Section 12-H508. FIRE COMMAND CENTER

 

Strike Sections 508.1 through 508.1.5 of the International Fire Code in their entirety and insert new Sections 508.1 through 508.1.5 in the Fire Code in their place to read as follows:

508.1 General.  Where required by other sections of this code and in all high-rise buildings, a fire command center for fire department operations shall be provided and shall comply with Sections 508.1.1 through 508.1.5.

 

508.1.1 Location and access. The fire command center shall be directly accessible from the exterior on the address side of the building; or, where approved by the code official in consultation with the Fire Chief, in an interior location which has direct access from the entrance lobby on the address side of the building.

 

508.1.1.1 Identification.  The entrance door to the fire command center shall be illuminated and clearly marked “Fire Command Center” with letters a minimum of 3 inches (76 mm) in height on a contrasting background.  In instances where the fire command center is not located near the building’s main entrance, a sign indicating the location of the fire control room shall be conspicuously posted near the building’s main entrance.

 

508.1.1.2 Prohibited use.  Electrical, mechanical or plumbing equipment other than those associated with the fire command center, shall not be located within the fire command center.  The fire command center shall not be used for other than its intended use unless approved by the Fire Chief.

 

508.1.1.3 Locking arrangements.  The fire command center shall be secured from unauthorized entry and shall be accessible to the Department at all times. 

 

508.1.1.4 Access.  Where access to the fire command center from the building’s exterior is restricted because of secured openings, a key box-in accordance with Section 506 of the Fire Code shall be installed at the building’s main entrance or other approved location for Department access.  The key box shall be of an approved type and shall contain keys to gain necessary access to the building and fire command center as required by the code official in consultation with the Fire Chief.

 

508.1.2 Separation.  The fire command center shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the Building Code or horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the Building Code, or both.

 

508.1.3 Size.  The fire command center shall be of sufficient size to accommodate all equipment and features required by this section but not less than 96 square feet (8.9 m²). A minimum clear aisle width of 48 inches (1220 mm) shall be provided in front of all equipment panels.

 

508.1.4 Layout approval.  A layout of the fire command center and all features required by this section to be contained therein shall be submitted for approval prior to installation.

 

508.1.5 Required features.  The fire command center shall comply with NFPA 72 and shall contain the following features:

 

1.The emergency voice/alarm communication system control unit.

 

2.The fire department communications system.

 

3.Fire detection and alarm system annunciator.

 

4.Annunciator unit visually indicating the location of the elevators and whether they are operational.

 

5.The fire-fighter’s control panel required by Section 909.16 for smoke control systems installed in the building.

 

6.Controls for unlocking stairway doors simultaneously.

 

7.Sprinkler valve and water-flow detector display panels.

 

8.Emergency and standby power status indicators.

 

9.A telephone for Department use with controlled access to the public telephone system.

 

10. Fire pump status indicators.

 

11. Schematic building plans indicating the typical floor plan and detailing the building core, means of egress, fire protection systems, fire-fighting equipment and fire department access, and other building features affecting emergency response. The schematic plans shall be readily accessible, diagrammatic in nature, and fabricated of durable material or provided with a protective cover and bound in one set.

 

12.   A copy of the facility’s Fire Safety Plans and Fire Evacuation Plans that are   prepared and maintained in accordance-with the Fire Code.

 

13.Generator supervision devices, manual start and transfer features.

 

14.Public address system, where specifically required by other sections of this code.

 

15.Elevator fire recall switch in accordance with ASME A17.1.

 

16. Elevator emergency or standby power selector switch(es), where emergency or standby power is provided.

 

17. An approved Building Information Card that contains, but is not limited to, the following information:

 

17.1. General building information that includes: property name, address, the number of floors in the building (above and below grade), use and occupancy classification (for mixed uses, identify the different types of occupancies on each floor), estimated building population (i.e., day, night, weekend);

 

17.2. Building emergency contact information that includes: a list of the building’s emergency contacts (e.g., building manager, building engineer, etc.) and their respective work phone number, cell phone number, and email address;

 

17.3. Building construction information that includes: the type of building construction (e.g., floors, walls, columns, and roof assembly);

 

17.4. Exit stair information that includes: number of exit stairs in the building, each exit stair designation and floors served, location where each exit stair discharges, exit stairs that are pressurized, exit stairs provided with emergency lighting, each exit stair that allows reentry, exit stairs providing roof access;

 

17.5  Elevator information that includes: number of elevator banks, elevator bank designation, elevator car numbers and respective floors that they serve, location of elevator machine rooms, location of sky lobby, location of freight elevator banks;

 

17.6. Building services and system information that includes: location of mechanical rooms, location of building management system, location and capacity of all fuel oil tanks, location of emergency generator, location of natural gas service;

 

17.7. Fire protection system information that includes: locations of standpipes, location of fire pump room, location of fire department connections, floors protected by automatic sprinklers, location of different types of sprinkler systems installed (e.g., dry, wet, pre-action, etc.); and

 

17.8. Hazardous material information that includes: location of hazardous material, quantity of hazardous material.

 

 

authority

Section 10 of the Construction Codes Approval and Amendments Act of 1986 (Act), effective March 21, 1987 (D.C. Law 6-216; D.C. Official Code § 6-1409 (2012 Repl.)) and Mayor’s Order 2009-22, dated February 25, 2009, as amended.

source

Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 3251 (March 28, 2014 – Part 2); as corrected by Errata Notice published at 61 DCR 5246 (May 23, 2014).

EditorNote

The District of Columbia Fire Code (2013), referred to as the “Fire Code,” consists of the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code as amended by the District of Columbia Fire Code Supplement (2013) (12 DCMR H). The International Fire Code is copyrighted by the International Code Council and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ifc/2012/index.htm?bu=IC-P-2012-000003&bu2=IC-P-2012-000019.