9.6.5.7. |
"(1) Emergency electric power provided for
(a) fire alarm and detection systems referred to in Sentence 9.6.4.1.(1) and Article 9.6.4.8., (b) booster pumps serving standpipe systems referred to in Sentences 9.6.5.2.(4) and 9.6.5.3.(2), and (c) elevators required by Sentence 9.6.5.6.(3) shall be installed in accordance with Articles 3.2.7.5. and 3.2.7.7. of the Building Code. (2) Despite Sentence (1), existing emergency electric power generators that will provide reliable and sufficient electric power and that are approved may be used."
|
|
Intent: |
A reliable source of back-up electrical power is required for certain essential fire safety features in highrise residential buildings.
Article 3.2.7.5. of the Building Code requires that these systems be installed in conformance with CAN/CSA C282-M, "Emergency Electrical Power Supply for Buildings". Article 3.2.7.7. of the Building Code requires that where a liquid or gas fuel-fired engine or turbine is providing the emergency electric power supply, and is dependent on a fuel supply from outside the building, such fuel supply shall be provided with a suitably identified separate shut-off valve on the exterior of the building. This allows the fire department to shut off the fuel supply to the rest of the building without also shutting off the fuel supply to the emergency generator. This Article also requires that where exhaust gas piping from emergency power systems penetrate required fire separations, they shall be enclosed in a separate service space having a fire-resistance rating equal to that of the penetrated floor assembly, but not less than 45 min.
|
|
Other Resources:
|
NFPA 110, "Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems", OBC 3.2.7., NBC 3.2.7., NBC 9.9.11.3., OFC 9.6.4.1.(1), OFC 9.6.4.8., OFC 9.6.5.2.(4), OFC 9.6.5.3.(2), OFC 9.6.5.6.(3), CAN/CSA C282-M89, "Emergency Electrical Power Supply for Buildings"; CAN/CGA/B108-M95, "NVG Refuelling Stations Installation Code"; CGA 12.6-M94, "Vehicle Refuelling Appliances".
|
|
Application:
|
||
| Q1: | Is an emergency electrical generator required for existing residential highrise buildings to backup firefighting equipment when none was provided during the original construction? | |
| A1: | Article 9.6.5.7. requires installation of emergency electric power for fire alarm detection and voice communication systems, booster pumps and elevators, under various conditions. In most cases, buildings constructed after 1975 will already have these systems.
Fire alarm and voice communication systems may be provided with a backup power supply consisting of batteries rather than a generator. Booster pumps serving standpipe systems would require an emergency generator when the standpipe system has more than one pressure zone located above another, with individual booster pumps for each pressure zone (see Fire Code Opinion for Sentence 9.6.5.2.(4)). Buildings requiring the transfer from one elevator to another to reach all floors above grade require an emergency generator to power the elevators for firefighters' use. |
|
| Q2: | Article 6.7.1.4. of the Fire Code specifies that an 8-hr supply of fuel must be provided for the emergency generator. However, Article 3.2.7.8. of the Building Code specifies other timeframes including 2 h. What would be appropriate for existing residential highrise buildings? | |
| A2: | To make the Fire Code consistent with the Building Code, National Fire Code and National Building Code, an amendment has been proposed to change the 8 h requirement to 2 h. In the interim, Sentence 9.6.5.7.(2) permits the Chief Fire Official to approve the use of an existing emergency generator with a 2 h fuel supply where it provides reliable and sufficient electric power. |
|
| Q3: | Are natural gas fired emergency generators acceptable as a power supply for residential highrise buildings? | |
| A3: | In the past, some building owners had installed emergency generators fuelled by natural gas service mains without an on-site stored fuel supply, in the belief that this supply of fuel was uninterruptable. These systems may have been approved by the Chief Fire Official who may have believed that the natural gas supply was reasonably reliable. However, the gas utility has stated that there may be times when this supply of fuel may be cut off, thus, it should not be considered to be a completely reliable fuel supply.
The gas utility has recently developed systems to store a 2 h supply of natural gas using compressed gas cylinders and a vehicle refuelling appliance to recharge the cylinders. It is the OFM's position that this 2 h on-site natural gas supply provides a reliable supply of natural gas to these emergency generators. |
|
| Q4: | What approvals are required before an on-site natural gas storage system is installed? | |
| A4: | The Building Materials Evaluation Commission (BMEC) has reviewed the use of on-site natural gas storage systems. On June 20, 1996, BMEC provided an Authorization Report 96-05-204 that sets out 14 specific terms and conditions for the use of these systems. Any application for a building permit must include a copy of this Authorization Report (AR). A copy of the AR must also be kept with the building permit on the construction site. Copies of the AR may be obtained from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Code Development and Technical Training Section, (416) 585-6666. |
|
| Q5: | Where should the audible alarm and visual indication required by CAN/CSA-C282-M89 be located? | |
| A5: | CAN/CSA-C282-M89 requires that the condition of emergency generators and their drives be monitored by visual indication on a control panel (i.e. low fuel, overspeed, low oil pressure, etc.) with a remote audible alarm. Emergency standby generators are usually located in unoccupied service rooms. The purpose of the audible alarm and visual trouble indication is to notify personnel who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the equipment that there is a problem. Therefore, the audible alarm and visual indication should be located where they can be heard/seen by these personnel. For example, it may be appropriate to have a separate audible alarm and trouble indicator light at the annunciator panel located in the lobby. This location would also have the advantage of notifying the fire department, upon responding to an emergency, that there is a problem with the emergency generator and that they may not be able to rely on this power supply for use of devices such as the firefighters' elevator. |
|
| Q6: | When should the low fuel alarm mentioned in Question 5 actuate (e.g. when the tank is about to run out of fuel)? | |
| A6: | The low fuel alarm should actuate when the fuel supply has less than the minimum required amount. For example, if a 2 h supply of fuel is required, the alarm should actuate when less than 2 h of fuel remain. This will notify the person responsible for the maintenance of the fuel system that it must be topped-up. In the event of an ongoing emergency, this alarm would be an advance indicator for building supervisory personnel or the fire department to call for additional fuel to be delivered (e.g. diesel fuel) to extend the operating time of the emergency generator. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
