MEP OBJECTS SIZING + PROJECT

APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS BY
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
 GENERALS

• Mostly based in NFPA/IEC Standards

• Signed by a local professional
• To be presented to the city hall and fire department.
• For new buildings and capacity increase, plans must also be presented to
electrical and water utility companies.
 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS WHERE
DRAWINGS MUST BE SUBMITTED

• Historic Heritage (if located in World Heritage Sites or nationally designated

historic districts) – (WIP)
• Fire Department
• City Hall (WIP – Using Panama as reference)
• Electric Utility (New buildings, ownership change or Infrastructure changes if
required, WIP)
• Water Utility (New buildings, ownership change or Infrastructure changes if
required, WIP)
 FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Approved Preliminary Draft

• Architecture plans (Fire extinguishers, Fire Department Access and Media of Egress)
• Electrical plans (Power Distribution and Fire Alarm)
• HVAC Plans (Stair Pressurization and Total Cooling Load)
• Plumbing Plans (Gas distribution)
• Fire Protection Plans (Sprinklers, Standpipes and Fire Pumps)
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DR
AFT

Pre sizing for life safety measures and systems.

Also it determines the fire protection measures and standards to be taken in consideration for the definitive
design.
• Media of egress sizing, quantity and location (NFPA 101, Art. 7.3 and 7.4, chapters 27 and 28)
• Fire department access to hydrants and ingress paths
• Location, quantity and dimensions of gas and fuel tanks
• Location and dimensions of pump rooms, water reserve tanks
• Location and dimensions of electrical and other technical rooms
• Location of electrical backup generator
• Location of boilers and water heater
• Other dispositions required by NFPA 101
 F IR E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I NA RY D R A F T - M E D I A
O F E GR E S S S I Z I NG , Q UA N T I T Y A ND L O C AT I ON

Based on articles 7.2 and 7.3 and chapter 27 and 28 of the NFPA 101
• Minimum width of corridors(28.2.3.3): 1120 mm
• Stairs minimum width:
• Existing Building: 915 mm
• New Building 1120mm for an occupation of less than 2000 persons
• Maximum distance from guest room to nearest interior exit (28.2.6)
• Sprinklered building: 38m
• Unsprinklered Building: 23m
• Minimum number of media of egress
• Up to an occupation of 500: no less than 2 exits.
• 500 to 1000 persons: no less than 3 exits
 F IR E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I NA RY D R A F T - M E D I A
O F E GR E S S S I Z I NG , Q UA N T I T Y A ND L O C AT I ON

Based on articles 7.2 and 7.3 and chapter 27 and 28 of the NFPA 101
• Minimum width of corridors(28.2.3.3): 1120 mm
 F IR E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I NA RY D R A F T - M E D I A
O F E GR E S S S I Z I NG , Q UA N T I T Y A ND L O C AT I ON

• Stairs minimum width:

• Existing Building: 915 mm
• New Building 1120mm for an occupation of less than 2000 persons
 F IR E D E PART M E NT – P RE L I M I NA RY D R AF T - M E D I A
O F E GR E S S S I Z I NG , Q UA N T I T Y A ND L O C AT I O N

• Maximum distance from guest room to nearest interior

exit (NFPA 101-28.2.6)
• Sprinklered building: 38m
 F IR E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I NA RY D R A F T - M E D I A
O F E GR E S S S I Z I NG , Q UA N T I T Y A ND L O C AT I ON

• Maximum distance from guest room to nearest interior exit (NFPA 101-28.2.6)
• Unsprinklered Building: 23m
 F IR E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I NA RY D R A F T - M E D I A
O F E GR E S S S I Z I NG , Q UA N T I T Y A ND L O C AT I ON

• Minimum number of media of egress

• Up to an occupation of 500: no less than 2 exits.
• 500 to 1000 persons: no less than 3 exits
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS AND INGRESS
PATHS

• Width: unobstructed width not less than 20 ft (6.1 m).

 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS AND INGRESS
PATHS

• Clearance: vertical clearance not less than 13 ft 6 in. (4.1 m).

• The vertical clearance can be reduced, as long as it does not impair access by fire apparatus, and approved signs are installed and
maintained indicating the established vertical clearance when approved.
• Vertical clearances can be increased when vertical clearances or widths are not adequate to accommodate fire apparatus.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS AND INGRESS PATHS

• Surface: the access roads must be designed and maintained to support the loads of fire apparatus and provided with an
all-weather driving surface.
• Dead ends: when the road is more than 150 ft (46 m) approved provisions for the fire apparatus to turn around must be
provided.
• Bridges: must be in accordance with national recognized standards; designed for a live load sufficient to carry the
imposed load of the fire apparatus; any limits on loading must be posted at all entrances to the bridge
• Grade: the angle of approach and departure along the road must not exceed 1 ft drop in 20 ft (0.3 m drop in 6 m)
• Fire department access roads connecting to roadways must be provided with curb cuts extending at least 2 ft (0.61 m) beyond each
edge of the fire lane.
 F I R E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I N A RY D R A F T - L O C AT I O N , Q U A N T I T Y
A N D D I M E N S I O N S O F G A S L TA N K S

• Based on NFPA 58 Annex I

• Presented for 100lb and 420lb DOT Containers
 F I R E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I N A RY D R A F T - L O C AT I O N , Q U A N T I T Y
A N D D I M E N S I O N S O F G A S TA N K S

• Based on NFPA 58 Annex I

• Shown for 125-2000 US Gallons ASME Containers
 F I R E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I N A RY D R A F T - L O C AT I O N , Q U A N T I T Y
A N D D I M E N S I O N S O F G A S TA N K S

• Based on NFPA 58 Annex I

• Shown for underground ASME tanks under 2000 US Gallons
 F I R E D E PA RT M E N T – P R E L I M I N A RY D R A F T - L O C AT I O N , Q U A N T I T Y
A N D D I M E N S I O N S O F L I Q U I D F U E L TA N K S

• Based on NFPA 30 Chapter 10 and NFPA 37 Chapter 7

• For use when a electrical backup generator is required and the tank is not integrated or and additional autonomy is required
• For unsprinklered spaces the max capacity for the container is 60 US Gallons in liquidtight, metallic or nonmetallic tanks.
• For sprinklered spaces the máximum capacity is 7500 US Gallons
• In everycase a 1 hr fire rated wall is required (a brick wall wil be enough)
• Minimum clearance for the tanks is 380mm for inspection and repair
• Ventilation is required for the fuel containing rooms. ( A window or louver will do)
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
LOCATION AND DIMENSIONS OF ELECTRICAL
AND OTHER TECHNICAL ROOMS

• Electrical Room: (Per NFPA 70, article 110.26)

• minimum clearance is 900 mm from all sides and 1200mm in the front.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY
DRAFT - LOCATION AND DIMENSIONS
OF ELECTRICAL AND OTHER
TECHNICAL ROOMS
• Water Storage for water supply and fire suppression.
• For water supply storage use a 50 gallon per bed per day.
• Fire water reserve sizing depends on final classification and used code (NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R)
• For NFPA 13R used buildings use a reserve of 50 gpm for 30 minutes additional to the water supply reserve (1500 US Gallons)
• For NFPA 13 a minimum of 250 gpm for 30 minutes is required to be additional to the water supply reserve (7500 US Gallons). This depends on the building layout and size.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
LOCATION AND DIMENSIONS OF ELECTRICAL
AND OTHER TECHNICAL ROOMS

• Fire Pump Rooms: (Per NFPA 20)

• Emergency lights are required.
• Must have adequate ventilation.
• A floor drain is required.
• Must have an emergency stop in an accessible area.
• Clearance depending on pump sizing.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
LOCATION OF ELECTRICAL BACKUP
GENERATOR AND TRANSFORMER

• Generator (NFPA 110 Article 7.2)

• Generator sizing to be coordinated with MEP Engineer.
• The minimum capacity must serve fire pumps and elevator.
• Generator must have a dedicated space with a 2-hour fire rating for walls and ceiling if located inside. If located outside it must have a weatherproof enclosure.
• In interior spaces the mimimun clearance must be 900 mm for maintenance purposes.
• Must have a floor drain.
• Must be located in an area where damage from flooding is minimized.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PRELIMINARY DRAFT -
LOCATION OF ELECTRICAL BACKUP
GENERATOR AND TRANSFORMER

• Transformer
• For outdoor locations, it must have at least 1500 mm around for clearance. (NFPA 70 Table 110.34(A))
 L O C AT I O N O F B O I L E R S A N D WAT E R H E AT E R

• Per NFPA 85
• A minimum clearance of 1000mm is required.
• The space must have ventilated access
• If the equipment is gas powered it must have an exhaust access to the outdoors.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT - ARCHITECTURE

Once the preliminary draft is approved this codes must be taken in account for
final design
• NFPA 101 – Means of Egress. Chapters 7 and 28- SEE SLIDES 7-11
• NFPA 10 – Fire Extinguishers. Appendix E
• NFPA 1 – Fire Code. Chapters 13 and 14 – Mostly a general guide
 FIRE DEPARTMENT - ARCHITECTURE

NFPA 10 – Fire Extinguishers. Appendix E. 22.9 meters for travel distance as most crucial variable.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT - ELECTRICAL PLA
NS
• NFPA 70 – Electricity (Development by Consultant)
• Electrical Panelboards,
• Plan views
• One line diagram
• Electrical load summary
• Electrical Backup Generator
• Transformer sizing if required
• Lighting rods
• Notes and details that apply
• NFPA 72 – Fire Alarm and Detectors (Development by Consultant)
• Plan view (For architectural coordination, consider that each sensor has a coverage radius of 9m)
• Schematic diagram
• Notes and details that apply
• National Electrical Installation Rules (varies per country)
 FIRE DEPARTMENT - HVAC PLANS

• Stair pressurization if required (NFPA 92A)(For buildings of more than 23m, developed by
consultant)
• Total cooling load and total system EER (sum of thermal loads/sum of standard electric
consumption)
FIRE DEPARTMENT – FIRE PROTECTIO
N PLANS

Depending on the preliminary draft, this must be required.

• NFPA 20 (Fire Pumps)
• NFPA 14 (Standpipes)
• NFPA 13/13R (Sprinklers)
FIRE DEPARTMENT - PLUMBING DESIG
N

Plumbing design, gas system is taken in consideration.

• NFPA 54 - Gas Design
• NFPA 58 – Gas tanks and External gas supply
• NFPA 30/30A - Liquid fuel Storage
 LOCAL AUTHORITIES (WIP)

• Architectural Drawings
• Plumbing Drawings
• Electrical Drawings
• Mechanical Drawings