Of course, such a potentially disastrous scenario would only proceed so smoothly if a robust, code-compliant fire alarm/voice evacuation system had been carefully specified and installed, along with a well-trained facility staff manning the system.
“Hospitals are very unique, complicated buildings, and our systems are the most complicated within a hospital because we have to interface with so many other systems,” explains Kurt Brinkman, principal of Oakland, California-based Intrepid Electronic Systems, whose company recently installed integrated fire alarm/mass notification systems at the renovated VA Palo Alto Health Care System campus in Palo Alto, California, and the new John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek in Walnut Creek, California.
Part of this complexity is created by the fact that the systems designer and supplier must closely coordinate with so many different trades, not to mention dealing with stringent hospital code requirements mandating specs like device placement and communication protocols.
“You never know how the job will ultimately be installed out in the field, so the key is to make sure there is enough hardware and capacity built into the design so you can deal with any surprises,” Brinkman advises.
Consequently, the need for a large-capacity system that can be easily reconfigured and expanded led Intrepid to utilize a system controlled by a single workstation for both hospital projects. “The system is very modular and easily scalable, so it allows you to go and add features and functions pretty quickly,” he says.
For the VA project, the team phased out the existing central system and phased in the new technology, while keeping the fire alarm system operational throughout. Thanks to the new system’s architecture, just five control panels were sufficient to replace the existing 36, thereby simplifying the owner’s maintenance program and saving a tremendous amount of expense throughout the system’s lifetime.
With lots of capacity and functionality built into the system, mass notification can easily be communicated across the campus in the form of audio, LED strobes, computers, phones, and mobile devices. In sync with code requirements, the system was specifically programmed to encapsulate varying signals to different facility areas to prevent unnecessary panic amongst bed-ridden patients, for example.
Integrated with the HVAC, security, and elevator systems, to name a few, the VA’s new fire alarm installation can also shut off damper and fans for smoke control, operate the elevators, and override the security system to unlock doors for enhanced egress.
But before choosing this particular solution, James Veitch, VA’s electronics supervisor for engineering services, shopped around quite a bit. “I reviewed a lot of systems, looked at reliable manufacturers, and watched out for proprietary systems to avoid being locked into one company,” he says.
In addition, Veitch brought in an independent fire protection engineer to review all proposals before making his final decision.
On the John Muir project, similar features were incorporated, except the mass notification was scaled down to a chime system without speakers and open-plenum wire was specified instead of conduit. Altogether, the new 250,000-square-foot, $400-million hospital incorporated more than 1,100 fire/smoke dampers, approximately 1,400 ceiling smoke detectors, 300 horns/strobes, 50 manual pull stations, 50 duct smoke detectors, two control panels, and one network station.
Project process
Of course, all this functionality didn’t happen by itself, as these types of projects require lots of pre-engineering. Furthermore, the fire alarm system is usually the last to go in, so working closely with the owner and subcontractors is essential in commissioning the system.
“For the VA, it was a lot easier because it was design-build, and we were responsible for all the trade coordination,” Brinkman says. “We understood the other supplier’s requirements, so we were forced to look at the issues right up front. This way, my guys were able to go out and clarify all the connections to our systems.”
On the other hand, for the John Muir job, Intrepid was the low bidder to the electrical contractor and had no control over the process. In cases such as this, Brinkman suggests working with the contractor in the early stages of construction to ensure a smooth installation and avoid unnecessary rework.
In general, Brinkman also stresses the importance of scheduling. “It’s so much easier to coordinate beforehand, rather than having people trying to figure out what to do in the field. You don’t want to be an island out there in a big hospital,” he says.
Inspection and codes
Coordinating inspections and system design reviews can be time-consuming, but necessary. “It’s a huge challenge, especially in the state of California,” Brinkman confirms. “There were three different State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) inspectors involved with John Muir, and it took more than 60 days just to get our drawings through the OSHPD plan check process.”
Brinkman had to coordinate closely with his own staff to be sure they were available for every inspection, even though the fire alarm was just one small part of the hospital’s building systems.
When inspectors from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) came through, Intrepid’s process of bar coding every device at the VA really helped the inspection process, Veitch says. “Utilizing inspection reports software, JCAHO reviewers were then able to ascertain when each device was last scanned and inspected.”
Offering some perspective, Brinkman points out that one-third of the manpower required for a new hospital is in engineering, and the review process involved is truly incredible. As such, the blueprints are constantly being worked on all the way through the project, which requires a significant time investment.
In terms of proactively preparing for such realities, Brinkman advises building system suppliers to become National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies-certified electricians. Through the certification process, electricians learn the building and fire codes. By the time the top certification rank, Level IV, is achieved, his or her code knowledge is typically equivalent to that of a fire protection engineer.
In addition, Brinkman recommends becoming active in associations, such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Automatic Fire Alarm Association, which can be a great resource of information on code and design issues coming up in healthcare projects.
Commissioning
Another important aspect of effective fire protection installations is commissioning. Although currently not mandated, NFPA 3: Recommended Practice on Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems code prioritizes it as a best practice.
“Commissioning building systems typically involves testing 10% of the components, but with fire protection systems, that’s unacceptable and doesn’t really serve the owner well. It has to be 100%,” explains David L. Boswell, SET, regional director, Hughes Associates, Lafayette, Colorado, whose firm served as the third-party commissioning agent for the VA’s fire protection upgrade.
“We followed the project through from design to acceptance, and with no financial stake in the project, we were able to provide an objective analysis,” he adds.
End-user training
Yet another piece of the puzzle is training the end-user to operate the system. A big believer in education, Brinkman’s firm typically gives as much training as required, particularly in the first year, which includes system testing.
“The worst time to figure out how to use something is during an emergency,” he says. “I can’t tell you how many times these systems go off and the user doesn’t know how to silence the alarms.”
With the VA installation, for instance, Intrepid spent more than 200 hours working with the hospital staff to fully understand the system operation. These “field factory training classes,” plus the issuance of training certificates to participants, were required by the VA. Furthermore, Intrepid had to train the VA police department, which necessitated six different training classes to cover the department’s various shifts supporting its 24/7 operations.
“Even now, we’re doing a refresher training course for another week to get up-to-date on some updates to the system,” Veitch says. “As the first responders [in non-emergency situations], my facility engineering staff has to be able to make minor repairs, so the training has really helped.”
Pulling it all together
In the grand scheme of things, today’s fire protection/mass notification technology is more advanced than ever. However, for hospitals to truly take advantage of this functionality, a new installation must incorporate solid operator training, knowledge, and patience with the code-compliance process. Finally, a well coordinated project process where the fire systems dealer is brought on board as early as possible can ensure a well-designed fire protection solution and timely installation.
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