Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
Zachary May
Building and Safety Standards Branch
FPOABC | Kelowna | May 2013
Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
• Codes Development
• Exit Signs
• Limiting Distance & Fire Containment
• 10 Minute Response
• A2/B3 Occupancies
• Lateral Loads
Confederation
WWII
National Codes
• Early codes
• Current codes
National Code
Development Process
National Code change
Model national Codes adopted as regulation in each province
Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
• Codes Development
• Exit Signs
• Limiting Distance & Fire Containment
• 10 Minute Response
• A2/B3 Occupancies
• Lateral Loads
2012 BC Building Code
Old ‘Exit’ Sign
ISO 7010
Designed by Yukio Ota in 1982
ISO 7010
2010 National Building Code
2012 BC Building Code
Becoming
global standard
Hong Kong
Becoming
global standard
Stockholm
Subway
2012 BC Building Code
Worth clarifying:
• Internally Illuminated exit signs must have a
powered light – photo luminescent does not
comply
• Photo luminescent signs may be used, but
they must have a powered light to illuminate
•Applies to renovations as well as new
construction
Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
• Codes Development
• Exit Signs
• Limiting Distance & Fire Containment
• 10 Minute Response
• A2/B3 Occupancies
• Lateral Loads
Limiting Distance
St Lawrence Burns
Edmonton, Alberta
NRC Testing Facility
New changes in the 2012 BCBC
•Some significant changes for buildings within
2.0m of property line
• Requirement for windows and projections
• New requirements for containment & egress
• Clarification of terms and intent of Code
Table 3.2.3.1.A.
Maximum Concentrated Area of Unprotected Openings
Forming Part of Sentence 3.2.3.1.(5)
Limiting Distance, m
Max Area of Individual Unprotected
Openings, m²
1.2
0.35
1.5
0.78
2.0
1.88
3.2.3.1.(6) SPACING OF UNPROTECTED OPENINGS WITHIN 2 M
The spacing between individual unprotected openings that
serve a single room or space shall not be less than:
a) 2 m horizontally of another unprotected opening that is on
the same exposing building face and serves the single room or
space, or
b) 2 m vertically of another unprotected opening that serves the
single room or space, or another room or space on the same
storey.
3.2.3.1.(7) SINGLE ROOM OR SPACE
"single room or space" shall mean
a) two or more adjacent spaces having a full-height
separating wall extending less than 1.5 m from the interior
face of the exterior wall, or
b) two or more stacked spaces that are on the same
storey.
3.2.3.1.(7) SINGLE ROOM OR SPACE
7) For the purpose of Sentence (6), "single room or
space" shall mean
a) two or more adjacent spaces having a full-height
separating wall extending less than 1.5 m from the interior
face of the exterior wall, or
b) two or more stacked spaces that are on the same storey.
3.2.3.6 COMBUSTIBLE PROJECTIONS
•3.2.3.6.(2) L.D. < .45 M - no soffits allowed
•3.2.3.6.(3) L.D. > .45 M - soffits not allowed to extend
within .45 M of P/L.
•3.2.3.6.(4) .45M < L.D < 1.2 M – soffits fire blocked
•3.2.3.6.(5) where soffits fire blocked for (4) and
building is combustible, additional finishes allowed on
surface of fire block materials.
Plenum Wires and Cables
3.1.4.3. , 3.1.5.18. and 3.6.4.3.
•Plenum - concealed space often used for return air systems
•Cables in plenums in combustible buildings must be FT4
•Cables in plenums in noncombustible buildings must be FT6
•Unless in totally enclosed noncombustible raceway
These requirements do not apply to cables used for
transmissions of signals for fire alarm, security, radio and
television.
BC Fire Code 2.4.1.1.(5) requires removal of abandoned cables.
3.1.9.3.
3) Single conductor metal sheathed cables with
combustible jacketting that are more than 25 mm in
overall diameter are permitted to penetrate a fire
separation required to have a fire-resistance rating
without being incorporated in the assembly at the time
of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the
cables are not grouped and are spaced a minimum of
300 mm apart.
Fire Stops and Fire Blocks
New definition for “Fire Block” and “Fire Stop”
Block is to resist fire spread between concealed
spaces.
Fire block means a material, component or system that restricts the spread of fire within a
concealed space or from a concealed space to an adjacent space.
Stop is used for filling gaps around penetrations
in fire separations.
Fire stop means a system consisting of a material, component and means of support used to
fill gaps between fire separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or used
around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire separation.
3.1.9.1.
3) Penetrations of a fire separation in conformance
with Sentence 3.6.4.2.(2) shall be sealed by a fire stop
that, when subjected to the fire test method in
CAN/ULC-S115, “Fire Tests of Firestop Systems,” has
an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating for
the fire separation of the assembly.
4) Sprinklers are permitted to penetrate a fire separation or a
membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fireresistance rating without having to meet the fire stop
requirements of Sentences (1) to (3), provided the annular space
created by the penetration of a fire sprinkler is covered by a
metal escutcheon plate in accordance with NFPA 13, “Installation
of Sprinkler Systems.”
5) Unless specifically designed with a fire stop, fire dampers are
permitted to penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming
part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating
without having to meet the fire stop requirements of Sentences
(1) to (3), provided the fire damper is installed in conformance
with NFPA 80, “Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives.”
3.3.1.5.
1) [described non-residential buildings that require two
egress doors, in case one becomes blocked.]
2) Where 2 egress doorways are required by Sentence (1),
they shall be placed at a distance from one another equal
to or greater than one third of the maximum overall
diagonal dimension of the area to be served, measured as
the shortest distance that smoke would have to travel
between the nearest required egress doors.
Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
• Codes Development
• Exit Signs
• Limiting Distance & Fire Containment
• 10 Minute Response
• A2/B3 Occupancies
• Lateral Loads
Limiting Distance and
10 Minute Response Time
Changes to measurement of limiting distance and
10 minute response time
• Meant to clarify intent of previous Code
• Always existed in Part 3
• Now included in Part 9
• Construction requirement only
• Only requires information from fire departments
3.2.3.1. [2006 BCBC]
3.2.3.1. [2012 BCBC]
Changes to measurement of limiting distance and
10 minute response time
• Meant to clarify intent of previous Code
• Always existed in Part 3
• Now included in Part 9
• Construction requirement only
• Only requires information from fire departments
2006 BCBC
2012 BCBC
2012 BCBC
Changes to measurement of limiting distance and
10 minute response time
• Meant to clarify intent of previous Code
• Always existed in Part 3
• Now included in Part 9
• Construction requirement only
• Only requires information from fire departments
Changes to measurement of limiting distance and
10 minute response time
• Inform building based on actual conditions
• Similar to climate tables
• Provides a clarity
• Delayed implementation
• Exists in other jurisdictions
• Regulates construction, does not halt construction
Changes to measurement of limiting distance and
10 minute response time
• Meant to clarify intent of previous Code
• Always existed in Part 3
• Now included in Part 9
• Construction requirement only
• Only requires information from fire departments
Where does this requirement come from?
NRC Testing Facility
NRC Fire Research
• St. Lawrence Burns
• High-Intensity Residential Fires Working Group
• Testing
• Fire Modeling
• Based on time required for fire to reach flashover
How do we determine “10 minute” response?
A-3.2.3.1.(8) Intervention Time and Limiting Distance
The total time from the start of a fire until fire suppression by the
fire department depends on the time taken for a series of actions.
Sentence 3.2.3.1.(8) is only concerned with the time from receipt
of notification of a fire by the fire department until the arrival of
the first fire department vehicle at the building. It specifies a 10min time limit which must be met in more than 90% of the calls to
the building served by the fire department. This reliability level
and provision for flexibility is essentially consistent with NFPA
1710, “Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression
Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special
Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments.”
Clause 4.1.2.1 of NFPA 1710 establishes “time objectives” for fire
incidents as follows: 1 min (60 s) for turn-out of responders after
receipt of notification of a fire, and 4 min (240 s) or less for arrival
of the first arriving engine company at a fire suppression incident
and/or 8 min (480 s) or less for the deployment of a full first alarm
assignment at a fire suppression incident.
The standard requires that the fire department establish a
“performance objective” of not less than 90% for each response
time objective. This reliability level is referred to in NFPA 1710 as a
“performance objective.”
Note: Appendix is for commentary only, and is not an enforceable
part of the Building Code.
Still confused?
Ask the Building and Safety Standards Branch:
“Response time” is measured from the fire
department’s receipt of the emergency call
until a properly manned fire truck arrives at
the building. The response time should be
“turn out” time plus travel time to the site of
the proposed building.
The Building & Safety Standards Branch plays
no role in determining fire department
response times. Calculations/judgments can
only be based on what the present
circumstances are, or perhaps those that are
known to occur in the near future.
The Code does not require the application of
any NFPA standard for fire department
performance objectives. NFPA 1710 is
referenced in the Building Code’s appendix to
provide context to the 90% reliability objective
identified in the Code. We recommend actual
times be used in calculation of response times
and not performance objectives identified in
NFPA standards. As mentioned above,
response times will be unique from community
to community dependent upon real life
circumstances.
What happens if we do not have 10 minute
response in our community?
11 Minute fire department response means:
• Greater limiting distance
• Fewer windows on exposing building face
• More likely to have sprinklers
• Generally safer construction to mitigate the risk
Changes to measurement of limiting distance and
10 minute response time
• Meant to clarify intent of previous Code
• Always existed in Part 3
• Now included in Part 9
• Construction requirement only
• Only requires information from fire departments
Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
• Codes Development
• Exit Signs
• Limiting Distance & Fire Containment
• 10 Minute Response
• A2/B3 Occupancies
• Lateral Loads
Fire Safety in the
2012 BC Building Code
• Codes Development
• Exit Signs
• Limiting Distance & Fire Containment
• 10 Minute Response
• A2/B3 Occupancies
• Lateral Loads
Why?
Where?
When?
What?
How?
Why the new
requirements?
1.
clarify application of code
before: seismic was considered
implicitly
Why the new
requirements?
1.
clarify application of code
2.
reduce risks
http://www.earthquakesafety.com/_photo/earthquake-damaged-house.jpg
now
explicit and
detailed requirements
Where are the new
requirements?
Subsection 9.23.13.
… and several in existing subsections in Section
9.23.
structural design requirements in Part 9
seismic
9.4.1.1.
Part 9
good
engineerin
g practice
9.23.13
.
gravity
Part 4
Canadian Wood Council
“Engineering Guide for Wood
Frame Construction”
Part 9
9.23.13.4. to 9.23.13.7.
+ other cross-referenced
provisions
good
engineerin
g practice
Part 4
Forces
traditional
constructi
on
9.23.13.4.
to
9.23.13.7.
Part 4
good
engineerin
g practice
Wind
*
Extreme
optional
9.23.13.
3.
High
9.23.13.
2.
Low -Moderate
q50 = 1.2
*
Sa(0.2) = 1.2
* optional optional
q50 = 0.8
Sa(0.2) = 0.7
optional optional optional
9.23.13.
1.
Earthquake
* different limits for heavy construction
Sa(0.2) values can be found in Div. B
Appendix C.
1.2
0.7
Earthqua
ke Sa(0.2)
Victoria , Langford, Sidney, Tofino,
Ucluelet
Cloverdale, Langley, Ladner, White Rock
Ladysmith, Duncan, Crofton, Bamfield
Sooke, Youbou, Surrey, Richmond
New Westminster, Nanaimo, Port
Renfrew
Abbotsford, Jordan River, Haney
Vancouver, Burnaby, Mission City
West Vancouver, North Vancouver
Sechelt, Tahsis, Parksville
Qualicum Beach, Gold River
Port Alberni, Chilliwack, Alberni,
Kent
Squamish
Sandspit
Agassiz, Whistler, Powell River
Courtney, Sandspit
Kelowna
q50
0.8
Wind
What are the new
requirements?
• concept
• basic requirements
• exceptions
Concept
figure from
HPO Illustrated Guide
for
New Key Components:
braced wall band
braced wall panel
Braced W all Band
an imaginary continuous straight band
extending vertically and horizontally
through the building or part of the
building, within which braced wall panels
are constructed
Braced W all P anel
a portion of a wood-frame wall where
bracing, sheathing, cladding or interior
finish is designed and installed to provide
the required resistance to lateral loads due
to wind or earthquake
figure from
HPO Illustrated Guide
for
figure from
HPO Illustrated Guide
for

main goal:
strong stable overall frame
fundamental requirement:
adequate amount of properly constructed
walls  how to locate and size walls


how to build and fasten walls
Basic
Requirements
9.23.13.4.
Braced Wall Bands
shall
 be full storey height
 be ≤ 1.2m wide
 lap at both ends with another BWB
 be aligned with BWBs on storeys above &
below
 be spaced, at maximum,
 10.6 m
7.6m where 1.0 ≤ Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.2

figure from
HPO Illustrated Guide
for
Seismic Design of Houses
Max 10.6 m (7.6 m)
Max 1.2 m
Max 1.2 m
Max 10.6 m (7.6 m)
Max 1.2 m
9.23.13.5.
Braced Wall Panels shall
 be located within BWBs
 extend from top of supporting footing, slab or
subfloor to underside of floor ceiling or roof framing
above
 conform to
 max
 max
 min
 min
limits on
spacing
distance from end of BWB
length
total length
> 600
< 6 400
< 2 400
> 750
< 10 600 (or 7
600)
Minimum Total Length of Braced Wall Panels
in a braced wall band
for light construction
25%
25%
25%
25%
25%
40%
75
%
1 storey
2 storeys
3 storeys
9.23.13.6.
Materials in Braced Wall
Panels
Compliance
panel-type
cladding
OR
sheathing
OR
interior
finish
9.27
Table 9.23.3.4.
plywood,
OSB,
waferboard, or
diagonal lumber
sheathing
9.23.16.
Table
9.23.13.6.
fasteners
9.23.3.5
panel-type
9.29.
(plywood, hardboard, OSB)
(gypsum board)
Table
9.23.13.6.
Exceptions
9.23.13.5.(
3)
porches
&
sun rooms
•
•
•
•
≤ 3.5m projection
1:2 plan dimensions
no floor above
integral with main roof
or fastened to wall
 BWPs not required
attached garages
•
•
•
•
≤
≥
≥
≤
7.6m between front and back
50% of back wall is BWPs
25% of side walls is BWPs
1 floor above
9.23.13.5.(4) and
(5)
 BWPs not required in front
setbacks
setbacks
9.23.13.7.(1), (2),
(3)
 additional requirements for adjacent interior braced
wall
band
 sheathed floor and roof at setback
 additional fastening in perpendicular walls
figure from
HPO Illustrated Guide
for
heavy
construction
heavy construction
Forces
traditional
constructi
on
Extreme
9.23.13.4.
to
9.23.13.7.
Part 4
good
engineerin
g practice
optional
9.23.13.
3.
High
9.23.13.
2.
Low -Moderate
9.23.13.
1.
Sa(0.2) = 1.1
optional optional
Sa(0.2) = 0.7
optional optional optional
heavy construction
1.1
0.7
Earthqua
ke Sa(0.2)
Victoria , Langford, Sidney, Tofino,
Ucluelet
Cloverdale, Langley, Ladner, White Rock
Ladysmith, Duncan, Crofton, Bamfield
Sooke, Youbou, Surrey, Richmond
New Westminster, Nanaimo, Port
Renfrew
Abbotsford, Jordan River, Haney
Vancouver, Burnaby, Mission City
West Vancouver, North Vancouver
Sechelt, Tahsis, Parksville
Qualicum Beach, Gold River
Port Alberni, Chilliwack, Alberni,
Kent
Squamish
Sandspit
Agassiz, Whistler, Powell River
Courtney, Sandspit
Kelowna
q50
0.8
Wind
Minimum Total Length of Braced Wall Panels
in a braced wall band
25%
Light
Construction
25%
25%
25%
25%
40%
75
%
1 storey
Heavy
Construction
2 storeys
25%
25%
40%
75
%
3 storeys
impact on design