NFPA Journal - July/August 2013 - (Page 50)

CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS The track includes a variety of fire and life safety features compliant with NFPA codes. Not by MNS Alone Some of the additional safety features at Circuit of the Americas Fire alarm systems installed in all buildings, including several that would not normally require fire alarms, and compliant with NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code Sprinkler systems installed in all buildings, including several that would not normally require them, and compliant with NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems Fire department access provided for all structures, including locations identified for temporary locations Kitchen hood suppression systems installed for all fixed commercial kitchens and compliant with NFPA 17, Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems Fire hydrants throughout facility Way finding system throughout facility, including parking lots Knox lock system installed where gates are located along fire department access roads Knox box system installed on all buildings Fuel dispensing facility and underground fuel storage tanks installed per NFPA guidelines Grandstand provided with generators for emergency lighting and exit signs Helistops on site that meet NFPA requirements Fire lanes throughout facility, and fire department access for all onsite parking lots Permanent RV parking/spaces include water supply, separation, and access per NFPA guidelines Standpipe systems installed in several buildings Fire extinguishers installed throughout facility 50 NFPA JOURNAL JULY/AUGUST 2013 to present a system that would meet the AHJ’s and owner’s requirements,” Boswell says. “All components of the fire alarm system meet the prescriptive requirements, certainly, but the fire marshal allowed non-fire listed public address system components to meet the performance-based approach for the MNS design instead of requiring a completely new system by one manufacturer. If he’d done that, we would’ve been left with an inferior PA system—fire-only equipment can’t reach the crystal-clear intelligibility and performance quality needed for MNS, especially in this scenario—and it would’ve added millions of dollars to the cost.” Hardening the system with rated walls and enclosures, along with many other infrastructure upgrades, began early in the fall of 2011 as the risk analysis was still being conducted. The new MNS also had to address redundancy and reliability. The system would feature a main emergency operations center, but it needed some kind of redundant backup in the event it was disabled or otherwise unable to monitor or initiate emergency communications. Three additional MNS control units, which included custom-made, password-protected touchscreens, were located around the track, and allow authorized personnel to pick up a microphone, override all other track communications systems, including race control, and speak directly to any part, or all, of the track. “A lot of time was invested in custom programming so that any one of those points could take charge,” Boswell says. “Risk analysis informed how we would approach this, anticipating the types of events”— weather, in most cases—“to affect the system’s operational capability.” Reliability upgrades also included a contingency for loss of power to the site. The bottom line was that even if the venue lost primary power, the MNS system could not be allowed to fail. The Hughes team developed a perfor- Photograph: COTA

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - July/August 2013

NFPA Journal - July/August 2013
Contents
First Word
In a Flash
Perspectives
Firewatch
Research
Heads Up
Structural Ops
In Compliance
Buzzwords
Outreach
Electrical Safety
Wildfire Watch
Loud + Clear
Allied in Safety
Front Burner
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States, 2012
Fire Analysis + Research
Section Spotlight
What’s Hot
Looking Back

NFPA Journal - July/August 2013