Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008 - (Page 28)

Zones require specific fire separations and structural fire ratings appropriate to the strategy. Other features also may be necessary: elevators may need to be protected and provided with special controls, stair door unlocking may be necessary, and life safety systems will likely need emergency power. All of these features must coordinate with security systems. In addition to emergency lighting, the 2007 Supplement to the IBC requires exit pathway marking in a range of high-rise buildings (for example, assembly, business, educational, institutional, mercantile, and transient residential occupancies). These devices guide occupants along the intended evacuation path and help simplify confusing exiting arrangements. Exit marking can be accomplished through self-luminous, photoluminescent, or other approved materials. Marking is required on each step, and at the perimeter of stair landings and other floors areas within the stair enclosure. Relaying messages to occupants of the affected floors is as important as relaying messages to those on the unaffected floors. People receive cues about an event through nontraditional means, such as cell phones, e-mail, and other electronic media. Nontraditional messages may prompt many people to exit a building unnecessarily. Messages must be audible, as well as intelligible, and provide clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Depending on the building’s occupants, such messages may need to be given in various languages. In addition, messaging strategies must be appropriate for the hazards. Again, it is critical that safety features be coordinated with the egress strategy. For strategies that require decisions, it is just as critical to provide accurate information to the people empowered to make informed decisions. Tubbs is an associate principal with Arup where he leads the Westborough, Mass., office. Tubbs also leads Arup’s global evacuation and human behavior skills group. He is a 2008 40 Under 40 recipient. Meacham is an associate professor in the department of fire protection engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass. References Averill, Jason D. et al. 2005. Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster: Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications. Gaithersburg, Md.: National Institute of Standards and Technology. Klote, John H. 2008. “Smoke Control and Fire Evacuation.” HPAC Engineering 80, no. 8: 36-39. Siddens, Scott. 2008. “Rethinking high-rise egress, top to bottom.” Consulting-Specifying Engineer 43, no. 1: 32-39. NFPA and SFPE. 2007. The SFPE Engineering Guide to Performance-Based Fire Protection Analysis and Design in Buildings. Bethesda, Md.: Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Tubbs, Jeffrey, and Brian Meacham. 2007. Egress Design Solutions: A Guide to Evacuation and Crowd Management Planning. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Input #216 at csemag.com/quickResponse http://www.powerlogic.com http://www.powerlogic.com http://www.csemag.com/quickResponse

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008 Contents Viewpoint Letters News M/E�Roundtable Selecting Appropriate Egress Strategies Commissioning On-Site Electrical Systems Mentoring Control Engineers and Technicians Casting Call for Cx Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertiser Index Green Space

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008

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