1 | P a g e Fire Prevention Division ￿220 3rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104 ￿www.seattle.gov/fire

 FIRE PREVENTION ALERT #2011-01

ISSUE DATE: December 12, 2011

SUBJECT: Revision of Luminous Egress Path Markings in Existing High-Rise Buildings

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Engineering Plan Review, 206-386-1455

The 2009 Seattle Fire Code (effective date October 30, 2010) contains provisions in Sections 4604, specifically 4604.1, which required existing buildings to comply with 4604.1.1 through 4604.23. Paragraph 4604.1 also contained an exception from these retroactive requirements for buildings conforming to the building code under which they were built. The exception, however, did not include the requirements of 4604.22 Stairway Floor Number Signs and 4604.23 Egress Path Markings.

On November 18, 2011 the State Building Code Council took an emergency action to revise the Washington State amendments to the 2009 International Fire Code. This action effectively repealed the requirements pertaining to retrofitting floor identification signs and photo luminescent or self-luminous exit path markings in exit enclosures in existing high-rise buildings. The effective date of this action was December 1, 2011.

This means that, for existing high-rise buildings, owners are no longer required to install the self-luminous markings or retrofit the floor identification signs pending the upcoming 2012 code review process for Permanent Rulemaking. The emergency rule will provide time for all of the issues and impacts to be fully vetted while delaying potential economic impacts on building owners. It also allows stakeholder groups to fully examine the impacts of the current requirements on building owners and to address cost and safety concerns.

Questions pertaining to this action may be directed to the Senior Fire Protection Engineer, Russ Byrd, by email to russ.byrd@seattle.gov or by phone at 206-386-1455.

City Rolls Out New Program to Boost Building Energy Efficiency
 
Seattle, WA - The City of Seattle sent letters to more than 800 large commercial property owners and managers today informing them about a new citywide program designed to help owners and managers assess and improve building energy efficiency and spur the market for building energy retrofits.
 
“Seattle’s buildings provide one of the greatest opportunities to generate energy savings and boost economic development for the city.  This new program will help building owners take a key step toward increasing building energy efficiency, which, in turn, helps lower operating costs, makes buildings more competitive and creates good local jobs,” said Department of Planning and Development Director Diane Sugimura.
 
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings consume more than 70 percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. and could be made 30 to 50 percent more energy efficient with currently available products and services.  But many property owners and managers don’t know how well or poorly their buildings use energy or how their building’s energy performance compares to similar buildings.  Also, consumers have no way to compare the energy performance of buildings they hope to buy or rent.
 
Under the new program, all commercial and multifamily residential buildings larger than 10,000 sq. ft. will be measured or “benchmarked,” for their energy performance using the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Building energy ratings will also be provided to the City and to prospective buyers, tenants and lenders upon request during real estate transactions.  The program first applies this fall to nonresidential buildings 50,000 sq. ft. or larger and extends to both nonresidential and multifamily residential buildings 10,000 sq. ft. or larger next April 2012.
 
Energy benchmarking is becoming a common practice among many large property owners and managers working to lower building operating costs and make buildings more competitive on the real estate market.
 
Managers of the historic Dexter Horton building in downtown Seattle have been benchmarking and rating the building’s energy performance for several years.
 
“The more aware you are of your building’s energy use and work to rein in energy waste today, the better positioned you’ll be in the future as energy costs continue to rise.  By benchmarking the Dexter Horton building and making energy efficiency improvements, we are able to compete with buildings that are 60 years younger,” said Andrea Benvenuto of CB Richard Ellis, the company that manages the building.
 
Numerous studies show that energy-efficient buildings - in particular those with green certifications - out-compete inefficient buildings in terms of higher rental and sales prices and building occupancy levels. 
 
“Our clients are looking for energy-efficient buildings because they understand these properties cost less to own and operate, hold their value, and make for better and more productive working environments. Having access to building energy information helps prospective buyers and tenants find energy-efficient buildings and reduces their exposure to the risks of owning or leasing in a less efficient building” said Dave Low, Director of Sustainability Practices, Kidder Mathews.
 
For more information about the program, visit the City’s Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Ordinance website: http://seattle.gov/dpd/Energybenchmarking or email: energybenchmarking@seattle.gov .
For more information about Rating and Disclosure: Rewarding Efficiency in the Market Research, visit http://www.imt.org/rating-value.html 
 

F133-09/10

Committee Action: Approved as Modified

Note: The following analysis was not in the Code Change monograph but was published on the ICC website athttp://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/Documents/2009-10cycle/ProposedChanges/Standards-Analysis.pdf

Analysis: Review of proposed new standards NFPA 720-2009 and UL 2034-2008 indicated that, in the opinion of ICC Staff, the standards did comply with ICC standards criteria.

Modify proposal as follows:

908.7 (IBC [F] 908.7) Carbon monoxide alarms. Group I or R occupancies located in a building containing a fuel-burning appliance or a building which has an attached garage shall be provided with single station carbon monoxide alarms. The carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720 and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Exception: Sleeping units or dwelling units in R-1 occupancies and R-2 college dormitories, hotel, and DSHS licensed boarding home and residential treatment facility occupancies which do not themselves contain a fuel-burning appliance or fuel burning fire places or have an attached garage, but which are located in a building with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, need not be provided with single station carbon monoxide alarms provided that:

1. The sleeping unit or dwelling unit is not adjacent to any room is located more than one story above or below any story which contains a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage; and

2. The sleeping unit or dwelling unit is not connected by duct work or ventilation shafts with a supply or return register in the same room  to any room containing a fuel-burning appliance or to an attached garage; and

3. The building is provided with a common area carbon monoxide alarm system.

4.  An open parking garage, as defined in the International Building Code, or enclosed parking garage ventilated in accordance with Section 404 of the International Mechanical Code shall not be deemed to be an attached garage.

908.7.1 Carbon monoxide detection systems. Carbon monoxide detection systems, that include carbon monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances, installed and maintained in accordance with this section for carbon monoxide alarms and NFPA 720 shall be permitted. The carbon monoxide detectors shall be listed as complying with UL 2075.

4606.1 Carbon monoxide alarms. Existing Group I or R occupancies located in a building containing a fuel burning appliance or a building which has an attached garage shall be provided with single station carbon monoxide alarms. R2 occupancies not already equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm shall be provided with a carbon monoxide alarm when alterations, repairs or additions requiring a permit occur. Or one or more sleeping rooms are added or created. The carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 720 and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Exception: Sleeping units or dwelling units in R-1 occupancies and R-2 college dormitories, hotel, and DSHS licensed boarding home and residential treatment facility occupancies which do not themselves contain a fuel-burning appliance or fuel burning fire place or have an attached garage, but which are located in a building with a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, need not be provided with single station carbon monoxide alarms provided that:

1. The sleeping units or dwelling unit is not adjacent to any room is located more than one story above or below any story which contains a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage; and

2. The sleeping units or dwelling unit is not connected by duct work or ventilation shafts with a supply or return register in the same room to any room containing a fuel-burning appliance or to an attached garage; and

3. The building is provided with a common area carbon monoxide alarm system.

4. An open parking garage, as defined in the International Building Code, or enclosed parking garage ventilated in accordance with Section 404 of the International Mechanical Code shall not be deemed to be an attached garage.

5. Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings such as the replacement of roofing or siding or replacement of windows or doors or the addition of a porch or deck or require an electrical permit are exempt from the requirement of this section

6. Installation alteration or repairs of non-combustion plumbing or mechanical systems are exempt from the requirements of this section. 

(Portions of the proposal not shown remain unchanged.)

Committee Reason: The committee approved the proposal adding CO detectors to the code since having provisions within the IBC and IFC is a better approach than what has been occurring on a state level through the legislative process. This also makes the IBC and IFC consistent with the IRC. The first modification clarifies that ventilated enclosed parking garages were not intended to be considered as an attached garage for the purposes of enforcing this section. The second modification includes the use of CO detectors and associated systems in accordance with UL 2075. Such detectors are allowed by NFPA 720 and the committee felt it was appropriate to recognize both CO alarms and detectors.

I’m not sure how many people are participating in this or how often they are looking at it but just a heads up PSE is not automatically down loading data to Energy Star, every time you want an update you have to re-request it from them. Here is a link to instructions I received.
http://pse.com/accountsandservices/PropertyManagers/
Documents/ABS_ReRequestEnergyData.pdf


RODNEY
SCHAUF FMA CEOE
Director of Engineering
Six Sigma Green Belt
 

The adoption of the 2009 Seattle Fire and Building Codes included certain requirements for photo luminescent or self-illuminating materials to delineate the exit path for Group A, B, E, I, M, and R-1 occupancies where they are located on floors more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access; i.e., in high rise buildings.  Simply stated, the luminous egress path markings begin at the highest floor having a Group A, B, E, I, M, or R-1 occupancy (note apartments and condominiums are Group R-2) and continue down to the level of exit discharge. Underground floors and basements such as parking garages are not required to have luminous egress path markings.  For specific code language, you may view Chapter 10 (see Section 1024) at:  http://ecodes.biz/ecodes_support/free_resources/
seattle2009/09seattle_fire/PDFs/Chapter%2010_Means%20of%20Egress.pdf

For new high rise buildings, floor identification signs and luminous egress path markings will be required by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) as part of the normal building permit and inspection program.  DPD began enforcement of these requirements on new construction effective November 30, 2010.

For existing buildings the installations will be inspected by the Seattle Fire Department during the course of the normal building inspection program.  In order to give building owners time to comply with these requirements, compliance enforcement for existing high rise buildings will not begin until January 1, 2013. 

We are working on an Information Bulletin/Client Assistance Memo that will explain and illustrate the physical characteristics of luminous egress path markings. It will be posted at:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/FMO/firecode/infobulletins/fmobulletins.htm

Attached is a draft version of the main portion of the Bulletin/Client Assistance Memo. Please check our web site periodically to view/download the final version when it becomes available.

If you have any questions or would like to provide comments, etc. please contact Russ Byrd at 206-386-1455 or email russ.byrd@seattle.gov

Russ Byrd
Sr Engr – SFD
Plan Review Section
206-386-1455