Canada based on fire service experience and research. Provides an opportunity for sprinklers to overcome design deficiencies.

  5. Water Supplies for Firefighting Determining needed firefighting flows Number of hydrants and spacing Development in non-hydrant areas

  6. Water Supplies for Firefighting Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) Water Supply for Public Fire Protection Required flow rate (LPM)1,2,3 Exposure distance Wood frame Masonry or brick Less than 3.0 m 8,000 6,000 3 - 10 m 4,000 4,000 10.1 - 30 m 3,000 3,000 Over 30 m 2,000 2,000 In the NBC, Annex A-3.2.5.7.(1) states that the intent is that there be readily available and sufficient volume and pressure to enable emergency response personnel to control fire growth so as to enable safe evacuation of occupants and to conduct search and rescue operations, prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings, and provide a limited measure of property protection.

  7. Hydrant Numbers and Spacing Fire Flow Required (LPM) Max Recommended Spacing Between Hydrants (m) Max Distance from any Point on the Street (m) Minimum number of hydrants From Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) Water Supply for Public Fire Protection 1,800 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 180 180 180 150 135 135 120 105 90 90 90 75 70 70 70 66 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4

  8. Non Hydrant Services Areas NFPA 1142: Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Firefighting is an excellent resource and provides a basis for determining water supplies needed for fire fighting in non-hydrant areas, areas that there is no water or inadequate water for firefighting. The standard provides detailed guidance on the sizing of on-site water supplies as well as dry hydrants for community protection.

  9. Limiting Distances NBC assumption is 1st arriving apparatus in 10 mins from receipt of alarm for 90% of calls Affects the % of openings permitted

  10. Response Coverage Maps

  11. Limiting Distances If your fire department cannot guarantee its 1st apparatus can arrive to a residential call in 10 minutes for 90% of its calls, then the limiting distance is reduced by 50%. impacts number of window openings, construction of soffits, etc. Response times do not consider: - Water supply - Setup and entry - Control of exposures

  12. Access Route Design NFPA 1141 as a source identifies the number of access points for a subdivision. In the absence of any other source document or reference standard it does become best practice for the fire service. Number of households Number of access routes 0 - 100 1 101 - 600 2 601+ 3

  13. Wildland Urban Interface Development in higher risk WUI areas should require higher design standards. These are local municipal decisions. Can follow the published design requirements found in the NRC National Guide For Wildland- Urban Interface Fires

  14. Identifying WUI Hazard Areas Some provinces have published detailed maps identifying WUI risk areas

  15. Safeguards During Construction The stage of greatest risk Do not permit the commencement of construction unless water supplies are in place Limit number of open units - For townhomes, rowhouses, etc.: A maximum length of 45 meters without a fire break and a maximum of 7 dwelling units; and - For singles family homes: A maximum of six homes before a fire break if lots are >12.19 metres wide the fire break lot is one unit. If <12.19 metres wide, then the break is two lots.

  16. Sample Design review template included in the handbook

  17. Incentivizing Fire Sprinklers Resources on HFSC Canada website Detailed discussion on incentivizing in the CAFC White Paper

  18. Conclusion Get engaged in development review aspart of your CRR strategy Know your FUS stuff Use the handbook best practices for design of developments feedback on issues or changes would be appreciated Use sprinklers to offset deficiencies

  19. Contact Means/Questions Handbook can be downloaded from: www.homefiresprinklercanada.ca My contact means are: Sean Tracey stracey1683@gmail.com (613) 806-9102 @Stracey_FIFire

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