Codes, fire issue building

Most villages, cities, and counties have safety and health laws of some kind. Frequently, local governments adopt national standards or portions of them as part of local ordinances. Typical laws and codes at the local level also address safety and health issues. They include zoning codes, building codes, fire codes, plumbing and sewer codes, and traffic codes. Major cities commonly have unique regulations and codes. 

There are national fire codes, international fire codes, state codes and more. Most states have building codes that also address fire safety issues. Right now, most current state building codes address use and occupancy issues, building heights and building egress issues that are tied closely to the state fire codes. 

There are practical reasons why fire protection issues need to be addressed early in a project (at the front-end loading stage). These may not always be obvious, especially at facilities where design is not governed by a building code. 

Process fires are very similar whether they occur outside or in enclosed buildings. The major differences are that products of combustion (toxic fumes, smoke, CO, CO2) build-up in an enclosure very quickly and can incapacitate personnel and hinder escape. Depending on the location and size of the fire, personnel will not have much time (less than one minute) to escape the building. It is important that life safety issues be handled by foil owing the applicable building code and NFPA 101, Fife Safety Code. 

Class A - Optimum fire rating issued by Underwriter s Laboratories on roofing. The building codes in some areas require this type of roofing for fire safety. 

Detection, Alarm, and Communication Systems Occupants of a building must know when to begin exiting. After detecting a fire, there must be an alarm to alert occupants. In some cases, an alarm must issue particular instmctions. Then people must begin to move toward and out exits. The code gives specifications for these systems. More recent systems can issue verbal instructions. 

The National Electrical Code (NEC ) is a document issued every three years by the National Fire Protection Association . The document specifies the requirements for the safety of premises wire and cable installations, and also sets requirements to minimize the risk and spread of fire in commercial buildings and individual dwellings. Section 770 of the NEC defines the requirements for fiber optic cables. Although the NEC is advisory in nature, its content is generally adopted by local building authorities as Code. 

National Building Code of Canada. Part 4 Structural Design. Issued by the Canadian Commission on building and fire codes. Federal Publications Inc. Toronto, 1995. 

These codes are concerned with safety regulations that relate to fire protection equipment, maintenance of building and premises, hazardous materials, processes, and machinery used in buildings. They are normally issued by authorities like Building Officials and Code Administration International, Inc. (BOCA) or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). It is important to check with the state fire marshal or other authorities to know which codes are applicable to your area. 

---