National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 9

Electrical Room Basics, Part 1

This is the first in a series of blogs on electrical roomsFrequently, people associate an electrical room with Article 110 of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®).  More specifically, they associate it with section 110.26. But is that accurate? The answer would be kind of.Section 110.26 deals with what it calls working space about electrical equipment, not electrical rooms. After all, these rooms are sometimes used for other mechanical equipment like furnaces or water heaters, which is why they are sometimes referred to as mechanical rooms. The one thing they are not is storage rooms.The sections within 110.26 are specific to working spaces about electrical equipment that may or may not be within a room. Working space may be in a corridor, basement, exterior, or even a garage. However, the section that could be interpreted to require an electrical room is 110.27, which requires live parts be guarded against accidental contact. One of several methods to accomplish this is by placing electrical equipment in an electrical room or vault. Therefore, most architects design a separate electrical room, or mechanical room, for the main service equipment and mechanical equipment for the building, which is usually less expensive than an electrical vault. In most cases, the room is locked, which helps create a method of control to ensure only qualified persons have access to energized electrical equipment as outlined in 110.26(F).Contained within the electrical room is the working space about the electrical equipment as described in the 2023 NEC, section 110.26(A). This space consists of several parameters, some of which are outlined below.·       Depth of Working Space is a measurement that considers nominal voltage to ground and if there are grounded parts or exposed live parts across from the equipment. This information lines up with the conditions outlined in Table 110.26(A)(1). To determine this measurement, one must select the condition that applies to the installation. Then measure from exposed parts (soon to be live) or from the face of the enclosure, if live parts are enclosed, extending out the front until the minimum distance within the table is achieved.·       Width of Working Space is a dimension derived from measuring the width across the front of the electrical equipment. This can be taken from center (15 inches in middle of equipment), from left side of equipment or from right side. No matter the amperage the maximum width will be equal to the width of the equipment but will not be less than 30 inches.·       Height of Working Space is measured from grade, floor, or platform to a height of 6.5 feet and is the width of the equipment or at least 30 inches and extends out to the depth of the working space. Other items such as luminaries or sprinkler pipes may be above this space, but not within it.·       Grade, Floor, or Working Platform requires the grade, floor or working platform to be kept clear and that the floor, grade, or working platform be as level and flat as practical for the entire depth and width of the working space for the applicable working space. This is largely because electrical equipment that requires servicing may be in different environments.·       Entrance to and Egress from Working Space requires at least one entrance of sufficient area to give access to and egress from the working space. Depending on the size of the equipment (see 110.26(C)(2)), the entrance and egress to/from the working space could be 24 inches wide by 6.5 feet high. Open equipment doors must not impede access to and egress from the required working space. If one or more equipment doors are open and access to and egress from the working space is reduced to less than 24 inches wide and 6.5 feet high, the access is considered impeded.Most of us have seen electrical equipment located outside of the electrical room. Sometimes a panel is in a corridor of a school or back hall of a store or even outside. Panels located outside of a building may require other means to guard the live parts from accidental contact and to create a compliant working space. No matter where the electrical equipment that may require servicing is located, all of section 110.26 applies.So, working space and section 110.26 must be accounted for by architects and design professionals in the overall layout and installation of electrical equipment to allow for safe access, operation, and maintenance of that equipment.Stay tuned to NFPA Today for part two in this blog series titled Electrical Rooms, where we will explore the working space requirements for equipment over 1,000 volts, nominal.

Don’t Miss Out. Register by December 24 to Become an NFPA Member and Vote at the 2023 Technical Meeting.

The deadline for becoming an NFPA® member and have voting privileges during the 2023 NFPA Technical Meeting (a.k.a. Tech Session) is Saturday, December 24.While all NFPA stakeholders are encouraged to share their voices during the public comment/input/debate phases of the standards development process, voting privileges are exclusively reserved for those who have become NFPA members at least 180 days prior to the annual Technical Meeting (and have also registered for the Technical Meeting). The 2023 Technical Meeting will begin on June 22 (and continue on June 23, if necessary) in Las Vegas, which accounts for the December 24 NFPA membership deadline.There are currently more than 30 documents that are up for consideration at the 2023 NFPA Technical Meeting, including NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®; NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code; and NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®. The final list of documents to be debated or voted on in June will not be fully known until the Motions Committee certifies motions in May. (Any and all updates will be posted at nfpa.org/2023techsession.)In addition to being able to vote at the Technical Meeting, NFPA members enjoy other professional benefits including, but not limited to, the following: One-on-one help with technical standards questions from NFPA fire, building, electrical, and life safety specialists Access to NFPA Xchange™, an online community where like-minded professionals can go for solutions and connect with peers worldwide. The NFPA Technical Knowledge Base can also be searched in NFPA Xchange™. A 10% discount on most NFPA products and services*To become an NFPA member and vote during the 2023 Technical Meeting, or to see the full list of NFPA benefits, visit the NFPA membership page today.*Cannot be combined with other offers or used for certification programs.

Fire Safety for Electric Vehicles and Other Modern Vehicles in Parking Structures

In spite of the global supply chain issues and loss of vehicles in the Felicity Ace cargo ship fire, the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) has been on the move, hitting 6.6 million in 2021, which is more than triple their market share from two years earlier. While this might be good news for our environment, it also brings unique fire challenges to both first responders and fire protection designers.The lithium-ion (or similar) batteries inside of these vehicles fail and burn in a much different way than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. When lithium-ion batteries fail, they go through a process called thermal runaway, where a single cell failure can cause the production of heat and oxygen as well as flammable and toxic gasses. This then spreads to adjacent cells causing potential rapid fire growth or explosion.To give us some perspective about the size of this issue, it is estimated that there are around 16 million electric cars on the road worldwide, and studies have identified nearly 300 EV fires globally between 2010 and 2022. Compare this with ICE vehicle fires and we find that EV vehicle fires are less common of an occurrence, but more complicated of an event, since EVs fires can last longer and have the potential for electrical shock and reignition. While a majority of vehicle fires occur on the road, it’s the fires that occur in parking structures that lead to large economic loss as evidenced by recent fires at Liverpool’s Echo Arena (UK) and at the Stavanger Airport (Norway).What makes a parking garage or parking structure unique?Parking garages, often called parking structures in code books, are a unique type of occupancy. They can be located underground or above ground and are usually located in congested urban areas where large open parking lots aren’t feasible. They can be public or private and store anything from motorcycles and cars to trucks and buses. There might be access for each vehicle to enter and exit or there might be vehicles covering the entire floor area.RELATED: Read a 2019 NFPA Journal feature story about the risks introduced to parking garages by modern vehicles There can also be several different types of technology integrated into parking structures, such as car stackers or automated parking systems which store and retrieve vehicles without a driver. These types of technologies increase the efficiency of the space being used but also increase the potential hazard by placing vehicles closer together.With all of these variables already existing in parking structures, the introduction of electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations adds more considerations that need to be made when designing and protecting these occupancies.What do the codes say?What do the current codes and standard say about electric vehicles in parking garages? While they don’t go into much detail, there are some requirements in NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®) and NFPA 88A, Standard for Parking Structures, that address certain safety concerns.The NEC is the go-to code when looking to protect people and property from electrical hazards and so, as appropriate, it has requirements for installing EV charging stations, or “Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment,” as they call it in the code.When conducting service load calculations, Article 220 requires EV Supply Equipment to be calculated at either 7,200 watts or the nameplate rating of the equipment, whichever is larger. This is to ensure the electrical supply will be able to handle the extra load put on by EVs charging.Most of the other requirements for electric vehicle charging stations are going to be located in Article 625, Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System. While this article contains many requirements, some of the highlights include requirements for EV charging equipment to be listed, to have a disconnecting means, and for charging coupling to be a minimum distance above the ground.The other major standard that addresses EVs in parking structures is NFPA 88A. Similar to NFPA 70, it requires the charging stations and equipment to be listed but it gives more details into the exact listing standards it needs to meet.-        Electric vehicle charging stations need to be listed to UL 2202, Standard for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging System Equipment.-        Electric vehicle charging equipment need to be listed to UL 2594, Standard for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.-        Wireless power transfer equipment needs to be listed to UL 2750, UL LLC Outline of Investigation for Wireless Power Transfer Equipment for Electric Vehicles.Impact of modern vehiclesThe introduction of EVs into the ecosystem isn’t the only thing to consider when looking at how to properly design and protect parking structures. The fire characteristics of modern vehicles are also changing to include more plastics and other combustibles than ever before. While this benefits the fuel economy and lowers vehicle price, it increases the fuel load and fire growth we see in parking garages. A recent Fire Protection Research Foundation report dives into details about the fire hazard modern vehicles represent to parking garages and marine vessels. In addition, there have also been updates to various standards in response to these increased fire hazards found in parking garages.   The 2022 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, for example, has changed to increase the recommended hazard classification for parking structures from an Ordinary Hazard Group 1 to an Ordinary Hazard Group 2. The effect is a 33 percent increase in the design density, moving from 0.15 gpm/ft2 to 0.2 gpm/ft2.As of January of 2021, FM Global data sheets have also increased the hazard category for parking garages and car parks from a Hazard Category 2 to a Hazard Category 3.New to the 2023 edition of NFPA 88A, all parking garages are now required to have sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13. Prior to this edition, sprinklers didn’t have to be installed in open parking structures.ConclusionWhile technology is constantly evolving, so are NFPA codes, standards, trainings, research, and other resources. The ever-growing presence of lithium-ion batteries in our day-to-day lives are changing the fire characteristics of our built environment. Fire protection professionals need to be able to stay on top of these changes to ensure the safety of people and property. For more information on the resources NFPA provides relates to electric vehicles, check out nfpa.org/EV.

Winter is Coming. Is Your Facility Protected?

As the seasons change and temperatures cool down, the impacts of freezing weather should be on the top of everyone’s mind—even for those who historically did not have to worry.   In February 2021, for example, a cold snap brought frigid temperatures to Texas, leading to some 250 reported deaths. In January, Florida battled record freezing temperatures, with millions waking up to unprecedented temps in the 20s on some mornings. Weather like this can affect any industry, from chemical, manufacturing, and construction to oil and gas. Any facility that has outdoor piping, storage, or cooling towers can be at risk. While most colder regions have facilities equipped to deal with cold weather, many central and southern locations are not adequately designed and protected for such low temperatures. Extreme weather events can create conditions that could lead to failing components, if proper protocol is not followed. Failure can depend on equipment exposure to the elements, weatherization, and the combination of cold temperatures, moisture, and precipitation. We need to realize that a lot of facility equipment can be in danger of extreme cold temperatures. Some chemicals can expand when they drop below their freezing points, which increases the likelihood of their containers rupturing. There could also be damage to the substances themselves, making them harder to use. Some chemicals can even become more volatile due to the cold or cause ingredients to separate. Lines can become permanently blocked when chemicals that typically are pumped throughout the facility become cement-like due to exposure to freezing temperatures. Even though ice problems are rare with natural gas and propane pipelines, they can still exist from alternate sources.  There are multiple NFPA code sand standards that address how to protect equipment and processes from freezing temperatures. A few of those documents—and the relevant requirements found within them—are listed below. NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technologies Code (2020 edition)Components shall be designed, installed or protected so their operation is not affected by freezing rain, sleet, snow, ice, mud, insects or debris [10.3.1.1] Pressure relief valves or vent piping shall be designed or located so that moisture cannot collect and freeze in a manner that would interfere with the operation of the device [8.3.1.22.1 and 7.1.5.5.6]  NFPA 51, Standard for the Design and Installation of Oxygen-Fuel Gas Systems for Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes (2023 edition)Generators shall be protected against freezing. The use of salt or other corrosive chemical to prevent freezing shall be prohibited [8.4.1.3] Where (acetylene gas holders) not located within a heated building, gas holders shall be protected against freezing [8.4.3.3] NFPA 58, Liquified Petroleum Gas Code (2020 edition)All regulators for outdoor installations shall be designed, installed or protected so  their operation will not be affected by the elements (freezing rain, sleet, snow, ice, mud or debris) [6.10.1.4] NFPA 86, Standard for Ovens and Furnaces (2023 edition)Coolant piping systems shall be protected from freezing [8.14.10.2] If pipeline protective equipment incorporates a liquid, the liquid level shall be maintained, and an antifreeze shall be permitted to prevent freezing [7.3.6.3] Pressure relief devices or vent piping shall be designed or located so that moisture cannot collect and freeze in a manner that would interfere with operation of the device [21.3.1.2.5.6] While we cannot always predict if an extreme cold event will occur, we can prepare. As we enter the time of year when we get colder temperatures, ensure that your facility is identifying past and future extreme cold weather events. Research cold events that have happened in warmer regions and identify what NFPA codes and standards can be applied to ensure that your facility is prepared. Inspect your facility to detect and document any deficiencies in cold weather preparedness for equipment. Lastly, when planning, make sure to check out NFPA 1600, Standard on Continuity, Emergency and Crisis Management, for more information. 

NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®), Now Used in All 50 States

NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®), 2020 edition, is now recognized by 24 states, making the NEC the electrical authority on electrical safety standards in the United States. Additionally, NFPA® has made the 2020 NEC available on NFPA LiNK® for improved access and it will be available in Spanish March 2023. View which NEC® edition your state uses.The world’s leading electrical safety resource since 1897NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, was first introduced in 1897 by 1,200 individuals in the United States and across Europe and unanimously approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Today, the NEC is incorporated by reference globally—from Europe and Latin America to China and the Middle East—and sets the foundation for electrical safety in residential, commercial, and industrial occupancies around the world.This trusted code is constantly reviewed and updated by active electrical experts—the 2020 NEC had more than 3,700 public inputs and 1,900 comments—to help electricians install systems safely in this ever-changing world.The gold standard, upgradedKnown as the “gold standard” in electrical safety, the NEC represents the latest comprehensive regulations for everything electrical—wiring, overcurrent protection, grounding, and electrical equipment—and covers all electrical systems, from residential to alternative energy systems.The 2023 edition of the NEC, which has already been recognized by Massachusetts, can be bundled with Mike Holt’s Illustrated Guide to Changes to the National Electrical Code—a companion guide that outlines the updates from the previous edition. The 2023 NEC is also available in NFPA LiNK®.Getting more from the National Electrical CodeFor a more comprehensive understanding of the NEC, NFPA also offers online trainings for each edition year based on your states needs on the subject, which helps prepare electrical professionals for any safety challenge they might encounter. The 16-hour 2020 NEC training course is designed to boost users’ knowledge—and their careers—through engaging interactive exercises. The training also qualifies as 1.6 continuing education units (CEUs) for electrical professionals.View the latest NEC changes, or purchase the edition your state uses,

NFPA 70®, National Electric Code® (NEC®), Now Used in All 50 States

NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®), 2020 edition, is now recognized by 24 states, making the NEC the electrical authority on electrical safety standards in the United States. Additionally, NFPA® has made the 2020 NEC available on NFPA LiNK® for improved access and it will be available in Spanish March 2023. View which NEC® edition your state uses.The world’s leading electrical safety resource since 1897NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, was first introduced in 1897 by 1,200 individuals in the United States and across Europe and unanimously approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Today, the NEC is incorporated by reference globally—from Europe and Latin America to China and the Middle East—and sets the foundation for electrical safety in residential, commercial, and industrial occupancies around the world.This trusted code is constantly reviewed and updated by active electrical experts—the 2020 NEC had more than 3,700 public inputs and 1,900 comments—to help electricians install systems safely in this ever-changing world.The gold standard, upgradedKnown as the “gold standard” in electrical safety, the NEC represents the latest comprehensive regulations for everything electrical—wiring, overcurrent protection, grounding, and electrical equipment—and covers all electrical systems, from residential to alternative energy systems.The 2023 edition of the NEC, which has already been recognized by Massachusetts, can be bundled with Mike Holt’s Illustrated Guide to Changes to the National Electrical Code—a companion guide that outlines the updates from the previous edition. The 2023 NEC is also available in NFPA LiNK®.Getting more from the National Electrical CodeFor a more comprehensive understanding of the NEC, NFPA also offers online trainings for each edition year based on your states needs on the subject, which helps prepare electrical professionals for any safety challenge they might encounter. The 16-hour 2020 NEC training course is designed to boost users’ knowledge—and their careers—through engaging interactive exercises. The training also qualifies as 1.6 continuing education units (CEUs) for electrical professionals.View the latest NEC changes, or purchase the edition your state uses,

A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Setting Up an Electrical Safety Program (Part 8 - Awareness)

Some electrical safety requirements in NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® are overarching concepts. Section 110.5(D) is one such requirement. An electrical safety program (ESP) must be designed to instill awareness and self-discipline in employees. By learning awareness and self-discipline, employees will begin to accept that their actions are often among the primary causes of injuries. The employer must develop policies and procedures that flesh out the requirement to achieve this safety goal.Training employees to be vigilant of the electrical hazards lurking in the workplace is difficult. There are things that every employee should know for their safety. For example, recognizing when a flexible cord is damaged is a skill everyone can benefit from. An employee operating an overhead electric crane needs focused training to know specific hazards and warning signs that may be present. An ESP must contain policies, procedures, and a training program to address this. Having awareness of potential hazards serves no purpose if there is no awareness on how to avoid the hazard. Requiring an employee to conduct a task that exposes them to a reported hazard or to a hazard that they are not trained to avoid will quickly undermine a well-intentioned ESP. Awareness also means awareness of others around oneself. Employees need to be aware of how their work affects the safety of others. Employees should be taught to help others be aware of hazards and inappropriate behavior that puts someone at risk.  Management must be committed to encouraging this awareness.Self-discipline, the other half of the requirement, is also difficult to teach. The ESP program must incorporate policies that encourage and remind employees that safety starts with them. Requiring and allowing an employee to choose safety is the first step. They are the only one who knows if they are wearing meltable undergarments. They can recognize that they are suffering fatigue after six hours into a double shift or are suffering from an illness that puts them at risk. They are solely responsible for properly donning personal protective equipment. They must be taught that their action or inaction will decide the outcome of day. This takes commitment from management. An employee who has the awareness and self-discipline to report that proper tools are not present onsite must not be reprimanded for waiting to be given the appropriate equipment nor should the task be given to an employee willing to risk safety. Teaching by example goes a long way in complying with these requirements but first it takes a well-developed ESP to lay the foundation for electrical safety. As a safe work practice standard, NFPA 70E does not detail how to instill these principles in an employee. Not all training methods or concepts are appropriate for every workplace or every employee. The employer must decide how to incorporate awareness and self-discipline into an ESP and the best way to pass that information to their employees. It is the ESP policies and procedures that employees will be trained to follow not the NFPA 70E requirement for awareness and self-discipline.

Why Women in the Fire Service Need Better-Fitting Gear

Have you ever tried on clothes only to find out you are no longer the size you thought you were? On a recent trip to Europe I was in a men’s clothing store looking to purchase a new suit. What I thought was my size—a large—turned out to be a supersized XXL in the European system. Yikes! Now take that experience and think of it the other way around. Imagine having to wear a coat or trousers two to three sizes larger than you need. That is similar to what many women in the fire service have had to face for decades when it comes to their personal protection equipment (PPE).According to the 2020 US Fire Department Profile report, there are nearly 90,000 female firefighters in the United States—that’s 9 percent of all firefighters in the US. Of that number, 17,200 were career and 72,400 were volunteer. Over the last 10 years the number of female firefighters has increased. Yet many women firefighters, especially in the volunteer fire service, end up being issued used gear that was designed for men.Finding the proper fit is about more than just sizing down. Most of the time, a women’s size is not just a smaller men’s size. Proportions are different and they need—and deserve—the right-fitting gear.Why improper fits are more than just an inconvenienceStudies dating back more than a decade have shown that as many as 80 percent of female firefighters experience issues with improperly fitting PPE.Improperly fitting gear—such as firefighter gloves, firefighter boots, bunker pants, and bunker coats—isn’t just a nuisance for women in the fire service, but it can also lead to injuries. Bunker pants that are too long or bulky, for instance, can lead to trips, falls, and an inability to move efficiently. Bunker coats that are too long can lead to injuries while using an axe or power equipment or advancing a hoseline. Four percent of firefighter injuries happen to women, according to the Fire Department Profile. This figure isn’t all due to poor-fitting gear, but that can certainly be a contributing factor.In an interview published by NFPA Journal® in 2021, Dr. Meredith McQuerry, a Florida State University professor and expert in clothing comfort physiology, said female firefighters have a 33 percent higher risk of on-duty injury than their male counterparts. “Ill-fitting PPE is certainly playing a role in that greater risk of injury and even risk of fatality,” McQuerry told the magazine. “They’re not able to move as easily or as quickly as they need to. That puts them at greater risk.”What does the future of female firefighter PPE look like?Some very interesting research has been done by McQuerry that will help drive solutions to the problem of improperly fitting gear for female firefighters.With support from the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of NFPA®, McQuerry and other researchers were able to recently create the first-ever database of female firefighter anthropometrics—a fancy way of describing a person’s physical measurements. With that data, which included measurements from nearly 200 female firefighters, McQuerry and her team hope to ultimately propose a sizing system for female firefighter PPE. That system could then be shared with and considered by manufacturers as well as the technical committees responsible for updating NFPA 1970, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Firefighting, Work Apparel and Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services, and Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS).“Our ultimate goal is to propose female sizing systems for structural and wildland PPE, to share those with the fire service [and] to share those with manufacturers and standards bodies to create, hopefully, in tandem, real change for women in the fire service,” McQuerry said during a recent webinar hosted by NFPA. You can watch the full hour-and-a-half presentation in the “Archives” section of the NFPA Webinars webpage.

Firefighters and Fire Departments by the Numbers

Each year, NFPA® provides an overview of fire departments in the United States. The analysis includes firefighters, fire departments, apparatus, and stations. The results are based on data collected by two NFPA annual surveys, the US fire experience survey, and the fire service inventory survey.According to the new US Fire Department Profile report from NFPA, there were approximately 1,041,200 career and volunteer firefighters in the US in 2020.  This total is down 4 percent from the previous year and is the lowest total since 1991.  A decrease of volunteer firefighters played a role in this trend.  There were 364,300 career firefighters in 2020, representing an increase of 2 percent from the previous year. In addition, there were 676,900 volunteer firefighters, a decrease of 6 percent from the previous year, and the lowest number of volunteer firefighters reported over the years.In 2020, there were 89,600 female firefighters—17,200 career and 72,400 volunteer.There are an estimated 29,452 fire departments in the United States, with the majority (82%) of the fire departments being all or mostly volunteer.   These are the departments that protected almost one third of the US population.  Fire departments categorized as all-career or mostly career represent one-sixth (18%) of all the fire departments in the US and protect more than two-thirds of the US population.Estimates of the number of apparatus and fire stations in the US during 2018–2020 indicate that there were 68,800 pumpers; 7,400 aerial apparatuses; 76,300 other suppression vehicles (e.g., pumpers less than 1,000 gpm, brush vehicles, tankers); 48,800 other vehicles (e.g., rescue, lighting, and ambulance vehicles); and 54,600 stations. Nationwide, 37 percent of fire departments provided no emergency medical services, 46 percent provided basic life support (BLS), and 17 percent provided advanced life support (ALS).Curious about trends and statistics by population protected? See the full report.

Special Provisions for Mall Structures

Even though online shopping has become the norm in today’s digital age, many people have still been inside a shopping mall. While most shoppers have probably never experienced a mall fire firsthand, a quick google search shows that mall fires are actually fairly common—not just in the United States but also across the globe. In June, a fire broke out in the Somerset Mall in Troy, Michigan. The fire started in the kitchen of a Capital Grille. Since then, there have been a number of other fires in malls, including two in October. One occurred on the upper floor of a mall in Islamabad, Pakistan, while another occurred in exhaust ventilation ductwork in a mall in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although a number of issues were reported in the Islamabad fire, such as obstructions to the means of egress, no one was killed in either of these incidents. So how does NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, work to protect occupants in malls? Well, there are provisions specific to mall structures that can be found in 36/37.4.4 of the 2021 edition of NFPA 101.What is a mall?Often, the term “mall” is unofficially used to describe several different types of structures, including strip malls, enclosed malls, or even city-like malls that span millions of square feet. The Life Safety Code has particular definitions, though, meaning a structure may be described as a “mall” but not technically considered a mall per the code. Below are some key definitions from the Life Safety Code to review before diving into the requirements.Mall structureA mall structure is defined by NFPA 101 as “a single structure enclosing a number of tenants and occupancies wherein two or more tenants or tenant buildings have a main entrance into one or more mall concourses.” The code goes on to say that “anchor buildings shall not be considered as a part of the mall structure.” That definition uses the term anchor building, which is also defined by NFPA 101. Anchor building An anchor building is “a building housing any occupancy having low or ordinary hazard contents and having direct access to a mall structure, but having all required means of egress independent of the mall concourse.” A good example of an anchor building would be a department store that connects to a mall but that has its own dedicated entrances/exits. Again, the code definition of an anchor building uses another term—mall concourse. So what is a mall concourse?Mall concourseAccording to the code, a mall concourse is “a common pedestrian area within a mall structure that serves as access for two or more tenants and does not exceed three levels that are open to each other.” A mall concourse can be open or enclosed. In order to be considered open, one of two conditions needs to be met. The first is that at least 50 percent of the total area of the perimeter walls and roof of the concourse are open to the atmosphere. The openings need to be evenly distributed over the length of the concourse and cannot be concentrated in one particular area. The second condition is that an engineering analysis shows that the smoke layer interface is at least 6 feet (1,830 millimeters) above the highest walking level surface open to the mall concourse. That minimum 6-foot (1,830-millimeter) smoke layer interface height must be maintained for 1.5 times the calculated egress time, or 20 minutes, whichever is longer.A mall can have multiple concourses, but each of those concourses can be open to no more than three levels. If a building has a concourse that connects more than three levels, it cannot be considered a mall concourse, which means the requirements and allowances in 36/37.4.4 cannot be applied. Protecting a mallThe provisions of 36/37.4.4 are only applicable to mall structures that are three or fewer stories in height. If a building meets the definition of a mall, then a designer may choose to utilize 36/37.4.4 but is not required to. The other option would be to protect the building as a multiple occupancy building in accordance with 6.1.14. The special provisions of 36/37.4.4, however, are intended to address the common design challenges and unique features of mall structures, such as travel distance, plastic signs, kiosks, smoke control, occupant notification, and automatic sprinklers. Let’s take a closer look at some of the select requirements for new mall structures. Travel distanceTravel distance can be a challenge in mall structures, particularly on the mall concourse. The travel distance within the tenant space must comply with the occupancy chapter; the travel distance within these spaces is measured to an exit or to the mall concourse. An additional 200 feet (61 meters) of travel for enclosed mall concourses, or 300 feet (91 meters) of travel for open concourses, is permitted provided certain criteria is met. The criteria include requirements for minimum clear width for the mall concourse, minimum widths for exits, automatic sprinklers, construction of walls between tenants, and smoke control for mall concourses connecting more than two levels. Many malls utilize exit passageways to help them comply with the travel distance requirements. An exit passageway is a protected path of travel with strict limitations placed on what openings, penetrations, and equipment is permitted in the exit passageway. If you were to take an exit stair enclosure and rotate it 90 degrees, so instead of running vertically, it ran horizontally, you would have an exit passageway.Plastic signsUnique to malls is the number of plastic signs present. To minimize the contribution of plastic signage to fuel load and fire growth, a number of restrictions are placed on plastic signs. Plastic signs are permitted to cover no more than 20 percent of the wall area facing the mall concourse. There are also maximum sizes for signs, minimum distances between signage and adjacent tenant spaces, and restrictions on the types of materials permitted.KiosksAnother unique feature of malls is the presence of kiosks. Kiosks, whether temporary or permanent, are considered tenant spaces and must comply with several requirements. There are requirements related to the construction materials of combustible kiosks, horizontal separation distances between kiosks, or groups of kiosks, and other structures, and a maximum area of 300 square feet (27.8 square meters) for each kiosk, group of kiosks, or similar structure.Roboshields via Wikipedia Smoke controlA smoke control system is required for all new enclosed mall concourses that connect more than two stories. While a smoke control system is required, there are options in how the system is designed. It could be a completely separate mechanical exhaust system, or it could be a mechanical exhaust system in conjunction with HVAC systems. Another option would be automatically or manually released gravity roof vent devices. The designer may choose to combine any of those types of systems or could choose another engineered system.Occupant notificationAt any time the mall concourse is occupied, the fire alarm system, once initiated, must either activate a general alarm in accordance with 9.6.3 (positive alarm sequence is permitted) or use voice communication or a public address system in accordance with 9.6.3.10. It should be noted that visible signals are not required in mall concourses.Automatic sprinklersA supervised automatic sprinkler system is required throughout all mall structures and all anchor buildings. The sprinkler system must be capable of having any portion of the system serving tenant spaces taken out of service without affecting the operation of the portion of the system that serves the mall concourse. Any shades, canopies, awnings, or similar structures in an open mall concourse must be protected with automatic sprinklers. Kiosks or similar structures within enclosed mall concourses must be protected throughout with automatic sprinklers.ConclusionThe special provisions of 36/37.4.4 are there as an option for designers to use to help address the unique features of a mall. However, it is imperative that before utilizing these requirements, designers ensure the structures do in fact meet the definitions associated with mall structures.