College and University Fire Prevention Oklahoma State Fire Marshals Office

College and UniversityFire Prevention

Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office

State Adopted Codes

1999 BOCA Building Code 1999 BOCA Fire Prevention Code 1997 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code

Occupancy Classification The use group is determined by the

subject being taught Most instructional areas are Business

Use Group Areas with more than 50 occupants are

Assembly Laboratories with chemicals have

special requirements Dormitories are R-2 Residential Use

Group

Business Use Occupancies

Means of Egress Components Doors NFPA 101 5-2.1 Delayed egress to comply with NFPA

101 5-2.1.6.1 Access-controlled egress to comply

with NFPA 101 5-2.1.6.2

Business Use Occupancies Stairs comply with NFPA 5-2.2 Number of EXITS

Two separate exits Provided on every story Accessible from every part of

every story and mezzanine With exceptions #1 through #4

permitted NFPA 101: 27-2.4.1


No dead-end corridor may exceed 50 feet NFPA 101: 27-2.5.2


Arrangement of means of egress No common path of travel may

exceed 75 feet NFPA 101: 27-2.5.3

Travel distance to Exit may not exceed 200 feet

NFPA 101: 27-2.6


Emergency Lighting is required when: The building is two or more stories in

height The occupancy is subject to 100 or more

occupants above or below the level of discharge

The occupancy is subject to 1,000+ occupants

Windowless or underground


Means of egress are required to have signs NFPA 101: 27-2.10

Vertical Openings Every stairway, elevator shaft, escalator

opening, and other vertical opening shall b e enclosed or protected in accordance with 6-2.4.5 with exceptions 1 through 5

NFPA 101:27-3.1


Interior wall and ceiling finish is required to be Class A or Class B in exits and enclosed corridors

Interior wall and ceiling finish is required to be Class A, Class B, or Class C in other areas NFPA 101:27-3.4


Fire Alarm systems are required when: The building is two or more stories in

height above the level of exit discharge The occupancy is subject to 100 or more

occupants above or below the level of discharge

The occupancy is subject to 1,000 or more total occupants

NFPA 101: 27-3.4.1

Residential Occupancies - Dormitories

Definition – Dormitories Buildings or spaces in buildings where

group sleeping accommodations are provided for more than 16 persons who are not members of the same family in one room or a series of closely associated rooms under joint occupancy and single management, with or without meals, but without individual cooking facilities

Dormitories

Doors No door in any means of egress shall

be locked against egress when the building is occupied with exception of delayed egress locks complying with NFPA 101: 5-2.1.6.1 and access-controlled egress doors complying with NFPA 101: 5-2-1.6.2

NFPA 101: 17-2.2.2

Delayed Egress Doors

Approved, listed, delayed egress locks are permitted in buildings protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic fire detection system, or an approved, supervised automatic fire sprinkler system provide that:

The doors unlock upon actuation of an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system or upon actuation of any heat detector or not more than two smoke detectors of an approved, supervised automatic fire detection system


The doors unlock upon loss of power controlling the lock or locking mechanism


Delayed Egress Doors The doors unlock upon

disablement of the automatic fire detection system, sprinkler system, or the means of sprinkler system supervision

Delayed Egress Doors An irreversible process releases

the lock within 15 seconds upon application to the release device required for not more than 3 seconds

The initiation shall activate a signal near the door


On the door adjacent to the release device, there is a readily visible, durable sign in letters at least 1 inch height and at least 1/8 inch stroke that reads:

PUSH DOOR UNTIL ALARM SOUNDSDOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 SECONDS

Access Controlled Doors

Access-controlled egress doors are permitted to be equipped with an approved entrance and egress system provide that: A sensor is provided on the egress side

arranged to detect an occupant approaching the doors and the doors are arranged to unlock upon detection of approaching occupant or loss of power

Access Controlled Doors Loss of power to that part of the access

control system that locks the doors automatically unlocks the doors

The doors are arranged to unlock from a manual release device located 40 inches to 48 inches vertically above the floor within 5 feet of the secured doors. The manual release device shall be readily accessible and read:

PUSH TO EXIT

Doors Access Controlled Doors

When operated, the manual release device shall result in direct interruption of power to the lock -- independent of the access control system electronics -- and the doors shall remain unlocked for at least 30 seconds

Access Controlled Doors

Activation of the building automatic sprinkler or fire detection system automatically unlocks the doors

The doors remain unlocked until the fire-protective signaling system has been manually reset

Dormitory Egress

Not less than two exits shall be accessible from every floor, including floors below the level of exit discharge and occupied for public purposes NFPA 101: 17-2.3.1

Dormitory Egress

No common path of travel shall exceed 35 feet NFPA 101: 17-2.5.2

No dead-end corridor shall exceed 50 feet NFPA 101: 17-2.5.3

Dormitory Egress

Means of egress shall be illuminated NFPA 101: 17-2.8

Emergency lighting is required in all buildings with more than 25 rooms NFPA 101: 17-2.9

Means of egress is required to have signs NFPA 101: 17-2.10

Dormitories - Protection of Vertical Openings

Every stairway, elevator shaft, and other vertical opening shall be enclosed or protected Exceptions 1 through 5

Get Out and Stay Alive

United States Fire Administration 16825 South Seton Avenue

Emmitsburg, MD 21727 (301) 447-1189 Internet: htt://www.usfa.fema.gov

Dormitory - Protection from Hazards The following areas are deemed hazardous

and require 1-hour separation or sprinklers Boiler and fuel-fired heater rooms serving

more than a single guest room Employee locker rooms, gift or retail shops Bulk laundries, guest laundries over 100 sq ft Maintenance shops, trash rooms, storage

rooms NFPA 101: 17-3.2.2

Dormitory - Interior Finish

Interior wall and ceiling finish material are required to comply with 6-5.5 Exit enclosures – Class A or Class B Other spaces – Class A, Class B, or

Class C NFPA 101: 17-3.3.3

Dormitory - Interior Finish

Curtains, draperies, and other similar loosely hanging furnishings and decorations are required to be flame resistant NFPA 101: 17-3-3.4

Dormitory Detection & Alarm A fire alarm system is required in all

dormitory buildings, except where each room has an exterior exit door NFPA 101: 17-3.4.1

Dormitory Detection & Alarm

Initiation Manual means At any control station or desk By the sprinkler system or fire

detection system NFPA 101: 17-3.4.2

Sleeping room smoke detectors are not required to initiate the building fire alarm system

Occupant notification shall be provided automatically NFPA 101: 17-3.4.3.1

Immediate notification of the public fire department by telephone or other means NFPA 17-4.3.2


An approved, single-station smoke alarm is required to be installed in every guest room and every living area and sleeping room within a guest suite The alarms are not required to be

interconnected Single-station smoke alarms without

secondary power source are permitted NFPA 101:17-3.4.4.2


Dormitory – Extinguishing Requirements In buildings up to and including 4 stories

NFPA 13R sprinkler systems are permitted NFPA 101: 17-3.5.1

All high-rise (more than75 ft in height) buildings shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13 NFPA 101: 17-3.5.2

Dormitory – Extinguishing Requirements

Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in hazardous areas and throughout the building to NFPA 10 NFPA 101: 17-3.5.3

Dormitory Corridors

Exit access corridor walls shall consist of fire barriers having a minimum of

½-hour fire resistance rating NFPA 101: 17-3.6.1

Dormitory Corridor Doors

Doors that open onto exit access corridors shall have a minimum 20-min fire protection rating in accordance with 6-2.3 NFPA 101: 17-3.6.2

Doors that open onto exit access corridors shall be self-closing and self-latching NFPA 101: 17-3.6.3


Unprotected openings shall be prohibited in exit access corridor walls and doors NFPA 101: 17-3.6.4


Transoms, louvers, or transfer grilles shall be prohibited in walls or doors of exit access corridors (see exceptions in code) NFPA 101: 17-3.6.5

Precautions Against Fire

Required fire doors and smoke barrier doors shall be maintained in good working order, including the hardware necessary for the proper operation thereof

Fire door assemblies shall not be modified BOCA Fire Prevention Code - 303.4

Precautions Against Fire Door stops, wedges and other

unapproved hold-open devices are prohibited on fire doors BOCA F-303.4.1

Swinging fire doors shall close from the full-open position and shall latch automatically BOCA F-303.4.2

Precautions Against Fire Horizontal or vertical sliding and

rolling fire doors shall be inspected and tested at least annually by the owner or legal building representative


Swinging fire doors shall have a maximum undercut of ¾ inch BOCA F-303.4.4

Glazing installed in fire doors is required to comply with the building code BOCA F-303.4.5


All identified electrical hazards are required to be abated BOCA F-310.1

Illumination is required for all service equipment areas, motor control centers and electrical panel boards BOCA F-310.2

Precautions Against Fire Clearance of not less than 30 inches

shall be provide between all electrical service equipment and storage BOCA 310.3

Multiplug adaptors, such as cube adaptors, unfused plug strips or any other device not complying with NFPA 70 is prohibited BOCA 310.4


Extension cords and flexible cords shall not be a substitute for permanent wiring


Extension cords and flexible cords shall not be affixed to structures, extended through walls, ceilings or floors, or under doors or floor coverings, nor shall such cords be subject to environmental damage or physical impact BOCA F-310.5


Open junction boxes and open-wiring splices are prohibited

Approved covers are to be provided for all switch and electrical outlet boxes BOCA F-310.6


Electrical appliances and fixtures shall be tested and listed in published reports or inspected electrical equipment by an approved agency BOCA F-310.7

Precautions Against Fire All fire protection systems that were

installed in compliance with any law, ordinance or order, shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times BOCA F-504.1

All water sprinkler and water-spray extinguishing systems and standpipe systems shall be periodically inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 25 BOCA F-506.1


A structure is not permitted to be altered in any manner that will reduce the number of means of egress or the capacity of the means of egress below that which was required for the structure when constructed BOCA F-604.1


Structures shall not be occupied during repairs or alterations unless the required means of egress is maintained BOCA F-604.2

Precautions Against Fire The means of egress is required to be

maintained in a safe condition and available for immediate utilization and free of obstructions at all times BOCA F-605.1

Security devices affecting means of egress shall be subject to approval BOCA F-605.1

Precautions Against Fire An exit shall not be utilized for

any purpose that interferes with its function as a means of egress BOCA F-606.1

Combustible or flammable material is not to be placed, stored or kept in any portion of an exit, elevator car or hoistway, or at the bottom of a stairway BOCA F-606.1.1


All means of egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without a key, special knowledge, or effort BOCA F-608.1

All doors that could mistaken as a means of egress are to be identified as to use or identified as “Not an Exit”


A fire safety plan and evacuation procedure is required to be submitted and approved for every high-rise building BOCA F-701.1


Decorations, furnishings and equipment impairing the visibility of egress sign are not permitted BOCA F-610.5

Oklahoma State Fire Marshal 2401 N.W. 23rd

StreetSuite 4

Oklahoma City, OK 73107

405/522-5005

Documents

College and University Fire Prevention Oklahoma State Fire Marshals Office