Fire And Life Safety In Air-Supported Domes

Fire And Life Safety In Air-Supported Domes

FIRE PROTECTION

British Columbia’s so-called mega projects pose unique problems in fire and life safety planning due to their innovative design and the use of the architectural space. One such structure is the new B.C. Place Stadium, in British Columbia, Canada, which was completed in June 1983 and is located on Vancouver’s False Creek shoreline. It is the world’s largest air-supported dome stadium. To meet the level of protection required by the National Fire Code of Canada, careful planning was necessary in creating this structure.

Prior to the construction, Phillips Barratt, the architects and engineers, conducted a major study to develop fire and life safety criteria. They reviewed safety features of all other covered stadiums in North America, with a focus on the need to achieve unimpeded traffic flow in exiting the facility and to restrict smoke movement within exit ramps and other spaces.

Construction materials, including artificial turf and roof membranes, were subjected to strict fire test requirements prior to acceptance. In addition, it was decided to install a package of protection systems that used automatic sprinklers where practical; Halon systems for the main control room and scoreboard control rooms; as well as fire alarm and emergency communication systems.

PRE-FIRE PLANNING REQUIREMENTS

The National Fire Code of Canada, which was incorporated into law in British Columbia with the adoption of the Fire Services Act, requires that an assembly occupancy of this type have a fire safety plan covering procedures in the event of fire, bomb threats, and other emergencies, as well as a program for the control of hazards and maintenance of systems. Protection Engineering, Inc., was chosen to carry out these requirements for the new stadium.

SCOPE OF PROJECT

Table 1 gives an overview of building fire safety provisions and concerns that were addressed in the construction of this stadium. Such an array of safety systems pose special problems for operators in the main control room since they may be faced with a variety of emergency conditions requiring specific actions on a priority basis.

Special maintenance and risk management programs were also necessary to be sure that the proper response of fire protection systems is carried out in an emergency. These and other problems required careful analysis to document emergency procedures and to establish adequate prevention programs to minimize the possibility of a serious incident in the building.

One of the major concerns was the need to review staff responsibilities in evacuating the stadium when it is filled to capacity with 60,000 spectators in the stands plus those people at field level. Due to the nature of the structure it was decided to develop three separate documents addressing specific requirements of the National Fire Code of Canada and the Vancouver Fire Department regulations:

Table 1

Overview of Building Safety

The following constitute key elements in the total building safety:

Construction aspects of the building, especially:

• fire ratings of assemblies and closures (fire doors, dampers, etc.)
• materials of construction
• exit facilities, etc.

Mechanical and electrical systems

• air handling systems
• damper operation
• emergency mode
• smoke control provisions
• steam heating supply
• power supplies to building
• lightning protection
• backup power facilities (generators, etc.)
• emergency lighting system
• uninterruptable power supply system
• telephone system

Fire protection and communications equipment

• underground water supplies, outside hydrants
• fire pumps and sprinkler systems
• fire alarm systems
• standpipe and hose systems
• Halon extinguishing systems
• dry chemical extinguishing systems
• emergency communication systems
• supervised watchman’s reporting system
• closed circuit television
• door control systems
• two-way radio communications
• automatic fire department response
• portable extinguishing equipment
• record protection

Human element considerations

• maintenance standards for equipment
• fire prevention procedures
• training of employees
• reporting of fires and serious incidents
• emergency evacuation planning (see Fire Safety Plan Manual)
• Fire department liaison
• handling of impairments to protection systems
• responsibilities of security staff
• emphasis by top management on building safety programs

1. The Fire Safety Plan covers primarily emergency evacuation procedures.
2. The Fire Department Operations Manual contains pre-fire planning drawings showing fire protection devices, major hazards, and a description of operations of the systems for use in emergencies.
3. The Systems Manual outlines the operation of all fire and life safety systems, and also covers the essentials of a fire prevention program for the building.

Outside crowd controls were not covered in these manuals but were arranged independently by stadium operating staff in conjunction with police and other agencies.

The fire safety plan

In order to develop effective procedures for all persons who would be expected to fill an emergency role, it was necessary to examine the duties of all anticipated temporary and permanent staff. Some duties, for example, would involve a change of position from an entrance vomitory to an exit or to the outside of the building. In the case of the engineering technician in the main control room, which contains all the main control systems for the building, his duties were much more specific, as shown in Table 2. In addition, an engineering response team carries out specific duties in any emergency to ensure operation of essential equipment such as fire pumps and emergency generators.

Table 2

Fire Safety Plan Main Control Room Operator

Emergency Role

1. After receiving a Stage I fire alarm, phone 911 and confirm that the fire department and police have received the automatic fire alarm signal.
2. Instruct Protection Officers issued with radios in the area to investigate the alarm in the indicated zone. A minimum of two responding officers should be sent to each alarm.
3. Notify the Fire Safety Director (and the Duty Officer) of the alarm.
4. Call the Engineering Supervisor and inform him of the Stage I alarm.
5. Check that all control interlocks for Stage I have activated, i.e., check mode of operation for devices in the operation manual and verify that the position of the devices as shown on the Honeywell mechanical computerized screen are identical.
6. Receive reports from investigating officers as to the status of the alarm, and keep the Fire Safety Director abreast of the situation. On receiving reports on the emergency from protection officers and others in the area, including the fire department, a decision will be made to evacuate or restore the system. If a decision is going to be made to evacuate, activate the message indicating “confidential.” This message alerts employees to move to their positions and to remove all barriers prior to an evacuation taking place.
7. Prior to initiation of a Stage II alarm, override the building public address system and make the emergency announcement to the general public and others in the building.
8. Initiate a Stage II alarm from the main control panel or instruct Protection Officers to initiate a Stage II alarm (from a two-stage key operated pull station).
9. Verify Stage II mode for all systems as for item 5.

One unique feature of the building is a special pre-announcement signal, known only to the staff, that is given immediately prior to a general emergency signal. This signal alerts everyone to an impending evacuation and directs them to their emergency positions or duties. A pre-recorded evacuation announcement is then given over the building public address system, followed by the sounding of Stage II of the fire alarm system (see Table 2).

Special attention was also given to specific emergency duties during festival seating arrangements for rock concerts and for evacuation of the handicapped via certain exit doors.

In addition to regular staff, event staff include senior supervisors, usher captains, ticket captains, and security personnel. Each one has a designated role for any particular event with defined positions and responsibilities in an emergency. These responsibilities also cover such areas as team benches, concessions, etc., in addition to spectator occupied spaces.

The Fire Safety Director (FSD) has overall responsibility for administration and maintenance of the fire safety plan. This includes instructing new employees in emergency procedures and holding regular meetings with supervisory and other staff to maintain ongoing readiness for emergencies. The FSD is also responsible for all outside crowd control including liaison with police authorities, fire department and other emergency services. Effective bomb threat procedures have also been developed as part of the plan.

Fire department operations manual

Prompt and effective response by the fire department is an essential component of good emergency planning. A special manual was therefore developed that lists all important features of the building, including location of firefighting equipment, valves for sprinklers and steam control, as well as location of main hazards such as kitchen areas, electrical rooms, etc. Emergency operation and maintenance of system are also described.

The manual is located in a locked box in the main control room and is available for use in emergencies or in pre-fire planning visits by the fire department. Standardized symbols, developed by the Vancouver Fire Department, are used to identify equipment, and are now employed by other fire departments in the greater Vancouver area.

Systems manual

This manual represents a complete guideline for firesafe operation of the facility. Special emphasis is placed on the role of management in establishing and maintaining an effective program. This includes the following:

• Issuing a policy statement on fire and life safety;
• Reviewing fire and life safety affairs by attending monthly meetings and by addressing fire safety concerns through occupational health and safety committees;
• Prompt response and followup on deficiencies reported during regular inspections by fire protection/security personnel or outside agencies;
• Support of preventative maintenance and testing programs;
• Prompt action resulting from serious incidents that pose a threat to building safety.

Complete descriptions for all fire protection systems were developed with testing and maintenance guidelines for each type of system outlined, as well as with control forms for proper record keeping.

Fire prevention guidelines for the fixed facilities and exhibitions were also written. They include the following:

• Procedures for maintenance of guard tours
• Housekeeping standards
• Smoking controls
• Flammable liquids controls
• Vehicle safety practices
• Flammable gas, use and handling
• Concession cooking area safety, etc.

Specific procedures were also developed for control of cutting and welding fire hazards and for the handling of impairments to fire protection systems.

IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS

Involvement and emphasis by top management greatly increases the chances of successfully implementing a program of this type.

For both the fire prevention and emergency evacuation programs, management has issued a policy statement emphasizing fire and life safety and outlining management’s and employees’ responsibilities. These policy statements also list the person responsible for administering the program and emphasize the importance of management’s support of that individual. Once the program is fully implemented, management will continue to be involved, both through the use of reports and through the occupational health and safety programs.

Such comprehensive plans require careful attention to avoid becoming “bookshelf” concepts that never reach their intended objectives. Protection Engineering, Inc., has therefore presented several training courses, including:

• An induction course for event supervisors in emergency procedures;
• A course in building fire safety systems for engineering personnel;
• Training sessions for the fire safety director with the occupational health and safety committee outlining program components and objectives;
• On-going training sessions, including “hands-on” experience with all fire protection control equipment, firefighting practice sessions on flammable liquid and other fires, as well as one-on-one sessions with the fire safety director to monitor progress and to handle specific problems such as implementation of welding controls.

Finally, Protection Engineers, Inc., will oversee the implementation and operation of the fire safety plan through regular visits to the premises for program audits and reviews of the building for loss prevention purposes. Through this careful planning, the chance of a serious fire or life safety incident will be minimized, and B.C. Place Stadium will continue to be the safest facility of its type anywhere.