Delaware Administrative Code
Title 1 - Authorities, Boards and Commissions
700 - Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission
702 - Fire Protection in Building Construction
Chapter 5 - Mid-rise, High-rise and Large Area Buildings
Section 702-5-3.0 - High-Rise Building Fire Protection Features Required
Universal Citation: 1 DE Admin Code 702-5-3.0
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
3.1 Fire Command Center
3.1.1 Every high-rise building shall contain
a fire command center for fire department operations in a location reviewed by
the responsible Fire Chief and approved by the Office of the State Fire
Marshal.
3.1.2 The fire command
center shall contain the following:
3.1.2.1
Voice alarm and public address panels
3.1.2.2 Fire department communications
panel
3.1.2.3 Fire detection and
alarm system annunciator panels and smoke management panels
3.1.2.4 Status indicator for elevator and
annunciator indicating which elevators are operational
3.1.2.5 Status indicators and controls for
air handling systems
3.1.2.6
Controls for unlocking all fire exit stairway doors simultaneously
3.1.2.7 Emergency power, light and system
controls; and status indicators
3.1.2.8 Telephone and internet access for
fire department use
3.1.2.9
Emergency and standby power status indicators
3.1.2.10 Generator supervision devices and
manual start and transfer features
3.1.2.11 Public address system, where
specifically required by other sections of this Code
3.1.2.12 Controls required for smoke
control
3.1.2.13 Important keys to
include
3.1.2.13.1 Elevator machine
room
3.1.2.13.2 Elevator hoistway
door access key
3.1.2.13.3 Side
access door elevator car key
3.1.2.13.4 Electric room keys
3.1.2.13.5 Fire pump room keys
3.1.2.13.6 Mechanical room keys
3.1.2.13.7 Any master key
3.1.2.14 As built drawings. Specific types
and format of drawings to be determined by the Office of the State Fire Marshal
at time of plan review.
3.1.3 The fire command center shall be
separated from the remainder of the building by one-hour construction and
equipped with a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system that will
prevent smoke laden air from entering the space.
3.1.4 It is not the intent of this section to
require a room dedicated for this purpose, but the area provided must be
available for immediate use in case of emergency.
3.1.5 The room shall be a minimum of 96
square feet with a minimum dimension of 8 feet.
3.1.6 The fire command room door shall be
clearly identified for use by the fire department.
3.2 Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications and Detection System
3.2.1 Every high-rise
building shall be equipped with a voice alarm, communication and detection
system which shall be installed in accordance with the applicable codes and
standards listed in Regulation 701 of these Regulations; and approved by the
Office of the State Fire Marshal.
3.3 Public Address System
3.3.1 A public address communication system
shall be part of the Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications System as required in
§
3.2 of this
Chapter. The system shall be designed to be clearly heard by all occupants of
the building and shall operate from the fire command center. It shall be
established on a selective or general basis to the following terminal areas:
3.3.1.1 Elevators
3.3.1.2 Elevator lobbies
3.3.1.3 Corridors
3.3.1.4 Exit stairways
3.3.1.5 Rooms and tenant spaces exceeding
1,000 square feet in area
3.3.1.6
Dwelling units and guest rooms or suites.
3.4 Fire Department Communication System
3.4.1 A two-way fire department communication
system in accordance with the National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA
72) shall be provided for fire department use.
3.4.2 An alternative fire department radio
enhancement system installed within the building shall be permitted in lieu of
a two-way fire department communications system, when approved by the Office of
the State Fire Marshal.
3.5 Door Operation
3.5.1 All fire exit stairway doors which are
to be locked from the stairway side shall have the capability of being unlocked
simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the Fire Command
Center.
3.6 Elevators
3.6.1 In every high-rise building at least
one elevator service shall be provided for fire department emergency access to
all floors.
3.6.2 Except for the
main entrance level, all elevators shall open into a lobby (which may serve
additional elevators) separated from the remainder of the building by a smoke
barrier. Janitor closets, chutes, guest or tenant rooms, and service rooms
shall not open into the elevator lobby. In addition, the provisions of ANSI
Standard A 17.1 shall apply.
3.6.3
The elevator lobbies shall be permitted to be open to the remainder of the
floor in buildings equipped with a mechanical smoke control system that will
restrict smoke and hot gases from entering the elevator shaft on the fire
floor.
3.7 Smoke Management Systems
3.7.1 In every high-rise
building a Smoke Management system shall be installed in accordance with NFPA
92 and approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Such system shall
provide the following:
3.7.1.1 Egress stair
tower pressurization
3.7.1.2 Area
of refuge pressurization
3.7.1.3
Horizontal exit passageway pressurization
3.7.1.4 Fire floor smoke exhaust
3.7.1.5 Floor above and below fire floor
pressurization
3.7.1.6 Other
criteria as deemed necessary by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for
unusual spaces.
3.7.2
Smoke management system operation/actuation shall be approved by the Office of
the State Fire Marshal.
3.8 Standby Power, Light, and Emergency Systems
3.8.1 In every high-rise building an
emergency power supply shall be installed.
3.8.2 Standby power, light and emergency
systems shall comply with the provisions of the Standard for Emergency and
Standby Power Systems, NFPA 110, as adopted and/or modified by these
Regulations.
3.8.3 Fuel Supply. An
on-premises fuel supply sufficient for not less than two hours full demand
operation of the system shall be provided.
3.8.4 Generating Capacity. The standby system
shall have a capacity and rating that will supply all equipment required to be
operational at the same time. The generating capacity need not be sized to
operate all the connected electrical equipment simultaneously.
3.8.5 All power, lighting, signal, and
communication systems required by this Regulation shall automatically transfer
to a standby source. The standby power system shall be connected to all systems
listed in the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
3.9 Emergency Systems
3.9.1 Exit signs, exit illumination, and
elevator car lighting are classified as emergency systems and shall operate
within ten seconds of failure of the normal power supply and must also be
connected to the standby source.
3.9.2 All required lighting, smoke management
pressurization, electrically powered fire pumps and at least one elevator shall
be connected to the standby power source. Elevators shall be provided with a
selective load switch to allow transfer of power to each elevator. This will
permit each elevator to be returned to the lobby and placed out of service
except for fire department service.
3.10 Areas of Refuge. Areas of refuge shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 702, Chapter 3.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Delaware may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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