The CSI Meeting yesterday evening was a 3-part presentation on “Total Fire Protection” by Rich Walke (Underwriters Laboratory), Bret Penrod (Pilkington, glass), and Tom Morris (Haydite, masonry). They presented through UL testing, masonry construction and rated glazing how building safety from fire should only be achieved by passive and active fire protection. Passive fire protection contains and resists fire (i.e. walls and doors with closers). Active fire protection tries to stop the fire (i.e. sprinklers). To have effective fire protection, so our buildings are safe for the inhabitants, we need both.
Over the past century the U.S. has recognized the importance of our buildings allowing for safe escape in case of a fire. One tragic event highlighted in the program as igniting the fire protection debate was the Lake View school fire (also known as the Collinwood school fire), the largest life-loss school fire in U.S. history. This fire really hit home as I think about my little Jack and Norman heading to school in just a couple of years.
On May 4, 1908 a school in Collinwood, Ohio caught on fire and killed 172 students, two teachers and a rescuer. This fire was the cover story of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) Journal for September/October 2008 where the graphic scene is described.
As I work today on the detail of fire walls for a senior living center, I can’t help but think of the horrific tragedy that could have been avoided with a little better design. As architects, we truly have an awesome task of providing buildings that are both uplifting for the human spirit and safe for the human body.
2023 word of the year
3 years ago
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing your viewpoint on this topic from the architect's perspective. Most buildings are designed to the minimum code requirements for fire and life safety. That is all these buildings will have in the way of protection until they are renovated 10-20 years from now. An integrated approach to fire and life safety incorporating both active and passive measures is an important strategy to maintaining adequate protection for the life of the building.
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