INGENIEUR
façade consultants , interior designers , landscape consultants and commissioning specialists .
Integrated Design / Code Compliance Process
Unlike traditional design projects where each design team member often works independently in addressing their area of design responsibility , an integrated design process relies on combining the strengths of each team member and their collaboration early in the design process in order to address the sustainable design elements for items such as water usage , energy usage , occupant comfort , public safety / health , environmental impact , commission ability and maintainability . The intent is to answer how each of these elements can be incorporated into a comprehensive design solution for the building that meets the prescribed code requirements or can be shown to meet the intent of the code .
When the prescriptive code approach cannot handle a new / innovative design element , a performance-based design approach may be needed for certain sustainable design elements of the project . The performance-based design approach builds upon the integrated design process to convince the fire authority that the design element complies with the intent of the code provisions , fulfils its intended purpose , and is shown to be at least equivalent in quality , strength , fire resistance and safety .
Therefore , the performance-based design approach again requires the “ blending ” of design team disciplines . This integrated design process is critical for sustainable design projects and is often conducted in periodic “ design charrette ” meetings among the team members . In a design charrette , the collective expertise of the project team is brought together to identify areas of overlap and synergy among the various design disciplines to develop solutions to building efficiencies , including water usage , energy usage , occupant comfort , day lighting and environmental impact .
Each of these elements can have a practical impact on meeting code requirements to “ bridge the gap ” between the implementation of sustainable design elements and building / fire code requirements , and the intent of the code and fire-fighting tactics . Fire authority approval of these innovative materials , systems and assemblies that are often a part of “ building green ” is a critical part of the design process that risks being overlooked .
Examples of Green / Sustainable Strategies
Wet Fire-Suppression Systems
In green designs , rainwater and reclaimed water may be used to supply not only irrigation systems , but also wet fire systems . Industrial sites often have non potable water supplies contributing to a fire-water supply system , but for the most part , residential and commercial urban developments have potable fire-water supplies . When reclaimed water interfaces with potable systems and is proposed as part of a fire-water supply system , back flow requirements need to be reviewed carefully . In addition , there may be sprinkler pipe drop requirements that need to be considered to protect the sprinkler systems against sediment build up in their pipes .
Potential pipe corrosion will need to be evaluated . Microbiological influenced corrosion may be an issue with the use of reclaimed water supplies . Where present , such corrosion can reduce a wet fire system pipe ’ s life and require chemical treatment to remediate . Hence , it may not make sense to use reclaimed water as part of a fire-suppression system if chemicals must be added to the system or if a premature failure of the wet fire system could occur because of poor water quality .
Water mist systems score well in green building designs as an element of fire suppression . In some cases , water mist use is not the result of a desire to conserve water but of working with the available water supply , especially in adaptivereuse ( including heritage ) buildings .
Gravity Feed for Wet Fire Systems
Use of gravity feed in lieu of mechanical pumping systems for wet fire systems serving high-rise , super tall and mega tall buildings are excellent sustainable design solutions that reduce resources and save on energy
20 VOL 91 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022