INTRODUCTION The unique nature and significance of the Smithsonian Institution’s buildings, collections and operations mandate a higher level of fire protection and life safety than the minimum standards established by the building and fire codes. This Design Manual builds upon current codes, utilizing the latest recommended industry practices and specialized fire protection engineering experience to establish an appropriate level of fire protection and life safety for all Smithsonian facilities and the collections, occupants and operations within. This Design Manual provides for the life safety of Smithsonian staff and visitors through measures which control fire growth and ensure adequate means for egress are available for safe evacuation. This Design Manual also strives to achieve a level of protection from fire and products of combustion that is commensurate with the value of the property and operations being safeguarded. Special attention is given to the protection of collections against fire, smoke, gas, as well as the potential deleterious effects of fire protection systems. The fire safety solutions outlined in this Design Manual provide a balanced approach to achieving the stated goals. That is, they rely on a number of fire safety systems to achieve a total prevention and protection scheme, while taking into account the need for building functionality and design flexibility. Particular emphasis is on fire safety systems that are simple, reliable, long-lasting, maintenance-friendly, and cost-effective. While active fire systems are key to the success of the overall protection scheme, passive measures also play a significant role by minimizing the impact of a potential fire on occupants, collections, and facility operations. This manual is divided into 8 chapters. The first six chapters describe common fire protection and life safety requirements to be applied to all projects. Chapter 7 describes requirements associated with special occupancies, such as collection storage, laboratories and animal housing facilities. The final chapter and Appendix A describe exhibit fabrication requirements. This manual established and mandates the use of SI standard fire protection specifications, which are listed in Appendix C. Page intentionally left FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN OVERVIEW PURPOSE This Fire Protection Design Manual (Manual) identifies the fire protection and life safety design criteria for new facility designs, upgrades, and modifications to existing facilities and spaces. This Design Manual provides requirements for protecting all SI occupants and for limiting SI property loss from fire. This Design Manual applies to all designs, upgrades, and modifications to SI-owned, occupied, leased, or operated facilities. These requirements apply to all SI-managed facilities, operations, programs, and
INTRODUCTION The unique nature and significance of the Smithsonian Institution’s buildings, collections and operations mandate a higher level of fire protection and life safety than the minimum standards established by the building and fire codes. This Design Manual builds upon current codes, utilizing the latest recommended industry practices and specialized fire protection engineering experience to establish an appropriate level of fire protection and life safety for all Smithsonian facilities and the collections, occupants and operations within. This Design Manual provides for the life safety of Smithsonian staff and visitors through measures which control fire growth and ensure adequate means for egress are available for safe evacuation. This Design Manual also strives to achieve a level of protection from fire and products of combustion that is commensurate with the value of the property and operations being safeguarded. Special attention is given to the protection of collections against fire, smoke, gas, as well as the potential deleterious effects of fire protection systems. The fire safety solutions outlined in this Design Manual provide a balanced approach to achieving the stated goals. That is, they rely on a number of fire safety systems to achieve a total prevention and protection scheme, while taking into account the need for building functionality and design flexibility. Particular emphasis is on fire safety systems that are simple, reliable, long-lasting, maintenance-friendly, and cost-effective. While active fire systems are key to the success of the overall protection scheme, passive measures also play a significant role by minimizing the impact of a potential fire on occupants, collections, and facility operations. This manual is divided into 8 chapters. The first six chapters describe common fire protection and life safety requirements to be applied to all projects. Chapter 7 describes requirements associated with special occupancies, such as collection storage, laboratories and animal housing facilities. The final chapter and Appendix A describe exhibit fabrication requirements. This manual established and mandates the use of SI standard fire protection specifications, which are listed in Appendix C. Page intentionally left FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN OVERVIEW PURPOSE This Fire Protection Design Manual (Manual) identifies the fire protection and life safety design criteria for new facility designs, upgrades, and modifications to existing facilities and spaces. This Design Manual provides requirements for protecting all SI occupants and for limiting SI property loss from fire. This Design Manual applies to all designs, upgrades, and modifications to SI-owned, occupied, leased, or operated facilities. These requirements apply to all SI-managed facilities, operations, programs, and