Building Code Clarified

Category: NFPA

Smoke Compartment Travel 32-0

Smoke compartments similar to exits, have there own travel distance requirements. Not only in healthcare do we have to travel to exit it we also have a requirement to travel to a smoke compartment door/wall. Even if for standing at the exit door we can see daylight, we still have to be able to travel lesson 200 feet to a smoke compartment door without having to go outside.

Deadend & Common Path of Travel 30-0

Deadend and Common Path of Travel can be confusing. Hope this video can help with some of its understanding. Most of the time we have a choice of two ways to get out of a SPACE, and that is your common path of travel. From the most remote point in the building or space to a decision point to go to exit “A” or exit “B” to get out of the space, that is your decision point/common path of travel.

Understand that “commen path of travel” is not appiclible to hospitals. Hospitals have “suites” and “intervening rooms” other video cover those topics

 

Air Balance HVAC 29-0

With the Ebola issues I have been asked to explain “Air Balance” in hospitals and Isolations room several time. This video is on understanding isolation rooms and how the supply and return air works. I have been asked a couple times to explain this at work so I decided to do a video on it. The question was coming up concerning Ebola. We design hospitals, and I was being asked why cannot any hospital handle in Ebola patient. Essentially the answer is anyone can, some facilities/very few facilities have additional safeguards put in place as it relates to the infrastructure of the building that makes it easier. Isolation rooms with anti-rooms and then anti-rooms to anti-rooms provides an additional level where staff can change clothes and be monitored.

Suites Why 28-0

I have been asked many times why should someone try to create a suite. In 27-0 & 27-1 I talk a little about why, helping prevent DeadEnd Corridors or the understanding of what a sweet is.  This video covers why you would want a suite within a healthcare environment how much money could potentially be saved by our clients. Also not first cost, but long-term inspection cost is money to be saved.